Radio Issues

Chuck Oleinik

New Member
I have a T-2, HPT401BT and an LS in my setup. I recently undated all three. Now my radio is having problems.
First, the battery dies really fast, 1/2 hour.
Second, when I turn it on the Bluetooth light is on steady and the power light flashes slowly, which I think both are normal. Then when I start the base, the Bluetooth light starts flashing and the TX light comes on steady, which I think is not normal.
Also, I have trouble getting fix in an open area. It will fix for a little bit and then go back to float.
I'll take any ideas.
 

Adam

Well-Known Member
5PLS
First thing to do would be reset NVRAM. Power on and hold record button in till lights flash yellow and release.
 

Adam

Well-Known Member
5PLS
Probably good to recharge just in case battery was already low on charge.
 

Chuck Oleinik

New Member
Thanks Adam! Did the NVRAM reset. I also made some changes to radio settings. Switched modulation to D16QAM. It now will give me a good fix and I can collect at 5HRZ. The Bluetooth light is still flashing and the TX light is on steady on the radio. Maybe that is normal with the updates?
 

Chuck Oleinik

New Member
I also read that it is best to have RTK delay set to none for Beast Mode. I remember seeing that setting somewhere but I can't find it now. Can anyone remind me?
 

Shawn Billings

Shawn Billings
5PLS
Thanks Adam! Did the NVRAM reset. I also made some changes to radio settings. Switched modulation to D16QAM. It now will give me a good fix and I can collect at 5HRZ. The Bluetooth light is still flashing and the TX light is on steady on the radio. Maybe that is normal with the updates?

TX light is flashing 5 times per second, which makes it appear solid. Bluetooth flashes as messages are passed from base to radio.
 
Is anyone having range issues with their radio. My 35 watt radio range has dropped to about 3000' over the past couple of weeks. First, I attributed it to solar flares, but it hasn't improved. Another idea may be heat, I always run the fan which keeps the radio cool and have never turned the radio on that antenna was not hooked up first. I am running in beast mode. The vector post of a couple weeks ago was on the same base point on the same site and the range was over a mile in every direction.
Thanks
Bob
 

Matt Johnson

Well-Known Member
5PLS
Is anyone having range issues with their radio. My 35 watt radio range has dropped to about 3000' over the past couple of weeks. First, I attributed it to solar flares, but it hasn't improved. Another idea may be heat, I always run the fan which keeps the radio cool and have never turned the radio on that antenna was not hooked up first. I am running in beast mode. The vector post of a couple weeks ago was on the same base point on the same site and the range was over a mile in every direction.
Thanks
Bob

I would check to make sure that the cable connection to the antenna is not damaged. Do you have the new or old design of the cable?

image.jpeg
New Cable

javad 002.jpg
Old Cable
 

Darren Clemons

Well-Known Member
Is anyone having range issues with their radio. My 35 watt radio range has dropped to about 3000' over the past couple of weeks. First, I attributed it to solar flares, but it hasn't improved. Another idea may be heat, I always run the fan which keeps the radio cool and have never turned the radio on that antenna was not hooked up first. I am running in beast mode. The vector post of a couple weeks ago was on the same base point on the same site and the range was over a mile in every direction.
Thanks
Bob
Bob,
If you are in the same spot that you were getting over a mile in every direction and now it's down to 3000' or less the first thing I might think is the connector of the coax cable at the base of the whip antennae. The first model Javad had out was a poor design and was susceptible to fraying quite badly. Ours nearly broke at this connector point in a matter of weeks after we first got it.
IMG_1191.JPG
Now if you have a newer model (shown in pic) that won't be the case as they've greatly improved this connection.
There are so, so many things that can affect radio range, but if you're in a spot that you were getting much farther than you are now, and no other factors have changed, I'd think cords/connections....

Matt beat me by 2 minutes ....;)
 

Shawn Billings

Shawn Billings
5PLS
Also, are you using the internal UHF antenna on the LS or the external. I've found that in some cases the external ones can become damaged. I almost exclusively use the internal for this reason.
 

Adam

Well-Known Member
5PLS
Also, are you using the internal UHF antenna on the LS or the external. I've found that in some cases the external ones can become damaged. I almost exclusively use the internal for this reason.

I usually use the internal and really don't see a whole lot of range increase with the external, but It may help when on the edge. You might swap from internal to external just to compare the RSSI and make sure it's not a connection in the LS internal. I ran into that with a new unit a couple weeks ago.
 

Darren Clemons

Well-Known Member
I usually use the internal and really don't see a whole lot of range increase with the external, but It may help when on the edge. You might swap from internal to external just to compare the RSSI and make sure it's not a connection in the LS internal. I ran into that with a new unit a couple weeks ago.
I don't see much difference either Adam. I've learned to just keep the "rubber ducky" stuffed in my pocket on large farms. If I get down in a hole and have range issues, I'll put er on and sometimes will give it just enough boost to get the shot. Otherwise I stay on internal - the external catches on too many briers anyway....
 
Thanks for the responses. Matt's picture of the broken cable is mine a good while back. The radio guy for the sheriff's dept repaired the old style connection and added the anchor to the ground plane. Since the cable break, the radio was replaced by Javad several months later. I do not use the external antenna as it would catch on too many briers and I could not see an appreciable difference in range back when I was working hard on maximizing the radio distance.
Here's a go figure. Shawn helped me with some other setup issues in my LS this morning as I was at the same site as previously discussed. Range today is over a mile in 3 directions, so I am guessing solar flares or operator error yesterday. I did not recharge my marine battery from yesterday so that weeds out the weak battery theory.
Thanks again for all the ideas
 

Phil

Active Member
If the old cable design is bad, then it might be a good idea to send the new style cable to anyone who has the old style. Phil Curd
 

Adam

Well-Known Member
5PLS
Phil, not all old cables are bad. I am still using the old one and it is fine. I put a rubber boot similiar to whats on a sparkplug wire around the part of the cable that lays against the ground plane to keep it from getting damaged. I've been using over a year this way.
 

Phil

Active Member
Adam....I will try something like that to my cable. My cable end is good now, but I was glad I read the post. I really like the LS and the Triumph-2, but still learning it. The surveyor posts on this website are a another advantage to owning the LS....Phil
 

Brad Thompson

New Member
We had the same issue with the broken antenna connection at the ground plane a week or so ago. I disassembled the base of the antenna unsoldered and resoldered the cable back on. Then we secured the cable to the ground plane so we wouldn't have this issue again. I've checked the continuity through the antenna from the cable at the radio to the antenna whip and am getting a signal but once we are set up in the field, our RSSI is poor even at 600', with the 35W radio, in a wide open soccer field. Any suggestions? Or should we just get the new upgraded cord?
 

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