This page describes How_To repair the VRF preselector into the mk_V Field rig

How I discovered the problem...

My rig is now 3 years old in jan.2005.
I had never supposed that such a class of equipment could suffer from that problem,
but as someone said "be never sure of any thing".

All of us "Hams" are playing ( well utilizing ) the rigs almost every day. Pressing the knobs is an easy task as eating biscuits.
But one day pressing the VRF_ON\OFF key the received signals sounded not more so clear and loud.
The intensity of the signals was going up and down without any QSB ... Uhmmm what was happening?

At once the brain run in a sort of flow_chart list for a possible cable break from the antenna down to the rig,
but all the cabling were and are OK.
What and where the received signal could be interrupted in such a "strange" way was not clear at that moment.
So I switched the rig OFF waited some seconds and re-ON, pressed again the VRF knob and all seemed ok.

OK go to listen again on the band for a possible qso. Had some contacts around and all seemed ok.
Then I played again the VRF switch to ON, all was OK.
Back to OFF and the signals disappeared with an up\down intensity.
Uhmmm...again... The received signals were going up and down, but not due to a QSB.
At this time I was realizing that something inside the rig had gone wrong .

Remembering of the old days when a faulty contact could be cured by tapping on the case, specially the TV and Radio sets
with lot of tubes, I gently went to tap on the rig's chassis with the fingers, but nothing happened .
All the front switches had been turned and pushed, but nothing happened other than each own predefined function .

Then I pressed the MOX button ( the VRF was OFF with almost all the received signal attenuated) just for couriosity and
because I guessed that the TX knobs had nothing to do with a faulty RX_chain.
At once the rx-signal came out again in its original strenght.... Uhmmmm that was strange, but so it was.

Every time I switched the VRF_Off the rx-signals disappeared and when I pressed the MOX the signals were back again.

Having discovered the fault was not all. It had to be ensured which component caused the problem.
Studying the electric schematic was a first step.
Tracing the received signal on the paper is quite simple.
Untill the rx-signals reach the preselector there are no active components, only relais.
Therefore I supposed that it should be a faulty relais (Rel1005) . It is the relais that switches the rx-signal into the VRF chain .
BUT :

  How to ensure myself that was a faulty relais the cause of such incorrect reception?
EASY : open the rig , access to the RF_board, switch it ON and tap with a pen
on the board and the relais and see (better listen) what it happens.


Easy to say but harder to do. Because the part to check is well packed inside the FT1000mk_V_Field rig.
Follow this link for a step_by_Step How_To access into the rig explanation , for you will be easier than for me the first time.
Having the rig opened and secured that it can be switched ON without any error , you can try to "tap" around on the relais with a pencil.

Tools needed :
A screwdriver,a small soldering iron (15\20 watt) or a regulated one, a desoldering pump, a magnifier glasses and of course a couple of those famous TX2 relais as this one in the foto



But where could be purchased such Nais Matsushita TX2-12V relays ?
Most furnished electronic shops list this item.
I found it at a well known supplier in EU_lands: Conrad Electronics at www.conrad.de
Its part number is : Artikel-Nr.: 504788-14 SIGNALRELAIS TX 2U 2A 12V at 4,76 EUR for 1 piece. (still same price on feb2006)
and for the magnifier glasses I have choosen a head magnifier with interchangable lenses as this one:
KOPFBANDLUPE + SCHEINWERFER, VERSTELLBAR Artikel-Nr.: 812379-14 Preis 35,95 EUR