Hi, just had two NX 700s die within a week. Both radios have a dark band across the display, radios beep when powered up but no button function or tx/rx. Neither radios can be accessed by the software. Has anyone seen this before? I am afraid both radios just ran out of warranty. Thanks
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2 NX700s dead
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mmckenna
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I have not seen that or experienced it myself. I've got an NX700 in my work truck, and about 50 NX-900's in my fleet. No issues with them.
Any external/internal accessories?
How are they wired?
Something common between the radios, set up, vehicles, etc?
Any external/internal accessories?
How are they wired?
Something common between the radios, set up, vehicles, etc?
I have about 20 of these out in locomotive service. The only accessory is a kpg-36 mic. The only thing different about these installations is that the radios are powered by either a samlex or wilmore dc-dc converter. Prior to installing these NXs I ran tk-780s for years without incident. I don't have time to really tear into one of these radios and will probably send them to Kenwood for repair. I just hope this is not something that will become a issue. The Class 1 railroads are all using NX 700s in AAR radios and having fits with them. I always thought the problems they were experiencing were caused by the AAR control head they added to the radio.
Wait, what are "AAR control heads"? Are these Ritron or JEM clean cabs or are you talking about something else?
yes, the Ritron, Jem, Wabtec, and GE radios, also known as Clean Cab Radios, are what I am referring to. Each of those radios has either a Kenwood or Icom radio inside along with a DC-DC converter and a control head that limits the function of the radio to a standard AAR(Association of American Railroads) operation. Each radio is identical in size and connections are standardized so each locomotive uses the same radio.
OK. So I'll throw the same thing out, "never seen that before" with any NX700 radios. So since the radio is an engine to a custom configuration, I would think Kenwood might just give you the deer in the headlights thing if you contact them. Your best bet is to call the company that built it and discuss it with them.
I've never had to deal with the new clean cabs (for what we've done it's just been a straight NX in locomotives with existing dc converters) and I don't know how cobbled they are as far as firmware and programming. I know Icom has special RR software and probably applies to the clean cabs a well.
I've never had to deal with the new clean cabs (for what we've done it's just been a straight NX in locomotives with existing dc converters) and I don't know how cobbled they are as far as firmware and programming. I know Icom has special RR software and probably applies to the clean cabs a well.
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I read this as him using standalone radios compared to the "other" lines using the AAR's.
mmckenna
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I wonder if it's a vibration thing? I've got about 50 of the NX-900 (800MHz version) that have been in use for about 2 years, and no complaints. A few of them are in garbage and roll off trucks, but those probably don't take the beating that a locomotive would.
I am using the radio with the DC-DC converters. The radio serial numbers are within one thousand of each other so I am wondering if Kenwood got a bad Part run. I will be sending these off to someone for repair. I checked and they are out of warranty.
I haven't seen an AAR clean-cab installation of an NX-700 in person, but I'm wondering if the clean-cab housing includes some vibration isolation. That said, if the OP has his NX-700s mounted directly to the control stand with no vibration isolation, then I think vibration may be a potential problem.
I also wonder about the DC-DC converters. Is there something that Ritron, Jem, et al, are doing to provide additional filtering of the DC power to the radio?
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