Northstar NS100 reception issues

[rcmafgny]

Having reception issues with the VHS. I can hear people fine, yet my audio is barely audible. Any thoughts on where to look first?

 

[Bugsy24]

Check the Handset Cable going into the Speaker Connecter, there are a Bunch of Pins that get bent. Also spray all the connecters with some Di-Electric Spray... it's Conductive. And if that doesn't work.... throw that POS Overboard!! I have a Head Unit left from when I was having issues, if you need it PM me and I let you have it for the shipping Cost!!
Marshall

 

[tdschafer]

Having reception issues with the VHS. I can hear people fine, yet my audio is barely audible. Any thoughts on where to look first?

Those have gone the way of the Betamax Ron. Time to upgrade to DVD's or better yet, Blu-Ray's!!!! :smt043

 

[rcmafgny]

Todd,
I would toss it in a minute if it wasnt for the large hole that would be left in my Dashboard.
Marshall,
I will try what you posted, and if it doesn't work, will take you up on your offer. [before tossing it overboard]

Ron

 

[mistercomputerman]

1. Put an SWR meter on it to test.
2. Take the radio to the shop and have them test. You may have burnt out the finals.

My money is that the antenna is bad.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

I read a bunch of posts on this and all say that antennas "usually" don't go bad unless 100 yrs old, almost all pointed to the pl259 connector .im not sure if its the same as yours but my ns100 is only a handset. And the "box" is under the helm.the connector is on the dash. Some say unplug it spray with electronic cleaner . This helped most . Good luck Ron.

 

[rcmafgny]

I read a bunch of posts on this and all say that antennas "usually" don't go bad unless 100 yrs old, almost all pointed to the pl259 connector .im not sure if its the same as yours but my ns100 is only a handset. And the "box" is under the helm.the connector is on the dash. Some say unplug it spray with electronic cleaner . This helped most . Good luck Ron.

Joe,
It's the same.. Handset and "box" behind the helm. However, there is a speaker cut flush in the dash that will leave a large hole if i have to replace with a "Blue-Ray" generation unit.
Will clean and check all of the connections.
Thanks
Ron

 

[larryp]

Have you gotten any messages on the display? "RF Problem" "Antenna" "Low Power". Does the unit "chirp" when you key the mic?
Those were the symptoms my radio had. Got to the point where I couldn't transmit at all. By reading other posts here, that's a common problem with this POS model.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Ron. If it turns out you need to replace your VHF, why not have a panel made to match the dash (wood burl) I believe, and mount the new radio in it and it will cover the whole where the speaker used to be. Flounder pounder now does them for techno graphics .
just an idea.

 

[rcmafgny]

Have you gotten any messages on the display? "RF Problem" "Antenna" "Low Power". Does the unit "chirp" when you key the mic?
Those were the symptoms my radio had. Got to the point where I couldn't transmit at all. By reading other posts here, that's a common problem with this POS model.

Once in a while you hear a fast chirp. No messages in the display.
Will test and clean all connections then decide next steps.
Thanks

 

[rcmafgny]

Joe,
May have to go there, but not without a fight.
The speaker is in a stupid spot to begin with.. where my left knee would be. Wouldn't mount new radio there. Could always leave speaker in cut out. Will try other options first.
Thanks
Ron

 

[mistercomputerman]

http://www.fpmarine.com Flounder Pounder bought all of the equipment from the Vector Imaging guy, Scott somethingortheother.

http://www.tecnografic.com was/is the OEM for Sea Ray dash panels

I do not believe there is any connection between the companies.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Oops, I meant FP is now doing vector not Technographics. My bad !! Thanks for the correction


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[hack4alivin]

Having reception issues with the VHS. I can hear people fine, yet my audio is barely audible. Any thoughts on where to look first?

Before you go spending a lot of money and replacing the radio or antenna check the easy stuff first. I had the same problem with my radio several seasons ago; turns out Sea Ray don’t know how to solder. The solder connection on the receiver side was bad at the plug, pulled it out and bought a new connector and soldered it, worked ever since. BTW, do not keep trying to transmit with this condition. A bad connection to the antenna will cause a high SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) and can burn out your transmitter. You can get a SWR meter to check it, but really not worth it just for one issue like this, it is much easier to check and or replace the antenna connections on both ends. Being able to receive and not transmit is a classic sign of antenna problems.