Alinco DR-135 problem. :(

[Warden]

I was using my desk mic on it, but it has been connected ever since I got the radio and I hadn't moved or disconnected anything.

What desk mike. You mentioned in another thread that your bravo plus was making the channels cycle down when you were transmitting. Sounds to me like the mike has caused the radio to fail.

[Mudslinger]

I was using my desk mic on it, but it has been connected ever since I got the radio and I hadn't moved or disconnected anything.

What desk mike. You mentioned in another thread that your bravo plus was making the channels cycle down when you were transmitting. Sounds to me like the mike has caused the radio to fail.

It is a Bravo plus.

I did rewire it as the TX wire had a high resistance, and that was causing the channels to change.

I have been using it on loads of radios before I started messing with the new stuff and had no problems with it so i think it is just a coincidence.

The first Grant 2 failed when i was using the original mic, as I hadn't wired up the base mic for it at that stage. I used it on the second one, but the Mic wouldn't cause poor reciever performance would it?

The Alinco is still working fine in terms of TX and RX it is just those lights behind the letters.

Also I found this.

Read to the bottom.

http://www.cbradiomagazine.com/CRE%2089 ... eview.html

[andrew013]

i love this bit at the bottom
At this time I would say the radio is not a great buy for long term use as it just didn't hold up well over time.

[Warden]

So you have had 3 radios all new that have failed. ? That's very unlucky. Where are you buying these radios from.

[Mudslinger]

So you have had 3 radios all new that have failed. ? That's very unlucky. Where are you buying these radios from.

I have had two that failed.

My first grant 1 which went pop, lost display and smelled of burning whilst using the standard mic.
The second Grant 2 didn't fail, it just performed poorly compared to my older radios.

Then this one which had lost illumination on the writing on the front but otherwise works ok, so it hasn't exactly failed.

[RadioPixie]

Can't see how a mis-wired mic is going to cause the illumination to cut out.

It's more likely a bad joint or a component failure.

[Mudslinger]

Can't see how a mis-wired mic is going to cause the illumination to cut out.

It's more likely a bad joint or a component failure.

That is exactly what I thought.

Thank you Dave.

I am just a bit worried that something else more serious might go wrong in future.

[RadioPixie]

Looking at the circuit diagram, the DR135 has a EL (electroluminescent) driver chip. It looks like there are a couple of plug in connectors according to the diagrams. Still looking...

[RadioPixie]

Looking at the diagrams only, there is a small sub board some where that has two 2 pin plug-in connectors (J1 and J2). On the board is U1 which is the SM8144 EL display driver chip. It's worth checking out.

[Mudslinger]

Cheers Dave.

I might have a look later.

However the seller has agreed that I can send it back, and I don't want to go messing and void the warranty.

[RadioPixie]

Agreed, that's the reason to buy new isn't?!

I finding it good to look at the diagrams so I get to know the beast. Like seeing how the LCD display backlighting could be improved

[Mudslinger]

It sure is the reason. I like my older stuff but the idea of buying new was so i didn't need to get them fettled every now and again.

[PoisoN]

Do you mean the lights that illuminate the writing on the face?

That is is.

I know it is trivial, but it is meant to work.

I am not having much luck with radios of late.

your not indeed BUT every time your not having luck , base mikes are in the same posting , perhaps you should resolve your base mike issues first and stick with the fist mikes lol
im down to only 4 base mikes now but still to have a problem with radios , im sure it will pass over and its just a coincedence

the one good thing is if your audio is pants you cant hear it so your audio is top dollar i had a time when my audio was bad apparently thing was it was intermitant so it did take a while to sort out

I always remove the unwanted pins from the mic plugs just safer that way.

[andymuza]

How you getting on with this Simon?
Replacement, repair or refund?

[Mudslinger]

Well they emailed me yesterday saying they are going to refund.

No sign of it yet though.