Radio acting up

Intermittent problems are the worst to troubleshoot. I assume this problem just started happening. Here are some generic ideas to eliminate possibilities;

- Is the push to talk switch intermittent and while bouncing around in a thermal you are effectively not transmitting part of the time? Clue: does it also happen on the ground without bouncing?
- Microphone can also become intermittent while bouncing around in the air.
- Try replacing your battery with another from a friend (lithium would be best). Even though you said you had a fully charged battery, transmitting is the heaviest current use you have (except maybe a transponder) and if the battery voltage droops too much it can stop transmitting. Then the voltage rebounds and you start transmitting again. Repeat ad infinitum.
- Is it interference? Shut off all other avionics, varios, etc.
- Antenna? Temporarily replace the glider's antenna with a portable's "rubber duckie" antenna. If the glider's antenna is bad check or replace the BNC connector as a first step.

Anyone else have some troubleshooting tips?

Ultimately, you may need to send the transceiver to a shop for a bench test.. Make sure they know Beckers and that you tell them about your symptoms. Good luck. Report back!

On Thursday, October 22, 2015 at 10:10:56 AM UTC-7, Six-Seven Romeo wrote:
Intermittent problems are the worst to troubleshoot. I assume this problem just started happening. Here are some generic ideas to eliminate possibilities;

- Is the push to talk switch intermittent and while bouncing around in a thermal you are effectively not transmitting part of the time? Clue: does it also happen on the ground without bouncing?
- Microphone can also become intermittent while bouncing around in the air.

If you have a friend with the same radio, and known working, swap radios
and see if the problem stays with your glider or moves to his.

On 10/22/2015 12:43 PM, Matt Herron Jr. wrote:
On Thursday, October 22, 2015 at 10:10:56 AM UTC-7, Six-Seven Romeo wrote:
Intermittent problems are the worst to troubleshoot. I assume this problem just started happening. Here are some generic ideas to eliminate possibilities;

- Is the push to talk switch intermittent and while bouncing around in a thermal you are effectively not transmitting part of the time? Clue: does it also happen on the ground without bouncing?
- Microphone can also become intermittent while bouncing around in the air.
- Try replacing your battery with another from a friend (lithium would be best). Even though you said you had a fully charged battery, transmitting is the heaviest current use you have (except maybe a transponder) and if the battery voltage droops too much it can stop transmitting. Then the voltage rebounds and you start transmitting again. Repeat ad infinitum.
- Is it interference? Shut off all other avionics, varios, etc.
- Antenna? Temporarily replace the glider's antenna with a portable's "rubber duckie" antenna. If the glider's antenna is bad check or replace the BNC connector as a first step.

Anyone else have some troubleshooting tips?

Ultimately, you may need to send the transceiver to a shop for a bench test. Make sure they know Beckers and that you tell them about your symptoms. Good luck. Report back!
Check your radio chassis grounding, and make sure it is very secure.

Matt H

--
Dan, 5J