March 11 2010 ..I have been working on other peoples FT301s and my own as well. My $10 per hour
bench fee is very very reasonable and makes it possible for people to send me circuit boards in the
mail for me to trouble shoot. -- A typical repair was done just recently and I charged only $30 labour,
$1 parts and shop fees (a zener diode (5V) was causing noise in the receiver on ssb and AM modes).
I have just finished working on building an extender board for servicing FT301 circuit boards.
bench fee is very very reasonable and makes it possible for people to send me circuit boards in the
mail for me to trouble shoot. -- A typical repair was done just recently and I charged only $30 labour,
$1 parts and shop fees (a zener diode (5V) was causing noise in the receiver on ssb and AM modes).
I have just finished working on building an extender board for servicing FT301 circuit boards.
Type: Amateur HF transceiver
Frequency range: 10-160 m
Mode: AM/SSB/CW
RF Power output: SSB/CW: 100 W
AM: 25 W
Sensitivity: N/A
Selectivity: N/A
Image rejection: N/A
Voltage: 13.5 VDC
Current drain: RX: Max 1.1 A
TX: Max 21 A
Impedance: 50 ohms, SO-239
Dimensions (W*H*D): 280*125*370 mm
Weight: 9 Kg
Manufactured: 197x-19xx
Other: Digital readout
Related documents: User manual (3.95 MB)
Frequency range: 10-160 m
Mode: AM/SSB/CW
RF Power output: SSB/CW: 100 W
AM: 25 W
Sensitivity: N/A
Selectivity: N/A
Image rejection: N/A
Voltage: 13.5 VDC
Current drain: RX: Max 1.1 A
TX: Max 21 A
Impedance: 50 ohms, SO-239
Dimensions (W*H*D): 280*125*370 mm
Weight: 9 Kg
Manufactured: 197x-19xx
Other: Digital readout
Related documents: User manual (3.95 MB)
The picture above left is from
rigpix.com
and so is the general specifications
to the left.
RigPix is a good resource for general
information about radios. Good
reviews about ham radio equipment
can be gleaned from eham.net
I got the FT301D used. It had a few
problems. I have now got the unit
operational but the 100watt amplifier
section does not seem to be working.
Iam going to do a repair on that and
at the same time, I am going to
modifiy the Power Suppy for my
specific purposes.
rigpix.com
and so is the general specifications
to the left.
RigPix is a good resource for general
information about radios. Good
reviews about ham radio equipment
can be gleaned from eham.net
I got the FT301D used. It had a few
problems. I have now got the unit
operational but the 100watt amplifier
section does not seem to be working.
Iam going to do a repair on that and
at the same time, I am going to
modifiy the Power Suppy for my
specific purposes.
click here to go to
the NEXT PAGE of my
FT301 REPAIR
the NEXT PAGE of my
FT301 REPAIR
or.....
CLICK HERE TO GO TO MY MAIN HOME PAGE
OF www.earlandrews.com
OF www.earlandrews.com
With these old rigs from around the late 70s and the 80s, problems crop up from
time to time. The other day..I fired up my ATLAS 210X for the first time in many
months. It has developed a problem of low transmitter output on 75 meters. As I go
up in frequency towards 4 mhz the power goes up! -- POWER DROPS OFF
SIGNIFICANTLY TOWARDS THE 3.5 MHZ END OF THE BAND..hmmm!!!!SOMETHING TO
WORK ON THIS WINTER!!!
I suspect a problem with the low pass filter or some filter. Perhaps a capacitor has
gone and the bandpass characteristics have changed IN A LOW LEVEL STAGE.
Good thing I now have the time to work on these problems and I'm developing
skills at troubleshooting and analysis.
Im making lots of notes as well. I keep a lab notebook of my findings.
time to time. The other day..I fired up my ATLAS 210X for the first time in many
months. It has developed a problem of low transmitter output on 75 meters. As I go
up in frequency towards 4 mhz the power goes up! -- POWER DROPS OFF
SIGNIFICANTLY TOWARDS THE 3.5 MHZ END OF THE BAND..hmmm!!!!SOMETHING TO
WORK ON THIS WINTER!!!
I suspect a problem with the low pass filter or some filter. Perhaps a capacitor has
gone and the bandpass characteristics have changed IN A LOW LEVEL STAGE.
