This is not a "hidden menu", it is intended to adjust the circuits to the parameters the design was calculated for.

Realizing that the ALC circuit already shows a perculiar behaviour at the borders of it's control range, I'm not sure I would take this route.

I'd consider an 817 if I were you, or of the power level really is important, a radio that is better suited for very low power and has better power control.

Geert Jan

There is no way you can mount a PL259 without causing major damage to the dielectricum. Soldering the braid invariably means melting the dielectricum of the coax.
It's an antique design that today, finds little use outside of amateurs.

Two decades ago, I switched to BNC (and N in some circumstances), and frankly, never looked back. Both connectors do exist with a tightning nut and in crimp and can be mounted without doing damage to the cable.
Correctly mounted cables can easily catch a radio that's fallen off the workbench (which has happened a few times, as strange as it may sound).

With some amusement I read about people using very high wattage soldering equipment to "create enough heat", the same amount of heat they would not dream on putting to components that do can stand the heat (coax cable can't stand the heat and just melts).

The only application for a PL259 socket is to put a PL->BNC adapter on, and keep it, for the lifetime of the equipment. You'll be glad you did!

Geert Jan

If you're going to toss it, be sure to give someone a chance to pick it from the dumpster. I've done several "mission impossible" repairs over the years and it's a much bigger challenge than just replacing the PA transistor or similar.
I've even re-build custom logic to replace a dead, no-replacement chip and the rig is working great now.

While I've not always succeeded, getting in with "nothing to loose" makes a great rig to sharpen one's skills on. I do like these challenges.
And, learning to solder a 80-pin chip is a lot more relaxed if it's not a thousand-dollar rig one is working on.
 
Why are these repairs so expensive? a. labor and b. warranty. If my "nearly-dead" rig  dies again, I just go in again, but you will be angry at the repairman and all that. It's for that reason that factory repair typically swaps boards.

It's for the same reason I don't sell nearly-deads. I might give them away (with clear instructions) but not for money. I'm in this for the fun, not for the bucks.

I realize that the hassle of mailing things overseas (Netherlands) is probably too much but be sure to give another tinkerer a shot.

Geert Jan PE1HZG

I believe, by default, FM RF output can be controlled by the control on front. From factory this only works on FM, but this can be mod-ed to work in any mode.
I mod-ed my 211 so long ago that I can no longer remember.

In any case, check if this control still works as intended, likely the pot is broken or noisy.

Also check the power supply behaviour as suggested by the other poster.

THese 211's are antiques and should be handled as such. Still can do everything, but, like any 30-year old radio, require knowledge and a gentle touch.

Geert Jan

Check if the cable is made for 3.3V logic. That is what the VX2E needs.
Many cables are designed for 5V logic and hence fail because the voltage levels don't match.

Geert Jan

Try to get a new pot first. while I agree that replacing it isn't easy, I fear that for a radio that old, spare parts may be difficult en that, um, precludes problems disassembling the radio.

This may sound harsh, but the 02AT is at least 19 years old and I doubt your fridge, your TV and your car are of the same age. Unfortunately, it's just consumer electronics..

geert jan

I apologize for opening up a 4-year old topic but I spent considerable time reverse-engineering all this, and I didn't find it either.
I do have the answer now, so for the benefit of others:

On the CPU-board, near the microphone jack, there are 2 jumpers, JP04 and JP05. On European rigs, with 1750 boards, these are set to 'burst'. Change both junpers to 'call' and you should be all set.
No need to change the model from B/C to A or something like that - that only changes repeater shift and band edges.

With this jumper change, you get:
- Call button now behaves like a 'call channel' or 'home channel' as it is
  known on newer yaesus
- You loose the ability to send 1750 bursts (no big loss)
- The tone board only gets power if 'tone' is on. Hence, if you leave the
  1750 board in, you will get 1750 Hz on all TX when you enable 'tone'.
  Change the board for a tone board and you should be all set.

If you can't find a FTS-7, use another board: pin1=+5V, pin5=GND,
pin6=CTCSS out

I actually took apart the old 1750 board and replaced the circuitry
with a CTCSS generator of own design. YMMV.

