irl2605
New member
Well just tried testing with emergency Aerial and same result .. So phone call to Raymarine tomorrow . Will let you know how that goes ...
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Raymarine VHF problem
- Thread starter Magaz97
- Start date
Nostrodamus
New member
The local dealer here sent my 54E to the main dealer in Lisbon.
They have just e mailed me to say that it dos not receive and have put a brand new one in the post to me....
They have just e mailed me to say that it dos not receive and have put a brand new one in the post to me....
irl2605
New member
Result.. 
Nostrodamus
New member
Result..
Better than I expected as the radio is 2 and a half years old. What is embarrassing is the fact that I was cursing various marinas for not answering me and thinking it was very quiet on the radio in Portugal.
On the downside I now have to listen to the fishermen babbling on.
ifoxwell
Member
I know im digging up an old thread but I have a 54e thats got this same fault. Transmits fine but only recieves with the squelch off. Its well outside warrenty so it doesn't seem fair to make a claim and I dont want to spend loads on a repair when I can get a new set, all be it a different make, for less than £100.
So does any one on here know enough about the problem to advise me on a diy fix, or perhaps a cheap repair option?
Cheers
Ian
So does any one on here know enough about the problem to advise me on a diy fix, or perhaps a cheap repair option?
Cheers
Ian
tawhiri
Member
I have a Raymarine handheld which experiences similar problems. It does receive but the volume is very very low. I wonder if they use the same components on the receive path?
Nostrodamus
New member
In my set it was the crystal that was faulty. It was a very quick repair but mine was under warranty so I don't know the cost. Since then it has been fine
ifoxwell
Member
Any idea were this chrystal is? I dont mind having a go but dont have a clue were to start.
Cheers
Ian
Cheers
Ian
dslittle
Well-known member
Mine is with Raymarine as we speak for the same problem. Just been quoted £134 for the repair. Obviously it is now out of warranty despite a a Raymarine agent replacing my masthead aerial to solve the problem WHILST it was still in warranty. Apparently, it is not a 'known problem'...
Nostrodamus
New member
It is a known problem as it has been mentioned numerous times before in this forum.
With mine it was transmitting but not recieving and the dealer who fixed it immediately said "the crystal"
As I said after replacing it under warrantee there was no problem.
As I remember there was a batch where the crystals were faulty.
Mine is now 4 or 5 years old.
dial-a-monkey
New member
From my posting a bit back ....
It may be the "common problem" with these radios - The ceramic filters fail due to bad design( The filter components are DC biased - which they shouldn't be)
The symptoms are: Transmits but doesn't receive - or reception none - > very poor and deteriorates over time... some more information here.. http://sv8ym.blogspot.gr/2010/10/mor...e-ts-2000.html
Some manufacturers of VHF radios replace the filters for free but Raymarine have decided to charge the cost of their mistake to you at a healthy 110? Euros which is basically the cost of a better radio.
It's also possible (as some boat builders like Beneteau don't install the antenna cable with grommets) that the shield insulation for the antenna cable is damaged and is earthed (In the radio the shield is connected to the negative terminal and then through damage to the insulation via the mast lightening ground) - anodes disappearing fast??!! The extra power of transmit makes it out but the electrical noise picked up from mast and put onto the shield - drowns (balances~?) out the receive signals.
I would, before you do anything else, just stick a opened wire coat hanger( you will get reasonable reception) into the central bit of the antenna plug on the back of your radio and get a mate to call you - if you can hear signal then it's your antenna system/cable at fault - Otherwise - it could be bad ceramic filters( they don't last so replacing them isn't a bad move?)
Replacing the ceramic filters is very fiddly and takes a steady hand - they are tiny, involves some very basic electronic knowledge - but the parts are very cheap - and have to be sourced from china - there's little risk if you need to buy another radio anyway ( it's the receive side of the radio - so no risk that you will cause unwanted interference to other VHF users - does NOT require any re-tuning or recalibration after fixing) - takes a couple of hours. You can see if it was the filters when you get them off - breaking one apart and you will see a lot of corrosion around or on the plates.
The Filters are LTM450 you need 2, they are in the Intermediate Frequency stage of the radio
If you need pics - or instructions, I might even have a couple of the parts spare..I'm happy to help
It may be the "common problem" with these radios - The ceramic filters fail due to bad design( The filter components are DC biased - which they shouldn't be)
The symptoms are: Transmits but doesn't receive - or reception none - > very poor and deteriorates over time... some more information here.. http://sv8ym.blogspot.gr/2010/10/mor...e-ts-2000.html
Some manufacturers of VHF radios replace the filters for free but Raymarine have decided to charge the cost of their mistake to you at a healthy 110? Euros which is basically the cost of a better radio.
It's also possible (as some boat builders like Beneteau don't install the antenna cable with grommets) that the shield insulation for the antenna cable is damaged and is earthed (In the radio the shield is connected to the negative terminal and then through damage to the insulation via the mast lightening ground) - anodes disappearing fast??!! The extra power of transmit makes it out but the electrical noise picked up from mast and put onto the shield - drowns (balances~?) out the receive signals.
