[Premium-Rx] Harris RF-550 - Fixed!

[Carcia, Frank A. HS]

Many times switches left in one position become intermittent. I've repaired
many things by just
flipping all the switches a bunch of times then 
removing all the connectors and reinstalling them.
It became second nature when I did a short
visit at Motorola. I've seen many people pay over $100
per hour for that very basic service performed.
My next level of repair is to inspect solder connections.
Modern equipment part failures are quite rare unless
abused. Then you just follow the carbon track.  fc


-----Original Message-----
From: Barry Hauser [mailto:barry at hausernet.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2003 9:45 AM
To: premium-rx at ml.skirrow.org
Cc: Mark S. Holden
Subject: [Premium-Rx] Harris RF-550 - Fixed!


Just thought I'd complete the thread by reporting that this RF-550 is now
working.

 I re-seated all the boards and modules, but still nothing. Everything was
solid and all the contacts, edge connectors, appear to be gold plated.  No
sign of oxidation anywhere.

 Turned out to be a very high tech problem that called for every last bit of
my electronics acumen, experience and skill-set.

 It was a trick switch.  The first one on the left -- "Local, Full Remote,
Frequency Remote", a mini-toggle with an idiot-proof locking gimmick.  It
was originally in the full remote position when the receiver arrived and I
knew to change that, as the display was reading something like "3FFFFF".

I guess it was temporarily intermittent or not fully engaged due to disuse
or whatever.  The repair was a rather involved procedure, which, to the
uneducated eye might appear to be mindless "jiggling".  Doubt that the
switch is bad because after a bit of  finessing I wasn't able to reproduce
the problem.

Sorry to go on further about an unlisted rx, but the experience may be of
some value to others.  Ironically, I had a similar situation just the other
day with a tube-type Zenith Transoceanic that was supposed to be
non-working.  The trick switch in that case was the "battery saver" AC
socket which was either oxidized or stuck mid-position.

Yup, sometimes what it gets down to is what the guy in the greasy coveralls
says:  "What ya' problem is mistuh, is ya' got no continoooity."

 The build quality is very high on these RF-550's.  I know there are other
criteria, but again, probably should be reconsidered for qualification.
Unless I'm missing something, I don't see anything un-premium about it.

 Thanks for the assist.

 Barry





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