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Author Topic: Repair in the US for JRC NRD-525?  (Read 472 times)

KI8JI

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Repair in the US for JRC NRD-525?
« on: July 20, 2020, 07:30:32 AM »

Hi Folks,

Anyone have any pointers to getting a JRC NRD-525 Receiver repaired in the US?  Just picked one up that seems to be functional in that all the displays and switches seems to be doing their thing but there is no audio from the receiver.  Dead silence.

Thanks much for any help!

73, raaj, ki8ji
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KC6RWI

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Re: Repair in the US for JRC NRD-525?
« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2020, 08:51:04 AM »

Before you send it anywhere be sure that the headphone jack on the front of the set has not been damaged. You might try to put a head phone in there. Also there is a speaker output on the back.
I happend to own a 525, there are a few tricks on settings in the back of the manual, although nothing related to audio.
You have the rf gain turned up?
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W9IQ

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Re: Repair in the US for JRC NRD-525?
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2020, 08:57:02 AM »

On a related note, if you can hear audio on the headphones, it may prove helpful to insert and remove the headphone plug several times. There is a switch in the headphone jack that is there to cut out the speaker audio when the headphones are inserted. There can be corrosion or dirt on that switch contact that prevents the speaker from connecting when the headphone plug is removed.

- Glenn W9IQ
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

KLONDIKEMIKE

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Re: Repair in the US for JRC NRD-525?
« Reply #3 on: July 20, 2020, 09:05:25 AM »

Before you send it anywhere ...
How about doing some work yourself and saving ($$$) from having to pay someone else to do the same. I have a electrolytic capacitor kit for this rig;

https://klondikemikescapkits.com/products/jrc-nrd-525-electrolytic-capacitor-kit

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DXACE1

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Re: Repair in the US for JRC NRD-525?
« Reply #4 on: July 20, 2020, 02:43:16 PM »

Unfortunately, with all JRC receivers there are no repairs being done anymore, especially with the closure of
Sherwood Engineering.   Anyone owning any JRC receivers, from the consumer/pro models like the 515/525/535/545s
to the marine receivers in the NRD-9xxxx and 301/302/630 series are basically crossing our fingers and hoping for the
best.
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WA2ONH

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Re: Repair in the US for JRC NRD-525?
« Reply #5 on: July 20, 2020, 03:15:52 PM »

Unfortunately, with all JRC receivers there are no repairs being done anymore, especially with the closure of Sherwood Engineering.

Do you mean Sherwood Engineering of Denver, Colorado? Current web page shows ...
"Authorized Dealer Japan Radio
Authorized service center for JRC products. Sherwood modifications also offered
."
http://www.sherweng.com/radios.html

At least call them to see if JRC repairs are still being done vs out of date web page re: repairs
1268 South Ogden Street Denver, Colorado 80210 USA
email SEI     Phone: 303-722-2257     FAX: 303-744-8876
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Mountain) Monday - Friday
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73 de WA2ONH  <dit dit> ... Charlie
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Never be satisfied with what you know, only with what more you can find out."
   Dr David Fairchild 1869-1954 US Scientist

KI8JI

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Re: Repair in the US for JRC NRD-525?
« Reply #6 on: July 21, 2020, 12:48:19 PM »

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions.

After several conversations with Rob Sherwood, who is a terrific gent, we've concluded that there is no easy way to repair this radio - there are fault LEDs turned on, on two boards - the IF-AF Amp board and the CPU board.  The service manual unfortunately does not have any information to decode the LEDs and discern where they point to.

Rob echoed what DXACE1 mentioned below - JRC Equipment owners should keep their fingers crossed that nothing fails.  Interestingly, Rob mentioned that even swapping out boards is not necessarily an option - he had a NRD-535 in for repair where he swapped a faulty board with a known good board but no luck - that board would not work in that particular radio, even though it worked in another 535.

@KlondikeMike - appreciate the pointer to your capacitor replacement kit.  If you have one for a Yaesu FRG-7, you have a customer! :-)

Cheers & 73, raaj, Ki8JI
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N8YX

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Re: Repair in the US for JRC NRD-525?
« Reply #7 on: July 27, 2020, 09:21:18 AM »

There's a JRC mailing list on Groups.io whose members may be able to help you out, though the focus is primarily on the marine RX lines.

Earlier in the year I bought a non-working NRD-515 and restored it using info I found around the net. Walt, PE1ABR maintains a website devoted to this receiver and may have info on the 525.
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W1VT

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Re: Repair in the US for JRC NRD-525?
« Reply #8 on: July 27, 2020, 09:53:14 AM »

Most of the folks who did service work have retired.
Or been involuntarily laid off, when a manufacturer decides that servicing expensive electronics is no longer cost effective.
But, it is a skill that you may be able to learn.  I was fixing high voltage tube gear when I was fourteen.
I've recently fixed some of my gear.  I can fix SMT gear if the parts aren't too tiny.
I'd suggest practicing on common stuff before working on rare pieces or collectibles.

Zak W1VT
« Last Edit: July 27, 2020, 09:56:08 AM by W1VT »
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K0RS

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Re: Repair in the US for JRC NRD-525?
« Reply #9 on: August 04, 2020, 05:10:57 PM »

You might check with Craig at Kiwa Electronics: https://www.kiwaupgrades.com/ He just worked on my NRD-535D.
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"90% of the people in a pile-up have no idea what's going on.  It's up to you to be in the remaining 10%."  *W9KNI*

KI8JI

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Re: Repair in the US for JRC NRD-525?
« Reply #10 on: August 05, 2020, 03:36:15 AM »

Thank you, N8YX, W1VT & K0RS for your helpful suggestions.

I'm working on the radio after deciding to dive into it myself.  Looks like there is an issue with the IF-AF AMP board.  I've found a replacement board and am waiting for it to arrive in the mail.  In addition, I've disassembled the entire radio and cleaned a significant amount of dust that had collected over the years.  Let's see what happens when the replacement board arrives.

73, raaj, ki8ji
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N9LCD

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Re: Repair in the US for JRC NRD-525?
« Reply #11 on: August 06, 2020, 11:54:12 AM »

If you send your rig out, be prepared to PAY!

I sent my FT-817nd in for service.

The total cost including packing & shipping:  $164.00

Break-down:  Labor, $100; packing & shipping, $56; tax, $8.

Notice the "packing and shipping".  The -817nd weighs 2 pounds!!!
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KI8JI

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Re: Repair in the US for JRC NRD-525?
« Reply #12 on: August 06, 2020, 04:15:35 PM »

Some good news to report - the replacement IF-AF Amp board solved the problem and the 525 is working FB now.  Very happy to get it working again!  😊. Next step is to debug and fix the original board, if possible, so that I have a spare.  It’s been many years since I fired up test eqiopment and engaged in troubleshooting electronics.  Reminded me of how much enjoyment there is in this process!

73, raaj, ki8ji
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N8YX

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Re: Repair in the US for JRC NRD-525?
« Reply #13 on: August 07, 2020, 07:05:20 AM »

Glad to hear you got it working!

By chance, which options are installed in your -525?
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W1VT

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Re: Repair in the US for JRC NRD-525?
« Reply #14 on: August 07, 2020, 08:51:01 PM »

Hi raaj,

Congratulations on getting it working again. 
Fixing stuff is a very useful skill these days.

Zak W1VT
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