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RCI 2980 No TX
Posted: Tuesday 14th Oct 2008, 1:00
by 66stingray
Hello, I have a 2980(EPT360014B) that received a lightning shot. The radio receives fine, but has no TX. The red light does turn on at TX. This same thing happened a few years back and a local shop replaced the finals to repair it. I can hear a slight carrier on a nearby radio when I push the mike button. It has no mod on AM, but does on FM. Where do I start on taking voltage measurements? I have limited tech skills.
Thanks in advance
Lou
Re: RCI 2980 No TX.
Posted: Tuesday 14th Oct 2008, 3:55
by Rick
Remove the jumper PCB, this is at the back of the radio (A small vertical PCB that connects TP7, TP8, and TP9), then check the voltage at TP9 in AM Mode TX.
Posted: Tuesday 14th Oct 2008, 6:30
by 66stingray
Hi Rick, the voltage is 6.85
Re: RCI 2980 No TX.
Posted: Tuesday 14th Oct 2008, 8:04
by Rick
Looks like the finals have gone south.
Posted: Wednesday 15th Oct 2008, 7:48
by 66stingray
Rick, I am waiting on the new finals, but have noticed TR51 measures 6.8v. Is this because of the bad finals?
Re: RCI 2980 No TX.
Posted: Wednesday 15th Oct 2008, 8:22
by Rick
Remove the jumper PCB, this is at the back of the radio (A small vertical PCB that connects TP7, TP8, and TP9), then check the voltage at TP9 in USB or LSB Mode TX and you should have about 13.2 volts.
In AM it should be only 5.60 volts, you can reset this by adjusting VR13 in AM Mod TX, so that the voltage at TP9 is 5.60 volts.
Posted: Wednesday 15th Oct 2008, 9:10
by 66stingray
TP9=USB 6.8v
AM 6.8v
Measurements with jumper removed and TX
Next
Re: RCI 2980 No TX.
Posted: Wednesday 15th Oct 2008, 10:28
by Rick
Ok then it looks like TR51 is also bad.
Check the voltage on the Base, Collector and Emitter of TR51 and let us know what you find.
Posted: Wednesday 15th Oct 2008, 11:54
by 66stingray
With jumper out: TR51 B=13.81 C=6.82 E=13.81
With jumper in and TX on AM and USB: B=13.80 C=0 E=13.81
Re: RCI 2980 No TX.
Posted: Wednesday 15th Oct 2008, 20:01
by Rick
If you are taking the voltage reading correctly?
If so then it looks like you have a bit more than just the finals and TR51 bad.
I would check the voltages at TR49 and TR50 in AM TX with the jumper out.
I would check the voltages at TR52 in SSB TX with the jumper out.
Posted: Wednesday 15th Oct 2008, 22:55
by 66stingray
TR49=E 6.79 C 13.79 B 6.42
TR50=B 13.79 C 6.81 E 13.81
TR52=E 7.22 C 13.72 B 7.22
Posted: Wednesday 15th Oct 2008, 23:03
by 66stingray
Correction on TR52=E 7.26 C 13.72 B 7.82
Re: RCI 2980 No TX.
Posted: Thursday 16th Oct 2008, 1:34
by Rick
The voltage are not right, so before you do any more reset VR13 in AM TX so the voltage at TP9 5.60 volts with the jumper out.
Then check the voltages at TR49, TR50, TR51, and TR52 in AM TX with the jumper out.
Also check the voltages at TR49, TR50, TR51, and TR52 in SSB TX with the jumper out.
Posted: Thursday 16th Oct 2008, 3:10
by 66stingray
Rick, VR13 will not make any changes to the voltage. The pot does show changes in resistance when I checked with the radio unplugged.
Re: RCI 2980 No TX.
Posted: Thursday 16th Oct 2008, 7:22
by Rick
Make sure the RF power control on the front of the radio is turned fully CW.
Then try adjusting VR13 while checking the voltage at each side of R238.
Posted: Thursday 16th Oct 2008, 8:24
by 66stingray
If I am at the right location, below VR13, someone has changed that resistor to 2 100k resistors solder together. The schematic I am looking at shows a 5.6k at R238. Anyway the voltage is 6.21 one one side and .11 on the other.
Looks like TR51 has been changed before.
Re: RCI 2980 No TX.
Posted: Thursday 16th Oct 2008, 8:57
by Rick
When you post can you put the reference in the Subject line as it make it easy to track the post.
