FA-70 reception problem

[Ranger]

Ahoy, all!

We've finally noticed our AIS reception has become limited to nearby vessels, within about 1 NM. And the orange error light is on, so we assumed the most likely fault is a VSWR error.

Sure enough, the PL-259 VHF antenna connector test indicates there's a short.... so we snipped the connector and tested the antenna again, yep, still gotta short. Replaced the connector, yep still got that same short. We reconnected to the radio anyway -- figuring if reception returns at all, reception distance might not be any worse than it was previously -- and reception distance improved greatly. Abd the orange error light returned.

So we've still got a known short in the antenna, need to replace it, got that.

But... that error light can indicate up to seven errors. Is it likely that any of the other six error possibilities are in play now? Or can we just cross our fingers in expectation that it's simply the antenna problem?

And is continuing use OK in the short term, even with the known antenna problem and the orange error light on?

-Chris

 

[Mr. Limpet]

Hi Ranger,

You will have to take things one at a time. The first step is to fix the antenna problem. If the error light persists, you can cross that bridge when you come to it.

Continuing to use it, or not, is going to be based on your comfort level with doing that. We would not recommend relying on the unit while it is registering and error light.

 

[Titanic II]

The FA70 is constantly running a Built in Test (BIT) check for high VSWR. That is why the error indication.

If you connect a laptop to the USB port you can use this software to see what the error is: https://furunousa.com/-/media/sites...tware/software/fa40_fa70_ais_setting_tool.zip

 

[Ranger]

Thanks, all.

That link gets me a "Unconfirmed ######.crdownload" file. The 6-digit number changes each time. Varies in size, sometimes large enough to be an executable, sometimes just a few bytes.

???

-Chris

 

[Titanic II]

Try navigating to it this way.

furunousa.com --> enter FA70 in the model number search box --> select "view /support tech info" --> click on Software --> download the "FA40 FA70 Setting Tool

 

[Ranger]

Thanks. KInda wierd. Got the same results doing it that way, but looking back I see one of the previous downloads from Friday has in the meantime turned itself into the setting tool zip file. And just now, the two crdownload files I got today also turned themselves into the setting tool zip file, too.

I haven't seen "crdownload" things before...

-Chris

 

[Ranger]

OK, got the diagnosis squared away. The Setting Tool Alert Status says the antenna VSWR exceeds limits... and cites none of the other possibilities.

Good. Sorta. At least confirms our physical testing of the antenna, tends to confirm that's the only problem we have to solve... which al means we're several steps forward now.

(Slightly embarrassing, though; the problem has apparently existed since March 2023... and I've not really noticed 'til now. Guess that's because our focus has mostly been about short range reception... and we seemed to be getting that...)

Anyway, thanks for everyone's help!

-Chris