The Defpom Forum, for RadioMods, S&M Software and Music by The Defpom

So, I've had this radio for less than two years, had to send it back to Premiere Electronics to have it aligned (SSB was off freq) within a couple months of receiving it. Now, the lights for the LCD backlight have gone out. All at the same time.

I emailed RF Limited, and got this:

"If all lamps went out at the same moment the problem is the driver transistor on the CPU board. We do not recommend anyone other than our facility working on the CPU board. There are several vias located at the same point where the lamps are soldered. These via's are easily destroyed and the board will be rendered useless."

Has anyone actually fixed one of these? I'm compitent with a soldering iron, and have done SMT repair and mods before (Had to move some jumpers on a Teac Floppy drive to get it to work in my CMD FD-2000 drive for my Commodore 128).

I know I'm new to the forum, but I've been visiting this site for several years, and have submitted a few mods and tips in the past...

Thanks for any help!

Yes I've done the job and if you feel confident enough to do it go ahead, it's the only none SMC on the board but it's in a very tight position to get at and it's soldered both sides of the board. The later radios have a small heat sink on the transistor to try to keep it cool. It is not an easy job to do you have been warned.
Dave.

Well, for the time being, I tapped into the power for the meter to power the lights for the board. Works good enough for now, though the brightness is no longer adjustable.

I'll have to take a look on the board for the part. Is it on the front panel board, or on the main board? (I'm assuming on the front panel, since it seems that the traces for the dimmer go from the button to an IC on the front panel.)

Yes the transistor is on the front panel, it's the only none surface mount transistor on that board and it's in between two of the switched and soldered both sides of the board. I'd leave it the way you have it.
Dave.