[ICOM] R71A Problems

Fri Apr 8 16:27:20 EDT 2011

My concern now is if a new RAM module will return the radio to normal.  I
replaced the battery and it made no difference.  Of course, if the RAM had
already died because of the battery, a new battery would not have made any
difference.  Gary makes a good point in suggesting a swap test with a known
good RAM board.  Does anyone have a "loaner" board for testing?

I see there are boards on eBay for $65.

Thanks in advance.

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"

-----Original Message-----
From: icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On
Behalf Of Gary P. Fiber
Sent: Friday, April 08, 2011 3:19 PM
To: ICOM Reflector
Subject: Re: [ICOM] R71A Problems

Amazing to me but sure sounds like the battery was flat and lost the ram
programming.
If you are careful and have another R-71A you can swap the ram units and see
if the trouble travels. I am unsure if either Scott Malcom or Kuni Okuma can
reprogram the ram units.
I did one see online a home built ram unit programmer and the Hex files for
the various units. below are some site and show some home made programmers.

http://www.qrz.ru/schemes/contribute/technology/icom751/english.shtml
http://www.reocities.com/n2cbu/Icom/ReadMe.htm
http://ad4c.us/ICOM%20HF%20manuals/IC-R71A/Modifications%20for%20the%20Icom%
20IC-R71.htm
EPROM / RAMBOARD
by Roberto Nardo, IK2RND
For ICOM  IC-751/A  IC-751 IC-745
      ICR71E/A and IC-271 IC-471 IC-1271

I'd probably grab one of the eprom programmed after market replacement
boards. They seem to be very reliable and most of the designs add more
memories.

Gary K8IZ

On 4/8/2011 12:47 PM, Gary H. Harmon, Jr. wrote:
> See comments below.
>
> 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"
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> [mailto:icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Gary P. Fiber
> Sent: Friday, April 08, 2011 11:22 AM
> To: ICOM Reflector
> Subject: Re: [ICOM] R71A Problems
>
> Sounds like the ram programming is gone. The battery of around 3 VDC 
> keeps the ram alive.  Another thing to check for a cracked solder 
> joints around the connectors on the ram unit.
>
> Did the R-71A work, show correct frequencies before you replaced the 
> battery?  NO Did you measure the battery voltage while it was still 
> attached to the ram unit? Was it at the 0.3 volts DC you mentioned it 
> was at when you removed it?  YES and now it reads 3 volts.
>
> There are replacement ram units available, mostly a eeprom these days. 
> I am unsure if Icom still can reprogram those ram units, you could 
> contact them also.
>
>
> Gary K8IZ
>
> On 4/8/2011 9:08 AM, Gary H. Harmon, Jr. 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"
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----
>> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC: icom-owner at mailman.qth.net Icom 
>> Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz Icom FAQ:
>> http://www.qsl.net/icom/ To support QSL/QTH.net:
>> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>
> --
> Gary P. Fiber K8IZ
>
> General Radio Telephone Operators License PG-19-6691, with Shipboard 
> Radar Endorsement.
> Washington State Resident.
>
> Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any 
> attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient (s) and may 
> contain confidential and privileged information.
> Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is 
> prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the 
> sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
>
>
> ----
> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC: icom-owner at mailman.qth.net Icom 
> Users
> Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/ To 
> support QSL/QTH.net: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
> ----
> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC: icom-owner at mailman.qth.net Icom 
> Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz Icom FAQ: 
> http://www.qsl.net/icom/ To support QSL/QTH.net: 
> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

--
Gary P. Fiber K8IZ

General Radio Telephone Operators License PG-19-6691, with Shipboard Radar
Endorsement.
Washington State Resident.

Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is
for the sole use of the intended recipient (s) and may contain confidential
and privileged information.
Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If
you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply
e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.

----
Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC: icom-owner at mailman.qth.net Icom Users
Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/ To
support QSL/QTH.net: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html