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Author Topic: What level of documentation is provided by various ham gear manufacturers?  (Read 337 times)

AE8GS

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Are some Ham gear manufacturers (large and small) known for providing detailed documentation like block diagrams (at least) or schematics? Or maybe the case for which detailed documentation like service manuals can be easily found?

While I don't expect to make many mods, I have found this information very useful on my iCOM 7300, like to see exactly where the preamplifiers are located, how the analog filtering works, grounding, etc. For a very old Swan power meter I bought, the schematic showed me exactly how it works (e.g. how it measures PEP), and will allow me to make a mod I am considering.

I am a new ham, and here is my experience so far:

For my Icom 7300, I easily found a service manual with a block diagram and schematics (not sure if this is officially provided documentation but it is out there).

For my Samlex power supply, I haven't found any block diagram or schematic, although I haven't searched that much.

I was looking at the Yaesu FT-65R and couldn't find a block diagram or schematic, after looking for a short time.

I bought a nanoVNA v2 and officially it is a "closed" design (as opposed to the earlier nanoVNAs that were open) and I think there is a block diagram, but I have yet to find a schematic.

I bought a very old Swan Power/SWR meter, and the user manual included schematics. The schematics didn't exactly match my model, but were close enough to be usable.

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K6SDW

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Re: What level of documentation is provided by various ham gear manufacturers?
« Reply #1 on: December 04, 2022, 11:30:04 PM »

You might find interesting: www.mods.dk    Over the years I've performed a few of the mods as published, they're always listed with the usual disclaimer.

The availability of service manuals seems to be the whim of the manufacture.  I've also noticed there's some Internet sites that claim to have the manual you seek but in reality, they just want to sell you something...be cautious.

GL/63
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K5LXP

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Re: What level of documentation is provided by various ham gear manufacturers?
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2022, 05:00:45 AM »

I don't buy gear often so I tend to collect information on it over the years.  Generally I am able to find service manuals (beyond just schematics, but alignment, board views and parts lists) for everything.  Often you can find these online but I've also purchased them from the manufacturer.  Best to track this stuff down while the thing is still in production, as the older it gets the quicker this information becomes obsolete along with the parts.  I don't find that information availability varies all that much among OEM's, they all generally supply good repair documentation.  Some of the chinese radios are hit and miss but being disposable I haven't looked too hard for their data, but have run across it for common radios like the UV5R.

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM
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W1VT

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Re: What level of documentation is provided by various ham gear manufacturers?
« Reply #3 on: December 05, 2022, 07:52:04 AM »

I recall a time when Ten Tec manuals were hard to find on the Internet but now there are some manuals here
https://www.tentec.com/obsolete-product-documentation-list/

Icom started putting manuals on the web decades ago.
Back then they said the list wasn't complete but if you needed something you could make a request.
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KD7RDZI2

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Re: What level of documentation is provided by various ham gear manufacturers?
« Reply #4 on: December 05, 2022, 11:20:44 AM »

Indeed, that is a reason why I am not buying a Chinese HF rig. No service manual, sell it to others, not me. And this is the same reason why I bought both a uBitx and an Antuino from the Indian HFsignals, where you have all the details explained in plain English. And you can receive answer even from the developer. It's a totally different approach where both the user and the developer learn from each other.
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WA3SKN

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Re: What level of documentation is provided by various ham gear manufacturers?
« Reply #5 on: December 05, 2022, 01:34:19 PM »

Ever since SAMS lost the lawsuit in the 70s, schematics, etc. became "propriety info" and the companies no longer have to give it.  This what caused the collapse of the electronics repair industry.
You are expected to purchase new eqpt about every 4 years... Sad.
"Marketing 101"!

-Mike.
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N8YX

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Re: What level of documentation is provided by various ham gear manufacturers?
« Reply #6 on: December 05, 2022, 03:18:28 PM »

For me, the biggest enjoyment in ham radio is time spent at my test bench - restoring, repairing, modifying or constructing new.

