HT750 Flashing Red LED Near Channel Selector?

[BMDaug]

Hello, I have an HT750 and the LED indicator near the channel selector constantly flashes red. I’ve changed the battery but that makes no difference. Is this an OOR indicator for MDC1200? We don’t use MDC, but some radios were never updated…

Thanks,
B

 

[a417]

Is this an OOR indicator for MDC1200?

MDC is a signalling protocol, not a trunking system. It does not have an "OOR" feature/functionality.

What else does the radio do? Is this right on power up? Is there a stuck key? Wasit programmed recently?

 

[Echo4Thirty]

Have you checked your squelch settings? IIRC the radio will blink red upon detecting a carrier.

 

[BMDaug]

MDC is a signalling protocol, not a trunking system. It does not have an "OOR" feature/functionality.

What else does the radio do? Is this right on power up? Is there a stuck key? Wasit programmed recently?

Thanks! I’ve never dug that deep into what MDC can and can’t do. I’ve used it for unit ID and that’s about it! I didn’t know if there was any feedback or confirmation that the a transmission was received…

@Echo4Thirty so it does this constantly and I can monitor the channel and it’s just static and no other units receive transmissions that this unit misses…

Even while monitor is on it will continuously flash red. Changed batteries several times. Other units are happy with the batteries.

Thanks,
Brian

 

[a417]

Thanks! I’ve never dug that deep into what MDC can and can’t do. I’ve used it for unit ID and that’s about it! I didn’t know if there was any feedback or confirmation that the a transmission was received…

OOR & Loss of Signal components are usually found in subscriber trunking systems. MDC1200 is not in any way a trunking system, but it does allow for some basic features found in most trunking systems to be provided to analog/conventional systems.

 

[a417]

IIRC the radio will blink red upon detecting a carrier.

Was it blinking red or blinking yellow? I can't remember.

 

[JethrowJohnson]

Was it blinking red or blinking yellow? I can't remember.

Red.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Remove the antenna. Does it still blink? If so check your carrier/noise squelch settings in the radio.

 

[RodStrong]

it may be picking up some sort of nearby noise. Does it happen no matter what the location of the radio is? Or perhaps just where you normally park it, or where the charger is? Does it happen on multiple channels? Regardless, I doubt it's anything to worry about. I've had numerous radios over the years (and still do) that randomly do that. Most often in my office, which has a bird's nest of electronic garbage in the air.

 

[BMDaug]

Thanks for all the suggestions! It hasn’t been programmed recently to my knowledge. We use these seasonally. It’s the same one I had last year and it didn’t do this.

It is a constant red flash beginning immediately after power on. The location doesn’t matter. I took the radio around with me today, visiting several different buildings and the property surrounding them and the flashing never stopped.

It does happen on every channel at all times and even if I long press and lock monitor on, it will return to the red flash while in monitor. The only time it stops is when it is illuminated solid red while transmitting.

I will try removing the antenna next time I’m there. The other three identical radios in our department never do this, even when sitting next to each other on the counter. I will say that whatever it is, the battery drains more quickly. I rotated the batteries between the radios yesterday and today and whatever battery is in this particular radio drains fastest.

Thanks again everyone! I’ll just keep using it. I just like to know what status lights mean and I didn’t expect it to be such a head scratcher!

-B

 

[com501]

Is auto-scan enabled?

 

[BMDaug]

Is auto-scan enabled?

Thanks for the reply! All the 750s we have flash green when scanning. They all received the same code plug and only ol’ red blinky does this. Removing the antenna makes no difference and even when monitoring, the pattern and frequency remain the same…

It’s a conundrum!

-B

 

[a417]

When's the last time it saw a service monitor?

 

[BMDaug]

When's the last time it saw a service monitor?

Now that’s a question I can’t answer. It likely depends upon when the last knob broke. It seems that the radios live their lives under the assumption that everything is fine until a knob snaps or the radio becomes completely non-functional. Then and only then does the radio for service.

The repeaters are serviced regularly, but the portables, not so much (to my understanding).

-B

 

[a417]

the front end could be so horribly out of tune that's just wide open.

 

[mmckenna]

If you have programming software, set up a channel for carrier squelch and see what it does.
Or, if you have the "open squelch" button set up, try that and see what you hear.

But, as others have pointed out, these radios are likely old enough to legally drink. If they haven't had a visit to Mr. Service Monitor in a while, you owe it to those being searched and rescued to get that done.

 

[BMDaug]

If you have programming software, set up a channel for carrier squelch and see what it does.
Or, if you have the "open squelch" button set up, try that and see what you hear.

But, as others have pointed out, these radios are likely old enough to legally drink. If they haven't had a visit to Mr. Service Monitor in a while, you owe it to those being searched and rescued to get that done.

So luckily, these are used at the ski area I work at, and all the radios this old are used for totally non emergency comms. There is no potential danger to life or property. The ski patrol use more modern equipment and we simple office folk get the hand-me-downs.

This is also why I’m at a bit of a loss as far as how the radios are set up and maintained. It’s literally not department… but the property guys know I’m into radios. I really appreciate your concern!!! If this were SAR, I’d know the score!

@a417 that’s totally possible, but it does RX just as well as the rest of the 750s. I’m sure an alignment is in order regardless!

I really appreciate the ideas and advice guys!!

-Brian

 

[mmckenna]

So luckily, these are used at the ski area I work at, and all the radios this old are used for totally non emergency comms. There is no potential danger to life or property. The ski patrol use more modern equipment and we simple office folk get the hand-me-downs.

OK, good to hear.
Some groups are running on really tight budgets and will either buy old radios for their SAR teams, or want members to buy their own. Neither is a good solution, but sounds like you know that.

For admin use, and considering how much these radios are worth, I'd take that one offending radio and use it for spare parts. Repairing a radio that old is possible, but it might be hard to find a reputable shop that'll do it. Bench time runs close to or over a hundred bucks an hour, so it might be less expensive to just buy a new/old radio and let this one slip off into retirement.

 

[BMDaug]

OK, good to hear.
Some groups are running on really tight budgets and will either buy old radios for their SAR teams, or want members to buy their own. Neither is a good solution, but sounds like you know that.

For admin use, and considering how much these radios are worth, I'd take that one offending radio and use it for spare parts. Repairing a radio that old is possible, but it might be hard to find a reputable shop that'll do it. Bench time runs close to or over a hundred bucks an hour, so it might be less expensive to just buy a new/old radio and let this one slip off into retirement.

Ya, if it were my call, I’d take it out of service. Unfortunately, I’m stuck with it until it won’t TX/RX. I have a system on my Harris programmed to match the 750, but I don’t officially have permission to do that so transmitting would technically be against FCC regulations. They would never know, but I don’t like the idea…

I do use my own radios for SAR, which is my choice and not SOP, but I have them aligned annually and maintained by my Harris dealer. I don’t take shortcuts with that stuff! I actually supplement the SAR comms options quite nicely with the Tait TB9100, and one of the XG100Ms having the Pyramid SVR250. I just had WIA coordinate the VHF repeater pair so I’ll have that pair, two VHF simplex channels (one will be for the SVR), plus a couple of UHF simplex and a VHF and UHF state-wide itinerate.

I just need an intermod panel for the repeater and I’ll be really solid. I licensed everything (except the itinerates) MO6 and FB6 with talkaround, so I’m extra legit with allowing use of the equipment for “non-internal company use”.

-Brian

 

[com501]

Vail resorts still has about 4000 of these. At least they send them in for maintenance and PMs. I feel your pain.