|
Good morning,
I have a TS-50 with no RF output. I have done extensive testing so far and am getting close but I sure could use some guidance.
Is there anyone that is willing to give me some clues based on my testing so far?
Thank you,
Bob W4JFA
|
Tell us what you have tested so far and the results.
Lou WA5LOU
Good morning,
I have a TS-50 with no RF output. I have done extensive testing so far and am getting close but I sure could use some guidance.
Is there anyone that is willing to give me some clues based on my testing so far?
Thank you,
Bob W4JFA
|
Describe your "extensive testing", and the results.
?
Gary
|
So far... RF
out became intermittent. Either would work fine or no output?at all. Now no output at all.
Radio?switches to TX mode. "On air" LED lights up, Meter on display changes? from "S" to "RF" and measures no output. LED on the RX/TX board lights up when going to transmit. I measure no RF on, getting to the filter board. LED on ALC board always lit up when radio power is on.
Little daughter board Z11 has correct receive and transmit voltages. IC-8 always has the receive voltages no matter if radio in transmit or receive mode.
Now I can't remember which diode but one of those next to the "RAT" coax input to the RX/TX board does have voltage on receive but zero volts on transmit. That's correct as per the schematic
LO1 and LO2 both have the correct frequency from the PLL board to the RX/TX board. The CAR from the PLL board to the RX/TX board is correct.
The dial illumination intermittently gets a little brighter on TX since this problem.?
No output on any mode.
An experienced radio tech suggested I replace all electrolytics which I do plan to do.
Thanks all! Greatly appreciated.
Bob W4JFA?
Describe your "extensive testing", and the results.
?
Gary
|
I agree. None of your test readings can be trusted if all the old
capacitors are still in the radio.
Gary
On 5/4/2025 12:54 PM, Bob via groups.io
wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
So far... RF
out became
intermittent. Either would work fine or no output?at all.
Now no output at all.
Radio?switches to TX
mode. "On air" LED lights up, Meter on display changes? from
"S" to "RF" and measures no output. LED on the RX/TX board
lights up when going to transmit. I measure no RF on,
getting to the filter board. LED on ALC board always lit up
when radio power is on.
Little daughter board
Z11 has correct receive and transmit voltages. IC-8 always
has the receive voltages no matter if radio in transmit or
receive mode.
Now I can't remember
which diode but one of those next to the "RAT" coax input to
the RX/TX board does have voltage on receive but zero volts
on transmit. That's correct as per the schematic
LO1 and LO2 both have
the correct frequency from the PLL board to the RX/TX board.
The CAR from the PLL board to the RX/TX board is correct.
The dial illumination
intermittently gets a little brighter on TX since this
problem.?
No output on any
mode.
An experienced radio
tech suggested I replace all electrolytics which I do plan
to do.
Thanks all! Greatly
appreciated.
Bob W4JFA?
Describe your "extensive testing", and the results.
?
Gary
|
Gary, Lou, The plan is to recap. Others have given me the same opinion. I'm retired but a care take of an elderly parent along with a part time job so I do have some time to get busy later this week.
If you guys are familiar with this radio I need one more thing B4 I start. I would like to check one thing first. That's the reference frequency. I just want to check now and immediately?after?a recap?but I cannot fine?"TP1" on the PLL?board, as per the service manual. I find all the other test points but can't find #1. Is it just me?
Thank you.
Bob W4JFA
I agree. None of your test readings can be trusted if all the old
capacitors are still in the radio.
Gary
On 5/4/2025 12:54 PM, Bob via
wrote:
So far... RF
out became
intermittent. Either would work fine or no output?at all.
Now no output at all.
Radio?switches to TX
mode. "On air" LED lights up, Meter on display changes? from
"S" to "RF" and measures no output. LED on the RX/TX board
lights up when going to transmit. I measure no RF on,
getting to the filter board. LED on ALC board always lit up
when radio power is on.
Little daughter board
Z11 has correct receive and transmit voltages. IC-8 always
has the receive voltages no matter if radio in transmit or
receive mode.
