[Premium-Rx] hello to the list and rare Collins unit

[Karl-Arne Markström]

Hello,

Most problems in eqiuipment this age comes from the power supply.
First check for the proper voltages and lack of ripple on the supply 
lines.
Especially the +5V line is vulnerable in this case.

As a second measure, check the tantalum capacitors on each card.

The VP-100 is very scarce unit.
I have only seen one once in "the flesh" as part of the pre-ALE 
automatic radio system "SELSCAN" 
built using HF-80 hardware from Rockwell-Collins that was demonstrated 
when I visited Cedar Rapids in the
mid 90's.

Another problem is testing the repaired unit, as it takes two units to 
set up a working link.

73/
Karl-Arne
SM0AOM


----Ursprungligt meddelande----
Från: zpz at gmx.de
Datum: 2012-12-11 17:43
Till: <premium-rx at mailman.qth.net>
Ärende: [Premium-Rx] hello to the list and rare Collins unit

Hello all,
I am interested in communication equipment for several years now and 
finally I subscribed to this list. My english is far away from being 
perfect, please excuse.
I worked as an electronics for Honeywell in Germany and studied 
physics later on. So far a some older units, mostly receivers from 
CEI/wj, passed my way. It started with a DRO from 1972 and the lecture 
of Terry`s website did the rest of the 'infection'. 

My first question goes for a real black radio accessory from Collins.
The unit is named VP-100 and according to the label on the back, it is 
a HF voice privacy unit. The housing is in the style of the HF-8090 or 
the 851S receiver. On the back there are 600 ohms connections named 
TB1/RADIO and TB2/LINE. On the frontplate there are a speaker, a mic 
input, a numeric keyboard with RCL, STO, CLR, two key switches 
(PVT/CLR, LOAD/OPR) and one button named ZEROIZE near to the power 
switch. Then there is a numeric display for KEY, SEGMENT and DATA and 
several status LEDs (RCV PVT, RCV CLR XMIT, PRIVAT, FAULT, LOW BAT, 
TEST, PUB EXCHG and even one LED not named at all (it lightened up one 
time).
In the unit there are 5 plugin pcbs, named TIMING, CPU, BULK MEMORY, 
INTERFACE and MODEM. The power supply is huge and seems that they took 
it from the 851S and omitted only a few parts. 
The only unpopulated slot is named TEST and therefore I conclude the 
unit is complete (and yes, the keys are there, even a record number and 
destroy tag). The only apparent damage is that leaking batteries 
destroyed the battery holder. The batteries should be for memory 
backup. They are shorted via a resistor when the unit is drawn out of 
it`s rack.

The problems are: 
- The LED digit display is most time dark. When the unit is switched 
on with the ZEROIZE button pressed, it sometimes shows something.
- There is no visible reaction from the numeric keyboard.
- Sometimes the speaker gives a permanent beep.

Does anybody has information about this unit?

- Peter
______________________________________________________________
Premium-Rx mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/premium-rx
Help Page: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Premium-Rx at mailman.qth.net
Help Contact eMail:  paul at 8zo.com
Home Page:  http://www.premium-rx.org/