R238 and R239 should both be 5K6, you need to put this right as this will through all the voltage reading out.
Also, check the voltage at each side of R237 in the TX mode.
RCI 2980 No TX
Posted: Thursday 16th Oct 2008, 9:49
by 66stingray
Ok, replaced R238, but VR13 will only turn down to 5.94. R237 reads 8.52-8.70.
Re: RCI 2980 No TX.
Posted: Thursday 16th Oct 2008, 11:00
by Rick
Ok try adjust VR13 and check to see if the voltage at the base, collector, and emitter of TR50 is now changing has you adjust VR13.
RCI 2980 No TX
Posted: Thursday 16th Oct 2008, 12:12
by 66stingray
Yes, voltages adjust at TR50. Lowest at C is 5.92
Re: RCI 2980 No TX.
Posted: Thursday 16th Oct 2008, 21:29
by Rick
Ok it maybe right now but before you replace any parts you need to make sure that the Pass regulator TR51 is working ok.
1. Make sure the RF power control on the front of the radio is turned fully CW.
2. Remove the jumper PCB from TP7, TP8, and TP9.
3. Check the voltage at the collector of TR51 in AM TX, it should be 5.60 volts, if not try adjusting VR13.
4. Check the voltage at the collector of TR51 in SSB TX, it should be 13.50 to 13.70 volts.
RCI 2980 No TX
Posted: Thursday 16th Oct 2008, 23:59
by 66stingray
Still have problems. At TR51C, voltage stays at 5.94 in AM and SSB. VR13 only turns down to 5.94. Jumper is out.
Re: RCI 2980 No TX.
Posted: Friday 17th Oct 2008, 3:52
by Rick
If it would be best to go and checkout the transistor voltage, TR49, TR50, TR,51, TR52, TR53, and TR54.
You will find a voltage chart at the link below, this is for a Galaxy DX88, but this is the same main PCB EPT360014B and all voltage are the same.
http://www.cbtricks.com/radios/galaxy/d ... _chart.htm
Let us know which ones are not right and take a note of the transistors and there voltages.
RCI 2980 No TX
Posted: Friday 17th Oct 2008, 6:24
by 66stingray
Rick, should I take the voltage readings with jumper out? On TR52 I have C=13.82 in AM and SSB. At TR54 C=0 in AM and FM. The Galaxy 88 chart shows 5.6 at both. Is the Galaxy Saturn the same board? It shows 0 volts at C on TR54.
Re: RCI 2980 No TX.
Posted: Friday 17th Oct 2008, 6:49
by Rick
Do not go of the Galaxy Saturn voltage chart as it as a few errors.
All test should be done with the jumper board out and the RF power control to fully CW.
It looks like TR51 is bad and is why you are getting bad voltage readings.
It would be best to test TR51 before you do any more, you can find the info on testing transistors at
http://www.elexp.com/t_test.htm
TR50 and TR51 are PNP type transistors.
TR49, TR52, TR53 and TR54 are NPN type transistors.
R
Posted: Friday 17th Oct 2008, 7:42
by 66stingray
Rick, it looks like TR51 is bad. I unsolder it to test it. Will have to order a replacement. Will get back with you when it is installed
Thanks for your help. I didn't think you would hang in this long with a rookie.
RCI 2980 No TX
Posted: Wednesday 22nd Oct 2008, 5:19
by 66stingray
Back again Rick. I replaced TR51 and TR 50 with higher wattage tr's and the voltages are now correct at those 2. VR13 will now adjust correctly. TR52 still shows 13.82 at C and TR54 shows 0 at C(FM). The charts say 5.6 at those locations. These tests were made with jumper out.
Your serve
Re: RCI 2980 No TX.
Posted: Wednesday 22nd Oct 2008, 20:17
by Rick
TR54 is only switch on in the FM mode.
Have you removed the finals as they was bad?
I think you need to gover the voltage chart again.
You will find a voltage chart at the link below, this is for a Galaxy DX88, but this is the same main PCB EPT360014B and all voltage are the same.
http://www.cbtricks.com/radios/galaxy/d ... _chart.htm
RCI 2980 No TX
Posted: Thursday 23rd Oct 2008, 3:50
by 66stingray
Success. I tested the finals and the driver, and they were ok. Adjusted bias on the driver and finals to spec. I now have transmit. It looks like TR51 was the trouble all along.
I want to thank you Rick, without your help this was on it's way to the shop and a big repair bill. This experience wants me to tinker a little more.
Thanks again.