I won't consider purchasing something regardless of vintage for which I cannot readily get documentation or bespoke spares. The latter issue is usually dealt with via eBay or others who have devised new replacement parts for whatever tends to fail in (Insert_piece_of_gear_here).
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HAMHOCK75

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Re: What level of documentation is provided by various ham gear manufacturers?
« Reply #7 on: December 05, 2022, 03:59:52 PM »

I have documentation for most of the models mentioned but can't say about the Swan swr meter since there where so many models ( have documentation for one I owned WM-2000 ) , Samlexx ( I have the documentation for the SEC1223 model ), and nanoVNA because no model numbers were supplied. There is more than one nanoVNA called v2 which makes it confusing ( S-A-A-2 v2, F v2, etc. )
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ZS5WC

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Re: What level of documentation is provided by various ham gear manufacturers?
« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2022, 12:30:55 AM »

 :)I think Documentation should be available for Ham Gear, and would be a big factor in purchasing equipment, especially if you intend to keep it running.
I was told to ship my ORION 16000kms to USA to repair-they would not supply requested info.
On top of that, the shipping would have been more than the rig cost!.
But then as a bonus to top it, you get thrown a curve ball, where  (TT) close shop and you lose the service support and you still don't have the required service info. :-[

You can read the thread in Company reviews.
Guess that happens nowadays.
73 de William, ZS5WC / ZS4L
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AE8GS

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Re: What level of documentation is provided by various ham gear manufacturers?
« Reply #9 on: December 06, 2022, 07:51:04 AM »

You might find interesting: www.mods.dk    Over the years I've performed a few of the mods as published, they're always listed with the usual disclaimer.

The availability of service manuals seems to be the whim of the manufacture.  I've also noticed there's some Internet sites that claim to have the manual you seek but in reality, they just want to sell you something...be cautious.

GL/63

Thanks for that link. That looks like a great resource.
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AE8GS

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Re: What level of documentation is provided by various ham gear manufacturers?
« Reply #10 on: December 06, 2022, 07:57:00 AM »

I have documentation for most of the models mentioned but can't say about the Swan swr meter since there where so many models ( have documentation for one I owned WM-2000 ) , Samlexx ( I have the documentation for the SEC1223 model ), and nanoVNA because no model numbers were supplied. There is more than one nanoVNA called v2 which makes it confusing ( S-A-A-2 v2, F v2, etc. )

I have a Swan WM-2000A which I bought recently and it looks very nice. The schematic I have is for a model with one less range, but appears to be the same otherwise. I am thinking of modifying it so the 2000W range becomes a 20W range - that should just be changes in a resistor divider.  It was interesting to see how it does PEP, and that the external  power is only needed for PEP.
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HAMHOCK75

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Re: What level of documentation is provided by various ham gear manufacturers?
« Reply #11 on: December 06, 2022, 10:35:16 AM »

https://bama.edebris.com/manuals/swan/wm2000a/

None of these meters work as well for PEP as a digital scope which captures all the peaks.
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K4JJL

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Re: What level of documentation is provided by various ham gear manufacturers?
« Reply #12 on: December 08, 2022, 11:36:50 AM »

Sometimes you can find schematics on the FCC's website.  Companies have to submit them when applying for type acceptance.  It then becomes public record.
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VK6HP

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Re: What level of documentation is provided by various ham gear manufacturers?
« Reply #13 on: December 09, 2022, 01:58:56 AM »

All of my Kenwood radios have come with good manuals and, in the case of the later ones (TS-590S, TS-890S), include large format block diagrams and schematics.  (Early ones still have schematics, just not the large format).  Service manuals are widely available, either for free off the internet or paid via parts distributors.  I think the only one I've actually paid for is a TS-890S manual which, although I haven't really needed it, is good to to study and have on the shelf.

Like previous posters I like to have service information for all my equipment, whatever the brand.  There's only one large item in the shack without that information (an Elecraft KPA1500) and I'm nervous, especially since the operational manual supplied is abysmal, lacking even a decent block diagram.

Another peeve are attempts to restrict the availability of service information for vintage equipment which has long ceased to have any mass commercial appeal.  Heathkit US is a case in point and the European web sites with all the manuals and schematics do the world a great service.  By contrast, some companies - including those charging serious money for their products - take very enlightened approaches to amateurs and others.  For example, Potomac Instruments helped me bring one of their classic professional Field Intensity Meters back to life by supplying service material free of charge. So, it's always worth an enquiry.

73, Peter.
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