Now I can't remember
which diode but one of those next to the "RAT" coax input to
the RX/TX board does have voltage on receive but zero volts
on transmit. That's correct as per the schematic
LO1 and LO2 both have
the correct frequency from the PLL board to the RX/TX board.
The CAR from the PLL board to the RX/TX board is correct.
The dial illumination
intermittently gets a little brighter on TX since this
problem.?
No output on any
mode.
An experienced radio
tech suggested I replace all electrolytics which I do plan
to do.
Thanks all! Greatly
appreciated.
Bob W4JFA?
Describe your "extensive testing", and the results.
?
Gary
|
?
Bob....do you have a method for detecting whether
there is any RF being generated in the Tx circuitry before the driver and final
assembly...?? You;d need a diode RF detector probe at least for that, or
possibly a separate receiver?tuned to the same frequency...
?
73...Jordan VE6ZT?
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2025 4:20 AM
Subject: Re: [Kenwood-Amateur-Radio]
TS-50
Gary, Lou, The plan is to recap. Others have given me the same
opinion. I'm retired but a care take of an elderly parent
along with a part time job so I do have some time to get busy later this
week.
If you guys are familiar with this radio I need one more thing B4 I
start. I would like to check one thing first. That's the reference frequency.
I just want to check
now and immediately?after?a recap?but I cannot
fine?"TP1" on the PLL?board, as per the service manual. I find all
the other test points but can't find #1.
Is it just me?
Thank you.
Bob W4JFA
I agree. None of your test readings can be trusted if all the old
capacitors are still in the radio.
Gary
On 5/4/2025 12:54 PM, Bob via wrote:
So far... RF
out became intermittent. Either
would work fine or no output?at all. Now no output at all.
Radio?switches to TX mode. "On
air" LED lights up, Meter on display changes? from "S" to "RF" and
measures no output. LED on the RX/TX board lights up when going to
transmit. I measure no RF on, getting to the filter board. LED on ALC
board always lit up when radio power is on.
Little daughter board Z11 has
correct receive and transmit voltages. IC-8 always has the receive
voltages no matter if radio in transmit or receive mode.
Now I can't remember which diode but
one of those next to the "RAT" coax input to the RX/TX board does have
voltage on receive but zero volts on transmit. That's correct as per the
schematic
LO1 and LO2 both have the correct
frequency from the PLL board to the RX/TX board. The CAR from the PLL
board to the RX/TX board is correct.
The dial illumination intermittently
gets a little brighter on TX since this problem.?
No output on any mode.
An experienced radio tech suggested
I replace all electrolytics which I do plan to do.
Thanks all! Greatly
appreciated.
Bob
W4JFA?
Describe your "extensive testing", and the results.
?
Gary
|
Bob,
On page 89 of the service manual, I found this. I see TP1 on
right side of board.
Gary
 ?
On 5/5/2025 5:20 AM, Bob via groups.io
wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Gary, Lou, The plan is to recap. Others have given
me the same opinion. I'm retired but a care take of an elderly
parent
along with a part time job so I do have some time to get
busy later this week.
If you guys are familiar with this radio I need one more
thing B4 I start. I would like to check one thing first.
That's the reference frequency. I just want to check
now and immediately?after?a recap?but I cannot fine?"TP1"
on the PLL?board, as per the service manual. I find all the
other test points but can't find #1.
Is it just me?
Thank you.
Bob W4JFA
I agree. None of your test readings can be trusted if all
the old capacitors are still in the radio.
Gary
On 5/4/2025 12:54 PM, Bob via wrote:
So far... RF
out became
intermittent. Either would work fine or no output?at
all. Now no output at all.
Radio?switches
to TX mode. "On air" LED lights up, Meter on display
changes? from "S" to "RF" and measures no output.
LED on the RX/TX board lights up when going to
transmit. I measure no RF on, getting to the filter
board. LED on ALC board always lit up when radio
power is on.
Little
daughter board Z11 has correct receive and transmit
voltages. IC-8 always has the receive voltages no
matter if radio in transmit or receive mode.
Now I can't
remember which diode but one of those next to the
"RAT" coax input to the RX/TX board does have
voltage on receive but zero volts on transmit.
