Vertex VX-6000 Strange Problem Need Help

[wqsg243]

I am having a couple strange problems with the VX-6000 UHF 100w radio in my vehicle and I am stumped. Hoping someone can help.

If the vehicle is turned off and I transmit with the radio, it shuts off, then powers right back up. If I start the vehicle and it's idling, the radio will also power down and come right back on. If I increase the RPM's of the vehicle and transmit, the radio will stay powered on.

So my first thought was - the radio isn't getting enough voltage. I'm running 2 10ga wires for power directly to the battery and 2 10ga wires for ground to the chassis. Checked all my connections. Everything was tight and clean. Load tested the battery and it shows "ok" (truck starts fine every time). I'm stumped.

Another strange issue I noticed, and I'm not sure if its an issue or not. If the radio is powered up, and I unscrew and disconnect the antenna from the radio, the radio powers down. Is this some sort of grounding problem?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[wqsg243]

Problem Solved!

It was a grounding issue. The ground I was using apparently wasn’t good enough. Sanded some paint off under the rear seat and made a new grounding point. Radio works great now. Thanks Bill.

 

[MBill]

Good troubleshooting. I have run into this issue at times. Always turned out to be that the radio was
not getting enough amps. Either power source couldn't provide proper amps, or bad connector or
connection point for ground or positive lead.
Even seen where radio will transmit OK on one or more channels, but power off and on on a another
single channel when transmitting.

 

[lmrtek]

That tells me you had all that current running through the coax and rg58 can't handle much current.
......
I would do a swr check first thing
.....
I've seen rg58 melted under similar circumstances with lower power radios.
......
That's why i never liked having fuses on the negative radio lead.
If the fuse blows, radio current is drawn through the coax and it can easily heat up and melt.