[Yaesu] FT-2600M Memory Loss

Mon, 12 Aug 2002 08:20:43 -0500

Gentlemen,

  Just a few comments... The mobile environment is a rough environment from
an electrical perspective. Radios that are designed for mobile use should be
able to deal with voltage fluctuations without losing memories or
parameters. Spikes are another issue, we all know they can cause damage and
that it is not a good idea to start your vehicle with the radio on (to
prevent the radio from seeing inductive spikes from the starter).

  I have not heard of any other current 2m mobile (or HT) that has a memory
loss problem. Clearly, the FT-2600M has a serious hardware or firmware bug
in this respect. It is unfortunate that Yaesu is apparently unwilling to
admit the radio has a problem. I am also surprised that Yaesu is apparently
not using flashrom to store the memories and parameters in -- it would be
nearly impossible for something like this to happen if they were.

  I develop firmware for real-time industrial motion control systems. Our
controls have hundreds of flashrom-stored parameters in them. I can't tell
you how many complaints we would get if our systems lost their parameters
because of voltage fluctuations (something very common on the plant floor).

  Don't get me wrong, Icom also has their problems with the IC-2100H. My
transmit has gone intermittent and may now have permanently failed. The
IC-2100H has MORE than its fair share of transmitter failures. I need to
pull it out of the car to see if it is the transmit switching transistor or
the entire final module. If it is the final module, I need to consider
whether I really want to spend that money on a new module or put it towards
the purchase of a new radio (NOT another IC-2100H) instead. I am now sure
that I would not consider FT-2600M because of the memory issue. But, it
looks like there may still be a few FT-3000M's out there on clearance for
about $200.

  Just my $0.02...

  73, Michael N9BDF

-----Original Message-----
From: Patrick A. Thompson Sr. [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Saturday, August 10, 2002 9:45 AM
To: Gary R; Linden, Mike (BRC-Hes); [email protected]
Subject: RE: [Yaesu] FT-2600M Memory Loss

I cannot start the engine while the radio is on because the relay I added
drops the DC connection from the battery while the engine cranks.  Therefore
the battery voltage is disconnected cleanly and the radio is not exposed to
spikes or transients produced from the starter motor. The added relay is a
solution proposed by a Yaesu tech.

It's also not just a simple failure below a defined voltage.  I can't make
the radio fail by varying the voltage from a bench supply. It will shut down
cleanly with no memory loss.

>From my perspective a mobile radio that does not work reliably in a mobile
environment has design flaws.

Other people have suggested checking the lithium backup battery.  There is
no backup battery although I've considered added one.  What puzzles me about
the problem is that the memory chip is fed from a 5 volt regulator.  I've
added enough capacitance to float the regulator for several seconds with no
improvement.

If your radio is maintaining its memory settings then you indeed have a good
radio.  I drive through a high RF area regularly and the front end continues
to work with only minor intermod. Resistance to intermod was why I choose
the FT2600M.

In the meantime I'm only programming one or two repeaters or using "VFO"
mode.

WA4TUK

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On
Behalf Of Gary R
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2002 11:51 PM
To: Linden, Mike (BRC-Hes); [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Yaesu] FT-2600M Memory Loss

I've been running a FT2600 for almost 2 years now with NO problems what so
ever. NO memory failers or any other failures of any kind so far. I have
noticed with other Yaesu mobiles that a dip in voltage level will cause all
kinds of failures. A big mistake is to start your vehicle while the radio is
running. The resulting momentary dip in voltage can cause many mobile
transceivers to hiccup. Pay attention to the circumstances under which your
radio is failing and you may find it's not the radio's fault afterall.

Gary.

"Linden, Mike (BRC-Hes)" wrote:

>   My current radio's (Icom IC-2100H) is currently failing and has become
> intermittent. I'm considering the purchase of a Yaesu FT-2600M in case a
> replacement RF module for my current radio is more than I'd like to spend.
>
>   I've noticed that many FT-2600M owners complain about random loss of
> memories in the radio. Has Yaesu corrected this problem, yet?
>
>   Thanks, Michael N9BDF
>
> Moderator: Ray Brown, KB�STN
> _______________________________________________
> Yaesu mailing list
> [email protected]
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/yaesu

Moderator: Ray Brown, KB�STN
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