Hi all,
I recently purchased an FT-990 in a pretty good shape. ROM is version 1.3. It works fine with only one exception which concerns the CAT interface.

I tried using it with Logger 32 or Wintest and with a MicroHAM USB device router v5.1.1 and Microkeyer interface (this configuration works perfectly well with my FT-1000MP)

In the MicroHam USB device router, the FT-990 interface is 4800 bauds, 0 parity bit, 2 stop bits. No handshaking. No polling in Wintest, 2500 ms polling interval in Logger32.

The CAT is blinking on the FT-990 display and the frequency and mode are correctly read by the computer with the exception of frequency from time to time : one out of about 10 readings returns a frequency about 70 MHz when being e.g. on 14 MHz (it is always in the range of 70 MHz whatever the real band is selected anyway). Obviously, these out of range values strongly disturb Logger 32 or Wintest, causing even Wintest to crash from time to time. By the way, the wrong frequency is also seen directly in Microham Device router. The frequency display on the FT-990 itself is always correct so it seems there is an error either in the data exchange between the FT-990 and the computer, or more likely within the FT-990 itself (within the CAT converter)  because a wrong transmission might not be decoded by the computer ? The error seems to occur about every 10 seconds, being sometimes much more frequent (each second) then it can completely disappear during a few minutes and comes back again so it is quite random and does not occur more when changing frequency as compared to staying on the same frequency.

Sorry for the long message but has anyone already observed this issue, any place/component to check first in the FT-990, any configuration changes to test ?
Best 73,
Olivier, F5RDS

Hi all,

Just following on this subject, I checked the TRX board and clearly, Q152 (2SA1204) has exploded, which partially anwsers to my previous e-mail. Now I need to figure out how to repair this board !
73
Olivier, F5RDS

Hi all,

My TS-850s has similar symptoms: reception is fine, but when trying to transmit, no output and the TX red light does not ligth anymore (and no clicking from the  ext. amplifier relay). I checked C1 on the CAR unit and it was burned so I replaced it by a 47µF/25v, and checked the board under C1 (was still OK) but it still does not transmit. Haven't checked yet this TRX unit but here are my questions:
- how can I check that the TRX board is faulty ?
- can a TRX board be repaired instead of replacing it ?
many thanks in advance for your possible help.

Best 73,
Olivier
F5RDS, Paris, France.

Hi everyone,

Friday evening, the virus definitions of Antivir has been updated, including a new description of Tr/Crypt.XPACK.Gen trojan definition.
Since this update, my AntiVir (Avira) software has identified several *.exe files from VOACAP to be infected by this trojan.
I suspect a false positive but wanted to check with the VOACAP users community if you have observed the same issue, pending you are also using AntiVir software.

Best 73s,
Olivier, F5RDS
Paris, France

Hi,

Has anybody built the Wheatstone Bridge Regenerative (WBR)Receiver published in QST August 2001 ?
I've built one and spent hours on it but it still have a very poor sensitivity. Q1 is oscillating at the appropriate frequency and with the varicap, I can appropriately cover the 40m band but the signal I can hear are very very weak, although I can hear somes QSOs that have strong signals. The only mod I've done is to substitute the MPF102 (Q2) by a BF245 but these two FETs are close.
i'm really concerned by the way the antenna input is connected to the Z1 line connected to L1: how such a system can work when you route the HF signal to ground ? When I try to include a VK200 between Z1 and ground, then the signal pops up but I still have the feeling that something is going wrong.
Any help would be much appreciate.
73s
Olivier, F5RDS