XTS3000 VHF Open Carrier Issue

[RadioDitch]

So here's an oddball problem I've been having on my XTS3000 VHF. I'm consistently getting an open carrier on one particular frequency, 160.800MHz, which of course I need at home. Sounds stupid simple enough, right?

It's not. It's been giving me an open carrier constantly, in nine states, and three countries on two continents. That includes in the Brooks Range of Alaska, the NRQZ around Sugar Grove, West Virginia, and the interior desert of Australia. Short version? It does this everywhere I have taken it over the last several months for work. Always on the same, one and only frequency, 160.800MHz. Safe to say "local interference/intermod" can be ruled out given the expansive geographical span.

Any of the techs on the forum have an ideas? It's only this one, single frequency, regardless of where I am in the world at the time.

 

[GTR8000]

I recall the XTS3000 had issues with self-quieting spurs in the railroad band. Sounds like you found one.

Take the antenna off the radio. If the "open carrier" persists, then you have a self-quieting spur. Absolutely nothing you can do about it.

 

[RadioDitch]

I recall the XTS3000 had issues with self-quieting spurs in the railroad band. Sounds like you found one.

Take the antenna off the radio. If the "open carrier" persists, then you have a self-quieting spur. Absolutely nothing you can do about it.

Yeah there is, buy another 2-channel HT1000. lol. I'll give it a shot tomorrow and see if it persists sans-antenna.

 

[RadioDitch]

Is there a similar issue with the XTS2500? Or is it just with the XTS3000?

 

[jim202]

So here's an oddball problem I've been having on my XTS3000 VHF. I'm consistently getting an open carrier on one particular frequency, 160.800MHz, which of course I need at home. Sounds stupid simple enough, right?

It's not. It's been giving me an open carrier constantly, in nine states, and three countries on two continents. That includes in the Brooks Range of Alaska, the NRQZ around Sugar Grove, West Virginia, and the interior desert of Australia. Short version? It does this everywhere I have taken it over the last several months for work. Always on the same, one and only frequency, 160.800MHz. Safe to say "local interference/intermod" can be ruled out given the expansive geographical span.

Any of the techs on the forum have an ideas? It's only this one, single frequency, regardless of where I am in the world at the time.

I don't have the manual, but my first guess is that it might be a birdie in the receiver itself. Most radios have several frequencies that are listed as causing a problem and so it's listed as do not use as a receive frequency.

 

[Nasby]

That freq is a well known birdie with both the XTS3000 and Astro Saber (which share the same guts).

Its one of the reasons I got rid of my Astro Saber and XTS-3000. The mainline thru my town uses 160.800 and I had the constant birdie on both radios.

The XTS-2500 (which I bought as a replacement) and the XTS-5000 do not have this issue.

 

[RadioDitch]

That freq is a well known birdie with both the XTS3000 and Astro Saber (which share the same guts).



Its one of the reasons I got rid of my Astro Saber and XTS-3000. The mainline thru my town uses 160.800 and I had the constant birdie on both radios.



The XTS-2500 (which I bought as a replacement) and the XTS-5000 do not have this issue.

Guess it's time to swap out for an XTS2500 then. Thanks for the quick and clear replies fellas!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[N4KVE]

But the XTS2500 could have it's own list of "birdie freq's" which are different from the 3000. You may want to check this out. No radio is birdie proof.