TNX for the info.? I'll have to look into this.? I had seen some other comments pertinent to these receivers and never found an answer...
FWIW, I only ever use the CD input of this receiver now to stream from either my computer or phone to play music.? It's amazing how we have come so far -- yet my older son has acquired a massive collection of vinyl and is a vinyl devote now.? Forty is the new twenty,,,
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Friday, December 27th, 2024 at 1:32 PM, Mike Bryce via groups.io <prosolar@...> wrote:
from what I¡¯ve read, the LCD uses LEDs to provide the lighting.
And, there are quite a few of them, like 64 leds¡. the SW8 used a single bright LED with light pipes to the LCD.
I don¡¯t believe, and I haven¡¯t looked, that the R8 uses the glowing electro thingiee (yes, that is a correct technical term!)
I think you can replace the illuminator in this display. It¡¯s been a while but I recall having done it once.
Gary
W0DVN On Dec 27, 2024, at 9:05?AM, Mike Bryce via < prosolar@...> wrote:
³Ò²¹²Ô²µ¡
I have a R8 sitting on my desk I got from a local ham. He went through it and replaced several handfuls of capacitors. The encoder was shot so he machined a new coupling to fit an off the shelf new encoder. Radio works great and looks good.
However!!
The LCD is so dim, it¡¯s hard to see it.
Found the usual Google hits about cleaning contacts and so on. Nothing worked
is there a fix for the dim display? (other than a new LCD)
Mike, WB8VGE
SunLight Energy Systems
The Heathkit Shop
J e e p
o|||||||o?
A man with one clock knows what time it?is. A man with two clocks is never sure.
|
One would assume that, since the DR7 gets the right answers on the low bands, that the DR7 is reading wha it sees on the high bands as well...
Gary
W0DVN
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On Dec 27, 2024, at 3:44?PM, Jim Shorney via groups.io <jimNU0C@...> wrote:
Of course that assumes that the counter is reading the signal correctly. Best to eliminate everything else before tearing in to the VCO board.
If extender boards are not available U502 checks can be made with the board on the bench by connecting a 10 Volt power source to pin 5/18.
On Fri, 27 Dec 2024 14:46:10 -0600
"Gary Follett via groups.io" <xntrick1948@...> wrote:
The math tells you that the VCO is operating at 100 MHz! No ¡°N code¡± faults could produce that high frequency.
--
73
-Jim
NU0C
|
Of course that assumes that the counter is reading the signal correctly. Best to eliminate everything else before tearing in to the VCO board. If extender boards are not available U502 checks can be made with the board on the bench by connecting a 10 Volt power source to pin 5/18. On Fri, 27 Dec 2024 14:46:10 -0600 "Gary Follett via groups.io" <xntrick1948@...> wrote: The math tells you that the VCO is operating at 100 MHz! No ¡°N code¡± faults could produce that high frequency. -- 73 -Jim NU0C
|
Re: CW Filters and Passband Tuning?
If you happened to prefer a CW note that is, say, 400 Hz, it might be nice to center the PBT to optimize for a 400 Hz note. The same would be true if you preferred a 700 Hz tone.
In an old-fashioned receiver with tunable BFO, you did the same thing by placing the BFO to give you the tone you wanted when you were tuned to the proper frequency in the receiver.
This really only matters if you are using narrow CW filters...
Gary?
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On Dec 27, 2024, at 3:09?PM, Steve W1SRD via groups.io <w1srd@...> wrote:
What, if any, is the advantage of doing so?
Just curious.
73,
Steve
W1SRD
|
Re: CW Filters and Passband Tuning?
What, if any, is the advantage of doing so?
Just curious.
73,
Steve
W1SRD
|
Make the following check:
Then:
The math tells you that the VCO is operating at 100 MHz! No ¡°N code¡± faults could produce that high frequency.
There can't be anything wrong with the circuit before R537 because all of that is shared with the low band VCO operation.
