Yaesu: Strange VX-6R Behavior

[W6SAE]

Here's another one for those experienced with the VX-6R. I've looked online and have found no mention of this anywhere.

While memory scanning, the radio stopped on Channel "334" and "FFF.FFF" appeared where the frequency usually is. In addition all the icons at the top appeared and the DCS icon was flashing. If I manually tune the radio upward, channels 335, 336, etc., all show "FFF.FFF" as well. Has anyone else out there encountered this?

The low battery indicator had appeared shortly before this happened; other than that, there was no obvious change in the radio's status.

 

[gewecke]

Wow ... that's a new one. I have no idea, as mine hasn't done that ,yet. 73, n9zas

 

[W6SAE]

I think I failed to mention in any of my earlier posts that I bought this one secondhand last week. It has been performing well, with the exception of this new development.

I set it to skip channel 334 during scanning and it seems to work fine. Still, I find the whole thing rather disquieting...

 

[FKimble]

Have you checked the info in that mem slot? Maybe delete and redo the info. Suspect the "low bat" may have played a part.

 

[chief21]

Sounds like a few renegade bits might be causing problems. I'd try a full reset.

- John AC4JK

 

[nd5y]

Maybe that's why the previous owner sold it. It could be a number of things like corrupted memory, defective or failing memory or processor chips or a bad solder joint. Do a hard reset and try to program someting in those channels manually and see what happens.

 

[K5MPH]

Sounds like it may be a corrupt memory slot,try clearing that or do a hole radio reset,good luck......

 

[W6SAE]

I think I may have narrowed it down to the battery itself. I charged it last night. This morning, instead of "CHGFUL" it said "NO BAT." When I unplugged the radio and turned it on, memory slot 334 and "FFF.FFF" were still there; however, after I started a scan it disappeared. When I searched for slot 334, there was nothing in it.

The radio has functioned normally, with the exception of this odd behavior when the battery got very low (I was waiting for the low battery indicator to go from solid to blinking, as per the manual, which didn't happen).

The original owner did state that he had bought a new battery for it last year. I compared it with a Yaesu battery that I just bought as a backup and saw a few minor differences in the labeling: both say FNB-80LI, 7.4V, but the one that came with the radio says it's 1500 mAh, while the one I bought says 1250 mAh. The battery in question says "Vertex Standard" at the bottom, while the one I bought says "Yaesu Musen."

I'm not sure how old the radio is. Could it be that it's an early-production example and that the newer, higher-capacity battery he bought doesn't communicate with it properly? I haven't charged the new battery yet, but I'll do so today and see what happens.

 

[nd5y]

I bought a VX-6R around 2005 or so and got rid of it around 2010 because the stock battery crapped out after about 2 years and the same thing happed with two other replacement batteries. The aftermarket battery I bought from Batteries America was worse than the Yaesu batteries.

 

[W6SAE]

I bought a VX-6R around 2005 or so and got rid of it around 2010 because the stock battery crapped out after about 2 years and the same thing happed with two other replacement batteries. The aftermarket battery I bought from Batteries America was worse than the Yaesu batteries.

I've only had this radio for a week or so. The only issue I've found thus far is the weird behavior described in this thread. I'm not sure how much charge this battery had when I got it.

Based on the serial number, I think this may be a 2005-vintage radio.

 

[W6SAE]

Update

Well, I charged the new battery today. When it was finished it showed "CHGFUL" and the green light was on. From what I can tell at this point, the issue seems to be with the first battery. For whatever reason, it doesn't interact with the radio in the way it's supposed to. It seems to hold a charge, though, so I'll put back it in when the current battery dies and see what happens.

 

[W6SAE]

I spoke too soon. "FFF.FFF" came back and in spades. Some of my memory channels are still there,others say "FFF.FFF", and when I try to scan I get "MS ERR."

I'm going to do what I should have done from the start and try a full reset, as a number of people suggested earlier in the thread.

 

[gewecke]

Did the full reset procedure work? If not, I suggest trying another charging/ power method. Are you using the CD15A desk top charger? If so try powering the radio direct, without the drop in charger. This may not make any difference but unless there's a component failure or firmware issue, I'm wondering if its caused by a variance in voltage? You could also try leaving it on a working frequency you know to be active and see what it does while its monitoring for a couple days. 73, n9zas

 

[W6SAE]

Did the full reset procedure work? If not, I suggest trying another charging/ power method. Are you using the CD15A desk top charger? If so try powering the radio direct, without the drop in charger. This may not make any difference but unless there's a component failure or firmware issue, I'm wondering if its caused by a variance in voltage? You could also try leaving it on a working frequency you know to be active and see what it does while its monitoring for a couple days.

I did the full reset and so far, so good. I don't own the desktop charger so I plug directly into the battery. I've programmed in all my regular frequencies and monitored it for a little while since I reset it. I'll pick one of the more active frequencies and monitor it for a couple days to see what happens. Thanks for the advice!

 

[gewecke]

I did the full reset and so far, so good. I don't own the desktop charger so I plug directly into the battery. I've programmed in all my regular frequencies and monitored it for a little while since I reset it. I'll pick one of the more active frequencies and monitor it for a couple days to see what happens. Thanks for the advice!

. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for ya! :wink: let us know how it likes the reset, hopefully that cured your anomaly. I have the cd15a and its always functioned perfectly. I also learned you can slow charge with it too, by unplugging the power cord from the rear of the desktop charger and insert your vx6r then reconnect it and it will begin to slow charge (green) instead of start the rapid charge mode(red). :wink: 73, n9zas

 

[W6SAE]

Second Update

It seems to be behaving itself. It's been working properly for the last week or so. There was one episode early on where it did it again, but I turned it off and back on and it was gone.

Thanks again to everyone for their input, as well as at least one set of crossed fingers!