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eHam Forums => VHF / UHF => Topic started by: KK7JXL on February 05, 2023, 01:20:33 PM

Title: New Yaesu FTM-400Dx frozen
Post by: KK7JXL on February 05, 2023, 01:20:33 PM
Hello, New ham here -- just got the technician license less than a month ago.

I have a Yaesu FTM-400DX bought on December 26, 2022.

Today it started to behave erratically basically rebooting itslef constantly. Up for a few seconds, then reboot, and so on. Rest to factory, without helping the problem. Now it is stuck on the reboot screen that says "Yaesu" and my call sign. Cycling power does nothing, comes back to the same screen.

What do I do? Is there a hardware reset? Return to store for replacement or send in for warranty repair?

Thank you all.
Title: Re: New Yaesu FTM-400Dx frozen
Post by: K1VSK on February 05, 2023, 01:35:56 PM
Hello, New ham here -- just got the technician license less than a month ago.

I have a Yaesu FTM-400DX bought on December 26, 2022.

Today it started to behave erratically basically rebooting itslef constantly. Up for a few seconds, then reboot, and so on. Rest to factory, without helping the problem. Now it is stuck on the reboot screen that says "Yaesu" and my call sign. Cycling power does nothing, comes back to the same screen.

What do I do? Is there a hardware reset? Return to store for replacement or send in for warranty repair?

Thank you all.
Had to look up what a FTM 400 is.
If you verified the input voltage is good, there probably isn't much else you can try.
Title: Re: New Yaesu FTM-400Dx frozen
Post by: KK7JXL on February 05, 2023, 01:53:32 PM
FTM-400DX is Yaesu's current dual band,  APRS, Wires-X, in-vehicle radio.

Engine is running, voltage is 13.8 on the battery, charger is 14.1V.

Ham Radio outlet has a 10 day return policy, so warranty send-in?
Title: Re: New Yaesu FTM-400Dx frozen
Post by: WA2EIO on February 05, 2023, 03:20:20 PM
Be sure power connections to the radio itself are solid.   
Can you try a separate AC powered power supply?   
after that it looks like a warranty trip to Yaesu!   
Good Luck.
Title: Re: New Yaesu FTM-400Dx frozen
Post by: KF4HR on February 05, 2023, 03:26:44 PM
KK7JXL - Assuming you are using a proper power supply, I would suggest you perform a Factory Reset.  While a Factory Reset will delete all your memory information you may have stored, it will also restore all settings to their default factory settings.  Performing a Factory Reset on the FT-400 is very simple to do; press your DISP/Setup button, touch Reset/Clone button, select FACTORY RESET, then click OK to confirm the Reset.  (This Factory Reset procedure is in your manual.)

Butch, KF4HR
Title: Re: New Yaesu FTM-400Dx frozen
Post by: KK7JXL on February 05, 2023, 05:18:04 PM
I did a factory reset, before it froze, while it was doing the rebooting, but did did not help.

Now I cannot do a factory reset, because the radio is frozen on the splash screen. Buttons unresponsive.

Is there a way to do a hardware reset?
Title: Re: New Yaesu FTM-400Dx frozen
Post by: KF4HR on February 05, 2023, 05:47:40 PM
I assume you've cycled power (removed all power from the unit) and this didn't help?  Perhaps doing a factory reset while the unit was booting up may have caused the lock up problem.  Hard to say.  I owned five FTM-400DR's (and XDR's) for several years, and I've never had a screen lock up.

Assuming the screen is locked up to the point where you can't do anything with the unit, and given how new your unit is, I recommend giving Yaesu Tech Support a call and see what they suggest.  There might be a hidden Reset procedure they can tell you about.  GL

Butch, KF4HR   
Title: Re: New Yaesu FTM-400Dx frozen
Post by: W2CPD on February 06, 2023, 03:49:19 AM
Without any power to the radio, disconnected from the power supply, hold down the power button for 20 seconds, then apply power and see if it helps.

I had Yaesu that would lock up on occasion, this would clear the problem.

73.
Title: Re: New Yaesu FTM-400Dx frozen
Post by: SWMAN on February 06, 2023, 04:40:21 AM
 I would definitely contact HRO if you just bought it there. Send it back and tell them you want a new one.
Title: Re: New Yaesu FTM-400Dx frozen
Post by: K1KIM on February 06, 2023, 06:43:14 AM
If there was a "pulsing" voltage caused by your vehicles power supply/connections that could have caused the internals to be damaged. No electronics and IC's like the on-off-on-off or variations thereof.