Next:
Just my humble observations¡
Gary
W0DVN
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On Dec 27, 2024, at 1:16?PM, Jim Shorney via groups.io <jimNU0C@...> wrote:
N code info here:
/g/DRAKE-RADIO/files/TR-7/TR7%20PLL%20N%20Code%20and%20Digital%20Control%20Board%20Information
The Jumper Board logic chart is an early work by K4OAH (SK). It was hard to make sense of for me and I think contains some errors. I've been meaning to clean it up and verify but I forget about it every time I have a radio open.
On Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:05:29 -0600
"Jim Shorney via groups.io" <jimNU0C@...> wrote:
There is an N code chart in the files section
--
73
-Jim
NU0C
|
Re: Drake L7 10m modification
Mine didn't have that so I made my own. Now I wished I had just ran another piece of coax.
Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
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-------- Original message -------- From: "Jim Shorney via groups.io" <jimNU0C@...> Date: 12/27/24 2:22 PM (GMT-05:00) Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] Drake L7 10m modification
The shorting trace would be obvious if you have the later circuit board. A single wide trace running from front to back with a hole for a wire at each end. The idea was to unsolder the coax center conductor at each end and move them to the shorting trace. On Fri, 27 Dec 2024 14:08:36 -0500 "Roger KW4EMF via groups.io" <rogerlhill@...> wrote: > Do you remember where the shorting trace is? -- 73 -Jim NU0C
|
Re: Drake L7 10m modification
Here it is. A screw with a plan head no slot or anything. Just some knurl around the outside and a nut.
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-------- Original message -------- From: "Evan via groups.io" <k9sqg@...> Date: 12/23/24 10:59 PM (GMT-05:00) Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] Drake L7 10m modification
Roger,
To my knowledge Drake used 3 different schemes to lockout 10/11 meters from the CB crowd. ?The one you have sounds like the one where there is a round head screw with/without a nut, something like a cap screw, possibly with an Allen head. ?The best way to remove it, I've found, is to do it from the bottom. ? However, ?do be careful and stuff some painters tape, or kleenex, ?or something "below" where that screw/nut might fall. ?That way you can capture it before it gets into some known/unknown location that could cause further damage upon power up. ?For me, I've found that needle nose pliers worked well with high illumination.
But let's hear what the experts say.
Best of luck.
73,
Evan, K9SQG
I've looked down in the band switch from the bottom and see a small nut. I can't really see the head. What is the best way to get at it? Top or bottom? What type of tools did you use? Going in from the bottom is extremely tight.?
|
Re: Drake L7 10m modification
The shorting trace would be obvious if you have the later circuit board. A single wide trace running from front to back with a hole for a wire at each end. The idea was to unsolder the coax center conductor at each end and move them to the shorting trace. On Fri, 27 Dec 2024 14:08:36 -0500 "Roger KW4EMF via groups.io" <rogerlhill@...> wrote: Do you remember where the shorting trace is? -- 73 -Jim NU0C
|
Re: Drake L7 10m modification
I think I understand. The filter board itself had a way to bypass it. I kinda made my own shorting trace.?
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-------- Original message -------- From: "Evan via groups.io" <k9sqg@...> Date: 12/27/24 11:49 AM (GMT-05:00) Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] Drake L7 10m modification
On one L7 that I serviced it had a "shorting" trace on the 11M filter?
Yes it had the band pass filter. I removed it. Now to "unlock" the band selector and add a capacitor.? Thanks Roger
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-------- Original message -------- From: "amfone via groups.io" <amfone20000@...> Date: 12/24/24 10:02 AM (GMT-05:00) Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] Drake L7 10m modification
They also used a filter to prevent 11 meter operation in some of the amps. I don't know if they were the earlier L7's or the later ones?
Merry Christmas to all and happy holidays.
