Grrrrrrhhhhh….. Still HF problem…
Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 17:11
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Member - Serg (VIC)
Bloody Hell! My HF saga is far from over. Two days ago it refuses to tune to CH1. Been talking to Barrett (very good and helpful people – you will be pressed hard to find such service nowadays) and to TimePlus (people who sold me radio, they also good and cooperative) and they decide to send it one more time to
Perth. Would you believe it or not, but I have approached TimePlus about this radio as far as 8 April. And it still not working properly! Is life meant to be *THAT* difficult????????
I do not need any input at this stage – just compassion :-)))))))))
Cheers
Serg
Reply By: madfisher - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 17:15
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 17:15
Serge on a different subject, I am amazed how your english isimproving .
keep your chin up mate.
Cheers Pete
AnswerID:
312202
Follow Up By: Member - Serg (VIC) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:27
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:27
Pete,
Thanks for nice words. As I have mentioned quite a few times, apart of enjoying company (although virtual) of very good people I am also force myself to write (
well, to type :-)))) in English. My speech is OK (although very strong accent) while writing not that good. When I was working for big company a few years back I been required to write reports, while now I am working for myself and do not need too do any writing. So thanks for reading my rubbish.
Cheers
Serg
FollowupID:
578188
Reply By: Member - William B (The Shire) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 17:23
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 17:23
Hello Serg.
I hear you brother and feel your pain :-))))))))))))))))))))))))))
William
AnswerID:
312203
Follow Up By: Member - Serg (VIC) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:36
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:36
Would you like to share it? :-)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
FollowupID:
578190
Reply By: Mike Harding - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 17:54
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 17:54
Serg:
I understand _exactly_ how you feel.
Listen carefully for I am about to give you some sage advice which has the wisdom of many years of electronic design experience behind it.
Rule 1 - if it's electronic and works intermittently this may
well be due to a poor contact somewhere in the unit, a gentle tap with the handle of a medium size screwdriver may help.
Rule 2 - if, after following Rule 1, the item still refuses to work a stronger shock mechanism is called for - a small hammer perhaps?
Rule 3 - still not working eh!? Right we'll show the little bastard who's boss! Beat the crap out if it with a brick!!!!
My long experience in this field has taught me the above works, almost, every time and on those few, rare, occasions the technique fails it really doesn't matter because I feel I have adequately demonstrated the superiority of human over machine anyway.
Mike Harding :)
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Serg (VIC) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:38
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:38
Hi Mike!
Rule 1 been done without any speakable success, and for time been I restrain myself from Rule 2 and Rule 3 in particular.
Cheers
Serg
FollowupID:
578191
Follow Up By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 21:17
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 21:17
Mike
Cripes, if that's the method your going to use to get my TrackRanger software going, I might have to get the gun out to prove the superiority of mechanics over humans and electronics.
LOL
regards
Kim
FollowupID:
578202
Reply By: Member -Signman - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 18:04
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 18:04
It sounded OK on
Adelaide sched. when you logged in mate...
AnswerID:
312207
Follow Up By: Member - Serg (VIC) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:43
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:43
You been hearing me on Sunday when I been using rented autotuner. When they gave me back
mine (following Wednesday if my memory server me
well) I was able to establish virtually crystal clear contact with
Alice Springs (3 to 4 out of 5 according to operator) as
well as with
Adelaide (4 to 5 out of 5). I was incredibly happy up until day before yesterday :-(((((
Cheers
Serg
FollowupID:
578192
Reply By: Member - Olcoolone (S.A) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 18:12
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 18:12
Serg, Codan, Barrett and Moonraker all have problems tuning to ch1.
Most times you can get it on the second go but sometimes it may take three or four goes, this is to do with the whip being a little on the short side.
People will tell you they have no problems on ch1 but how many people would of tried it or taken note.
Our Codan 9530 autotune takes about 3 times longer to tune on ch1 then ch2.
