Raymarine VHF problem

[Magaz97]

My Raymarine 54e DSC VHF set will transmit, but will not pick up any incoming transmissions. Even from a boat alongside.

There is no static / carrier wave. Although the set beeps etc when I change settings. I have adjusted the volume and squelch controls and even tried a factory reset. Nothing seems to help. It seems like the set has switched itself onto 'MUTE' without me knowing.
Has anyone got any experience of this, or can anyone suggest a fix?

Many thanks

 

[nigelmercier]

Possibly dirt in the external speaker socket? Try plugging in some headphones.

 

[multihullsailor6]

My Raymarine 54e DSC VHF set will transmit, but will not pick up any incoming transmissions. Even from a boat alongside.

We had that same situation last year with a four year old Raymarine DSC VHF radio. Turned out to be the receive filter which the elctronics shop in the Brest marina changed for €100.

 

[rosssavage]

Not good news... Mine did a similar thing, but intermittently. Sent it back to Raymarine under warranty but they couldn't reproduce the fault.

Lived with it for another year (it was very sporadic..) then sent it back again.

To raymarines supreme credit, they replaced the unit FOC even though the warranty had expired.

First port of call - talk to Raymarine and hae a chat. Their customer service (in my experience) is second to none.

 

[moonshine]

I have 55E in the local Raymarine agent for something like the same issue. Agent says it is the 'crystal oscillator' which has gone awol. Apparently it is temperature sensitive, and is a known issue ?
The VHF has been with the agent now for 3weeks + and Raymarine have not / will not supply the part. Raymarine would charge £160 to repair and return.

 

[Magaz97]

Many thanks for the replies.

 

[Nostrodamus]

I have exactly the same fault with my 55E.
everything seems to be working apart from it is just not receiving.
Using my hand-held i can see it is transmitting but just wont receive.
My radio is about 3 years old.
Should I ask Raymarine to fix it and should I have to pay if it is a known fault.
Anyone else had the same happen?

 

[Mistroma]

My 55E was new in 2009 and used from August onwards but I think it was faulty when new. I only used the radio to call a couple of marinas and they both said they were having problems so I initially thought the set was OK. However, I then found out that I only received when squelch was off (i.e. continual loud hiss). The cut off was very sharp with a tiny movement of the squelch going from loud hiss with ability to hear messages to no hiss but no reception.

I left the set with the local dealer at the end of the season as he said Raymarine would replace it. I was still chasing him up in spring but did eventually get a "new" radio (no box, just a radio). It had little use in 2010 and early part of 2011 due to reduced sailing (family issues). Then it gave problems with reception & transmission at end of the season. I found that the antenna connection was poor (corroded wiring & choc. box type connector).

I put in a proper connection under the mast support and tested with an SWR meter. Readings were fine so I thought all was OK.

However, I'm having problems again with poor reception & transmission power. I suspect that the dealer gave me back the original set and it had an intermittent problem.

I don't think it is the aerial as SWR was OK and I've tried connecting handheld & AIS to it with good results.

One thing I've noticed now is that I get a large amount of noise from the R55E on 16 when I use the handheld on deck to call on another channel (e.g. 9 or 12).

I wonder if there might be a loose antenna connection inside the set and that might explain the cross channel noise I get when using the handheld. Does that sound likely? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

PS Sorry about the length of the message but I thought that the original problem might be related to the latest one.

 

[TJ_Benetau34]

Found the same problem on my 3 year old Ray55 this week. Can receive when squelch is in the noise area, also able to listen to the weather channels. Tried another antenna and cable, still the same problem. Transmit is OK.
I asked Raymarine for support, they will charge a flat rate repair of $175 + shipping and insurance. Found a new unit for $241 on internet and by registering on Raymarine's web I get 3 years warranty, so that's an easy choice.
Now I have given the unit to a few tech guys at work and told them to play around. If they can fix it great, if not I'll buy a new unit. Will let them know about your comments, they already mentioned filters. Thanks.

