[ICOM] R71A Problems

[K8RI]

It's been a long time since I had a 751 but I knew the back up battery 
was getting weak (measured it in place) and knew better than to just 
replace it by pulling the old one out and replacing it.

I called Icom and they suggested I get the new memory module from them 
already programmed with updates. Then all I'd have to do is swap them out.

Things have changed. Back then the entire module was relatively 
inexpensive at well less than half of today's quoted prices.  Too bad 
they didn't use an EEProm or some form of static memory, rather than one 
that required a backup battery.

Of course with the dead batter and loss of memory as indicated by the 
readouts there was nothing to lose by pulling the battery, but nothing 
to gain either.

If the second source module is reliable I would think it would be 
desirable over the Icom module as the present, or future owners would 
not have to be concerned about a $3 battery replacement turning into a 
$75 project plus labor.

73

Roger (K8RI)

On 4/8/2011 12:20 PM, Stephen Budensiek wrote:
> Hello,
>     Guess the bad new is (if my memory is correct), the R71 has the OS
> in RAM, you need to keep voltage on it while you replace the battery.
> If you don't, it loses the OS.   You can either send it back to Icom
> for reprogram, or buy another memory moudule from them, or go to a 3rd
> party vendor who makes a memory replacement module with more memory
> locations, and the OS is eeprom.  Any way you go, it will be around
> $75 to get it back up.  There use to be one internet site with the OS
> code, and if you had a ROM burner, you could reload the RAM module
> with it.  Same problem in the 751, 271, 471, etc if the memory battery
> failed.
>
> 73's de Stephen, K0SD in TX
>
> ******************************************
>
> On Fri, Apr 8, 2011 at 11:08 AM, Gary H. Harmon, Jr.
> <gharmon at idworld.net>  wrote:
>> I have a friend's R71A on the bench and before I get too crazy I thought I
>> would check the list.  I replaced the battery IAW instructions on the web.
>> The removed battery measured 0.3 volts.  It comes on with a frequency
>> display of either 466.666.6 or 666.666.6.  There is a little hum in the
>> speaker but no rushing noise.
>>
>>
>>
>> Are there any other obvious issues to check?  Is there a service manual
>> available online?
>>
>>
>>
>> Vr,
>>
>>
>>
>> Gary H. Harmon, Jr. - K5JWK
>>
>> 6003 Archwood
>>
>> San Antonio, TX 78239-1504
>>
>> 210.657.1549h / 210.884.6926c
>>
>>
>>
>> "Retirement means every day is a Saturday except Sunday"
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----
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>> Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
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>>
> ----
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> Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
> Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
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>