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® Rangr 150 VHF mobile

How I modified a GE RANGR-150 (150-174) to 2 Meter HAM band.
Copyright 1997, Sterrett Carter

• DISCLAIMER:
  This document is for informational purposes ONLY! If you choose to follow the steps outlined herein, you do so at your own risk. I cannot, nor will not, be responsible for damage to equipment caused by modifications YOU make to the radio as a result of your reading this document.
  
  OVERVIEW:
  The GE RANGER-150 is a robust 2 piece commercial radio which continues to be manufactured and supported by Ericsson Communications in Lynchburg, VA. Parts and manuals are available from the manufacturer. The Parts Identification section can be reached by telephone at 804-446-5005 08:00 to 17:00 eastern time. The service manual I have is publication # LBI-38180 and contains LBI-38183 (Service Section) and LBI-38184 (Board Assemblies).
  
  The control head is intended to be mounted within easy reach of the operator and the transceiver is intended to be trunk mounted. With the S-8xx series control heads the radio is capable of 16 "modes" of 16 channels (256 channels total). The transceiver can be loaded with 16 channels (one mode) at a time complete with transmit and receive frequencies, CTCSS (PL) tones and 8 character Alphanumeric channel identifiers. With the S-5xx series control heads, the radio is capable of 16 channels but the transceiver must FIRST be downloaded (programmed) using a S-8xx series control head or the 'suitcase programmer' with the frequency information. On the S-5xx series control heads the channel is identified as a number only.
  
  These instructions were developed for a RANGR-150 with GE part number 19C852151P4. They should also work with any RANGR-150 with part numbers ending with "P3, P7, P8, P23, and P24". The other "P" number RANGR-150's listed in my manual are 136-153MHz radios and do not require "conversion", just programming.
  
  The following is listing of RANGR-150 (150-174 MHZ) part numbers and the radio specifications:
  
  Part # ------------ Watts out (rated) ----- Frequency accuracy
  19C852151P3 ----- 40 ---------------- 5ppm
  19C852151P4 ----- 110 --------------- 5ppm
  19C852151P7 ----- 40 ---------------- 2ppm
  19C852151P8 ----- 110 --------------- 2ppm
  19C852151P23 ---- 40 ---------------- 2ppm (no FCC filing #, EXPORT?)
  19C852151P24 ---- 110 --------------- 2ppm (no FCC filing #, EXPORT?)

  WHAT IS NEEDED TO DUPLICATE WHAT I DID (BARE MINIMUM):
  1. The use of an S-8xx series control head.
  2. A RANGR-150 transceiver (150-174 MHZ).
  3. The interconnect cable (control head to radio).
  4. A dummy load capable of handling 110 watts for at least 2 minutes.
  5. A watt meter capable of measuring 150 watts in this frequency range (144-174 MHZ).
  6. RF cables to connect the radio to a watt meter and then to the dummy load.
  7. A receiver (scanner or 2-Meter HT).
  8. One small sharp knife (X-Acto type).
  9. A non-metallic flat blade radio alignment tool (like a small screwdriver).
  10. A 12Vdc power supply (or battery) capable of delivering 30 Amps for 10 minutes of intermittent 5 second transmissions. (E.G. Jumper cables from a vehicle's battery.)
  11. The PC software for the S-8xx series control heads, the PC to radio interface box, and the correct programming cable to go between the PC interface box and J5 on the control head.
  OR
  Access to someone (or some company) who has the software, interface and interface cable.
  12. An assortment of TORX drivers (T-10 to T-30).
  
  What would be nice to have:
  1. A frequency counter.
  2. A friend to report on "test transmissions".
  
  STEPS FOR THE CONVERSION:
  1. Program a S-8xx series control head with 144.00, 146.00, and 148.00MHz transmit and receive frequencies. (Configure the control head software telling it that the RANGR IS a 150-174 radio.)

  2. The control head MUST be told exactly what the transceiver (radio) IS, not what is desired.( Enter the frequencies listed above in the Receive and Transmit areas of the on-screen display. If the ENTER key is struck, the software will prompt that the frequency is "OUT OF RANGE". Use an undocumented feature of the programming software to "force" it to accept the "out of range" frequency. This feature is CONTROL-E instead of ENTER.) Load the configuration into the control head and disconnect all cables. Take the control head, transceiver, and the radio interconnect cable to the location where the power supply is.

