I am running Trimble R10 base and rover receivers, went to set up on known point the other day and am losing radio link at less than a mile. Today moved to different point in different area and I am still having the same problem. Also tried tried with using only receivers and base as radio link with no actual radio and am still having the same issue. I am Running Trimble TDL 450. Anyone else ever had this problem or have any advice? I haven't contacted tech support yet as we all know how that can be. Any info appreciated.
Thanks!
Lots of things can be happening, it used to be that it was always the radio antenna or the antenna wire, if you can test each piece of the chain, I would do that first. Begin with swapping out antennas, antenna wires, if you have more than one to check. If it is an antenna issue it will ruin the TDL radio if you use it too much. Then you get into radio boards on the repeater and the base, my R8 was vexed with the base radio board and it needed to be replaced it kinda acted like you say. It could be as simple as a new repeater radio battery, that would be the least expensive fix.
MightyMoe, post: 431655, member: 700 wrote: Lots of things can be happening, it used to be that it was always the radio antenna or the antenna wire, if you can test each piece of the chain, I would do that first. Begin with swapping out antennas, antenna wires, if you have more than one to check. If it is an antenna issue it will ruin the TDL radio if you use it too much. Then you get into radio boards on the repeater and the base, my R8 was vexed with the base radio board and it needed to be replaced it kinda acted like you say. It could be as simple as a new repeater radio battery, that would be the least expensive fix.
I have tried swapping everything and have still had no luck.
Try hooking the battery cable up to your vehicle's battery. In my experience most radio range issues stem from a low power issue.
FairleyWell, post: 431664, member: 12279 wrote: Try hooking the battery cable up to your vehicle's battery. In my experience most radio range issues stem from a low power issue.
I have a fully charged 12v battery
I see this issue daily and everyone says that their battery is fully charged. A few weeks I got a call and the guy had purchased a deep cycle battery that morning from walmart. His battery was only putting out 6v. How many volts is your battery outputting? Have you done a load test on it?
Roger that. Battery is putting out 12.3v and it's not from wal mart.
Ryan adames, post: 431663, member: 11772 wrote: I have tried swapping everything and have still had no luck.
sounds like a motherboard issue, if it's failing without the repeator then it's the base radio in the R10 that's giving out.
I've had countless instances of crews thinking their battery was good when it wasn't, it depends on what kind of battery it is and its ability to deliver the amperage to drive the radio's finals. Obviously you need to be putting out 12v+ but it's not JUST the voltage.
Having said that, there have been a lot of problems with the radio antennas on the R10s breaking loose internally, but typically if that was the case you wouldn't get anywhere near a mile.
You also haven't mentioned anything about terrain or environment.
Do you have a radio scanner? I would run through all of your frequencies and make sure no one is pounding you out.
This along with the previously mentioned, trying completely different cables and hooking up to a vehicle battery while it's running are the best solutions.
Ryan adames, post: 431654, member: 11772 wrote: I am running Trimble R10 base and rover receivers, went to set up on known point the other day and am losing radio link at less than a mile. Today moved to different point in different area and I am still having the same problem. Also tried tried with using only receivers and base as radio link with no actual radio and am still having the same issue. I am Running Trimble TDL 450. Anyone else ever had this problem or have any advice? I haven't contacted tech support yet as we all know how that can be. Any info appreciated.
Thanks!
A handheld scanner is a good piece of equipment to help troubleshoot this problem. It can help you determine if the problem is at the base, or the rover,or possibly both.
A watt meter is another very good trouble shooting tool.
I have also had radio modems lose their minds, and have to be reprogrammed with the proper frequencies on occasion. This has happened sporadically, but it is very frustrating to troubleshoot, and deal with.
Cycle through the different frequencies you have to see if the problem isolated to a single frequency.
Check antenna connections (as you have), but check for minor cracks in the insulators at the connectors.
Make sure the antenna cable is free of stress on the pole. We make a small loop, then use a gear snake to keep the antenna cable from being weighted at the antenna connection. (We use specially made Hixon rods that are 35 feet tall as an antenna tower, so there is a lot of weight on antenna connection if the cable is not supported)
MightyMoe, post: 431672, member: 700 wrote: sounds like a motherboard issue, if it's failing without the repeator then it's the base radio in the R10 that's giving out.
