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912ULS and XCOM760 Problem

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Tommy Walker

Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Posts: 442
Location: Anniston, AL 36207

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 1:15 pm Post subject: 912ULS and XCOM760 Problem

Rotaxers,



My radio is being shipped UPS.  Delivery date 12/14/2007



12/22/2007... Radio arrived on the 14th of December.  I installed it but haven't had a chance to test it yet due to foul weather.



There were several little glitches in getting the radio repaired and returned to me.  I will not go into the details, but I'm happy to get the radio back.



Tommy Walker in Alabama

Do Not Archive

_________________
Tommy Walker
N25A - Anniston, AL

Last edited by Tommy Walker on Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:13 pm; edited 2 times in total

Roger Lee

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1464
Location: Tucson, Az.

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:37 pm Post subject: Re: 912ULS and XCOM760 Problem

Hi Tommy,



WOW, a really tough one. I'm not sure what to say. Just thinking out loud here.

Is the capacitor placed in line correctly? Could it just be hooked up to a different terminal? Doesn't sound like it is filtering much at all. Is there more than one way to hook it up? 



Maybe wire the radio up differently?



Have you ask a radio tech on your field or in the area?



I'm at a loss.

_________________
Roger Lee
Tucson, Az.
Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC
Light Sport Repairman
Home 520-574-1080 TRY HOME FIRST
Cell 520-349-7056

Jim Shumaker

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 106

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:06 pm Post subject: 912ULS and XCOM760 Problem

Tommy

  

 One of the kitfox pilots reported similar symptoms and his solution was to run a dedicated ground from the voltage regulator frame to a ground point on the frame.  

  

 Jim Shumaker

 ---

_________________
Jim Shumaker

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 5:50 am Post subject: 912ULS and XCOM760 Problem

You are picking up the RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) some where in your

mic line.  The first thing to do is to verify that you have good grounds on

the shields that feed your mic and ptt input connections between your audio

panel and your radio.  Also check the ground on the shields between your mic

jacks and your audio panel.



You can also Check that you have a good ground to your trays.



90%+ of all RFI problems can be traced to a bad ground somewhere. 



Noel



[quote] --

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

dcsfoto

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 120

Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 5:10 pm Post subject: Re: 912ULS and XCOM760 Problem

sounds like a ground problem.

on shielded wire make sure only one end of the shield is grounded

David



Kitfox III,Kitfox 7

jetboy

Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 233

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:47 am Post subject: Re: 912ULS and XCOM760 Problem

Any results yet Tommy?



I know email service to australia is via submarine (not airmail) but 3 weeks seems a bit long



Ralph

_________________
Ralph - CH701 / 2200a

John Herbert

Joined: 05 Oct 2007
Posts: 6
Location: South Africa

Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 12:24 am Post subject: Re: 912ULS and XCOM760 Problem

I have had a high failure rate with XCOM 760's in Eurofoxes all running 912 ULS's. The radios don't actually fail, but simply just don't work correctly from the beginning. The failure rate is 50% for me, and about the same for others in my area with the same radio, but mostly earlier models. There have been numerous fixes to their software as well as to the mother boards. The are a number of different aircraft flying in this area with these radios, but the general level of satisfaction is low. The radio is a great idea with great features if they all work as advertised.



The problems range from unintelligble transmissions to squelch not working properly as well as inability to transmit on some frequencies and the radio suddenly deciding to take a break for about 15 minutes before firing up again.



I have an avionics specialist nearby who is (or now I should say was) a service agent for XCOM and he has covered all my warranty work. My main problem with the radio is actually the factory. They keep blaming the installation by the Eurofox factory, but this cannot be the case when we change the radio and the problem goes away. 



In my latest case the factory now refuses to cover the repair on a new radio again blaming the installation. I have changed it with another XCOM 760 (with new motherboard and software) and the radio has worked perfectly for more than 30 hours.



The XCOM installation also calls for a capacitor in the installation,(in addition to the recommended Rotax  installation) just make sure this is installed correctly as well. Make sure you can find a service agent who can load the updated software into the radio for you as well, as this makes a big difference.



I have kept a spare XCOM 760 in my stock for customer aircraft due to the problems we have had with the XCOM radios. This radio will soon be installed in a 1941 Piper J5 that I am restoring and am interested to see how it will work.



I have decided to no longer purchase the XCOM radios due to the problems we have had and the arrogance from the factory staff who insist it is an installation problem.



Good luck with yours!!

Ivor Phillips

Joined: 16 Jan 2006
Posts: 253
Location: London UK

Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 1:13 am Post subject: 912ULS and XCOM760 Problem

John

On the other side of the coin!

I have to say that I have found XCOM to be very fair when dealing with

me,

I sent back my very early serial number 083 unit for updating in August

and the company sent me a new unit by return at no charge, To me that's

customer service of the highest order, I appreciate that it was only one

unit but thought it necessary to show that there are many satisfied

customers like myself,



Regards

Ivor Phillips

Europa XS Rotax 914



I have had a high failure rate with XCOM 760's in Eurofoxes all running

912 ULS's. The radios don't actually fail, but simply just don't work

correctly from the beginning. The failure rate is 50% for me, and about

the same for others in my area with the same radio, but mostly earlier

models. There have been numerous fixes to their software as well as to

the mother boards. The are a number of different aircraft flying in this

area with these radios, but the general level of satisfaction is low.

