Magpie Autoscan 5000

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NightProwler
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Magpie Autoscan 5000

Post by NightProwler »

Hey all. Just dug out my Magpie Autoscan. The bulb has gone in the meter which is no problem but the channel display is really dim and hard to see. Anyone got any ideas?

Cheers...Rich
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Re: Magpie Autoscan 5000

Post by The Collector »

As you well know, I know naff all abput radio innards, so no laughing at my attempts to help :)

As the channel indicators are basically some sort of fluorescent tubing, is there some sort of electronic ballast/starter that provides a boost of voltage to the display unit that you know of, like on the tubes we get in domestic properties etc?
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Re: Magpie Autoscan 5000

Post by NightProwler »

I know what you mean. When I cover the 'magic eye' thingy for the dimmer it makes no difference. It was brighter when the signal meter bulb worked so could they be related some how? I dunno :?
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Re: Magpie Autoscan 5000

Post by The Collector »

You should be able to find a schematic off the internet (not that it would help me at all!), but if you can't find one, I might have an A4 copy plus my original manual of the instructions, if that's got them in.

Does banging the lid hard make any difference? :crazy:
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Re: Magpie Autoscan 5000

Post by Otter »

Is the light sensor clean? it seems to be a phototranssitor called a 1N5777, but I can't find any info on it. That drives a BC237, and that could be faulty / have a dry joint.
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Re: Magpie Autoscan 5000

Post by Edd200sx »

Otter wrote: 03 Mar 2022, 21:21 Is the light sensor clean? it seems to be a phototranssitor called a 1N5777, but I can't find any info on it. That drives a BC237, and that could be faulty / have a dry joint.
Edd200sx wrote: Edd200sx may have some words of wisdom on this.
I’d run through the whole radio for dry joints tbf
The front panel especially! The up down buttons are also
Worth stripping and cleaning as they play up

Can’t help with the dimmer sensor as I’ve only got one spare
For my own radio
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Re: Magpie Autoscan 5000

Post by The Collector »

Perhaps replace the meter bulb first. You never know, that might then release power to other components???

I'm probably talking out of my ass ;)
Last edited by Buick Mackane on 03 Mar 2022, 23:54, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Cleaned up a slighty naughty word
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Re: Magpie Autoscan 5000

Post by Buick Mackane »

The Collector wrote: 03 Mar 2022, 23:30 Perhaps replace the meter bulb first. You never know, that might then release power to other components???

I'm probably talking out of my ass ;)
Thats what i would do first, Change the meter bulb that is, Not talk out my ass :lol:
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Re: Magpie Autoscan 5000

Post by NightProwler »

I got some bulbs somewhere so I will change that first. I dont really want to mess with it too much because the radio is in almost mint untouched condition. I have tried giving it a gentle 'slap' but nothing happened .
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Re: Magpie Autoscan 5000

Post by Edd200sx »

Unfortunately you will have to strip the front panel to do
That dimmer part if you can find one. Or reflow it and
See if it works
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Re: Magpie Autoscan 5000

Post by cb4ever104 »

Edd200sx wrote: 04 Mar 2022, 15:04 Unfortunately you will have to strip the front panel
Don't you just hate those types of radios.. The Lincoln is the same. Strip the whole front down to sort a bent pin on one of the push buttons..
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Re: Magpie Autoscan 5000

Post by Edd200sx »

cb4ever104 wrote: 04 Mar 2022, 21:06
Edd200sx wrote: 04 Mar 2022, 15:04 Unfortunately you will have to strip the front panel
Don't you just hate those types of radios.. The Lincoln is the same. Strip the whole front down to sort a bent pin on one of the push buttons..
The pie is terrible, desolder the mic socket.

The flimsy plastic connectors to the main board are impossible to desolder. So that’s a bit of a job to rewire
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Re: Magpie Autoscan 5000

Post by The Collector »

I've had a few radios like that, disassemble the whole front panel to access the locking ring on the mic' socket or like that one, desolder all the mic' pins to get the front off. Half an hour's work just to replace the bloomin' meter bulb!

Why didn't manufacturers think about these things, or were they just trying to get you to send it back to them for costly repairs?!
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Re: Magpie Autoscan 5000

Post by Edd200sx »

The Collector wrote: 05 Mar 2022, 13:28 I've had a few radios like that, disassemble the whole front panel to access the locking ring on the mic' socket or like that one, desolder all the mic' pins to get the front off. Half an hour's work just to replace the bloomin' meter bulb!

Why didn't manufacturers think about these things, or were they just trying to get you to send it back to them for costly repairs?!
Actually think maybe you can do the meter without stripping it.
It’s the light sensor is a different case
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Re: Magpie Autoscan 5000

Post by Otter »

The Collector wrote: 05 Mar 2022, 13:28 I've had a few radios like that, disassemble the whole front panel to access the locking ring on the mic' socket or like that one, desolder all the mic' pins to get the front off. Half an hour's work just to replace the bloomin' meter bulb!

Why didn't manufacturers think about these things, or were they just trying to get you to send it back to them for costly repairs?!
Uniden improved over time. Originally (1977-ish) stuff was mounted directly to the fascia, but later started mounting to a front chassis. Then the Lincoln wasn't so good again.
"To this day the words Stirling bridge conjour pride in every Scotsman's heart, while to an Englishman those same words conjour literally no feelings at all." - Cunk on Britain S1 E1
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