Help with XPR3500e

[KC8OIG]

Got a problem with a Motorola XPR3500e. Just got it back from the local (M) dealer and they said it is working fine. Here is what it is doing and what I sent it in for, Radio works fine on Simplex channels, but when I use it on a repeater channel it’s hit or miss. I am about 4 miles from the repeater site. Sometimes when I call dispatch they hear me and other times they don’t and I have had guys inside the station listen and when the dispatch does not hear me it does not come thru on the station radio either. Next time it works fine. Changed antenna’s same problem. Anyone else have this problem or hear of anything like this. If so any ideas?
Thanks

 

[K2NEC]

What did you send it in for? Sounds like it might need to be re-aligned?

 

[KC8OIG]

What did you send it in for? Sounds like it might need to be re-aligned?

Basicly, was sent in for intermittent transmit on Repeater channels. They said it is working correct, but still have the same problem

 

[Forts]

Analog or digital? Is firmware current? Do any others have similar issues?

 

[romanr]

This won't explain why simplex works and the repeater does not, but pay attention to the PTT switch when you're having trouble and see if you have an intermittent/flaky PTT switch. Sometimes people use/hold/handle the radio differently when troubleshooting vs. in normal work.

We had some problems with XPR7550 PTT switches - they would only transmit when pressed squarely in the center. The people at Depot told me that they had had a lot of bad PTTs and it took over 3 weeks for them to do the turn-around. Replacing the PTT switch gets you a new case - so it isn't cheap if the radio isn't under warranty.

I would hope that your dealer checked alignment, but it wouldn't hurt to ask them to confirm this.

 

[KC8OIG]

Its analog system and firmware is up to date as far as I know. We have 15 of these radios and this is the only one that is having this trouble. The PPT thing sounds like a good place to start. I will also ask the dealer if they checked the alignment when they had it.

 

[N1GTL]

Borrow a speaker mic

 

[TampaTyron]

Agree with the speaker mic. A while ago, I would get about 20-30 SL-7550 a week back from the Depot that would be fine in digital simplex, but not work through a digital repeater. Turns out they were blasting the wrong TANAPA into the radios at one specific repair line in the Depot. Took a few weeks to figure it out. That does not sound like your issue here. It sound like intermittent PTT switch or the way it is being help while using the PTT switch (can you use a different radio and the problem goes away? If you hand this bad one to another user, dos the problem go away? etc etc). TT