Motorola XTS5000 & XTVA

[motoman55]

I just bought a brand new 2015 F150 and installed a newly purchased XTVA into it. A few questions about the operation of the XTVA.

I have installed the XTVA underneath the rear seat of the crew cab and I'm using the HHCH mic with an old data cable from an old cellular phone to extend the HHCH to the drivers seat of the truck. That works great as well. I have wired the Red Power wired to the ignition not the battery because I plan on leaving the radio in the XTVA at all times. This way the XTVA shuts down and doesn't kill my battery on my truck when the vehicle is not in use (Sometime my truck will sit for 3 or 4 days at a time). With this said the XTS5000 itself does not shut off unless I shut it off (That's normal per the instruction manual). I wired the ignition sense cable to a 5amp ignition fuse in the fuse box so the battery will charge when I do drive the truck because the battery will be completely dead after a day or two of sitting.


My question, today I went out to start my truck and the battery was completely dead on the XTS5000 as I thought it should be. When I started my truck the radio did not turn on nor did the XTVA. Is it because it take a few minutes to get a charge for it to kick on or is there something else going on.

Anyone have an idea. I just installed everything yesterday so I have no past experience with an XTVA.


Motoman55

 

[wiredwrx]

Did it ever come on? What are the LEDs on the unit doing? Flashing, Red, Green? Have you checked the wiring and checked to see if there is power where there should be? Have you checked the fuses?

 

[motoman55]

No the radio never came on. The LEDs were blinking on and off. Yes all the wiring and fuses are fine. I changed batteries to one that was harmed and the XTVA works fine. I'm not sure what will happen when this battery dies.

 

[wiredwrx]

Couple more ideas. If it happens again, take particular notice of the LEDs, they can be invaluable to help track down the problem if there is one. Also, try removing and re-inserting the radio, and see if that helps. And, check your ground? Did you test the XTVA on a Power Supply yo confirm proper operation before installation?

 

[motoman55]

Yes, I hooked it up to my Astron 35M prior to installing it. I never let the battery completely die though in when using the power supply. I put another battery on the radio so we will see tomorrow morning what happens because that battery should be dead by then. If the same thing happens I will pay close attention to the LEDs. The ground it direct to the steel frame, I was assume that is fine.

 

[16b]

I know it's not exactly what you're asking, but the XTVA is designed for the red wire to be connected to the battery at all times. It has a built-in timer that kills the charger after 30 minutes when the radio is left in. I have an XTVA in my car wired up this way and have had no battery drain problems. If you can't figure anything else out, maybe try wiring it up that way and see if the problem goes away.

The XTVA instruction manual (available on this site) explains the wiring, the timeout, and even provides current drain numbers.

http://communications.support/threads/67-XTS3000-XTS3500-XTVA-Manuals

 

[motoman55]

Well I went out this morning and the same thing happened. The battery on the XTS5000 is dead and when I start the truck the radio does not start charging and will not turn on. The Red Charge LED blinks once the both LEDs blink a few times in Amber, then blinks red again then blinks a few times amber. Its just does it over and over. I had it hooked up with the red wire on the ignition, I took your advise and moved it to the battery. I switched batteries on the XTS5000 and its charging with the engine off just as you said it should. I'll check it in 30 mins to make sure the charge port has shut off. Question for you 16B, do you keep your radio in the XTVA at all times or do you take it out or shut it off so the battery on the radio doesn't die?

I know it's not exactly what you're asking, but the XTVA is designed for the red wire to be connected to the battery at all times. It has a built-in timer that kills the charger after 30 minutes when the radio is left in. I have an XTVA in my car wired up this way and have had no battery drain problems. If you can't figure anything else out, maybe try wiring it up that way and see if the problem goes away.

The XTVA instruction manual (available on this site) explains the wiring, the timeout, and even provides current drain numbers.

http://communications.support/threads/67-XTS3000-XTS3500-XTVA-Manuals

 

[Vette86]

What version XTVA are you using and what chemistry battery is on your radio? If I remember correctly early versions of the XTVA would not charge lithium batteries properly.

 

[IMTechSpec]

Besides changing the Red wire connection, and checking the XTVA firmware version and battery chemistry, here are a few things that I have run into with and XTVA and XTS5K;

Larger battery size causing intermittent connection to the radio. I have had the best luck with the smaller size batteries. I have had the battery caused connection issue even while going down the road. Everything may work fine when I get going in the truck, but then I have noticed that the W3 is either off or in a non-op condition. The problem could be a combination of the size and greater weight, or one or the other. I keep a 1.7A Impres in the truck and just swap to it when mobile.

Fall / Spring weather changes. Depending on where you are located, sometimes the greater temperature and humidity swings that can occur with the change in seasons, can cause intermittent connections between the radio and XTVA. This time of the year, I will do a quick wipe of the contacts on the XTS5K accessory connector and XTVA connector once a week or so. I have had instances where I have left the portable in the XTVA over night and then it did not work in the morning. Pop out the radio, do the quick wipe, and then back in business. I keep a small cloth in the console bin just for that. I typically do not have these issues in Summer and Winter.

These things may or may not apply to your situation.

 

[motoman55]

***Update***

After switching the Red Wire to Battery and not Ignition, everything is working great. Guess I should have not tried to out smart the Big M.

 

[motoman55]

Next question.

Is there any way to increase the contrast on the HHCH mic? Mine is very dim and the back light is almost not even there. I tested it out on another mic and the samething happens, it's very dim and not bright. Any suggestions?

 

[wiredwrx]

Sorry, I do not have a response to your query, but a very informative member of this board, I believe Astro Spectra, posted several modifications to do to the microphone. You should check it out.

 

[16b]

Sorry for the late followup, but wanted to answer your question. I always either take the radio out or, if I'm leaving it in, shut the radio off. I've always been taught to avoid letting the battery drain completely (I'm not a battery expert by any means though). I also like to have at least some charge on the battery at all times so I can pull the radio out and go portable.

Well I went out this morning and the same thing happened. The battery on the XTS5000 is dead and when I start the truck the radio does not start charging and will not turn on. The Red Charge LED blinks once the both LEDs blink a few times in Amber, then blinks red again then blinks a few times amber. Its just does it over and over. I had it hooked up with the red wire on the ignition, I took your advise and moved it to the battery. I switched batteries on the XTS5000 and its charging with the engine off just as you said it should. I'll check it in 30 mins to make sure the charge port has shut off. Question for you 16B, do you keep your radio in the XTVA at all times or do you take it out or shut it off so the battery on the radio doesn't die?

 

[Alpha]

As for display contrast/brightness, do some searching; I believe that topic has been addressed previously. Use Google, add "site:communications.support" after your search term and it will restrict searching to this site only.

 

[Navy_BOFH]

I am getting ready to do this for both my vehicles - can't find XTL5000s with an HHCH going for the right price, and the wife and I want UHF radios for amateur, GMRS, and scanning. Decided to go XTS5000 with XTVAs. Anyone been running them with an RF amplifier? Any issues on either FM or P25 doing so? I was thinking of making them dual band with a Mirage BD-35 amp but think I might stick it to UHF only with a 440-470 antenna on the roof.

 

[wiredwrx]

Sorry, realized that was a thread jack.