Tim
WB8UHZ
On Tuesday, December 24, 2024 at 08:39:41 AM EST, Roger KW4EMF <rogerlhill@...> wrote:
Ok. Thanks. That is a tiny crack to go through to get it. I tried to run my snake camera down in there to get a look but can't get it in there. I just removed the one small plate over the input tuning coils.
Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
-------- Original message -------- From: "Evan via groups.io" <k9sqg@...> Date: 12/23/24 10:59 PM (GMT-05:00) Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] Drake L7 10m modification
Roger,
To my knowledge Drake used 3 different schemes to lockout 10/11 meters from the CB crowd. ?The one you have sounds like the one where there is a round head screw with/without a nut, something like a cap screw, possibly with an Allen head. ?The best way to remove it, I've found, is to do it from the bottom. ? However, ?do be careful and stuff some painters tape, or kleenex, ?or something "below" where that screw/nut might fall. ?That way you can capture it before it gets into some known/unknown location that could cause further damage upon power up. ?For me, I've found that needle nose pliers worked well with high illumination.
But let's hear what the experts say.
Best of luck.
73,
Evan, K9SQG
I've looked down in the band switch from the bottom and see a small nut. I can't really see the head. What is the best way to get at it? Top or bottom? What type of tools did you use? Going in from the bottom is extremely tight.?
|
N code info here: /g/DRAKE-RADIO/files/TR-7/TR7%20PLL%20N%20Code%20and%20Digital%20Control%20Board%20InformationThe Jumper Board logic chart is an early work by K4OAH (SK). It was hard to make sense of for me and I think contains some errors. I've been meaning to clean it up and verify but I forget about it every time I have a radio open. On Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:05:29 -0600 "Jim Shorney via groups.io" <jimNU0C@...> wrote: There is an N code chart in the files section -- 73 -Jim NU0C
|
Re: Drake L7 10m modification
Yep I can see that. I used a small precision screw driver and a tiny ball peen hammer to coax the nut loose then kept flicking the nut till it fell apart.
Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
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-------- Original message -------- From: "Jim Shorney via groups.io" <jimNU0C@...> Date: 12/26/24 5:02 PM (GMT-05:00) Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] Drake L7 10m modification
It's been a few years but IIRC I used a dental pick to coax the nut off and then popped the screw out. On Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:20:11 -0500 "Roger KW4EMF via groups.io" <rogerlhill@...> wrote: > It doesn't say how to get that little stop screw out of the band switch. I can see it. But don't see any way to access it short of removing the band switch.? -- 73 -Jim NU0C
|
Re: Drake L7 10m modification
Do you remember where the shorting trace is? I have not heard of that before. I did get that little bolt/ nut out of the band switch and bypassed the filter board. There is no way to get conventional tools on that band switch stop like a wrench or pliers. It's between a rock and another rock in this case. I used a precision screw driver and a small hammer to peck the nut loose. Then just keep flicking it with the screw driver until it is completely unscrewed. Then fish or dump the pieces out of the amp. The first photo is the knuriled head of the screw. Second photo is the nut on the other side. Third is the narrow gap you have to go through to get at it.
Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
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-------- Original message -------- From: "Thomas W9TAB via groups.io" <electron@...> Date: 12/27/24 11:58 AM (GMT-05:00) Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] Drake L7 10m modification
My L7 had a shorting trace as well but I chose to remove the filter because that was where I mounted the step start, soft key and bias board at.?
On Dec 27, 2024, at 10:49?AM, Evan via groups.io <k9sqg@...> wrote:
?
On one L7 that I serviced it had a "shorting" trace on the 11M filter?
Yes it had the band pass filter. I removed it. Now to "unlock" the band selector and add a capacitor.?
Thanks
Roger
Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
-------- Original message --------
From: "amfone via groups.io" <amfone20000@...>
Date: 12/24/24 10:02 AM (GMT-05:00)
Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] Drake L7 10m modification
They also used a filter to prevent 11 meter operation in some of the amps. I don't know if they were the earlier L7's or the later ones?
