At 01:11 28/05/2007, you wrote:
What has happened to amateur radio? A week ago I put out a request for help for my 736R which I use for satellite work. As of this date I have received zilch,0,nothing in reply. Are there no more ham repair people out there or is everybody an appliance operator???? George W3VVP
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Not entirely on the 736R, but as a service engineer of many years, problems with Florescent display brightness on VCR's has almost always ended up as being dried out capacitors in the power supply. The Florescent display is driven with a heater voltage and a lowish HT voltage. Either of these could cause low brightness display. If you have the circuit, on the diagram labeled CNTL UNIT F289...., the invertor for these supplies are in top left corner. The suspect components are C07, and C09.
Hope this helps. I didn't answer before, as I assumed someone with more specific FT736 knowledge would.. if you dont have the diagram, let me know off list, I'll scan an email it you. I maybe just on the wrong track, but 2 $1 caps is worth a try!
John G4DMF ( 736R owner and user ).