[Yaesu] PROBLEMS WITH FT-102

[Dr. Gerald N. Johnson]

Silver switch contacts often oxidize and while the oxide carries 
electricity well its only after the oxide gets broken down by having a 
few volts applied. Which you do when transmitting, then you get a 
connection and can receive. I've had that problem at 1296 with fancy 
relays too.

One way to solve the problem is to wire up DC supplies and RF chokes so 
you apply a few volts at a few milliamp to the connections to break down 
the oxide. That used to be a severe problem in the mechanically switched 
telephone central office. They used the DC current which they called the 
"sealing" current. Kenwood added that to the bandpass selection relays 
in the TS-430 after several years in the field for the same reason.

73, Jerry, K0CQ

On 10/5/2011 3:54 PM, David Thompson wrote:
> I have several set ups selected by a 6 position HoFI coax switch.  Both my
> older FT-980 and IC-740 don't seem to be switched until I use my Heath
> Remote Coax switch to activate them.  Seems with my massive switch set up
> both transceivers need a bump to wake them up.  I notice just now my old
> boatanchor HQ-129X  also needs a bump.  I can transmit and do the same
> thing.
>
> Taking the Yaesu out of the circuit and putting it on my 80 vertical dipole
> its comes up right away.
> The Icom on the other hand still needs a bump to wake it up.
>
> I did have a problem with my original FT-980 and the relays were dusty (My
> shack is in a basement).
> I run my air cleaner every so often to help with that situation.
>
> 73 Dave K4JRB
>
>
>
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