Apelco VHF 5200 radio has no volume sound or squelch

[FriscoRon]

I have a Apelco VHF 5200 radio that has no volume sound or squelch.

Here is what I have and know:
1) I have radio manual that gives Apelco phone no. (which I will do).
2) The manual date shows it's 9/94. (sounds like an old radio).
3) My sailboat is a 1999 Hunter 376 I bought 2 1/2 years ago and never checked to see if radio worked. (my bad).
4) The radio displays all channels when selected.
5) The radio has antenna on top of mast.
6) The radio's circuit breaker is on and lit at navigational panel.
7) The radio is installed (flush mounted) with other instruments on my pedestal console at helm.
8) The radio doesn't have digital selective calling. (DSC)

Questions?
1) Shouldn't I just buy another radio. Since they so cheap now days?
2) How do I know it's not an antenna issue?
3) Are 5 1/2" wide X 2" high X 6" deep radios easy to fine (that's my existing cutout hole for current radio at the helm).

Any advice would be most appreciated.

 

[Brian D]

Q1 - If you want to be state of the art then retire that radio and get one that has GPS and DSC. That should solve your problem.
Q2 - The radio with or without antenna should have audio when the squelch is open. That is just a normal function of the radio. So this is not an antenna issue.
Q3 - Most radios have downloadable manuals. You can check the manual of the radio you are interested in and see what the mounting requirements are. If worst comes to worst, just fill in the hole and make a new hole for mounting.

Now, back to the no audio. Do you by chance have an external speaker connected that maybe the wire is broken? Adding an external speaker usually disables the internal speaker. Check to see if there is something plugged in the back of the radio.

 

[Brian D]

Added - never mind on the speaker. I downloaded the 5200 manual and see that both internal and external speakers work together. However, still check the external speaker to make the two wires are not shorted or disconnected.

 

[FriscoRon]

Thanks Brian,
I'll take it out and check it for grins and giggles. And just buy another one with GPS and DSC.

 

[FriscoRon]

He's in a great place along with my daughter who passed in 1991.

 

[Ken Cross]

Q1 - If you want to be state of the art then retire that radio and get one that has GPS and DSC. That should solve your problem.
Q2 - The radio with or without antenna should have audio when the squelch is open. That is just a normal function of the radio. So this is not an antenna issue.
Q3 - Most radios have downloadable manuals. You can check the manual of the radio you are interested in and see what the mounting requirements are. If worst comes to worst, just fill in the hole and make a new hole for mounting.

Now, back to the no audio. Do you by chance have an external speaker connected that maybe the wire is broken? Adding an external speaker usually disables the internal speaker. Check to see if there is something plugged in the back of the radio.

I disagree. If the antenna is shorted at the back of the radio you could have those indications. To check it, just pit an 18 inch piece of wire into the center of the center conductor on the back of the radio. If it can now receive, there is an antenna or coax problem. If that doesn't help the radio is likely toast.

Yes, been licensed and worked on transmitters over 40 years now.

Ken

 

[FriscoRon]

Thanks Ken,
I'll try the 18" wire test. Hopefully it ain't the antenna at top of mast. A lot work will be taking that old radio out of my pedestal consul at helm that's next to the Navigational instruments. My project tomorrow. Happy Memorial day. LOL

 

[Brian D]

@FriscoRon, any luck on your radio issues?

 

[FriscoRon]

Hi Brian,
Yes I bought a Standard Horizon GX1300 for $149. It works! I was considering hooking it up to my GPS. But I'm not sure it will work on my old Raytheon NAV/398 GPS ( which is 20 years old and still works). I believe I need a Accessory cable. According to my old GPS manual it has a 5 pin connector for a Loran. Maybe that extra connection will work for my new VHF radio. I guess I got to get a MMSI number to make the DSC to work. (still learning). But I'm a happy camper with a radio that works.

 

[Brian D]

Good on ya. Glad you got it working. The NAV/398 is very old. But until you get a new GPS that gives you NMEA-0183() output you'll have to make due. The NAV has a 6-pin DIN connector according to the manual. Pin 4 is DATA OUT+ and pin 3 is DATA OUT- (basically ground). Just connect those to your DATA IN+ and DATA IN- (or ground) on the radio and you should be good to go. You can also get an MMSI from BoatUS unless you are planning on visiting foreign ports. Then you'll have to go to the FCC for the MMSI.

Have fun.

 

[FriscoRon]

Hi Brian,
My old Raytheon NAV/398 GPS is NMEA 0183 compliant. Not sure if I need a splitter or just connect to that extra jack in the back of GPS that's labeled "LORAN". It has five male pins. My new VHF has 4 wires that need a female connector. the wire colors are yellow nmea gps input (+), green nmea gps input (-), white nmea dsc output (+), brown nema dsc output (-).

 

[Brian D]

You won't need the GPS output from the radio. So you are now down to 2 wires. The connector to use is the center DC POWER/NMEA/SEATALK 6-pin connector. The other two LORAN IN and GPS IN are for the appropriate sensors/antennas.

I am sure you still have the manual, but just in case...
https://data2.manualslib.com/pdf/14...vigation.pdf?16debfc4cac18b58b9ca97227d83e8f8

 

[Brian D]

Just so you know, you don't really need connectors. You can use a small terminal strip to make the connections. This is how my GPS is connected to my VHF radio. The connection is on the left with the 3-way terminal strip. Wires on the left of the strip is from the GPS. One the right of the strip is the radio.

 

[FriscoRon]

Brian,
I still got the old NAV/398 GPS manual. I'm going to have to study this. Thanks for the pic and your help. I'm off to a USCG Aux class "Weekend Navigator" in Marina Del Ray.

 

[FriscoRon]

Just so you know, you don't really need connectors. You can use a small terminal strip to make the connections. This is how my GPS is connected to my VHF radio. The connection is on the left with the 3-way terminal strip. Wires on the left of the strip is from the GPS. One the right of the strip is the radio.
View attachment 151195[/QU
Hi all and Brian.
1) I have an old NAV/398 GPS NMEA 0183 version 1 protocol. GPS works fine. Manual shows Yellow data output (+), and Green data output (-).
2) I Just bought a new Standard Horizon Eclipse GX1300 DSC class D VHF Radio NMEA 0183 version 2 protocol. Manual & visual shows Yellow input (+), Green input (-).
3) I want to connect new radio with old GPS with the 2 wires to have Digital Selective Calling. Appears both units are compatible.
4) All my instruments are located on pedestal/console at the helm.
5) I took off the instrument panel that has all the sea talk instruments. I can't reach down far enough to see where the GPS connection terminals are. It's like 3 ft down and hidden with wires.
6) I can see and unplug (unscrew) the GPS input.
7) My Question: How can I splice the two GPS yellow & green wires to my radio yellow and green wires. Remember I only have access where GPS is plug in. I can only reach to a foot to make a connection.
8) So what kind of connectors/splicers can I use to make this work. So when I go to the marine electronics store. The know what I'm talking about?
Attached is photos.