I have had the connector on the receiver for the radio antenna on my rover come apart on me. it was repaired and haven't had issues till now.
Raybies, post: 431674, member: 9029 wrote: Do you have a radio scanner? I would run through all of your frequencies and make sure no one is pounding you out.
This along with the previously mentioned, trying completely different cables and hooking up to a vehicle battery while it's running are the best solutions.
Are you talking about like a police radio scanner? How do I know if someone is stepping on me?
Lee D, post: 431673, member: 7971 wrote: I've had countless instances of crews thinking their battery was good when it wasn't, it depends on what kind of battery it is and its ability to deliver the amperage to drive the radio's finals. Obviously you need to be putting out 12v+ but it's not JUST the voltage.
Having said that, there have been a lot of problems with the radio antennas on the R10s breaking loose internally, but typically if that was the case you wouldn't get anywhere near a mile.
You also haven't mentioned anything about terrain or environment.
I'm in Abilene, Texas. In residential area, base station is set up in an open area off of highway. I have been for about 3 years using a sealed 12v battery (obviously not the same battery) and haven't had any problems. I will have the battery checked to see if it is good. Although even when only running receivers using internal radios only I'm still having the same problem. I can usually get at least 3 miles in this form of setup. Any suggestions on 12v batteries?
Jon B. Gramm, post: 431675, member: 10309 wrote: A handheld scanner is a good piece of equipment to help troubleshoot this problem. It can help you determine if the problem is at the base, or the rover,or possibly both.
A watt meter is another very good trouble shooting tool.
I have also had radio modems lose their minds, and have to be reprogrammed with the proper frequencies on occasion. This has happened sporadically, but it is very frustrating to troubleshoot, and deal with.
Cycle through the different frequencies you have to see if the problem isolated to a single frequency.Check antenna connections (as you have), but check for minor cracks in the insulators at the connectors.
Make sure the antenna cable is free of stress on the pole. We make a small loop, then use a gear snake to keep the antenna cable from being weighted at the antenna connection. (We use specially made Hixon rods that are 35 feet tall as an antenna tower, so there is a lot of weight on antenna connection if the cable is not supported)
I will check all of these things. Thanks for the info. You have a 35' antenna tower? My antenna cable is roughly 8-10 foot. How does this work?
Jon B. Gramm, post: 431675, member: 10309 wrote: A handheld scanner is a good piece of equipment to help troubleshoot this problem. It can help you determine if the problem is at the base, or the rover,or possibly both.
A watt meter is another very good trouble shooting tool.
I have also had radio modems lose their minds, and have to be reprogrammed with the proper frequencies on occasion. This has happened sporadically, but it is very frustrating to troubleshoot, and deal with.
Cycle through the different frequencies you have to see if the problem isolated to a single frequency.Check antenna connections (as you have), but check for minor cracks in the insulators at the connectors.
Make sure the antenna cable is free of stress on the pole. We make a small loop, then use a gear snake to keep the antenna cable from being weighted at the antenna connection. (We use specially made Hixon rods that are 35 feet tall as an antenna tower, so there is a lot of weight on antenna connection if the cable is not supported)
I will check all of these things. Thanks for the info. You have a 35' antenna tower? My antenna cable is roughly 8-10 foot. How does this work?
Change radio freq. Maybe sombody has an air conditioner, arcing, and interfering.
Ryan adames, post: 431680, member: 11772 wrote: Any suggestions on 12v batteries?
Yes, the batteries that are made for Hoveround wheelchairs. They're made for that long steady discharge / frequent charge cycle.
Lee D, post: 431688, member: 7971 wrote: Yes, the batteries that are made for Hoveround wheelchairs. They're made for that long steady discharge / frequent charge cycle.
Awesome thank you.
Ryan adames, post: 431681, member: 11772 wrote: You have a 35' antenna tower? My antenna cable is roughly 8-10 foot. How does this work?
We use the Seco antenna mast (P/N 5561-20) affixed to a heavy duty wood or wood/fiberglass tripod. This only gets you to about 13' or so, but it's stable enough to add range pole sections to. Our dealer, NEI (337-237-1413) makes an antenna mount that attaches to the mast and has an "N" type connector at the antenna mount. We use much heavier cable than the flimsy things that Pac Crest sells, so we experience much less signal loss and cable damage. NEI can make the cables any length.