The radio is a great idea with great features if they all work as

advertised.



The problems range from unintelligble transmissions to squelch not

working properly as well as inability to transmit on some frequencies

and the radio suddenly deciding to take a break for about 15 minutes

before firing up again.



I have an avionics specialist nearby who is (or now I should say was) a

service agent for XCOM and he has covered all my warranty work. My main

problem with the radio is actually the factory. They keep blaming the

installation by the Eurofox factory, but this cannot be the case when we

change the radio and the problem goes away. 



In my latest case the factory now refuses to cover the repair on a new

radio again blaming the installation. I have changed it with another

XCOM 760 (with new motherboard and software) and the radio has worked

perfectly for more than 30 hours.



The XCOM installation also calls for a capacitor in the installation,(in

addition to the recommended Rotax  installation) just make sure this is

installed correctly as well. Make sure you can find a service agent who

can load the updated software into the radio for you as well, as this

makes a big difference.



I have kept a spare XCOM 760 in my stock for customer aircraft due to

the problems we have had with the XCOM radios. This radio will soon be

installed in a 1941 Piper J5 that I am restoring and am interested to

see how it will work.



I have decided to no longer purchase the XCOM radios due to the problems

we have had and the arrogance from the factory staff who insist it is an

installation problem.



Good luck with yours!!





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=138450#138450

pilot(at)ip6.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:16 am Post subject: 912ULS and XCOM760 Problem

Have you spoken with Michael Cooates?

I never had any issue dealing with him.



-- Silvano

John Herbert wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 I have had a high failure rate with XCOM 760's in Eurofoxes all running 912 ULS's. The radios don't actually fail, but simply just don't work correctly from the beginning. The failure rate is 50% for me, and about the same for others in my area with the same radio, but mostly earlier models. There have been numerous fixes to their software as well as to the mother boards. The are a number of different aircraft flying in this area with these radios, but the general level of satisfaction is low. The radio is a great idea with great features if they all work as advertised.



 The problems range from unintelligble transmissions to squelch not working properly as well as inability to transmit on some frequencies and the radio suddenly deciding to take a break for about 15 minutes before firing up again.



 I have an avionics specialist nearby who is (or now I should say was) a service agent for XCOM and he has covered all my warranty work. My main problem with the radio is actually the factory. They keep blaming the installation by the Eurofox factory, but this cannot be the case when we change the radio and the problem goes away. 



 In my latest case the factory now refuses to cover the repair on a new radio again blaming the installation. I have changed it with another XCOM 760 (with new motherboard and software) and the radio has worked perfectly for more than 30 hours.



 The XCOM installation also calls for a capacitor in the installation,(in addition to the recommended Rotax  installation) just make sure this is installed correctly as well. Make sure you can find a service agent who can load the updated software into the radio for you as well, as this makes a big difference.



 I have kept a spare XCOM 760 in my stock for customer aircraft due to the problems we have had with the XCOM radios. This radio will soon be installed in a 1941 Piper J5 that I am restoring and am interested to see how it will work.



 I have decided to no longer purchase the XCOM radios due to the problems we have had and the arrogance from the factory staff who insist it is an installation problem.



 Good luck with yours!!





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=138450#138450

John Herbert

Joined: 05 Oct 2007
Posts: 6
Location: South Africa

Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:05 am Post subject: Re: 912ULS and XCOM760 Problem

Michael Coates is the person who keeps insisting that it is an installation problem.

ollie6a(at)embarqmail.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:57 am Post subject: 912ULS and XCOM760 Problem

Mine has worked perfect for 164 hrs. in Rans S7S.

  

 Ollie   Central FL.

  

 



 

 On 10/6/07, John Herbert <jherbert(at)vodamail.co.za (jherbert(at)vodamail.co.za)> wrote: [quote]--> RotaxEngines-List message posted by: "John Herbert" < jherbert(at)vodamail.co.za (jherbert(at)vodamail.co.za)>



I have had a high failure rate with XCOM 760's in Eurofoxes all running 912 ULS's. The radios don't actually fail, but simply just don't work correctly from the beginning. The failure rate is 50% for me, and about the same for others in my area with the same radio, but mostly earlier models. There have been numerous fixes to their software as well as to the mother boards. The are a number of different aircraft flying in this area with these radios, but the general level of satisfaction is low. The radio is a great idea with great features if they all work as advertised. 



The problems range from unintelligble transmissions to squelch not working properly as well as inability to transmit on some frequencies and the radio suddenly deciding to take a break for about 15 minutes before firing up again. 



I have an avionics specialist nearby who is (or now I should say was) a service agent for XCOM and he has covered all my warranty work. My main problem with the radio is actually the factory. They keep blaming the installation by the Eurofox factory, but this cannot be the case when we change the radio and the problem goes away. 



