George,

If I had the info, I'd help you on email and telephone till your problem was fixed. Might you might be asking much? The modern rigs are very complex, and often require one to purchase a service manual, IF one is available. This isn't the low complexity rig like an Ameco TX-62, or even a 70's vintage Yaesu. I work in the field of medical electronics, and I don't think I have YET seen the level of complexity one finds in the modern (>1980's) satellite radios. Of course, the satellite designers on the list likely will have :-). Given the cost of equipment to really work with the modern radios, the cost to obtain technical documentation, and the time needed to learn each radio, I don't think it is unreasonable that one to decide to just think of the radio as a system component, send the radio for service and work on all of the other bits you need for satellite operation.

But, I don't get on the satellites much, so what do I know?

David Goncalves

On 5/27/07, w3vvp w3vvp@atlanticbb.net 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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At 04:11 PM 5/27/2007, w3vvp 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

Good question, George. I would help if I had a 736R or new about it in any detail. Hopefully you will stir the "ether" and get a helper. Not sure on Amsat-bb whether one will find the needed experts. If you went over to the mw or eme reflectors you would fair better, I'm thinking.

GL

73, Ed - KL7UW ====================================== BP40IQ 50-MHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com 144-EME: FT-847, mgf-1801, 4x-xpol-20, 185w DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa@hotmail.com ======================================

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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Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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 ).