Merry Christmas to all and happy holidays.
Tim
WB8UHZ
On Tuesday, December 24, 2024 at 08:39:41 AM EST, Roger KW4EMF <rogerlhill@...> wrote:
Ok. Thanks. That is a tiny crack to go through to get it. I tried to run my snake camera down in there to get a look but can't get it in there. I just removed the one small plate over the input tuning coils.
Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
-------- Original message --------
From: "Evan via groups.io" <k9sqg@...>
Date: 12/23/24 10:59 PM (GMT-05:00)
Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] Drake L7 10m modification
Roger,
To my knowledge Drake used 3 different schemes to lockout 10/11 meters from the CB crowd. ?The one you have sounds like the one where there is a round head screw with/without a nut, something like a cap screw, possibly with an Allen head. ?The
best way to remove it, I've found, is to do it from the bottom. ? However, ?do be careful and stuff some painters tape, or kleenex, ?or something "below" where that screw/nut might fall. ?That way you can capture it before it gets into some known/unknown location
that could cause further damage upon power up. ?For me, I've found that needle nose pliers worked well with high illumination.
But let's hear what the experts say.
Best of luck.
73,
Evan, K9SQG
I've looked down in the band switch from the bottom and see a small nut. I can't really see the head. What is the best way to get at it? Top or bottom? What type of tools did you use? Going in from the bottom is extremely tight.?
|
from what I¡¯ve read, the LCD uses LEDs to provide the lighting.
And, there are quite a few of them, like 64 leds¡. the SW8 used a single bright LED with light pipes to the LCD.
I don¡¯t believe, and I haven¡¯t looked, that the R8 uses the glowing electro thingiee (yes, that is a correct technical term!)
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I think you can replace the illuminator in this display. It¡¯s been a while but I recall having done it once.
Gary
W0DVN On Dec 27, 2024, at 9:05?AM, Mike Bryce via < prosolar@...> wrote:
³Ò²¹²Ô²µ¡
I have a R8 sitting on my desk I got from a local ham. He went through it and replaced several handfuls of capacitors. The encoder was shot so he machined a new coupling to fit an off the shelf new encoder. Radio works great and looks good.
However!!
The LCD is so dim, it¡¯s hard to see it.
Found the usual Google hits about cleaning contacts and so on. Nothing worked
is there a fix for the dim display? (other than a new LCD)
Mike, WB8VGE
SunLight Energy Systems
The Heathkit Shop
J e e p
o|||||||o?
A man with one clock knows what time it?is. A man with two clocks is never sure.
|
There is a company called ¡°LCD Parts¡±, who sell replacement LED illuminators in strips that can be cut to length. Included with them is the required power supply. The cut-to-length¡± feature is really great.
I just reviewed the R8 and it is indeed an LED illuminator in the display.
Electroluminescent illuminators never came in yellow so I am assuming the Yamaha also uses LED illuminators.
Gary
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On Dec 27, 2024, at 11:59?AM, Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io <w1es@...> wrote:
I've been following this thread, as I have a similar problem in my circa 1998 Yamaha stereo receiver.? It has yellow LCD digits and they're now barely visible.
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Friday, December 27th, 2024 at 12:53 PM, Gary Follett via groups.io <xntrick1948@...> wrote:
I think you can replace the illuminator in this display. It¡¯s been a while but I recall having done it once.
Gary
W0DVN On Dec 27, 2024, at 9:05?AM, Mike Bryce via groups.io <prosolar@...> wrote:
³Ò²¹²Ô²µ¡
I have a R8 sitting on my desk I got from a local ham. He went through it and replaced several handfuls of capacitors. The encoder was shot so he machined a new coupling to fit an off the shelf new encoder. Radio works great and looks good.
However!!
The LCD is so dim, it¡¯s hard to see it.