That's correct as per the schematic
LO1 and LO2
both have the correct frequency from the PLL board
to the RX/TX board. The CAR from the PLL board to
the RX/TX board is correct.
The dial
illumination intermittently gets a little brighter
on TX since this problem.?
No output on
any mode.
An
experienced radio tech suggested I replace all
electrolytics which I do plan to do.
Thanks all!
Greatly appreciated.
Bob W4JFA?
Describe your "extensive testing", and the
results.
?
Gary
|
Bob,
Reading your message again, it appears you know where TP1 is
supposed to be, but can't find it on the board. I don't have a
TS-50, so can't look for it.
Gary
On 5/5/2025 8:55 AM, Gary Cook via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Bob,
On page 89 of the service manual, I found this. I see TP1 on
right side of board.
Gary
{Image removed}
On 5/5/2025 5:20 AM, Bob via
groups.io wrote:
Gary, Lou, The plan is to recap. Others have
given me the same opinion. I'm retired but a care take of an
elderly parent
along with a part time job so I do have some time to get
busy later this week.
If you guys are familiar with this radio I need one more
thing B4 I start. I would like to check one thing first.
That's the reference frequency. I just want to check
now and immediately?after?a recap?but I cannot fine?"TP1"
on the PLL?board, as per the service manual. I find all the
other test points but can't find #1.
Is it just me?
Thank you.
Bob W4JFA
I agree. None of your test readings can be trusted if
all the old capacitors are still in the radio.
Gary
On 5/4/2025 12:54 PM, Bob via wrote:
So far... RF
out became
intermittent. Either would work fine or no
output?at all. Now no output at all.
Radio?switches
to TX mode. "On air" LED lights up, Meter on
display changes? from "S" to "RF" and measures no
output. LED on the RX/TX board lights up when
going to transmit. I measure no RF on, getting to
the filter board. LED on ALC board always lit up
when radio power is on.
Little
daughter board Z11 has correct receive and
transmit voltages. IC-8 always has the receive
voltages no matter if radio in transmit or receive
mode.
Now I can't
remember which diode but one of those next to the
"RAT" coax input to the RX/TX board does have
voltage on receive but zero volts on transmit.
That's correct as per the schematic
LO1 and LO2
both have the correct frequency from the PLL board
to the RX/TX board. The CAR from the PLL board to
the RX/TX board is correct.
The dial
illumination intermittently gets a little brighter
on TX since this problem.?
No output
on any mode.
An
experienced radio tech suggested I replace all
electrolytics which I do plan to do.
Thanks all!
Greatly appreciated.
Bob W4JFA?
Describe your "extensive testing", and the
results.
?
Gary
|
Gary, I will look when I get home later. Thank you. Now the radio has lost receive. I don't know why yet. All this time I was paying attention to TX and not RX. Speaker was removed for easier access. No RX audio, no "S" meter. I do get "beep" when buttons are pressed. Maybe everyone is right, recap the entire thing before anymore testing etc. I have 99% of all the e-caps I need.
Bob,
On page 89 of the service manual, I found this. I see TP1 on
right side of board.
Gary
 ?
On 5/5/2025 5:20 AM, Bob via
wrote:
Gary, Lou, The plan is to recap. Others have given
me the same opinion. I'm retired but a care take of an elderly
parent
along with a part time job so I do have some time to get
busy later this week.
If you guys are familiar with this radio I need one more
thing B4 I start. I would like to check one thing first.
That's the reference frequency. I just want to check
now and immediately?after?a recap?but I cannot fine?"TP1"
on the PLL?board, as per the service manual. I find all the
other test points but can't find #1.
Is it just me?
Thank you.
Bob W4JFA
I agree. None of your test readings can be trusted if all
the old capacitors are still in the radio.
Gary
On 5/4/2025 12:54 PM, Bob via wrote:
So far... RF
out became
intermittent. Either would work fine or no output?at
all. Now no output at all.
Radio?switches
to TX mode. "On air" LED lights up, Meter on display
changes? from "S" to "RF" and measures no output.
LED on the RX/TX board lights up when going to
transmit. I measure no RF on, getting to the filter
board. LED on ALC board always lit up when radio
power is on.
