Hi Kerb, I checked this with our team today in the regular monthly customer service review. I confirmed this is the only reported issue of its type reported since the FLEX-5000 was introduced. When we have singular reports of a problem, our customer service representatives work with the individual customers to resolve any problems unique to that customer.
If you need any specific assistance we will be glad to work directly with you. Regards, Gerald Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR President FlexRadio Systems 13091 Pond Springs Rd. #250 Austin, TX 78729 Phone: 512-535-4713 www.flex-radio.com "Tune in excitement!" (TM) -----Original Message----- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of knesbitt Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 2:53 PM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Shielding improvements for Flex 5000A? Gerald, can you comment on the findings and ultimate resolution to the problems reported by Andy HB9CVQ re his 5000A and C model? Thanks, Kirb - VE6IV -- -Quote- [Flexradio] F5KC RFIO TX EMI-coupling into HTRX Board *Gerald Youngblood* gerald at flex-radio.com <mailto:flexradio%40flex-radio.biz?Subject=Re%3A%20%5BFlexradio%5D%20F5KC%20 RFIO%20TX%20EMI-coupling%20into%20HTRX%20Board&In-Reply-To=%3CE630C57DF99B4D CABD49DFF766547DE6%40GeraldGateway%3E> /Tue Jan 13 13:24:53 EST 2009/ * Previous message: [Flexradio] F5KC RFIO TX EMI-coupling into HTRX Board <http://mail.flex-radio.biz/pipermail/flexradio_flex-radio.biz/2009-January/ 026329.html> * Next message: [Flexradio] F5KC RFIO TX EMI-coupling into HTRX Board <http://mail.flex-radio.biz/pipermail/flexradio_flex-radio.biz/2009-January/ 026332.html> * *Messages sorted by:* [ date ] <http://mail.flex-radio.biz/pipermail/flexradio_flex-radio.biz/2009-January/ date.html#26330> [ thread ] <http://mail.flex-radio.biz/pipermail/flexradio_flex-radio.biz/2009-January/ thread.html#26330> [ subject ] <http://mail.flex-radio.biz/pipermail/flexradio_flex-radio.biz/2009-January/ subject.html#26330> [ author ] <http://mail.flex-radio.biz/pipermail/flexradio_flex-radio.biz/2009-January/ author.html#26330> "Hi Andy, This is the first report of this problem that we are aware of on either the F5KC or F5KA. I will be glad to work with you directly to find a solution. Regards, Gerald Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR President FlexRadio Systems 13091 Pond Springs Rd. #250 Austin, TX 78729 Phone: 512-535-4713 -----Original Message----- From: flexradio-bounces at flex-radio.biz <http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz> [mailto:flexradio-bounces at flex-radio.biz <http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz>] On Behalf Of Andy Diethard Hansen Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:59 AM To: FlexRadio at flex-radio.biz <http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz> Subject: [Flexradio] F5KC RFIO TX EMI-coupling into HTRX Board Hi ALL F5KC RFIO TX EMI-coupling into HTRX Board, causing CW, QSK hick-ups + RX noise just found an intra system EMI problem (not software) inside my F5KC and a first (not yet sufficient) fix (ferrite): http://www.qrz.com/detail/hb9cvq (scroll all the way down under F5KC test report ) any comments or suggestions? 73 Andy HB9CVQ *Snipped* from Andy's report http://www.qrz.com/detail/hb9cvq "First EMI Field Probe sniffing investigations (Jan./12/09), internally, inside the F5KC, reveal uncontrolled RF TX-coupling from the HRFIO board via a flat 10 line ribbon cable to HTRX (RFIO SV2) board. Inserting a high permeable (4700) ferrite core (1.5 turns = 13uH- Jan./14/09) here helps now better keeping the RF in the upper chassis compartment. QSK operation is now feasable (60ms, 40Wpm) with the Acom 2000A for the first time. 80m, 1kW, just using one cable: Flex TX1 PTT out, no delay to Acom key-in. 160m is worse than 80m . On 40 to 15m all is working fine too. Above, up to 10m, there is probably some capacitive crosstalk and more cores over some distance are needed. The given ribbon cable, however, is too short for a higher number of turns around the core. CW keying has now rarely any hick-ups and the RX muting noise issues have also mostly improved. A longer ribbon cable and consequently more windings on the ferrite/or better more ferrite beads along the cable, is expected to trigger major problem fixes here. This might turn out as relatively easy and cost-effective field fix .Smile ====================== *(updated 3/8/2009)* The proposed fix with five ferrites on a longer ribbon cable works very well on all bands. Almost ( 60ms) QSK, using RX1, works ok, practically no hick-ups, but relay chatter accoustic noise. On using RX 2, there is still RF coupling (Rx2 only audio muting) , mostly from the 3 thin coax cables coming from the RFIO board. Ferrites will be installed here too soon. Additional improvement was made by grounding the external cable shields ( e.g. key, PTT) to the thin galvanized groundplane under the Flex and Power Supply. No ESD effects on touching the key anymore. After the grounding the cable shield goes through a CM cable choke and internally 100uH and 4.7nF per pin. Generally speaking , the EMI Chassis protection principle of Zoning (seperation barrier in/outside) is broken by having RCA connectors, Key or Firewire not 360 deg. terminated to the conductive rear panel at cable entry. The connectors are grounded on the inside of the Flex for easy manufacturing, unsuitable for EMC. Work on the thermal contest issues: presently solved by taking off the side covers of the chassis and using an external fan , blowing into the CPU compartment. Accoustic noise will have to be reduced here too in the future. ====================== There are irregular TX-RX transition QSK (after) pulses detectable in the RX audio output (noise) inbetween two Flex Tx and/or Power Amp active/on cycles. These pulses seem RX2 on-related and somehow speed pronounced/dependent (e.g. @ 10Wpm). There also is some interaction between speed and break-in settings. . Internal key (Key (8) input) issue: above 36Wpm, (break in 50 to 300 ms) CW in monitor does not sound perfect, (perfect with CWX -200ms, 200ms- or with key board active). These effects are independent of SR/Buffers setting. Even with external stn RX used as monitor, the internal key does not feel very good (CW op preferences). Disabling the Monitor only solves the noise RX 1 problem, not in RX2. I will also try other keying methods next. . The internal monitor (-80dBc: 20dB+ 60dB?) causes somehow a bit strange looking signals in TX mode, but much better now without ATU in place. If 60dB are realized in one step in a small print area, unshielded, this could lead to some cross talk and stray effects." _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