I don't know if HRO's return policy includes items that have already been used and not DOA. But certainly worth pursuing before sending to Yaesu.

I believe the FTM-400 is no longer being manufactured and has been replaced with the new FTM-500 though parts and service will be maintained by Yaesu for a few years.
Title: Re: New Yaesu FTM-400Dx frozen
Post by: W1MOW on February 06, 2023, 07:34:04 AM
If there was a "pulsing" voltage caused by your vehicles power supply/connections that could have caused the internals to be damaged. No electronics and IC's like the on-off-on-off or variations thereof.

Once you figure out the lockup situation, look how you have it connected. If you have powerpoles remove them. Sometimes the vibrations of a vehicle can cause them to be intermittent. If you need the powerpole connection for some reason get a extra power cord and put the powerpoles on it.

When powerpoles first came out, we tried them in emergency vehicles. We thought being able to switch out radios/power cords would be handy. They were also used in a robotic STEM program and found they were not reliable. They just did not handle mechanical shocks very well.

Powerpoles have their uses, but sometimes there are better ways to make the connections.

Gary W1MOW
Title: Re: New Yaesu FTM-400Dx frozen
Post by: K6CPO on February 06, 2023, 09:27:17 AM
If there was a "pulsing" voltage caused by your vehicles power supply/connections that could have caused the internals to be damaged. No electronics and IC's like the on-off-on-off or variations thereof.

Once you figure out the lockup situation, look how you have it connected. If you have powerpoles remove them. Sometimes the vibrations of a vehicle can cause them to be intermittent. If you need the powerpole connection for some reason get a extra power cord and put the powerpoles on it.

When powerpoles first came out, we tried them in emergency vehicles. We thought being able to switch out radios/power cords would be handy. They were also used in a robotic STEM program and found they were not reliable. They just did not handle mechanical shocks very well.

Powerpoles have their uses, but sometimes there are better ways to make the connections.

Gary W1MOW

If Powerpoles are properly assembled, it should take a little force to pull them apart. I've found all the issues with unreliability can be traced back to improper installation. Improper crimping and not fully seating the contact in the housing are usually the culprits. Once they are connected, threading a small cable tie through the center holes will prevent them from coming apart.
Title: Re: New Yaesu FTM-400Dx frozen
Post by: KT4WO on February 06, 2023, 12:07:05 PM
"we tried them in emergency vehicles."

Same here. Within a year we were cutting them out.

"all the issues with unreliability can be traced back to improper installation."

Not the case for us. We had the right crimpers and did it "by the book"
Still had issues.  YMMV
Title: Re: New Yaesu FTM-400Dx frozen
Post by: SWMAN on February 06, 2023, 12:31:10 PM
 That’s why I don’t use those goofy things and NEVER will. I just do it the good old fashion reliable way.
Title: Re: New Yaesu FTM-400Dx frozen
Post by: KK7JXL on February 06, 2023, 04:59:36 PM
Not sure what a powerpole is but that's (probably) not what I have on. I had this unit mounted in my vehicle, powered through a 6-gauge wire drawn from the battery through a Bussmann breaker into the main compartment to a Bussmann fuse block where the radio's wires connects to it. The fuse block negative is connected to the chassis. The battery in my truck is new (2-month-old) and delivers 13.8V reliably, as confirmed by both a Victron SmartShunt battery monitor and ODBII monitoring.

The radio was connected into the fuse block via crimped connectors and screws.

The unit is still frozen 18 hours after being powered off. So I sent it back to Yaesu. HRO has a 10-day return policy which is surprisingly short -- would expect 30 days or so.

Thank you all for chiming in. Will update with new developments.
Title: Re: New Yaesu FTM-400Dx frozen
Post by: KK7JXL on March 10, 2023, 08:53:07 AM
Have got the radio back from Yaesu almost exactly 3 weeks after sending it in. It is fixed now; boots up fine, only rebooted once during WiresX operation. Happy to be back on-air.

Interestingly when it came back it had no papers accompanying it, no description of problems, diagnostics, repairs done, any record whatsoever. It was well packed and works as new, so no complaints there, just surprised that there was no documentation at all.

Electronics very rarely break these days, so I don't have great experience with this. Last experience was about 10 yrs ago when I sent back to the US warranty office  a near brand new Fujifilm X100 camera which was repaired under warranty and returned with documentation of repairs. Still works as new and is one of 4 Fuji cameras I use.