Little
daughter board Z11 has correct receive and transmit
voltages. IC-8 always has the receive voltages no
matter if radio in transmit or receive mode.
Now I can't
remember which diode but one of those next to the
"RAT" coax input to the RX/TX board does have
voltage on receive but zero volts on transmit.
That's correct as per the schematic
LO1 and LO2
both have the correct frequency from the PLL board
to the RX/TX board. The CAR from the PLL board to
the RX/TX board is correct.
The dial
illumination intermittently gets a little brighter
on TX since this problem.?
No output on
any mode.
An
experienced radio tech suggested I replace all
electrolytics which I do plan to do.
Thanks all!
Greatly appreciated.
Bob W4JFA?
Describe your "extensive testing", and the
results.
?
Gary
|
I doubt it¡¯s caps.? Make sure all buttons and controls are as they should be, to start with.
Loy WA5LOU
Gary, I will look when I get home later. Thank you. Now the radio has lost receive. I don't know why yet. All this time I was paying attention to TX and not RX. Speaker was removed for easier access. No RX audio, no "S" meter. I do get "beep" when buttons are pressed. Maybe everyone is right, recap the entire thing before anymore testing etc. I have 99% of all the e-caps I need.
Bob,
On page 89 of the service manual, I found this. I see TP1 on
right side of board.
Gary
 ?
On 5/5/2025 5:20 AM, Bob via
wrote:
Gary, Lou, The plan is to recap. Others have given
me the same opinion. I'm retired but a care take of an elderly
parent
along with a part time job so I do have some time to get
busy later this week.
If you guys are familiar with this radio I need one more
thing B4 I start. I would like to check one thing first.
That's the reference frequency. I just want to check
now and immediately?after?a recap?but I cannot fine?"TP1"
on the PLL?board, as per the service manual. I find all the
other test points but can't find #1.
Is it just me?
Thank you.
Bob W4JFA
I agree. None of your test readings can be trusted if all
the old capacitors are still in the radio.
Gary
On 5/4/2025 12:54 PM, Bob via wrote:
So far... RF
out became
intermittent. Either would work fine or no output?at
all. Now no output at all.
Radio?switches
to TX mode. "On air" LED lights up, Meter on display
changes? from "S" to "RF" and measures no output.
LED on the RX/TX board lights up when going to
transmit. I measure no RF on, getting to the filter
board. LED on ALC board always lit up when radio
power is on.
Little
daughter board Z11 has correct receive and transmit
voltages. IC-8 always has the receive voltages no
matter if radio in transmit or receive mode.
Now I can't
remember which diode but one of those next to the
"RAT" coax input to the RX/TX board does have
voltage on receive but zero volts on transmit.
That's correct as per the schematic
LO1 and LO2
both have the correct frequency from the PLL board
to the RX/TX board. The CAR from the PLL board to
the RX/TX board is correct.
The dial
illumination intermittently gets a little brighter
on TX since this problem.?
No output on
any mode.
An
experienced radio tech suggested I replace all
electrolytics which I do plan to do.
Thanks all!
Greatly appreciated.
Bob W4JFA?
Describe your "extensive testing", and the
results.
?
Gary
|
?
That doesn't sound like a capacitor problem to
me....it sounds more like a Rx-Tx transition issue...73...Jordan
VE6ZT
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2025 8:57 AM
Subject: Re: [Kenwood-Amateur-Radio]
TS-50
Gary, I will look when I get home later. Thank you.
Now the radio has lost receive. I don't know why yet. All this
time I was paying attention to TX and not RX. Speaker was removed for easier
access.
No RX audio, no "S" meter. I do get "beep" when buttons are
pressed.
Maybe everyone is right, recap the entire thing before anymore
testing etc. I have 99% of all the e-caps I need.
Bob,
On page 89 of the service manual, I found this. I see TP1 on right side
of board.
Gary
?
On 5/5/2025 5:20 AM, Bob via wrote:
Gary, Lou, The plan is to recap. Others have given me the
same opinion. I'm retired but a care take of an elderly parent
along with a part time job so I do have some time to get busy later
this week.
