I am curious if this failure could be avoided by using a torroid to isolate the audio line before it goes into the rig?

In my experience with the radio so far I've noticed feedback noise in the audio out any time I tune up on 15m, 12m, 10m, or 6m.? I've had the radio shutdown completely due to rf 'feedback' on the coax. This is with sending a carrier at reduced power. Adding an isolation torroid (rf choke) seems to cure the issue. In the future I plan to alway run an rf choke on the coax. Don't want to risk this failure again. I was not running a choke between the tx-500 and atu when the audionoutput failed.

?Wondering an audio line choke is necessary or could prevent the issue?

It should also be noted that I have other portable rigs thatbI run with the same configuration and they don't seem to be bothered by any feedback on any of the amateur hf bands.


Thank you for any feedback,
Scott N4AAJ

Thank you for all the information. Late last night I received a reply to one of the new messages I sent to the US service email address. The reply message gave me an RMA reference and address to send the unit to for repair. This is what I needed to get the ball rolling.

I will follow up here on post repair.

73 @all and thanks for your help
Scott N4AAJ

Can anyone verify that newer TX-500s have a different audio chip?
Larry
n0sa

开云体育

Scott,

Scott -

I encountered the same audio failure last week under the same conditions you describe.? Here is a good thread that describes the failure and the chip that needs to be replaced:?/g/Lab599/topic/98158235#3348??I've also seen references to newer TX-500's having a different audio chip that isn't as susceptible to this particular failure scenario.

Based on all of the poor feedback I've seen here, I didn't try to contact Lab599 US support.? I think it's just a single person, not a service/repair company......

While the TDA7056AT chip is EOL, you can still source them from China (sources are mentioned in that other thread).? They're pretty inexpensive, so I purchased a dozen of them -- and the repair/replacement doesn't seem terribly involved.??


Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like the Lab599 US service situation is going to change in the foreseeable future.

Regards,
- Trevor, N6TJL

Several weeks backs I was preparing to activate a local park and the audio output stopped working on my tx-500. I was sending a low power carrier (tone with power=30) into my Elecraft t1 tuner at 28mhz to obtain an impedance match and the radios audio output stopped working. I was using the headphone adapter and have verified (with the speaker mic mic) that the issue exists inside the radio.

The radio seems to.work as it should in all other respects, just no audio out.

From reading previous posts on this group it looks like the audio IC may have failed. From what I understand the chip is an NXP TDA7056AT and many have failed before.

I've reached out (email and called) to Lab599's US repair service and did not initially get a response. Several days later I sent another email and got an answer. The answer said they were traveling for the holidays and would get back to me. Nothing... So I sent two more emails. Nothing yet... I sent another email to Lab599's support email today asking what to do to initiate a repair. On the site they say contact the service folks before sending the radio. I cannot.get a response.

Is this typical customer service for Lab599?

Can anyone please suggest an alternate service that would be willing to troubleshoot the radio's audio output issue or just simply reach the chip?

I love the radio and would.like to put it back I to service.

Thank you,
Scott Fusilier
N4AAJ

Hi everyone in the group,

I just received today my BP500. ?It came with the pinkish Samsung 18650 batteries installed. ?Initially I was told they would be separate but in the same box as the BP500. ?The BP500 had a some heft to it and the batteries were missing so I opened up the case and sure enough they were there. ?I'm not sure their capacity because these 18650 vary up to the 9999ma which is wildly over rated. ?:). Some initial thoughts about the BP500, it's wonderful. ?It's got more heft to the assembled unit but worth it to have a self contained battery supply. ?When it's installed the radio sits at a more upright than the TX-500 alone. ?I like that because to see the display with just the TX-500 you had to lean over since it the radio sat flat on the surface. ?It's the little details that I really appreciate like remembering to have rubber feet on the bottom edge of the PB500 that sits on the tabletop. ?Also as you're assembling it there's a noticeable magnet in the pogo pins to help you guide the BP500 in place. ?The BP 500 will allow me to directly connect my solar panel that produces 28 volts unweighted so I don't have to use an external controller because it has one built in. ?It's these little things that impress me beyond the great performance of the TX-500. ?As an aside talking about tailoring the TX/RX audio. ?It's worth listening to the TX-500 on another radio and dialing in the changes to make the audio sound the way you want to be heard. ?I constantly get a compliments on my audio and people can't believe it's a QRP radio with that great audio I'm producing. ?Finally and my real reason after my previous gushing, I ordered this BP500 on November 29 and received it today. ?I'm providing you this detail so you can get an idea when you'll receive yours. ?It's worth the $399 if you're willing to spend $1150. ?You're in a whole different strata of radios compared to the Xigu.

As always, Best 73!
David
K9AT

Are you using correct cable; a stereo one? It sounds like you're using a mono one or else there is a short in the cable or connector.
73 M3KXZ

Many thanks. Will try these suggestions. I have used two paddles and both behave in the same way, so the issue must be either the cable or trx….?

Or even simplier, 3.5 cable on both ends. Short S to T and R ))

Very strange.
Try 3.5mm jack with open wires on the other end. Short two signal wires to common ground shield one by one. This way you could isolate the problem either it's cable/key or trx.

Make sure the plugs are fully seated and are the correct standard (TRS?)

try another cable if you can

try another key if you can

Just joined group. And am very munch a newbie to the discovery. But really struggling to get paddles or straight keys to work! Not clear if it is a settings issue, a user issue or hardware problem. Have followed manual closely. But my paddle only work on one side - despite being set to AUTO iambic A. And the straight key sends a continuous tone - despite being set for a straight key. I’m currently using half my paddle as a straight key! Any ideas or help gratefully received!!

My BAT500 came with six 3A/Hr installed. I wrote ID #'s on them for logging test results to make sure the balanced charging circuit is working to spec. Thus far, mine is working just fine.

https://www.dnkpower.com/lgdbhg21865-battery/
--
Grace & peace,
Tim AF6TF

I've been following along on some of the bp500 posts - charging, returns, availability, etc. For those of you that have one, and have been using it - what is your overall impression? Are you happy with it: build/operation/etc? What is your runtime? Recharging in the shack/via solar. Would you recommend it?
?
I am very interested, but sometimes the overall impressions and satisfaction get lost in the details and minutiae.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Jim

That would be the smart approach IMO.? Then back charge Lab599 for the cost.
Or ship them sans batteries and credit the difference.

73
de W6BFK

Easy to check.

Mine came without batteries, but HRO ordered from the Jungle and direct shipped to me.
But that's not my question. It is this: I know that lithium cells are terribly picky about charging temps. Is the PB500 BMS programed to safeguard the cells below 0°C?
Thanks and 73, Ron

Does anybody know about the full functionality of the 6 pins on the back of the TX500. ?I realise that 2/3 pins on each pad are the +supply and ground, does anybody know about the other single pins in each pad?

From looking at the information in the BP500 manual the radio displays three items of information, DC in, Battery charge level and Charge power.?

Clearly Battery charge level can be determined by the voltage being supplied on the 4 (2+2) power pins. The other two single pins i assume are either analogue (ADC inputs to the TX), my best guess or some digital com pins, less likely i feel. Before i start testing with probing high impedance voltages up the two pins to see that the TX displays i wanted to check if anybody else has looked at this side of the circuit, or traced any tracks on the reverse of the main pcb
?

I was in the HRO in New Hampshire and I thought they said they received the battery boxes without batteries so THEY were going to supply them (HRO)…unless I misunderstood him…