Get along piece of electrical wire (3 to 4 meters) and fasten to the top is the autotune..see if that makes a differance.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 19:50
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 19:50
I'm no techo, but to clarify some of the above - I've been using a Barrett 950 for about 5 years now and using either of the supplied whips I can't ever recall it not happily autotuning first time on any of the frequencies I use - 5455khz included. Using a long wire of any sort may bugger up the autotune function around 14 megs and up, but not the whips.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Footloose - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:17
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:17
None of the hundreds of Codan autotunes that I have had through my hot little hands have had problems tuning on 2020 never mind 5455 (737 ch1). And that includes my current Codan 9350.
When properly installed, the Codans simply don't have those problems.
Can't speak for the Barrett auto tunes, as I've never played with one.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Olcoolone (S.A) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:26
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:26
Our Codan autotune will tune first time, When Phil owned the Electric Bug here in
Adelaide we did a course on
HF radio with him he made special mention about autotuners tuning below 6 Mhz, has something to do with the whip being a little short.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Footloose - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:35
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:35
Yes he is correct. A short whip will cause the aerial to have a higher, lower frequency limit. The Barrett has a quite long whip, longer than the Codans. I wouldn't have thought there would be a problem with them unless the internal relays get dirty or whatever.
The emergency Codan whip, the shorter steel ones , won't go down to 2 meg. At least in my experience. So I make sure that I use and test with the f/g whip.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Serg (VIC) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:51
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:51
Olcoolone
“Get along piece of electrical wire (3 to 4 meters) and fasten to the top is the autotune..see if that makes a differance.”
I *GUARANTEE* you that you right. But it not the point. Autotuner *MUST* tune properly on each and every frequency, otherwise something wrong. I can experiment with longer antennas at home as much as I like, but frankly I like to avoid such experiments outback in situation when I need it.
Footloose
Exactly the same with Barrett RE: shorter whit – Barrett does not autotune on 2020 with short whip and it is normal. But with standard whip (actually it is a tad shorter then Codan one as far as I observed in dealer store) that is a bit more then 2 mt it *MUST* tune on any frequency without any hesitations.
Cheers
Serg
FollowupID:
578195
Reply By: Peter 2 - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 18:12
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 18:12
Serg
don't wish to create more problems but not tuning on one frequency can easily be a crook coax/connection, crook ground connection between antenna and battery earth or crook antenna to name a few.
AnswerID:
312212
Follow Up By: Member - Serg (VIC) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:58
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:58
Peter,
I am very certain that it is autotuner fault. It does not tune with long whip between 5.1 and 5.8, but tunes on all other frequencies. At the same time it tunes on CH1 with shorter whip without hesitation, but has problems with 11 and 14 MHz instead.
Cheers
Serg
FollowupID:
578197
Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 18:28
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 18:28
BIG Hugs Serg, do ya feel better now?? :-))
If you're lucky others may offer a hug also then it will be a real BIG group hug.
AnswerID:
312216
Follow Up By: Member - William B (The Shire) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:19
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:19
I'm with you
John, You and I can start the group hug.
Who,s going to join us to support Serg?????????? "'_==))
William
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Serg (VIC) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:59
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:59
Oh, thanks a lot, mates. You put balm on my wounds :-))))))
Serg
FollowupID:
578198
Reply By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 22:14
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 22:14
Serg - has the whole kit been sent back to Barrett (remote, main radio unit and the autotune) ? .... or just parts ? by the way - I've had the 910 autotune apart - its very complex inside - quite amazing they take so much punishment in the field, but take it they do (as a rule).
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 22:21
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 22:21
Should have added - the early models of Barrett autotunes had an issue with moisture ingress (not all - some) - depending on field work, some developed hairline cracks around the threaded whip bolt at the top - temperature changes created a partial vacuum in wet weather (the unit is sealed overall) - in went the water, creating havoc. I believe the current blue polymer units have eliminated that issue for good.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: KSV. - Thursday, Jun 26, 2008 at 05:56
Thursday, Jun 26, 2008 at 05:56
Hi Darian!
They took autotune (mine is 510) and radio. I have secondhand set and there was problem with moisture with autotune. They fixed it and also replaced case – so now I have bluish stronger one. Actually this is third time when it getting back to Barrett in 3 month! And this is without any heavy usage. It is gotta be something wrong with it. BTW I seen disassembled autotune and radio. Latest one look rather plain and I honestly believe that autotuner most complicated part in whole set.
Cheers
Serg
FollowupID:
578247