If you guys are familiar with this radio I need one more thing B4 I
start. I would like to check one thing first. That's the reference
frequency. I just want to check
now and immediately?after?a recap?but I cannot
fine?"TP1" on the PLL?board, as per the service manual. I find
all the other test points but can't find #1.
Is it just me?
Thank you.
Bob W4JFA
I agree. None of your test readings can be trusted if all the old
capacitors are still in the radio.
Gary
On 5/4/2025 12:54 PM, Bob via wrote:
So far... RF
out became intermittent. Either
would work fine or no output?at all. Now no output at all.
Radio?switches to TX mode.
"On air" LED lights up, Meter on display changes? from "S" to
"RF" and measures no output. LED on the RX/TX board lights up when
going to transmit. I measure no RF on, getting to the filter board.
LED on ALC board always lit up when radio power is on.
Little daughter board Z11 has
correct receive and transmit voltages. IC-8 always has the receive
voltages no matter if radio in transmit or receive mode.
Now I can't remember which diode
but one of those next to the "RAT" coax input to the RX/TX board does
have voltage on receive but zero volts on transmit. That's correct as
per the schematic
LO1 and LO2 both have the
correct frequency from the PLL board to the RX/TX board. The CAR from
the PLL board to the RX/TX board is correct.
The dial illumination
intermittently gets a little brighter on TX since this
problem.?
No output on any mode.
An experienced radio tech
suggested I replace all electrolytics which I do plan to do.
Thanks all! Greatly
appreciated.
Bob
W4JFA?
Describe your "extensive testing", and the results.
?
Gary
|
I have all along been concentrating on a switching problem. I guess that could be caused by a bad cap? I already started recapping the RX/TX board.
I appreciate everyone's input very much.? I got this radio working but plenty of problems. I got that all ironed out. It worked great for about ten days, then kaput. I was in the middle of POTA cw when it quit.
Thank you all!
Bob W4JFA?
I doubt it¡¯s caps.? Make sure all buttons and controls are as they should be, to start with.
Loy WA5LOU Gary, I will look when I get home later. Thank you. Now the radio has lost receive. I don't know why yet. All this time I was paying attention to TX and not RX. Speaker was removed for easier access. No RX audio, no "S" meter. I do get "beep" when buttons are pressed. Maybe everyone is right, recap the entire thing before anymore testing etc. I have 99% of all the e-caps I need.
Bob,
On page 89 of the service manual, I found this. I see TP1 on
right side of board.
Gary
 ?
On 5/5/2025 5:20 AM, Bob via
wrote:
Gary, Lou, The plan is to recap. Others have given
me the same opinion. I'm retired but a care take of an elderly
parent
along with a part time job so I do have some time to get
busy later this week.
If you guys are familiar with this radio I need one more
thing B4 I start. I would like to check one thing first.
That's the reference frequency. I just want to check
now and immediately?after?a recap?but I cannot fine?"TP1"
on the PLL?board, as per the service manual. I find all the
other test points but can't find #1.
Is it just me?
Thank you.
Bob W4JFA
I agree. None of your test readings can be trusted if all
the old capacitors are still in the radio.
Gary
On 5/4/2025 12:54 PM, Bob via wrote:
So far... RF
out became
intermittent. Either would work fine or no output?at
all. Now no output at all.
Radio?switches
to TX mode. "On air" LED lights up, Meter on display
changes? from "S" to "RF" and measures no output.
LED on the RX/TX board lights up when going to
transmit. I measure no RF on, getting to the filter
board. LED on ALC board always lit up when radio
power is on.
Little
daughter board Z11 has correct receive and transmit
voltages. IC-8 always has the receive voltages no
matter if radio in transmit or receive mode.
Now I can't
remember which diode but one of those next to the
"RAT" coax input to the RX/TX board does have
voltage on receive but zero volts on transmit.
That's correct as per the schematic
LO1 and LO2
both have the correct frequency from the PLL board
to the RX/TX board. The CAR from the PLL board to
the RX/TX board is correct.
The dial
illumination intermittently gets a little brighter
on TX since this problem.?
No output on
any mode.
An
experienced radio tech suggested I replace all
electrolytics which I do plan to do.
Thanks all!
Greatly appreciated.
Bob W4JFA?
