[Boatanchors] Digital Repair

[WQ9E at btsnetworks.net]

The DG-5, like the TS-820 and R-820, was built with double sided PC boards using plated through holes to connect traces on opposite sides.  This wasn't a great idea and service bulletins were released instructing repair personnel to use a wire through the hole, soldered on each side, to make a reliable connection.

My TS-820S suffered from this and even after soldering wires through each of these holes it would still fail for a short period during warm-up but once unmounted it ran perfectly.  After spending most of a weekend on this out of mostly frustration I used a heat gun to reflow the solder on the boards and that cured the problem.  I DON'T recommend this approach as it could easily have resulted in a fully dead board but with my frustration level at the time I wasn't too concerned about that outcome.  Both of my R-820 receivers have been perfect with no problems affecting the display board.

Some of the most common failures of this are pretty simple and here is a link to a KB2LJJ website with both the Kenwood service bulletin along with a list of common failures and cures:  http://www.kb2ljj.com/data/kenwood/DG-5.htm

Rodger WQ9E
> 
> > From: rickb at tx.rr.com
> > To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> > Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:56:14 -0600
> > Subject: [Boatanchors] Digital Repair
> > 
> > I came to the sad realization this morning I was in way over my head when I
> > tried to trouble shoot my Kenwood DG-5 digital display. I know it's not a
> > boatanchor, but it is part of my retro station, a TS-520 with most of the
> > trimmings. Does anyone know of an honest digital repairman who might be able
> > to fix this thing for me?
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > Rick / K5IAR 
>  		 	   		  
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