WB4KDI Engineering Notebook

10 Hertz Display Modifications


Proceed with these modification at you own risk. Your radio might be different!

I first made this change over 25 years ago. If you have the DFC-230 (which tunes in 20 Hz steps) or another method of generating a stable VFO (huff-and-puff?), you will want the 10 Hz resolution display.

This modification is done entirely on the DISPLAY board.

WARNING: The drawing has an error! It shows the wrong trace to cut near RB5. And shows a jumper on the wrong pin of RB5. The text is correct.


This modification involves removing IC 17 and cutting several traces near IC 17 as well as adding some diodes, resistors and an FET. Please read the following instructions before proceeding with the modifications. The instructions presented here are not the only way to add 10 Hz display resolution to the TS-120S -- other possibilities include putting the required additional curcuitry on a daughter card and attaching the new circuit to the display tube.

Observe usual cautions dealing with CMOS circuits. Some of the ICs have become very hard to find.
You will need:
PARTS LIST
qty
item
1D4011B CMOS IC (or use IC removed from IC 17)
114 pin IC socket
1P-channel FET 2N5462 or equivalent
2switching diodes 1N914 or equivalent (1N4148, etc)
347k ohm 1/4 watt resistors
1200 ohm 1/4 watt resistor
small tubing or heat shrink
small wire (28 guage wire wrap wire)

Procedure:

  1. Remove the DISPLAY and COUNTER boards from the unit. The DISPLAY board is attached to the COUNTER unit via a short ribbon cable.
  2. CUT the following traces on the top of the DISPLAY board:
    1. pin 15 of the display tube to pin 4 of RB5,
    2. pin 3 of IC 18 to signal G4 on the ribbon cable going to the COUNTER board.
  3. ADD the following wire:
    1. pin 4 of RB5 to pin 26 of the display tube.
  4. Test the modification done so far. Reinstall the COUNTER and DISPLAY boards in the unit and apply power. The 10 Hz digit will now be active and will show 10 Hz resolution. The 100 kHz digit will be dark. The remaining steps will reactivate the 100 kHz display.
    NOW FOR THE HARD PART ...
  5. Remove IC 17 (CD4011B) carefully. The IC may be removed by using a vacuum desoldering tool or by cutting the legs off of the IC. Remove the IC carefully to avoid damage to the DISPLAY board.
  6. CUT the following traces:
    1. (top) pin 1 to pin 11 IC 17,
    2. (bottom) pin 4 to pin 13 IC 17,
    3. (bottom) pin 12 of IC 17 to signal M11 on the ribbon cable going to the COUNTER board,
    4. (bottom) pin 5 & 6 of IC 17 to signal QC on the ribbon cable going to the COUNTER board. Pins 5 & 6 of IC 17 should remain connected together.
  7. Install a 14 pin IC socket at IC 17.
  8. ADD the following wires:
    1. pin 11 to pin 5 of IC 17,
    2. pin 13 of IC 17 to pin 2 of IC 18,
    3. pin 12 of IC 17 to pin 1 of IC 18,
    4. pin 4 of IC 17 to signal G4 on the ribbon cable going to the COUNTER board. (Trace that was cut from pin 3 of IC 18 in step 2 above)
  9. ADD a 47k ohm 1/4 watt resistor from pin 1 of IC 17 to pin 1 of IC 19 (ground).
  10. ADD a switching diode (1N914 or similar type), cathode to pin 1 of IC 17 and anode to pin 9 of IC 17.
  11. ADD another switching diode, cathode to pin 1 of IC 17 and anode to signal QC on the ribbon cable going to the COUNTER board. (Trace was cut from pins 5 & 6 of IC 17 in step 6 above)
  12. ADD a 47k ohm 1/4 watt resistor from pin 15 of the display tube to pin 1 of RB5.
  13. Prepare the P-channel FET as follows:
    1. solder a 47k ohm 1/4 watt resistor to the gate lead,
    2. solder a 200 ohm 1/4 watt resistor to the drain lead,
    3. solder a short (about 3 inch) peice of wire (28 guage wire wrap wire for example) to the source lead,
    4. cover all connections with small tubing or heat shrink.
  14. Solder the free end of the 47k resistor on the gate lead to pin 6 of IC 17.
  15. Solder the free end of the 200 ohm resistor on the drain lead to pin 7 of IC 17 (ground).
  16. Solder the free end of the wire on the souce lead to pin 15 of the display tube.
  17. Install a CD4011B or equivalent in the IC socket at IC 17.
  18. Reinstall the COUNTER and DISPLAY boards and turn on the unit. The 10 Hz digit should work as before -- the 100 kHz digit should be restored.