President McKinley signal loss and regain when mic is keyed and released.

[ForestRunner98]

Well…it seems I am having an issue.

The radio will lose signal, like it’s attenuated, and then regain after mic is keyed and released. It’s weird cause it can still make contacts. Coast to coast. I will recheck all the connections to make sure nothing is loose. The quick check I did…everything was tight.

I am using a modded Cobra M75 mic but that shouldn’t make a difference. Maybe bypass the KL203 and see if that could be the culprit? So weird. Even when the signal is “attenuated”…SWR is low. The only thing I would think is that it’s the radio.

Any suggestions good people??? I tired researching but found nothing.

Thank you!!!!

 

[nomadradio]

Most important thing I want to know is what the S-meter is doing in this sequence.

Does the S-meter reading drop along with the audio?

Or does it stay more or less the same when the audio falls out or comes back?

73

 

[ForestRunner98]

Most important thing I want to know is what the S-meter is doing in this sequence.

Does the S-meter reading drop along with the audio?

Or does it stay more or less the same when the audio falls out or comes back?

73

If I remember correctly the meter drops and then comes up.

 

[9C1Driver]

On this radio does a mic have to be connected for there to be receive? If so the problem could be the mic, mic plug, or the mic male plug on the radio. You can test this by tapping on the mic and wiggle the mic plug. If the receive pops back in then that's it.

 

[ForestRunner98]

On this radio does a mic have to be connected for there to be receive? If so the problem could be the mic, mic plug, or the mic male plug on the radio. You can test this by tapping on the mic and wiggle the mic plug. If the receive pops back in then that's it.

Just tried your suggestion and the radio does receive with the mic disconnected. Thank you though.

 

[sp5it]

Connect antenna directly to radio and test.

 

[ForestRunner98]

Here is a short vid I managed to take.

 

[sp5it]

IS it with antenna connected directly to radio?

 

[Eldorado828]

Well…it seems I am having an issue.

The radio will lose signal, like it’s attenuated, and then regain after mic is keyed and released. It’s weird cause it can still make contacts. Coast to coast. I will recheck all the connections to make sure nothing is loose. The quick check I did…everything was tight.

I am using a modded Cobra M75 mic but that shouldn’t make a difference. Maybe bypass the KL203 and see if that could be the culprit? So weird. Even when the signal is “attenuated”…SWR is low. The only thing I would think is that it’s the radio.

Any suggestions good people??? I tired researching but found nothing.

Thank you!!!!

Awe man, just a few days ago you were still trouble free and giving props to the little radio.... go figure, that's the sort of thing I thought only happened to me.

I was really considering one of these but now I'll watch this episode unfold before making another move!

 

[ForestRunner98]

IS it with antenna connected directly to radio?

No, that’s with the amp in-line. I will bypass this evening and see if the problem persists. Just wanted to give a quick vid.

 

[ForestRunner98]

Awe man, just a few days ago you were still trouble free and giving props to the little radio.... go figure, that's the sort of thing I thought only happened to me.

I was really considering one of these but now I'll watch this episode unfold before making another move!

Right!! Besides this the radio, amp and antenna work like they should.

Stay tuned!!!

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

I had a bad connection inside my Sonar 2340 that acted just like that. The little bare wire that goes to the antenna socket was broken, but still connected. Most of the time. I fixed it with a blob of solder.

A broken antenna wire connection somewhere would do this.

 

[ForestRunner98]

I had a bad connection inside my Sonar 2340 that acted just like that. The little bare wire that goes to the antenna socket was broken, but still connected. Most of the time. I fixed it with a blob of solder.

A broken antenna wire connection somewhere would do this.

Hmm…now your making me wonder. I did thighten the nut on the the radio antenna socket. Maybe I twisted it a bit while tightening it. I will add this to my check list.

 

[ForestRunner98]

So I removed the radio and opened her up.


Didn’t see anything at the antenna jack. All looks good.

BUT!! Before I removed the radio I wiggled this back and forth a bit and did notice some attenuation.



Too many connectors!!! Radio has a right angle connector to clear the a/c duct and these guys attached to run down to the coax. Took this crap off minus that one angle connector. Seems like it’s working like it should. Going to have to check again when driving. I believe those dumb cheap connectors were rattling and had become loose.

So I kept it KISS(keep it simple stupid) If I reuse that Palomar filter I will just use a small 1’ or so piece of coax.

More reports in the next few days but I wanted to say thank you to all that responded!!! You guys have better time than to help this mud-duck so I really appreciate you all!!!!

 

[Eldorado828]

Nice to know it wasn't or maybe isn't the radio. Best of all you're back on the air! Can't be missing out on the conditions we get too little of in our but a vapor lifetime.