AirNav Systems Forum
AirNav RadarBox and RadarBox24.com => AirNav RadarBox and RadarBox24.com Discussion => Topic started by: BobR on September 29, 2008, 11:50:29 AM
-
I know a few people on the forum have had issues with the connector on the rear of the RB box for the antenna in so far as a small movement can have a big effect on reception be it positive or negative.
However I seem to have an problem with the USB connector on the RB box and was wondering if anybody else had anything similar. I noticed it this morning with a distinct lack of contacts on the screen. The USB and Signal lights were hardly flashing. I picked up the box and held it verticall with the connectors facing down and the screen lit up.
As soon as I returned it to its horizontal plane the lights stopped flashing and the contacts timed out by about 80%.
After a bit of expeimenting I came to the conclusion it was the USB and not the Antenna. By putting a clothes peg (very technical I know) under the USB connector to it seems to make the connection more solid and the contacts return.
I am intending to contact and return the unit as faulty to the supplier as its only about 3 months old.
Has anybody else experienced this fault at all and if so I have a ready supply of clothes pegs available!!!
Cheers,
Bob
-
Bob,
It it the connector or the cable?
Have you tried a different USB cable?
The only other USB issue I can recall is when somebody managed to push the whole USB socket into the box whilst plugging in the cable! My RadarBox has been used and abused for about 15 months now, being used fixed - at a number of different locations, and portable and I've had no antenna or USB connecter problems. However, I am very carefull when making the connections but I'm aware that sometimes I'm putting sideways pressure on the connectors due to the location on the box.
-
Had the same with a USB and ethernet port on a lap-top, the connector to pcb solder joints cracked causing intermittent contacts, until they became 100% no contact. The connector is usually just soldered to the pcb, using the electrical connections as the mechanical mount as well.
-
"Deadright" concerning the above, CoastGuardJohn.
A “trade off” to be realized with nowadays consumers equipment, whilst the commercial (and even “older” not to say vintage and of course more expensive one) ties(d) connectors to the (metal) cabinets, housing the PCBs. Expecially “tiny” connectors (as are RBs “SMA" ones) suffer this problem if “confronted” with rather thick and stiff coaxial cables, (Ecoflex, Aircell etc.) acting as a “lever arm” on the connectors, soldered directly to the PCB.
Two ways to get around: prevent moving the receiver / cable assembly if even possible, thus limiting the above “lever arm behavior”.
Better: provide a short peace of “flexible” (thin) coaxial cable (“pigtail” by its nickname) with SMA male / female connectors between the (thick / stiff) feeder Coax and the receivers SMA input connector.
Karl
PS.: BTW, I've seen hundreds of thousands of SMA connectors in my "RF / MW life". Not one,
whose inner connectors "withdraw", when plugged and screwed to its "counterpart", as happened to some RB users during attaching the antenna to the input connector, to be read up in earlier threads. Again a question of quality. And, a BNC connector would have done better. More rugged, and FULLY capable of handling the input signals frequency range that it is about.
K.
“PS.: & BTW 2”, always try to ONLY tighten / turn the “connecting nut” in the above and similar application if making a connection. NEVER twist the connectors outer contact-surfaces themselve against each other. Their fine surface coating will wear out, thus deteriorating contact between them, consequently increasing the connections attenuation.
It’s worth to “fight for any db” (even fractions of a db) in this frequency range.
K
-
It's interesting that the "new" SBS-1e has replaced the BNC connector with an SMA connector.
-
Damm it !!!! Allocator.
Let's hope at least, they've been deciding for a good quality type of SMA connector. With other words: an "inner - pin - non - retractable" version.
Regards
Karl
-
Yes, we all know what progress is ........... :-)
In fairness to AirNav, the problem with the retracting SMA centre pin was with the antenna and not the box itself and it didn't appear to affect all users. Once you've approved an item, unless you are building it in-house, then the quality control is down to the supplier but they're not the ones who suffer 6 months down the line if there's a probem!