Describe your "extensive testing", and the
results.
?
Gary
|
Gary, ?I replaced every e-cap on the PLL?board and most on the RX/TX board. I can't seem to work with these surface mounted caps like I used to. Some gave me?quite a problem so some of them I decided to let them be for now. No change. RX is good and same thing for TX. I need to find a younger guy that can install a few ot the others for me.
When/during transmitting, any mode, the dial illumination gets brighter intermittently and at the same time when the dial illumination is NORMAL, not bright, the "on air" LED on the faceplate glows normally. Otherwise it's quite dim. Does that give you a clue? No RF out either way. I feel like I'm so close!
Thanks for reading.
Bob W4JFA
I agree. None of your test readings can be trusted if all the old
capacitors are still in the radio.
Gary
On 5/4/2025 12:54 PM, Bob via
wrote:
So far... RF
out became
intermittent. Either would work fine or no output?at all.
Now no output at all.
Radio?switches to TX
mode. "On air" LED lights up, Meter on display changes? from
"S" to "RF" and measures no output. LED on the RX/TX board
lights up when going to transmit. I measure no RF on,
getting to the filter board. LED on ALC board always lit up
when radio power is on.
Little daughter board
Z11 has correct receive and transmit voltages. IC-8 always
has the receive voltages no matter if radio in transmit or
receive mode.
Now I can't remember
which diode but one of those next to the "RAT" coax input to
the RX/TX board does have voltage on receive but zero volts
on transmit. That's correct as per the schematic
LO1 and LO2 both have
the correct frequency from the PLL board to the RX/TX board.
The CAR from the PLL board to the RX/TX board is correct.
The dial illumination
intermittently gets a little brighter on TX since this
problem.?
No output on any
mode.
An experienced radio
tech suggested I replace all electrolytics which I do plan
to do.
Thanks all! Greatly
appreciated.
Bob W4JFA?
Describe your "extensive testing", and the results.
?
Gary
|
Bob,
Do you have any test equipment that will allow you to follow the
generated RF signal through the the radio? I'm talking about
signal tracing. That's what I'd be doing.
Gary
On 5/6/2025 12:31 PM, Bob via groups.io
wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Gary,
?I replaced every e-cap on the PLL?board and most on the
RX/TX board. I can't seem to work with these surface mounted
caps like I used to. Some gave me?quite a problem so some of
them I decided to let them be for now. No change. RX is good
and same thing for TX. I need to find a younger guy that can
install a few ot the others for me.
When/during transmitting, any mode, the dial illumination
gets brighter intermittently and at the same time when the
dial illumination is NORMAL, not bright, the "on air" LED on
the faceplate glows normally. Otherwise it's quite dim. Does
that give you a clue? No RF out either way. I feel like I'm
so close!
Thanks for reading.
Bob W4JFA
I agree. None of your test readings can be trusted if all
the old capacitors are still in the radio.
Gary
On 5/4/2025 12:54 PM, Bob via wrote:
So far... RF
out became
intermittent. Either would work fine or no output?at
all. Now no output at all.
Radio?switches
to TX mode. "On air" LED lights up, Meter on display
changes? from "S" to "RF" and measures no output.
LED on the RX/TX board lights up when going to
transmit. I measure no RF on, getting to the filter
board. LED on ALC board always lit up when radio
power is on.
Little
daughter board Z11 has correct receive and transmit
voltages. IC-8 always has the receive voltages no
matter if radio in transmit or receive mode.
Now I can't
remember which diode but one of those next to the
"RAT" coax input to the RX/TX board does have
voltage on receive but zero volts on transmit.
That's correct as per the schematic
LO1 and LO2
both have the correct frequency from the PLL board
to the RX/TX board. The CAR from the PLL board to
the RX/TX board is correct.
The dial
illumination intermittently gets a little brighter
on TX since this problem.?
No output on
any mode.
An
experienced radio tech suggested I replace all
electrolytics which I do plan to do.
Thanks all!
Greatly appreciated.
Bob W4JFA?
Describe your "extensive testing", and the
results.
?
