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Author Topic: Just did my first road trip with my Yaesu FTM-400dxr  (Read 391 times)

AJ6KC

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Just did my first road trip with my Yaesu FTM-400dxr
« on: March 13, 2022, 10:20:12 PM »

I put my best antenna up on my truck. Tuned up simplex, never ever heard a peep. I announced monitoring but no response. I drove to Mississippi and back in 8 days from California. Father/son road trip. I dropped him off at pilot training at Columbus AFB.

The worst part is I drove the northern winter path back. My Yaesu was cold soaked and would not work or turn on for three hours. -9F over night in Cheyenne Wyoming. I mounted the radio body under the driver seat in my Toyota Tacoma. I think I should have put it on a quick disconnect rack and brought it in to the hotel for the night, or some sort of heating blanket?
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WA6III

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Re: Just did my first road trip with my Yaesu FTM-400dxr
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2022, 11:24:43 PM »

Howdy,

Yeah, I would take that radio inside each night in really cold weather.  I don't think very many amateur radios meet MIL STD 810 for temp.
Congrats on your son going to UPT!!  You must be pretty proud! He'll be "under the gun" for about a year but he'll love it!  I went to Vance AFB, Ok for UPT in 1980 and it was a LOT of fun! (retired from USAF/USAFR in 2004)
73/Rick

 
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WA3SKN

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Re: Just did my first road trip with my Yaesu FTM-400dxr
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2022, 04:04:36 AM »

Yaesu specs the operating range at -4F to +140deg F.  Storage range is much greater.
Usually running a little current (receive only) will warm the innards up enough to get in range.  Most other brands use the same specs.
Usually the phase lock loop fails to sync.

-Mike.
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K5LXP

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Re: Just did my first road trip with my Yaesu FTM-400dxr
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2022, 05:41:55 AM »

Tuned up simplex, never ever heard a peep. I announced monitoring but no response.
Part of the problem is you're driving a mile a minute and your effective range is about 5 miles.  So every 10 minutes or so you've driven into and out of range of anyone else running simplex.  If you're not announcing yourself every few minutes then you can be passing by other operators literally like ships in the night.  A number of years ago I set up a beacon for 6.52 with an MP3 player and a baofeng HT that would call CQ every 3 minutes (yes, CQ on 6.52).  Darned if that doesn't scare up contacts, not a lot but more than I've ever had just monitoring. 

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM
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K3XR

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Re: Just did my first road trip with my Yaesu FTM-400dxr
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2022, 08:05:22 AM »

Have had my 400 for around 6 years now in the vehicle.  We rarely get minus temps here but never a problem with the cold or heat.  About 98% of the time used analog almost no digital audio. One of the better dual-band rigs owned over the years.
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N4MJG

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Re: Just did my first road trip with my Yaesu FTM-400dxr
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2022, 09:07:34 AM »

i never had any problen in very col weather with this radio . and make contact with my rig. sorry you had with this issue with your radio  i had my radio in my  2002 chevy tracker ! before my renect storke !
good luck with your radio !

73
Jackie
N4MJG
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JACKIE GREEN

AJ6KC

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Re: Just did my first road trip with my Yaesu FTM-400dxr
« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2022, 07:23:40 PM »

Hmm, still losing power, my radio is shutting off for at least 2 to 3 hours. I thought it was due to the low temps I experienced on my road trip. I’ll explore the Anderson power-poles next. I have a dual battery setup in my truck. Both batteries show 14 volts. It could be a loose connector but the timing is to regular. There might be a problem with my radio. It’s well passed the warranty.
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W9IQ

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Re: Just did my first road trip with my Yaesu FTM-400dxr
« Reply #7 on: May 04, 2022, 07:28:54 PM »

Check any in-line fuses and holders. They are notorious for developing light corrosion over time.

- Glenn W9IQ
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

AJ6KC

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Re: Just did my first road trip with my Yaesu FTM-400dxr
« Reply #8 on: May 04, 2022, 07:36:11 PM »

I’ll do that. I put a fuse in line to protect my radio. I’ll check it, and make sure the powerpoles are not slipping free. I have them all stowed under my center console, so checking them is not too easy. I’ve owned this radio for 3 years, it’s been installed for 2 and a half years. My truck is garaged. I’ve had dual batteries installed for a year. (Very nice kit from genesis off road)
« Last Edit: May 04, 2022, 07:40:52 PM by AJ6KC »
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