I would, before you do anything else, just stick a opened wire coat hanger( you will get reasonable reception) into the central bit of the antenna plug on the back of your radio and get a mate to call you - if you can hear signal then it's your antenna system/cable at fault - Otherwise - it could be bad ceramic filters( they don't last so replacing them isn't a bad move?)
Replacing the ceramic filters is very fiddly and takes a steady hand - they are tiny, involves some very basic electronic knowledge - but the parts are very cheap - and have to be sourced from china - there's little risk if you need to buy another radio anyway ( it's the receive side of the radio - so no risk that you will cause unwanted interference to other VHF users - does NOT require any re-tuning or recalibration after fixing) - takes a couple of hours. You can see if it was the filters when you get them off - breaking one apart and you will see a lot of corrosion around or on the plates.
The Filters are LTM450 you need 2, they are in the Intermediate Frequency stage of the radio
If you need pics - or instructions, I might even have a couple of the parts spare..I'm happy to help
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ifoxwell
Member
Im happy to give it a go so pics and parts would be very much appreciated
Ian
Ian
Nostrodamus
New member
Dial a monkey.
I have a problem in that I need to turn the internal speaker off when I am using the external cockpit speakers as it is far too loud, especially at night when others are trying to sleep. Is there an easy way?
I have a problem in that I need to turn the internal speaker off when I am using the external cockpit speakers as it is far too loud, especially at night when others are trying to sleep. Is there an easy way?
dial-a-monkey
New member
No prob Ian, I'll PM you - we're in the ***-wops at the moment so It will be a few days - before I'm anywhere near a post office..
I'll find the photos I made of the board and bits..But it's not a difficult procedure.
What would be handy for the operation would be one of those lighted magnifying glasses as there are - on my 49E - parts very close to the filters so it takes a steady hand and a fine tip soldering iron not to get the solder across unwanted pins.
The other pain is Raymarine weatherproofed the power + NMEA cables with what looks like Sikaflex glue - so it took quite a bit of careful digging first with a dremmel and then an tiny screw driver to get the cables free to be able to remove the circuit board to get at the filters underneath the main board.
I will check the Schematic diagram for the Raymarine 54 (Thanks to nigelmercier) and get some instructions together for you.
I'll find the photos I made of the board and bits..But it's not a difficult procedure.
What would be handy for the operation would be one of those lighted magnifying glasses as there are - on my 49E - parts very close to the filters so it takes a steady hand and a fine tip soldering iron not to get the solder across unwanted pins.
The other pain is Raymarine weatherproofed the power + NMEA cables with what looks like Sikaflex glue - so it took quite a bit of careful digging first with a dremmel and then an tiny screw driver to get the cables free to be able to remove the circuit board to get at the filters underneath the main board.
I will check the Schematic diagram for the Raymarine 54 (Thanks to nigelmercier) and get some instructions together for you.
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dial-a-monkey
New member
Nostrodamus do you also have the 54?
Nostrodamus
New member
No, I have the 55E.
dial-a-monkey
New member
I'll take a look at the circuit diagram and get back to you.
dial-a-monkey
New member
Hi Nostrodamus - Hey I'm sorry I've looked and I don't have any technical info on the 55E -
My 49E has an external speaker out cable which I can plug into my radio/stereo system aux's input..I can then mute the inside cabin or outside cockpit using the stereo volume balance controls ( it has F-R balance as well as R-L) -
But I guess to do this you may have to disable the internal speaker..
I haven't tested if using the VHF's external audio out automatically disables the internal speaker - it might? (It would be worthwhile checking in the user manual if this is the case)
Otherwise you would have to pull apart the radio to wire in a something like 3.5mm audio socket into the internal speaker wires that could mute the internal speaker if is plugged into the AUX of your stereo - Not difficult.
My 49E has an external speaker out cable which I can plug into my radio/stereo system aux's input..I can then mute the inside cabin or outside cockpit using the stereo volume balance controls ( it has F-R balance as well as R-L) -
But I guess to do this you may have to disable the internal speaker..
I haven't tested if using the VHF's external audio out automatically disables the internal speaker - it might? (It would be worthwhile checking in the user manual if this is the case)
Otherwise you would have to pull apart the radio to wire in a something like 3.5mm audio socket into the internal speaker wires that could mute the internal speaker if is plugged into the AUX of your stereo - Not difficult.
Jim@sea
Well-known member
This is the sort of thing which makes me think of only spending £100 on a New DSC VHF Radio. And if it goes wrong bin it and buy another one
fireman_bob
New member
I was able to fix my Ray55 by replacing the filters as dial-a-monkey has indicated. In my radio there were two 455kHz filters (probably one for main receiver and the other for DSC?). I removed/replaced both, but found only one to be bad. The hardest part is getting to the parts to take them out, and putting the radio back together again.
I'm an expert at it now
Thank you for your help dial-a-monkey!!
I'm an expert at it now
Thank you for your help dial-a-monkey!!