Gary
|
Gary, With a scopeI measured the input to the filter board, CN-5. I measured 250 milli-volts/500 millivolts peak to peak with radio set to 10 watts out on transmit (CW) I measured approx 600 milli-volts/1+ volt peak to peak?with radio set to 50 watts output (CW). I don't know what it should be.
My common sense tells me that most likely the TX/RX board is working as it should be but I'm at a loss for the dial/on air LED illumination changes.
Thank you!!!
Bob W4JFA
Bob,
Do you have any test equipment that will allow you to follow the
generated RF signal through the the radio? I'm talking about
signal tracing. That's what I'd be doing.
Gary
On 5/6/2025 12:31 PM, Bob via
wrote:
Gary,
?I replaced every e-cap on the PLL?board and most on the
RX/TX board. I can't seem to work with these surface mounted
caps like I used to. Some gave me?quite a problem so some of
them I decided to let them be for now. No change. RX is good
and same thing for TX. I need to find a younger guy that can
install a few ot the others for me.
When/during transmitting, any mode, the dial illumination
gets brighter intermittently and at the same time when the
dial illumination is NORMAL, not bright, the "on air" LED on
the faceplate glows normally. Otherwise it's quite dim. Does
that give you a clue? No RF out either way. I feel like I'm
so close!
Thanks for reading.
Bob W4JFA
I agree. None of your test readings can be trusted if all
the old capacitors are still in the radio.
Gary
On 5/4/2025 12:54 PM, Bob via wrote:
So far... RF
out became
intermittent. Either would work fine or no output?at
all. Now no output at all.
Radio?switches
to TX mode. "On air" LED lights up, Meter on display
changes? from "S" to "RF" and measures no output.
LED on the RX/TX board lights up when going to
transmit. I measure no RF on, getting to the filter
board. LED on ALC board always lit up when radio
power is on.
Little
daughter board Z11 has correct receive and transmit
voltages. IC-8 always has the receive voltages no
matter if radio in transmit or receive mode.
Now I can't
remember which diode but one of those next to the
"RAT" coax input to the RX/TX board does have
voltage on receive but zero volts on transmit.
That's correct as per the schematic
LO1 and LO2
both have the correct frequency from the PLL board
to the RX/TX board. The CAR from the PLL board to
the RX/TX board is correct.
The dial
illumination intermittently gets a little brighter
on TX since this problem.?
No output on
any mode.
An
experienced radio tech suggested I replace all
electrolytics which I do plan to do.
Thanks all!
Greatly appreciated.
Bob W4JFA?
Describe your "extensive testing", and the
results.
?
Gary
|
Gary, and all, After looking at the schematic, and reading the circuit descriptions, I think I should had had a lot more than what I measured. I'll have to look at the filter and final boards. I think I can get to it later today (Wednesday). Thank you for all your input. Bob W4JFA?
Gary, With a scopeI measured the input to the filter board, CN-5. I measured 250 milli-volts/500 millivolts peak to peak with radio set to 10 watts out on transmit (CW) I measured approx 600 milli-volts/1+ volt peak to peak?with radio set to 50 watts output (CW). I don't know what it should be.
My common sense tells me that most likely the TX/RX board is working as it should be but I'm at a loss for the dial/on air LED illumination changes.
Thank you!!!
Bob W4JFA
Bob,
Do you have any test equipment that will allow you to follow the
generated RF signal through the the radio? I'm talking about
signal tracing. That's what I'd be doing.
Gary
On 5/6/2025 12:31 PM, Bob via
wrote:
Gary,
?I replaced every e-cap on the PLL?board and most on the
RX/TX board. I can't seem to work with these surface mounted
caps like I used to. Some gave me?quite a problem so some of
them I decided to let them be for now. No change. RX is good
and same thing for TX. I need to find a younger guy that can
install a few ot the others for me.
When/during transmitting, any mode, the dial illumination
gets brighter intermittently and at the same time when the
dial illumination is NORMAL, not bright, the "on air" LED on
the faceplate glows normally. Otherwise it's quite dim. Does
that give you a clue? No RF out either way. I feel like I'm
so close!
Thanks for reading.
Bob W4JFA
I agree. None of your test readings can be trusted if all
the old capacitors are still in the radio.