-
Interestingly although ML&S have mention of it on their website there is no sign of it whatsoever on Kinetic Avionics own website.
Usual show of support from the manufacturer?
Nothing new there then...;^)
Rregards,
-=Glyn=-
-
That will be the Kinetic Avionics Website with the PDF specifications sheet that says that the SBS-1 has MapModeS - "..a unique sharing network etc" - still not delivered after 2 years of promises.
I really wonder how they can get away with publishing this incorrect information.
Do check out my eBay sale for a device that turns lead into gold - it doesn't quite work yet, but if you buy it now, then I'll let you know as soon as it's fully functional - ha ha!
-
Have you seen this months magazines at all ,very nice spread,hailing the new device.They say it fits into the palm of your hand,well,so does my old machine after i reversed over it and i must be ahead of them because mines 3 months old.Enough levity,the RB gets a good mention too,but nothing will sway me from this side now!Remember,a bit of lipstick,powder and paint,can make a woman look something that she aint!No offence intended to the fairer sex,its just an old quote?
Terry.
-
Even better, the SBS-1e magazine advert shows a screen shot that is actually 2 screen shots of 3rd party programs Google Earth and Flight Display(?) joined together, rather than a screen shot of the Kinetic BaseStation software - there's confidence for you!
-
I wonder.If its two screen shots,thats, why you gey a pair of those green and red paper glasses thingies,they`re going 3D ,HaaaaA! In yor dreams........
Terry.
-
Looks like its the connector rather than the cable. I tried a new cable last night and it is replicating the same problem.
RB support have been excellent and I am returning the unit for repair/replacement tommorow. Hopefully it wont be too long or what will I do with all my time!
Bob
Bob,
It it the connector or the cable?
Have you tried a different USB cable?
The only other USB issue I can recall is when somebody managed to push the whole USB socket into the box whilst plugging in the cable! My RadarBox has been used and abused for about 15 months now, being used fixed - at a number of different locations, and portable and I've had no antenna or USB connecter problems. However, I am very carefull when making the connections but I'm aware that sometimes I'm putting sideways pressure on the connectors due to the location on the box.
-
That will be the Kinetic Avionics Website with the PDF specifications sheet that says that the SBS-1 has MapModeS - "..a unique sharing network etc" - still not delivered after 2 years of promises.
I really wonder how they can get away with publishing this incorrect information.
Yes...that'll be the one and I haven't a clue!
I know it's off topic but I just can't resist...please bear with me...;^)
I have just seen the latest annoouncement from that same Kinetic website, quote;
"Update 27/06/2008 PLEASE NOTE We are experiencing ongoing telephone problems due to a British Telecom routing issue. It appears as if we are not answering the phones when, in fact, they are not ringing. We kindly ask that you keep trying whilst BT endeavour to resolve the problem."
SBS-1 users deserve to be told the truth...it's not BT really is it...you've all gone home haven't you?
Is it any reason the abbreviation for their BaseStation software is BS?
<snigger>
Seriously though I believe Christmas 2006 is going to be great for all SBS-1 users according to the latest news update;
http://www.kineticavionics.com/news.php
And here was me thinking the good news was they would only have to wait another 6 months...for AirNav to release the RadarBox in June 2007!
Remind me again - why on earth did I buy a RadarBox when I could have a display like this;
http://www.kineticavionics.com/imagepopup.php?images/Basestation1.jpg
Do you know what it is yet?
It looks like migraine to me...I'll have that pair of green & red paper glasses for Christmas 2006 if that's OK please Terry?
Do check out my eBay sale for a device that turns lead into gold - it doesn't quite work yet, but if you buy it now, then I'll let you know as soon as it's fully functional - ha ha!
Question for Seller:
The .pdf for your device that turns lead into gold states it has MapMode-S.
I believe you and wish to waste my money - will you take PrayPal?
I've got to stop...all this laughing hurts and I am finding it difficult typing with tears in my eyes...
