[Alinco] DR-1200 lamps

[David VanHorn]

Well, since nobody else seems to know...


The radio shack lamps #7219  272-1092C seem to work fine as replacements.

Disassembly of the rig is very straightforward. You will need to take off 
the knobs, and the nuts on the channel knob and mic jack.

Warning: There are three lamps on the front panel, with blue hats.
Remove the blue hats carefully, crush the lamps, and solder the new lamps 
to the leads of the old lamps.

The holes that the lamp leads go through are extremely small, and it is 
very difficult to remove the solder from the holes. Braid does not work. A 
pace desoldering station does not work. I pulled the old lamps first, and I 
had one hell of a time putting the new ones in. (This from a guy who 
routinely prototypes surface mount devices, and has pace and metcal gear 
that works very well.)

Be careful on the center lamp of the three, there is a pad right between 
the lamp pads, that has nothing whatsoever to do with the lamps. I don't 
know where it does go, but it dosen't want to get connected to the lamps.

The two on the back of the LCD display are much easier. Simply prep the 
leads to shape without cutting them, and use the long leads to hold the 
lamp in position while you solder the leads to the pads, then trim the leads.

When you have the lamps replaced, clean the display with a Q-tip, and 
re-assemble.

Nice new looking rig :)

FWIW, I discovered that there is audio out on the mic plug (THANKS 
ALINCO!!) and it is not controlled by the volume or squelch controls. 
(THANKS AGAIN ALINCO!)

I've never seen one of these before, and I'm really getting to like it!

Now off to make the TNC cable!