Found the usual Google hits about cleaning contacts and so on. Nothing worked
is there a fix for the dim display? (other than a new LCD)
Mike, WB8VGE
SunLight Energy Systems
The Heathkit Shop
J e e p
o|||||||o?
A man with one clock knows what time it?is. A man with two clocks is never sure.
|
The VCO is running or you would not see a reading on the counter at all. Check to see if it locks in the band segments 15.0 through 16.5 MHz. If so you may have an N code problem. The A6 bit is unique to 17.0 through 29.5 MHz. There is an N code chart in the files section of this group but be advised that the pins are not arranged in logical order as they pass through the circuit boards. On Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:11:08 -0400 "Jim Harris via groups.io" <radiove1rb@...> wrote: This morning I confirmed that the band switch that switches the 10 volts to
either the low VCO or the high VCO is working just fine. Any other ideas
why on 15 and 10 meters the display is reading 51 950.0 and does not change
any.
73, Jim VE1RB -- 73 -Jim NU0C
|
I've been following this thread, as I have a similar problem in my circa 1998 Yamaha stereo receiver.? It has yellow LCD digits and they're now barely visible.
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Friday, December 27th, 2024 at 12:53 PM, Gary Follett via groups.io <xntrick1948@...> wrote:
I think you can replace the illuminator in this display. It¡¯s been a while but I recall having done it once.
Gary
W0DVN On Dec 27, 2024, at 9:05?AM, Mike Bryce via groups.io <prosolar@...> wrote:
³Ò²¹²Ô²µ¡
I have a R8 sitting on my desk I got from a local ham. He went through it and replaced several handfuls of capacitors. The encoder was shot so he machined a new coupling to fit an off the shelf new encoder. Radio works great and looks good.
However!!
The LCD is so dim, it¡¯s hard to see it.
Found the usual Google hits about cleaning contacts and so on. Nothing worked
is there a fix for the dim display? (other than a new LCD)
Mike, WB8VGE
SunLight Energy Systems
The Heathkit Shop
J e e p
o|||||||o?
A man with one clock knows what time it?is. A man with two clocks is never sure.
|
I think you can replace the illuminator in this display. It¡¯s been a while but I recall having done it once.
Gary
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On Dec 27, 2024, at 9:05?AM, Mike Bryce via groups.io <prosolar@...> wrote:
³Ò²¹²Ô²µ¡
I have a R8 sitting on my desk I got from a local ham. He went through it and replaced several handfuls of capacitors. The encoder was shot so he machined a new coupling to fit an off the shelf new encoder. Radio works great and looks good.
However!!
The LCD is so dim, it¡¯s hard to see it.
Found the usual Google hits about cleaning contacts and so on. Nothing worked
is there a fix for the dim display? (other than a new LCD)
Mike, WB8VGE
SunLight Energy Systems
The Heathkit Shop
J e e p
o|||||||o?
A man with one clock knows what time it?is. A man with two clocks is never sure.
|
There was a reason the power supply fuse popped. Check voltages there first.
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On Dec 27, 2024, at 10:54?AM, Jay W6CJ via groups.io <lastradioman@...> wrote:
Group, I'd welcome any advice on where to start looking.??
The 5A fuse on the AC4 blew in my absence. Replaced the fuse, and cannot get a peak greater than 0.1A when switching from SSB to tune, regardless of the gain setting on 80 and 40.??
D'oh.....? ??
73 Jay
|
The same on all bands. The max peak in TUNE mode is closer to 80mA, not 100mA.
Are the other bands working?
On Fri, Dec 27, 2024 at 11:54 AM, Jay W6CJ via < lastradioman@...> wrote:
Group,
I'd welcome any advice on where to start looking.??
The 5A fuse on the AC4 blew in my absence.
Replaced the fuse, and cannot get a peak greater than 0.1A when switching from SSB to tune, regardless of the gain setting on 80 and 40.??
D'oh.....? ??
73
Jay
|
Jim Shorney
Jay W6CJ