Regards,
-=Glyn=-
-
Chaps,i`ve got a lot of those 3D paper thingies,thought they would come in handy one day.Glyn that display takes me back to the 60s,all you need to go with that is a Led Zepplin LP and a couple of LSD pills,god only knows what you could see then?
Terry.
P.S Sent you a pair in 2005 in anticipation,
-
It's interesting that the "new" SBS-1e has replaced the BNC connector with an SMA connector.
Call me cynical, but if they come out a 5p per unit cheaper they'll use it. Another example is Peugeot cars, we've had two 306s, the near-side rear fog light is all wired up and ready to go, but there's a knock out piece of plastic blocking the socket, take it out and fit a 21W bulb, you have 2 rear fogs instead of just the one on the off-side which can fail leaving you far less protected. How much do 21W bulbs cost Peugeot with the numbers they buy? They still fit fancy front fogs costing far more, in the interest of "fashion and style" which are then totally mis-used at night by most drivers! Rant over for this week.........
-
Point taken CoastGuardJon,
I bet you feel better getting that lot off your chest,don`t you?Does you good to have a bit of a rare up now and again.Have you looked at Glyns links and comments,its had me on the floor laughing,you couldn`t do that over there,oofh the backlash doesn`t bear thinking about!
-
I know a few people on the forum have had issues with the connector on the rear of the RB box for the antenna in so far as a small movement can have a big effect on reception be it positive or negative.
However I seem to have an problem with the USB connector on the RB box and was wondering if anybody else had anything similar. I noticed it this morning with a distinct lack of contacts on the screen. The USB and Signal lights were hardly flashing. I picked up the box and held it verticall with the connectors facing down and the screen lit up.
As soon as I returned it to its horizontal plane the lights stopped flashing and the contacts timed out by about 80%.
After a bit of expeimenting I came to the conclusion it was the USB and not the Antenna. By putting a clothes peg (very technical I know) under the USB connector to it seems to make the connection more solid and the contacts return.
I am intending to contact and return the unit as faulty to the supplier as its only about 3 months old.
Has anybody else experienced this fault at all and if so I have a ready supply of clothes pegs available!!!
Cheers,
Bob
-
I too had a problem with the USB which RB fixed very quickly to their credit, it goes everywhere I travel, and must have at sometime put stress on the USB port which is only fixed to the circuit board, not the outer shell. It was returned very quickly, fixed, and since then I have "isolated" the unit by placing it inside a clear VHS video box and buying a small USB male / female patch lead and made a 3 inch SMA lead with parts from Maplins, cut holes in the side of the VHS box to run the cables through when shut and glued them in place, so now I can never damage the actual connectors on the box, and some Velcro keeps the unit in place in the box.
-
Sounds like a good solution - just need some sticky back plastic and I am away. You should try and post a screen shot of the box.... or go into production!
Have you noticed any loss of performance with having the patch cables from the main antenna lead.
Cheers,
Bob
I too had a problem with the USB which RB fixed very quickly to their credit, it goes everywhere I travel, and must have at sometime put stress on the USB port which is only fixed to the circuit board, not the outer shell. It was returned very quickly, fixed, and since then I have "isolated" the unit by placing it inside a clear VHS video box and buying a small USB male / female patch lead and made a 3 inch SMA lead with parts from Maplins, cut holes in the side of the VHS box to run the cables through when shut and glued them in place, so now I can never damage the actual connectors on the box, and some Velcro keeps the unit in place in the box.
-
Bob, not sure how to post pictures, so here's a addresses to my Photo hosting site -Flickr where I've put two pictures of my unit, copy and paste them into your address bar.
http://flickr.com/photos/jr55/2918366023/
http://flickr.com/photos/jr55/2918362557/
as for signal drop, any extra cable length reduces strength but as these are ony a couple of inches long and in the case of the USB, gold plated contacts I've noticed no drop. My unit never gets warm so I've not drilled ventilation holes and all parts are available from Maplins. I also secured the unit to the box with sticky velcro tape so it can be easily removed. John