XTS2500 strange TX issue

[Nostatic]

Hello,

I have a UHF R2 XTS2500 M3 which works fine when I use it without a speaker/mic. Once I slap a speaker/mic on (any speaker mic, I've tried one from my MTS2000 as well as a commander mic) and I key up, the radio emits a series of low 'error' tones and it goes into Zone select. It transmits fine this whole time. It also does it on some conventional channels. My best guess is the RF is causing interference.

Has anyone else experienced this? Any guess on how to fix this issue? I was thinking maybe a shielding problem. Just weird that it only seems to do it when the speaker/mic is attached.

Thanks!!!

 

[com501]

What is the model number of the radio? If this is an AN version, there is a possibility the accessory flex is missing so bypass components, or is damaged. Quick test, substitute a different front cover, or replace the flex and connector.

 

[Nostatic]

H46SDH9PW7AN

This is an AN radio which has a BN cover with the appropriate protruding pieces cut off so it fits correctly. Also, when I got the radio the flex connector on the board was damaged (one of the hinges on the flex plug was broken off) so in order to secure the flex cable, it had to be crazy glued into place. Up until this issue, I've never had any other problems.

And I just verified, when the RSM is disconnected, it works fine. It only does this when the RSM is connected.

So, that being said, I cannot swap covers. Any other way I can tell, or prevent this from happening? It only happens on a couple of conventional freq's, and very very intermittantly on trunking, probably if it gets assigned a certain repeater pair on the system.

 

[com501]

99% probability you have a damaged flex. Either the flex itself is damaged, one of the bypass caps is damaged/missing or the connector on the radio housing itself is damaged. You need to order the correct front cover for an AN chassis, so the flex and other components will have proper seating and tension when mounted. With that, look at the exploded diagram, you will probably need a different metal backing plate for the keypad, they are different between the AN and the BN. Continuing to ignore the problem will only mean it will continue or get worse until the radio is restored to its correct condition.

You scare me when you said 'trunking'. I hope this radio is not in Public Safety Service, correct? Your first clue that something was wrong with your setup was the words "Krazy Glue" combined with 'radio repair'. Please fix this correctly.

 

[Nostatic]

Thank you for your concern. On the trunk system, the radio is mostly used for monitoring, rarely for transmitting and never in an emergency situation. Other than that it is used as a hobby radio.

I do not have the capability to repair the flex connector, since it is a board component and I believe that would require at least a solder rework station, most likely it would need to go to the depot which is not an option since it is a frankinradio.

Thank you for the info about the backing plate for the keypad, I'll check that out in the exploded view.

What if I got myself a BN chassis, would that help with the tension and seating? AFAIK the board is the same in both models, it is only the front and back of the case that is different.

I understand that the problem could get worse, but I don't think I have much of a choice. I posted here hoping against hope that the issue was a programming or other easily fixable issue, sadly that doesn't seem to be the case.

 

[com501]

Any decent repair shop that actually repairs radios can replace that flex connector on the bottom of the circuit board. The problem might be if the actual traces are damaged. Both the AN and BN manuals should be on the site here, you can compare the two components lists, but the only basic difference is the front housing plastic and the minor parts like the keypad shield which are different between the two.

 

[Nostatic]

OK, there is a shop that I've used in the past, I'll check with them to see if it's something they can do. Thank you for all the information, is not what I was hoping for, but at least I have answers now.