  3. Remove the top cover from the transceiver using a TORX bit/driver.

  4. Connect the control head to the radio. Connect the radio and head to the power supply.

  5. Connect a jumper from the antenna connector (SO-239) to the Watt meter.

  6. Connect a jumper from the Watt meter to the dummy load.

  7. Depress the control head power switch (RED on the top left corner) to turn on the radio. Verify that the control head/radio is set for 144.000 MHZ.

  8. Inside the transceiver, locate and observe the LED labeled (CD-711). If the VCO is locked on frequency the LED will be out. (See DRAWING A for help locating this LED)

  9. Set a scanner/receiver for 144.000 MHZ and set it within 2 feet of the dummy load.

  10. If there is a frequency counter, turn it on and place it the same distance away from the dummy load.

  11. Key the transmitter for a few seconds and observe the same LED (CD-711). If the VCO is locked on frequency the LED will be out. (Skip to step 17A).

  12. If the VCO is not locked (LED is on or flickers in steps 7 or 10 above) power the radio off and remove the power leads from the supply.

  13. Locate CV-201 and CV-202 under the factory seal. (See DRAWING B for help locating these adjustment points).

  14. Use a small sharp knife to cut the seal away from the holes and remove the piece that was just cut out.

  15. Reconnect the power supply and power up the radio.

  16. If the LED was not out in step 8 above, adjust CV-201 until the LED is out when in receive mode (this adjustment may not be necessary).

  17. If the LED was not out in step 11 above, adjust CV-202 until the LED is out when in transmit mode.
  A) Observe the frequency counter (if available) to verify the stability of the transmitter. Listen to the transmitted audio through the receiver to make sure it
  is not squealing (oscillator instability) and the audio quality is good. If the VCO is causing a squealing on the transmitted signal, carefully adjust CV-202 until the transmitted audio squeal stops. (See DRAWING B for help locating this adjustment point)

  18. Verify that the VCO is locked throughout the 2-Meter band by retesting on 146.000 and 148.000 MHZ.

  19. Power off the radio and remove the cables from the power supply.

  20. Re-install the top cover.

  **CONGRATULATIONS! THE TRANSCEIVER CONVERSION IS DONE!**

  POWER OUTPUT ADJUSTMENTS:
  The GE RANGR-150 is available in many power output configurations. I have the 110 Watt version which I turned down to 48 Watts. This extends the life of the RF final amplifier transistors and keeps me from unintentionally raising repeaters up and down the East Coast ;-).  The 110 Watt radio has three RF amplifying transistors on the output board (connected directly to the PL-259) arranged with two right next to each other. RANGR-150's with two (total) RF
  amplifying transistors are rated for approximately 40 Watts output power and can be turned down, if desired, to 25 to 30 Watts to save "wear and tear" on the finals. The following explains how to turn down the power on either version...
  
  1. Remove the bottom cover using the same TORX bit used to remove/install the top cover.
  (Four screws - one in each of the mounting "pads").
  2. Locate a small variable resistor labeled RV-1 (near the exact center of the radio next to
  ribbon cable jumper J4). See DRAWING C for help locating this adjustment point.
  3. Reconnect the power supply and power the radio on.
  4. Key the radio and take note of the output power on the watt meter.
  5. Using the non-metallic alignment tool; Adjust RV-1 counter-clockwise until the power
  output is desired. My 110-Watt radio would not go below 32 watts. I chose 48 watts so
  it is under the 50 watt guideline for routine RF safety surveys (but I check the RF field
  concentration anyway).
  6. Re-install the bottom cover.
  
  
  FINAL STEPS:
  1. Reprogram the S-8xx series control head with your chosen frequencies.
  2. Install the radio.
  3. Download them into the radio (It's AUTOMATIC!).
  =>AND<=
  4. Have fun saying I DID IT MYSELF!
  
  IF THERE IS ONLY A S-5xx SERIES CONTROL HEAD TO PERMANENTLY INSTALL:
  1. Program a S-8xx series control head with 16 favorite frequency sets (channels). See
  programming steps at the beginning of this document.
  2. Connect it to the transceiver, download the frequencies to the transceiver by powering
  it on.
  3. Turn the control head off.
  4. Remove the S-8xx series control head and install the S-5xx series control head. The
  16 "channels" (TX/RX frequency sets) will be stored in the X2212 NVRAM/EEPROM in the
  transceiver.
  
  73, Sterrett (K4MBE)

  EMail: [email protected]
              carter_sjATjuno.com

  Copyright © 1997, 2004,   Sterrett J. Carter

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