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The Mini Saga of the ALDA (103)

Created by w0wca, Bill on 2020-10-24

Interesting adventure this.

There are a few pictures and articles on the great WWW regarding the ALDA 103 and 105; there are zero pictures that look exactly like my newly acquired treasure but I’m going with it’s some version of the 103 ‘cause it has three bands – the 105 has five.. 

First thing to be done was to download the operators and service manuals.

Next thing was to straighten the bent heat sink fin.  This heat sink is quite sturdy and had to have hit HARD to bend it.

Next thing was to remove the top and bottom covers and look inside.  An observation: the sheet-metal on this rig is excellent; the circuit boards are very nice given the era of production.  The wiring and soldering unfortunately are scary as  . . .

The radio lit up when power was applied but no sound and no transmit – neither CW nor SSB.  A cursory scan of the interior revealed an unseated T/R relay (probably from the fall that bent the heat sink).  Upon reseating said relay, we now have receive audio and by the by, the rig sounds pretty nice.

But, alas no transmit (yet). 

Next came much visual scrutiny of the innards – probably 10 hours worth.

Next came unseating of the plug-in boards, some squirt‘em and reseating.  Also some squirt‘em on the band switch and controls.

Checked for 12 V on finals with key down; got some – this is good!

No transmit . . .

Next came the actual reading of the manuals (go figure) . . .  Came across a passage talking about adjustment of the tone control oscillator P202 so I gave it about 25 degrees CCW and viola we have CW power out – about 60 watts.  A bit shy of the expected 100 watts out but I’ll take it!

No SSB transmit yet but will go after the carrier balance adjustments (?) after I think about it some more and devise a scheme to work it mitout all the requisite equipment . . . I have a VOM and a soldering iron.

Rig needs a full alignment and for this I need some version of “extender boards”. 

This rig rescue work is, for me, Ham Radio at its finest!  I’m loving it!

KT4WO2020-10-24
Re: The Mini Saga of the ALDA (103)
My 1st HF rig was a Alda 103A and then a 103
One(don't remember) had 20M and the other 15M as
the upper band. Drifted bad but was good radio. I have
been looking for one for years!! But...I ain't payin'
Ebay prices.
Reply to a comment by : W0RW on 2020-10-24

Hi Bill, A great adventure.... i have never seen an ALDA but i saw the uTube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Aq-qj6VJg Let us know the final results. Paul w0rw
W0RW2020-10-24
The Mini Saga of the ALDA (103)
Hi Bill,
A great adventure....
i have never seen an ALDA but i saw the uTube video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Aq-qj6VJg
Let us know the final results.
Paul w0rw