Gary
On 5/4/2025 12:54 PM, Bob via wrote:
So far... RF
out became
intermittent. Either would work fine or no output?at
all. Now no output at all.
Radio?switches
to TX mode. "On air" LED lights up, Meter on display
changes? from "S" to "RF" and measures no output.
LED on the RX/TX board lights up when going to
transmit. I measure no RF on, getting to the filter
board. LED on ALC board always lit up when radio
power is on.
Little
daughter board Z11 has correct receive and transmit
voltages. IC-8 always has the receive voltages no
matter if radio in transmit or receive mode.
Now I can't
remember which diode but one of those next to the
"RAT" coax input to the RX/TX board does have
voltage on receive but zero volts on transmit.
That's correct as per the schematic
LO1 and LO2
both have the correct frequency from the PLL board
to the RX/TX board. The CAR from the PLL board to
the RX/TX board is correct.
The dial
illumination intermittently gets a little brighter
on TX since this problem.?
No output on
any mode.
An
experienced radio tech suggested I replace all
electrolytics which I do plan to do.
Thanks all!
Greatly appreciated.
Bob W4JFA?
Describe your "extensive testing", and the
results.
?
Gary
|
All recapped. Exactly the same as before. Time to study some more. 73, Bob W4JFA?
Gary, and all, After looking at the schematic, and reading the circuit descriptions, I think I should had had a lot more than what I measured. I'll have to look at the filter and final boards. I think I can get to it later today (Wednesday). Thank you for all your input. Bob W4JFA?
Gary, With a scopeI measured the input to the filter board, CN-5. I measured 250 milli-volts/500 millivolts peak to peak with radio set to 10 watts out on transmit (CW) I measured approx 600 milli-volts/1+ volt peak to peak?with radio set to 50 watts output (CW). I don't know what it should be.
My common sense tells me that most likely the TX/RX board is working as it should be but I'm at a loss for the dial/on air LED illumination changes.
Thank you!!!
Bob W4JFA
Bob,
Do you have any test equipment that will allow you to follow the
generated RF signal through the the radio? I'm talking about
signal tracing. That's what I'd be doing.
Gary
On 5/6/2025 12:31 PM, Bob via
wrote:
Gary,
?I replaced every e-cap on the PLL?board and most on the
RX/TX board. I can't seem to work with these surface mounted
caps like I used to. Some gave me?quite a problem so some of
them I decided to let them be for now. No change. RX is good
and same thing for TX. I need to find a younger guy that can
install a few ot the others for me.
When/during transmitting, any mode, the dial illumination
gets brighter intermittently and at the same time when the
dial illumination is NORMAL, not bright, the "on air" LED on
the faceplate glows normally. Otherwise it's quite dim. Does
that give you a clue? No RF out either way. I feel like I'm
so close!
Thanks for reading.
Bob W4JFA
I agree. None of your test readings can be trusted if all
the old capacitors are still in the radio.
Gary
On 5/4/2025 12:54 PM, Bob via wrote:
So far... RF
out became
intermittent. Either would work fine or no output?at
all. Now no output at all.
Radio?switches
to TX mode. "On air" LED lights up, Meter on display
changes? from "S" to "RF" and measures no output.
LED on the RX/TX board lights up when going to
transmit. I measure no RF on, getting to the filter
board. LED on ALC board always lit up when radio
power is on.
Little
daughter board Z11 has correct receive and transmit
voltages. IC-8 always has the receive voltages no
matter if radio in transmit or receive mode.
Now I can't
remember which diode but one of those next to the
"RAT" coax input to the RX/TX board does have
voltage on receive but zero volts on transmit.
That's correct as per the schematic
LO1 and LO2
both have the correct frequency from the PLL board
to the RX/TX board. The CAR from the PLL board to
the RX/TX board is correct.
The dial
illumination intermittently gets a little brighter
on TX since this problem.?
No output on
any mode.
An
experienced radio tech suggested I replace all
electrolytics which I do plan to do.
Thanks all!
Greatly appreciated.
Bob W4JFA?
Describe your "extensive testing", and the
results.
?
Gary
|
Bob
Lou WA5LOU
