VHF not working...

[Sitkaspruce]

So we were listening to the VHF when a notice came over to check the mic as someone was on 16 with an open mike. While the mike was in the holder, I squeezed the transmit button, the VHF quite. No display, nothing. I checked the fuse, it is OK, I checked the wiring to the power box and ground, looks good and tight. I am at a loss

Anybody with any ideas???

It is a one year old Uniden Solarace.

Cheers

SS

[Boats]

Send Stickfish a PM. He is our resident VHF/Radio expert and helped many of us out.

[StickFish]

Could you turn it back on after testing the transmit? Does it turn off after you transmit everytime? Sounds to me like one of two different things.

Start at the antenna, what model is it? If it is a Shakespeare 5206 stop, buy a new Digital Antenna, or at least have the antennas SWR checked with an antenna analyzer. High SWR can cause the radio to shut down to protect itself from burning itself up. The radio puts out RF energy at 50 ohms. If the load of the antenna is any different than 50 ohms, it will have an SWR of something other than 1:1. SWR readings of 4 or 5:1 will probably shut the radio down.

Next, possible that the power leads are loose or not getting enough power. When the radio goes to transmit, it will draw as much as 7amps. If it doesn't get that it will shut down

[Sitkaspruce]

Originally Posted by StickFish

Could you turn it back on after testing the transmit? Does it turn off after you transmit everytime? Sounds to me like one of two different things.

Start at the antenna, what model is it? If it is a Shakespeare 5206 stop, buy a new Digital Antenna, or at least have the antennas SWR checked with an antenna analyzer. High SWR can cause the radio to shut down to protect itself from burning itself up. The radio puts out RF energy at 50 ohms. If the load of the antenna is any different than 50 ohms, it will have an SWR of something other than 1:1. SWR readings of 4 or 5:1 will probably shut the radio down.

Next, possible that the power leads are loose or not getting enough power. When the radio goes to transmit, it will draw as much as 7amps. If it doesn't get that it will shut down

StickFish

Thanks for your reply.

I will check the antenna and see. After I hit the transmit button (which was still in the hanger) the radio just went blank, no LCD, no transmit and when I turned it back on, nothing. I checked it twice more in the next 3 hours, nothing, the same the next day. I checked the wires from the radio to the fuse, then to the power supply and they are all tight and look good.

The wife is rolling her eyes when I mentioned that we might need another antenna

I will let you know. The boat is not at home right now, so I will have to look this weekend.

again thanks

SS

[StickFish]

Still in the hanger - what is the hanger made of and how far away was the antenna. If it isn't even powering up in receive - something far more than high SWR affected the radio. If no lights at all come on, the least of the damage is a diode in the DC board or power regulator circuit. The diode is put there to guard against incorrect wiring, crossed wires and the diode goes away and in some cases a few other components.

Check the leads on you wires for frays and possible frayed connections or a broken power lead (pinched). Check with a volt ohm meter to see if you have good power under load getting to the radio.

If it is wired correctly - somethings the smoke gets let of the circuits that is supposed to stay there. When the smoke gets let out the radio will not work again.

I don't think you have an antenna problem so you wife can smile you probably don't need a new antenna. You might need to repair your radio or buy a new one however.