 

[Nostrodamus]

Found the same problem on my 3 year old Ray55 this week. Can receive when squelch is in the noise area, also able to listen to the weather channels. Tried another antenna and cable, still the same problem. Transmit is OK.
I asked Raymarine for support, they will charge a flat rate repair of $175 + shipping and insurance. Found a new unit for $241 on internet and by registering on Raymarine's web I get 3 years warranty, so that's an easy choice.
Now I have given the unit to a few tech guys at work and told them to play around. If they can fix it great, if not I'll buy a new unit. Will let them know about your comments, they already mentioned filters. Thanks.

I was reading somewhere else of the same problem and it was found that it was a crystal causing the problems.

Still no reply from Raymarine to see if mine is in warranty. Guess they are waiting until it is out of date before they reply. The previous owner had it fitted and I doubt he registered it.

 

[Arida]

2nd Conversion XTAL

If TX is ok but RX faulty then one of the most likely causes is the RX second conversion crystal. In my experience (work not hobby) they can often go intermittent/temperature dependant rather than fail completely.

Although there are exceptions, there are a small number of very common first and second IF frequencies used in these radios and therefore the second conversion crystal is likely to also be on a commonly available frequency. Physical package might be something weird and wonderful, but for a one off repair it should normally possible to bodge something else onto the board.

If you want to let me know the frequency (and ideally package) of the faulty crystal I will see if I can find one.

Regards,

Rob

 

[nigelmercier]

Most of the replies seem to ignore the fact that there is no sound at all. To me this looks like an audio output problem, hence my first suggestion about a bad contact in the speaker.

 

[Arida]

But it beeps!

Most of the replies seem to ignore the fact that there is no sound at all. To me this looks like an audio output problem, hence my first suggestion about a bad contact in the speaker.

The OP says that it beeps when he presses buttons. I don't know this particular radio but I think it is rare to include a secondary sounder for this purpose, hence I would tend to discount audio output problems. Could be wrong though....

Rob

 

[Nostrodamus]

The OP says that it beeps when he presses buttons. I don't know this particular radio but I think it is rare to include a secondary sounder for this purpose, hence I would tend to discount audio output problems. Could be wrong though....

Rob

I know it is not my audio as when I turn the squelch up I hear the noise. I can also transmit, just not receive.
After two weeks I have eventually just got a reply from Raymarine telling me it is still in warranty so to take it to the nearest dealer. (presumably they don't mean the bloke on the corner selling various substances as I doubt I would see it again)

 

[nigelmercier]

I know it is not my audio as when I turn the squelch up I hear the noise...

So you said it appeared to be muted to confuse the issue?

 

[Nostrodamus]

Nigel,
I think that was the original poster who said that.
With mine I can transmit, here the noise with the squelch but I receive no audible messages at all. I can get alarm on the dsc side but no audio.
I also get AIS with no problem which I believe comes through the same Ariel
I know I am not alone in this problem as others with the same radio have the same problem. You can transmit but get no audible messages.
I believe it is a crystal in the radio set but I am not sure.

 

[nigelmercier]

I think that was the original poster who said that...

That explains a lot, I didn't notice the thread hijack.

 

[Nostrodamus]

That explains a lot, I didn't notice the thread hijack.

Nigel, It was less of a hijack and more of a hop on hop off bus tour where we wanted to go to the same destination but I do thank you for your advice.

 

[irl2605]

Hi All
My 1 year old Raymarine49e has just developed the same problem . So sent it back to the dealer who said they could not find any fault, However when I reinstalled it ... Exactly the same DOH. I can here a strong message faintly if I leave the Squelch on fully and transmitting is loud and clear....

 

[Nostrodamus]

My unit is with a dealer as well being looked at.
There is a problem with some sets as is shown by this thread but Raymarine are hardly liable to admit to it.