Good thing I now have the time to work on these problems and I'm developing
skills at troubleshooting and analysis.
Im making lots of notes as well. I keep a lab notebook of my findings.
to see more information about the fix I did to the
FT301D matching power supply CLICK HERE TO
VISIT THAT PAGE
FT301D matching power supply CLICK HERE TO
VISIT THAT PAGE
VISIBLE HERE is a repair I did to an RF UNIT board. I
replaced the double balanced mixer chip (10 lead
metal can pack). As it turned out..the fault was not the
IC but the zener diode!!! LIVE AND LEARN! NO HARM
DONE. The part I took out is still good and I have lots of
parts anyways.
I have a desoldering station and it does a neat job to
desolder the old ICs and replace them without
destroying the board or overheating the component.
I have many of these older semiconductors for the
FT301s in stock. I charge only a wee small markup in
price over what I buy the parts for.
I try to buy in bulk and at discount sales web sites.
Ebay prices are sometimes pretty high on these small
components. (You have to shop around).
MY SHOP RATE for this kind of work is only $10.00 per
hour.
I (personally) find it relaxing to do these repairs. NO
PRESSURES as I am my own boss!
replaced the double balanced mixer chip (10 lead
metal can pack). As it turned out..the fault was not the
IC but the zener diode!!! LIVE AND LEARN! NO HARM
DONE. The part I took out is still good and I have lots of
parts anyways.
I have a desoldering station and it does a neat job to
desolder the old ICs and replace them without
destroying the board or overheating the component.
I have many of these older semiconductors for the
FT301s in stock. I charge only a wee small markup in
price over what I buy the parts for.
I try to buy in bulk and at discount sales web sites.
Ebay prices are sometimes pretty high on these small
components. (You have to shop around).
MY SHOP RATE for this kind of work is only $10.00 per
hour.
I (personally) find it relaxing to do these repairs. NO
PRESSURES as I am my own boss!
I do component replacements and repairs that
people mail to my home (every once and awhile). I
work for $10 per hour. WORK REFERENCES HERE.
Parts are extra (unless you supply them). My prices
for parts is similarly (very reasonable).
people mail to my home (every once and awhile). I
work for $10 per hour. WORK REFERENCES HERE.
Parts are extra (unless you supply them). My prices
for parts is similarly (very reasonable).
I have a pace desoldering station that I can use on circuit boards.
This time..however, I used my simple hand desoldering iron with
bulb suction that I bought at radio shack some years ago.
This time..however, I used my simple hand desoldering iron with
bulb suction that I bought at radio shack some years ago.
This is the de soldering tool I use
most of the time. I also have a
PACE desoldering station for big
jobs.
I did the ft301 board above (the 10
lead metal can pack chip) without
damaging the board.
Some older boards such as those
used in the Ten Tec Argonaut 509
seem to get damaged rather easily
by heat and the foil lifts off.
most of the time. I also have a
PACE desoldering station for big
jobs.
I did the ft301 board above (the 10
lead metal can pack chip) without
damaging the board.
Some older boards such as those
used in the Ten Tec Argonaut 509
seem to get damaged rather easily
by heat and the foil lifts off.
This is the RF unit circuit board I worked on just recently for a fellow.
He sent me 3 boards in the mail at a cost of $9 (in canada) and I
plugged each of them in and quickly isolated the fault to this board.
Going down to the component level..I found a the 5 volt zener diode
on this board was at fault.
The fault was a high oscillating NOISE on LSB, USB and AM. CW was
fine. The rig had received a strong burst of static electricity. The
diode was damaged (shorted) and was now acting as a NOISE
GENERATOR and a darn good one at that! My labour charge was $30
for this rather simple repair.
If I ever have this fault again I would only charge $20 for labour. I now
know the problem. I try not to overcharge and with these old radios..I
have to keep the charges down because people would junk them
other wise.
My bench rate is $10 per hour and I also give out much free advice
and emails and information-- and (in fact)..much of the information and
help I give out is FREE ADVICE.
IM BUILDING UP A POSITIVE KARMA AND PROMOTING AMATEUR RADIO
AT THE SAME TIME.
He sent me 3 boards in the mail at a cost of $9 (in canada) and I
plugged each of them in and quickly isolated the fault to this board.
