Before removing the BS-170s you should check the power cord you are using. If it¡¯s 12v at the supply and 5v at the radio maybe there¡¯s a loose connection where you removed the diode? Or somewhere in there.?
Tony
?Be careful with the SSB calibration and maybe this release. Previously I was running version 003, and last time I ran calibration the voltage supply was 11.4 v. However, I bypassed the dropping diode because the voltage was <=12v without it. I tested the CW into a dummy load and it was putting out about 4 watts CW on 20m (instead of 3 watts with the diode). It was 6.5 watts on 160m down to 2 watts on 6m.
?
I downloaded and installed this release 007 and decided to rerun the calibration. It appeared to successfully complete, but then I noticed some problems. The display backlight was dimmer and the characters harder to see. After a pwr cycle the battery icon was blinking even when I didn¡¯t have it on. When I switched to battery voltage display, it read in the 5 v range. I then went to test the SSB on 20m, but the signal was weak, so I went to test CW. The power output had dropped to virtually zero and was buzzy and noisy on my spectrum. I noticed that my case was warmer than it had been. I am thinking I burned out the BS-170s.
?
I will order some BS-170s and then diagnose and repair, I expect it will be awhile before I report my findings.
Ronald Taylor