I'm interested in a PDF of the original installation manual of the
FTS-7 module. If you have a copy, my amsat.org address works.

Thanks,

Geert Jan PE1HZG

COPYRIGHT: inclusion of this info on for-pay mod sites
requires my permission.
Thanks for playin'

I have a main switch in my shack that switches *everything* off. This avoids problems with forgetting something (ever woken up because a repeater suddenly got active after midnight), problems with small devices that may not have a power switch, possibility of fires, forgetting the soldering iron, etc.

Should an emergency happen, I just need to walk to the entry, hit one switch and I know everything will be dead, except the light. Extinguisher is right there as well, as is a totch.
Never needed this in 20+ years but one never knows.

73,

Geert Jan PE1HZG

I assume you're trying to get the "irlp board" to work?
I suspect you're SOL - the IRLP code uses the printerport to do bitbanging instead of using a printer protocol. This assumes the printer port is at a well defined place, and that it is bitwise accessible.

IRLP uses the 'parport' interface in linux to do it's thing. For any interface. you might try to see if you can make it work with this interface but frankly, if the laptop doesn't have printerport onboard, then you're SOL.

Look at mini-ITX boards to build an embedded node! even smaller than a laptop.

73, geert jan

http://www.alinco.com/pdf.files/
Scroll down to download the 610 service manual
Alinco is *best* with this kind of doc downloadable - it runs circles around yaesu

DO NOT CHANGE THE DEVIATION POTS

What you need to adjust / change is the microphone gain,
not the max deviation - this didn't change because of the built-in clipper.
The pot you're looking for is before the clipper

Geert Jan

the 251 uses a first-generation SMPS design which is a major pain to keep operating, so your best bet is to use an external power supply.

On the back there is a 4-pin connector. One end of the connctor is sharp (pointed), the other end is square. There is a loop-through plug on the connector, connecting the sharp pin with the pin next to it. This is how the SMPS is connected to the rig.

Pull the loopback plug. Pin on sharp end is +13.8v, pin on square end is -13.8v.
Note you need to keep the voltage on to keep the memories.

Geert Jan

Since you bought it in Japan: check the label of the radio. See if it has a symbol that looks like a J in a triangle. If your radio has that symbol, then it is a "J-mark" radio, which means you can't extend TX with jumpers or similar mods, the firmware is locked for Japanese bands only.

Geert Jan

In Europe, it's CW between 7.000-7.040 because our allocation is only up to 7.100. We're in the process of getting 7.100-7.200 back from broadcast.
So, if you hear voice on 7.025 then that's faul play even by European band plans.

While the band plan isn't enforced by the law makers, I think we all agree it is still faul play. When I complain to contest organisations, I get all kinds of excuses "but the band is full".
Hogwash, one of the challenges is to be able to operate within set limits.

People who operate with SSB in the CW segment, or in a  contest-free segment, should have their logs invalidated and their entry disqualified as they clearly violated the "fair play" rule.
Contest organizers who do not take these measures do not deserve to organize a contest.

I don't mind people contesting - everybody their hobby - but running SSB on 7.025 is the very same as operating on 7.305 - it's illegal, disrespectful and we should shun the people who do it, just like we shun pirates. Because, that's what they are: not contest operators, but pirates, plain and simple.

Geert Jan

Not sure about the 80-c but on the 747:
Did the noise also suddenly sound real high-pitched?
if yes:

Check the synthesizer board (vertical plugin). It has three vertical adjustments on the back end, for LSB, USB, CW carrier. These can be adjusted through holes in the back.
Iwo of these are variable capacitors, one is a resistor.

The capacitor trimmers corrode and can cause this effect.
Quick fix: note the original settings, then turn around a few times, re-set setting. Perhaps use switch spray. This whould fix it for a few years

Long-term fix: replace variable capacitors.

Hope this helps,

Geert Jan

I believe mods exist to make 13cm down converters out of them for 13cm AMSAT RX work. I think that is why the unit was kept by the owner.
This was quite a popular concept when AO40 was still operational.

I'd suggest to not scrap it for parts but keep it until the nexgt 13m downlink sat is launched (not far away) or make it available to the AMSAT crowd.

I believe that's a better use than the few pence for metal/connectors.

73,

geert jan