Going down to the component level..I found a the 5 volt zener diode
on this board was at fault.
The fault was a high oscillating NOISE on LSB, USB and AM. CW was
fine. The rig had received a strong burst of static electricity. The
diode was damaged (shorted) and was now acting as a NOISE
GENERATOR and a darn good one at that! My labour charge was $30
for this rather simple repair.
If I ever have this fault again I would only charge $20 for labour. I now
know the problem. I try not to overcharge and with these old radios..I
have to keep the charges down because people would junk them
other wise.
My bench rate is $10 per hour and I also give out much free advice
and emails and information-- and (in fact)..much of the information and
help I give out is FREE ADVICE.
IM BUILDING UP A POSITIVE KARMA AND PROMOTING AMATEUR RADIO
AT THE SAME TIME.
| OH LORD ...my troubles never end!!! Well a new problem occurred with one of my FT301d rigs. I was in the shack and my nose caught the odor of something starting to overheat! My rig!! More specifically..the back end where the final amplifier transistors reside (heatsink). (March 2010 repair) |
I began working on this problem today. Removed the
heatsink and had a look and there was no sign of burnt
components.
The rig still works except for the finals..so PROBABLY..A
SHORT CIRCUIT IN ONE OF THE TRANSISTORS IS LIKELY
THE CASE.
I HOOKED the unit up and tested it and felt the heat in
the heat sink and it seemed to be around the transistor
marked with a red x in the picture.
I am desoldering this transistor and will test it.
I may test the other final transistors as well to ensure
they are ok.
I will report my findings a little later.
heatsink and had a look and there was no sign of burnt
components.
The rig still works except for the finals..so PROBABLY..A
SHORT CIRCUIT IN ONE OF THE TRANSISTORS IS LIKELY
THE CASE.
I HOOKED the unit up and tested it and felt the heat in
the heat sink and it seemed to be around the transistor
marked with a red x in the picture.
I am desoldering this transistor and will test it.
I may test the other final transistors as well to ensure
they are ok.
I will report my findings a little later.
| x |
The final compartment (big heat sink)
bolts on to the back of the radio.
The radio without the heatsink and
final transistors will put out over 10
watts and maybe even 15 watts or so
and is useful as a standalone QRP rig.
In fact, Yaesu did make an FT301S
and FT301SD which were the qrp
versions of the 301 and 301D (100
watt versions) repectively;.
bolts on to the back of the radio.
The radio without the heatsink and
final transistors will put out over 10
watts and maybe even 15 watts or so
and is useful as a standalone QRP rig.
In fact, Yaesu did make an FT301S
and FT301SD which were the qrp
versions of the 301 and 301D (100
watt versions) repectively;.
| NOTE: I now have 4 FT301s in my collection. 2 are for parts and 2 are good ones. I have some extra display parts as well. Do you have one that is in need of TLC..give me an email or call 705-848-9486. I am always looking for parts rigs or restoration projects. |
Once one display starts to go the whole
display usually follows ..or at least that
is what happened to one of my FT301s. I
can sell some used displays at $9.00
each.-- used pulls and I would test
them..BUT..it would almost be a better
solution to use a new modern LCD
display from AADE (see web site) or
maybe qrp kits and parts or N3ZI. Lately,
on ebay..I saw some TIL307s from
Bulgaria at abt $10 each..will work as a
substitute but decimal pt will be in
wrong spot.
display usually follows ..or at least that
is what happened to one of my FT301s. I
can sell some used displays at $9.00
each.-- used pulls and I would test
them..BUT..it would almost be a better
solution to use a new modern LCD
display from AADE (see web site) or
maybe qrp kits and parts or N3ZI. Lately,
on ebay..I saw some TIL307s from
Bulgaria at abt $10 each..will work as a
substitute but decimal pt will be in
wrong spot.
My $10 per hour bench repair rate only applies to
these types of relatively simple (easy to work on)
repairs ..such as circuit card assemblies and qrp rigs,
power supplies and SOME well built stereo preamps,
amps (maybe the odd guitar amp) ect.
these types of relatively simple (easy to work on)
repairs ..such as circuit card assemblies and qrp rigs,
power supplies and SOME well built stereo preamps,
amps (maybe the odd guitar amp) ect.