In my latest case the factory now refuses to cover the repair on a new radio again blaming the installation. I have changed it with another XCOM 760 (with new motherboard and software) and the radio has worked perfectly for more than 30 hours. 



The XCOM installation also calls for a capacitor in the installation,(in addition to the recommended Rotax  installation) just make sure this is installed correctly as well. Make sure you can find a service agent who can load the updated software into the radio for you as well, as this makes a big difference. 



I have kept a spare XCOM 760 in my stock for customer aircraft due to the problems we have had with the XCOM radios. This radio will soon be installed in a 1941 Piper J5 that I am restoring and am interested to see how it will work. 



I have decided to no longer purchase the XCOM radios due to the problems we have had and the arrogance from the factory staff who insist it is an installation problem.



Good luck with yours!!



 



[b]

Tommy Walker

Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Posts: 442
Location: Anniston, AL 36207

Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 12:39 pm Post subject: Re: 912ULS and XCOM760 Problem

Hi Ralph,



Thanks for writing.  I received a reply from Michael Coates on 9/26/07.  He asked if I was still having issues.



We've been working on other problems too, so I haven't spent as much time on this as I did before.  



However, we've been able to clear up most of the interference by making sure all grounds were secure, isolating the headphone jacks, and by reducing the sidetone volume.  Still have a little noise but it is not as bad as before.  



Oh, one other thing.  One of the headsets we had evidently had some kind of short in the mike and it was causing problems too.  replacing it helped a lot.



It's still not as quite as the radios I had in my old cessna, but perhaps it is acceptable (guess I'm use to no line noise when transmitting).  



One other problem that has appeared.  On two occassions we've had to recycle the radio (Off and Back On) because it appeared to freeze up.  I informed Michael and asked if there was a fix available for this.



Tommy Walker in Alabama

N8701  12 hrs.

 	  jetboy wrote: 	
		  Any results yet Tommy?



I know email service to australia is via submarine (not airmail) but 3 weeks seems a bit long



Ralph

_________________
Tommy Walker
N25A - Anniston, AL

Tommy Walker

Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Posts: 442
Location: Anniston, AL 36207

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 6:04 pm Post subject: Re: 912ULS and XCOM760 Problem

Listers,



This email is to bring you up to date on the problems we have with our XCOM760 Radio:

At Mr. Coates' (the owner of XCOM) invitation, I sent our radio back to the Australian company on about October 20.



Mr Coates said he received the radio on November 4.  Mr. Coates said the radio would be updated and returned to me.  



I've emailed Mr. Coates asking about the status of my radio and as today, December 8, I do not have my radio.  The last email I received from him on November 26 was that he had been out of town and was delayed returning.  He said that he would be in touch with me on the 27th with more information.  I have not heard from Mr. Coates since that time.  I've emailed him at least three times asking for an update on the status of my radio, but have not heard from him.



I really am disappointed in the company and Mr. Coates.  I emailed him again tonight and asked that he return my radio.



I have tried to take a low key approach in my dealings with the company and Mr. Coates.  I've been careful to not be rude, or demanding.  However, I am getting a bit desperate.  I spent almost $2000.00 U.S. for the radio, harness, antenna, etc.  and I am not able to use the radio since the cable does not reach from here to Australia.



I would appreciate any advice anyone might have in getting Mr. Coates to return my radio.   Is there a Better Business Bureau in Australia?  Do they have any consumer protection services that I could contact?  



I really hate to go to this approach, but think that I've been more than patient in dealing with this gentleman and his company.



Thanks for reading,



Tommy Walker in Alabama

N8701  912ULS sans radio





 	  Tommy Walker wrote: 	
		  Hi Ralph,



Thanks for writing.  I received a reply from Michael Coates on 9/26/07.  He asked if I was still having issues.



We've been working on other problems too, so I haven't spent as much time on this as I did before.  



However, we've been able to clear up most of the interference by making sure all grounds were secure, isolating the headphone jacks, and by reducing the sidetone volume.  Still have a little noise but it is not as bad as before.  



Oh, one other thing.  One of the headsets we had evidently had some kind of short in the mike and it was causing problems too.  replacing it helped a lot.



It's still not as quite as the radios I had in my old cessna, but perhaps it is acceptable (guess I'm use to no line noise when transmitting).  



One other problem that has appeared.  On two occassions we've had to recycle the radio (Off and Back On) because it appeared to freeze up.  I informed Michael and asked if there was a fix available for this.



Tommy Walker in Alabama

N8701  12 hrs.

 	  jetboy wrote: 	
		  Any results yet Tommy?



I know email service to australia is via submarine (not airmail) but 3 weeks seems a bit long



Ralph

_________________
Tommy Walker
N25A - Anniston, AL

rampil

Joined: 04 May 2007
Posts: 870

Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 8:10 pm Post subject: Re: 912ULS and XCOM760 Problem

Gee Tom,



I don't know what other vendors you use with your aircraft,

but a month for radio repair all the way to Oz seems pretty

short to me.  I just waited three months for delivery of equipment

that was "in stock" when I purchased it! Yes, I was grounded

the whole time.



I suggest relaxing a bit, after all, this is a hobby we choose to

reduce stress on the ground 



Ira

FAA AME

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