VHF Squelch problem but only on remote station.

RogerRat

RogerRat

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This is one of those annoying ones. I hope someone out there has had a similar experience and found the cure.

I recently installed a new two station DSC 'M-Tech' VHF base unit at the lower helm and a RM101 remote up on the Fly. The base unit works 100% in all functions while there has been a continual issue with the squelch function up top.

When the set is on the display shows 'Busy' all the time and the background hiss is continuous. Even with the squelch set to maximum, it's not possible to get silence. :ambivalence:

The supplying dealer replaced the remote unit and also included another connecting lead. On receipt of the old unit, no fault was found and to prove the point the new one had the same problem as soon as I turned it on. I also connected the unit via the new lead and found no difference suggesting it's not a connection issue.


Can anyone offer suggestions as to what may be causing this interference and any steps to resolve the issue??:confused:

Any advice greatly appreciated.:encouragement:


RR
 
RogerRat said:
This is one of those annoying ones. I hope someone out there has had a similar experience and found the cure.

I recently installed a new two station DSC 'M-Tech' VHF base unit at the lower helm and a RM101 remote up on the Fly. The base unit works 100% in all functions while there has been a continual issue with the squelch function up top.

When the set is on the display shows 'Busy' all the time and the background hiss is continuous. Even with the squelch set to maximum, it's not possible to get silence. :ambivalence:

The supplying dealer replaced the remote unit and also included another connecting lead. On receipt of the old unit, no fault was found and to prove the point the new one had the same problem as soon as I turned it on. I also connected the unit via the new lead and found no difference suggesting it's not a connection issue.


Can anyone offer suggestions as to what may be causing this interference and any steps to resolve the issue??:confused:

Any advice greatly appreciated.:encouragement:


RR
Click to expand...

on mine, the remote squelch setting only works when the remote mic is out of the holder. When back in the holder it reverts to the lower help squelch setting.

if you squelch it correctly downstairs, are you still getting an RX upstairs?
 
Is it on one channel?

I have just installed an existing radio in a new boat to me. Squelch remains open on channel 16 but is ok on other channels. I am assuming that something on the new boat is generating RF noise around 156.800Mhz as the radio was fine on the previous boat. New boat has lots of electronic gizmos.

Martin
 
Thanks for the ideas chaps.

The noise is on ALL channels, if it was just 16 or 72 then it could be the channel is busy but not in this case.

The mic/remote is not affected by being in its own cradle, it is only a holding clip. The lower unit has its own squelch setting and is fine. It has no effect on the upper helm unit.

There are also no more gizmos up than there are down too.

Unfortunately, spectrum analyser are not standard items in most peoples lazarette, nice idea tho.:nonchalance:


Confusing eh?

Looks like I might have to get professional help here as there's nothing obvious left to check. :ambivalence:

RR
 
I had exactly the same problem with the same setup on the boat I've just sold. Sadly can't offer an explanation as that was one of the jobs I never go around to sorting out. It did vary though, sometimes it was possible to squelch it out but on occasions it wasn't. I had two radios so thought the IF from one may have been interfering with the other hence not being too worried other than sometimes it was annoying.
 
RogerRat said:
Thanks for the ideas chaps.

The noise is on ALL channels, if it was just 16 or 72 then it could be the channel is busy but not in this case.

The mic/remote is not affected by being in its own cradle, it is only a holding clip. The lower unit has its own squelch setting and is fine. It has no effect on the upper helm unit.

There are also no more gizmos up than there are down too.

Unfortunately, spectrum analyser are not standard items in most peoples lazarette, nice idea tho.:nonchalance:


Confusing eh?

Looks like I might have to get professional help here as there's nothing obvious left to check. :ambivalence:

RR
Click to expand...

If the supplier has replaced the remote, and the connecting lead, and the base station squelches down ok (ie there's no overwhelming third-party signal) then surely the only thing that's left is that there is a fault with the remote connection in the base station? I'd try swapping out the base station.
 
RogerRat said:
Thanks for the ideas chaps.

The noise is on ALL channels, if it was just 16 or 72 then it could be the channel is busy but not in this case.

The mic/remote is not affected by being in its own cradle, it is only a holding clip. The lower unit has its own squelch setting and is fine. It has no effect on the upper helm unit.

There are also no more gizmos up than there are down too.

Unfortunately, spectrum analyser are not standard items in most peoples lazarette, nice idea tho.:nonchalance:


Confusing eh?

Looks like I might have to get professional help here as there's nothing obvious left to check. :ambivalence:

RR
Click to expand...

One station must be a master and there will be a magnet in the clip i reckon so it knows when its in the cradle. Mine does but the clip looks nothing special.
 
Thanks Jimmy,
That does sound logical doesn't it? As the main base unit functions in all other areas, perhaps it's just a connection in the multi-pin connection plug/socket.

Thanks Mark,
I know what you mean about a proximity sensor via magnet but in this case, the clip has no ability to address the remote handset and both units can power up and down with independent DSC, Vol, Squelch and channel selection etc.

I will checkout connections before trying to go for a main unit exchange tho. :o

Cheers.
 
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