Astro Spectra wont scan

[smorris]

I have an Astro Spectra VHF W4. a few days ago, it stopped scanning channels. If I take the radio off scan, I can hear traffic just fine but, put it back on scan and nothing! I have checked my codeplug twice. It just up and stopped scanning just like that. Any suggestions?

 

[KM4WLV]

I have an Astro Spectra VHF W4. a few days ago, it stopped scanning channels. If I take the radio off scan, I can hear traffic just fine but, put it back on scan and nothing! I have checked my codeplug twice. It just up and stopped scanning just like that. Any suggestions?

Have you put the radio into scan programming mode (press & hold scan button until it beeps and indicator starts flashing)? If a channel is in the scan list you should see either PRI or NPRI.

Have you recently disconnected the battery or had any type of electrical issues (assuming it's in a vehicle and not inside)? I had a W5 and when I would disconnect power it would dump the scan list.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

Also make sure HUB required for scanning isn't enabled.

 

[smorris]

Yup, I’ve checked all that. The channels I want to scan are in my scan list and there is a scan list assigned to those channels. I put the radio into scan and no scan even though the scan indicator is on under the scan button. Like I said, it just up and stopped working. Everything else works fine. TX is strong and RX is full quieting. I wonder if it’s a cap issue.

 

[N4KVE]

Yup, I’ve checked all that. The channels I want to scan are in my scan list and there is a scan list assigned to those channels. I put the radio into scan and no scan even though the scan indicator is on under the scan button. Like I said, it just up and stopped working. Everything else works fine. TX is strong and RX is full quieting. I wonder if it’s a cap issue.

Take a second, & ground the mike hang up button.

 

[rescue161]

Also, try a different mic when you are putting it on the hang-up clip. I've also seen the mic hang-up circuit develop issues on Maxtrac radios. One in particular had an open resistor that once I replaced it, the scan worked again. If different mics still don't work, check the schematic for the circuit and make sure you are seeing the correct voltages when the mic is on/off hook. It could as you mentioned have some leaky caps that are affecting the on/off hook circuit.

 

[smorris]

I had HUB suspend scan checked in scan config. I had a desk mic connected to the radio from day one so it wasn’t an issue. When I connected a palm mic, the clip was screed to a wood surface and there’s my problem. Lesson learned!

 

[N4KVE]

I had HUB suspend scan checked in scan config. I had a desk mic connected to the radio from day one so it wasn’t an issue. When I connected a palm mic, the clip was screed to a wood surface and there’s my problem. Lesson learned!

Open the mike, & ground the hang up button from the inside. Can't tell you how many times I've done this on Moto, & Kenwood radios.

 

[FFPM571]

Why go through the hassle physically changing it.. Change it in the CPS. a mouse click is a lot easier

 

[rescue161]

Why go through the hassle physically changing it.. Change it in the CPS. a mouse click is a lot easier

Exactly. There is nothing worse than receiving or working on a used piece of equipment that someone has modified instead of using the proper method.

 

[N4KVE]

Because in my case, I have no use for the hang up clip. I want PL decode on all the time, & program my radio that way. If I don't want PL decode on, I program the RX to have decode off. The function is for community repeaters, where multiple users with different PL tones share, & use the same repeater. Ham repeaters only use one PL tone, so the whole hub deal is useless.

 

[rescue161]

Then simply uncheck the Hub Defeats PL. Then the radio stays in PL decode even when the mic is removed from the clip.

 

[N4KVE]

Unfortunately, I can no longer program my old Spectra, so it was much easier to modify the mike than to find someone with an old DOS laptop, & the RSS.