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radio poor signal
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Author:  sasha [ Sun Jun 08, 2014 5:03 pm ]
Post subject:  radio poor signal
I'm getting a poor signal on my 2 way radio, I can hardly hear the office and when I speak to them all they hear is static. It's connected to a PDA and the 'PMR' alternates between a tick, question mark and x. When I get the x unplugging the connection to the PDA and plugging back in brings the tick back but only for a short time.

I've checked and cleaned all the connections to no avail, there might be a break in the aerial lead where its got kinked but other than that what else could be the problem ? Obviously the radio itself could be faulty but could a PDA somehow affect the radio signal ? The office say their equipments fine and no other drivers have reported problems so I guess it's just me, was fine until this week.
Author:  bill_datamaster [ Sun Jun 08, 2014 5:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: radio poor signal
From what you describe, I'ts almost certainly your ariel thats causing the problem.
Quick way to prove this is to borrow a mag mount and try it on that.



Bill :)
Author:  sasha [ Mon Jun 09, 2014 1:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: radio poor signal
Hi Bill, thanks for the swift reply.
Done a bit more checking and I've found the roof around where the cable attaches to aerial is a bit rusty, does the aerial lead need to be grounded against bare metal ? Could this be the problem ?
Author:  bill_datamaster [ Mon Jun 09, 2014 9:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: radio poor signal
Yes if it's not earthing properly it won't work and that's why I suggested trying to borrow a mag mount because it only takes a couple of minutes to check.


Bill :)
Author:  sasha [ Mon Jun 09, 2014 7:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: radio poor signal
bill_datamaster wrote:
Quick way to prove this is to borrow a mag mount and try it on that.



Bill :)

Good idea if I knew someone that has one, and that would lend it me ! eusasmiles.zip
I've cleaned the connetion so it's now metal to metal, if that doesn't work tonight it's off to the specialist tommorow :-|
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: radio poor signal
A bad earth can seriously affect the SWR on transmitters and blow the output chip/transistor, your base should be checking the installation
Author:  sasha [ Tue Jun 10, 2014 5:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: radio poor signal
The base supplies the kit but we're responsible for the installation and maintenance. The base will replace any faulty items but whether that includes all the cables or just the radio/PDA I don't know, I'm not going to argue with them over a few quid for an aerial lead (if it is that).
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Wed Jun 11, 2014 11:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: radio poor signal
sasha wrote:
The base supplies the kit but we're responsible for the installation and maintenance.


thats cobblers, you pay rent, tell em to get it working
Author:  sasha [ Wed Jun 11, 2014 6:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: radio poor signal
wannabeeahack wrote:
thats cobblers, you pay rent, tell em to get it working

They'll replace any faulty equipment but we have to pay the installation. Realistically that only covers PDA/radio as there's not much else other than cables. I suppose you only have to pay for a specialist to do the initial install as after that any swapping of faulty kit is pretty simple to do.
Author:  sasha [ Wed Jun 11, 2014 6:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: radio poor signal
bill_datamaster wrote:
From what you describe, I'ts almost certainly your ariel thats causing the problem.

It was a broken aeriel lead close to the radio. Simple fix, cut off where it had broken and fit a new connector, quick and only a £5 to do.
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