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Message |
    
Dx_freak
Junior Member
Username: Dx_freak
Post Number: 25
Registered: 2-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, September 08, 2007 - 12:34 am: | 
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Came across a converted general washington 10 meter radio today. Seems to be in good un molested condition inside and I also see it is the mosfit irf 520 conversion type. Looks real good. Im thinking it was done this way when manufactured. Anyway, the radio has little to no modulatin=on, and only keys like 1/2 watt on low, and 1.5 on high. Im thinking the finals are bad but not sure. If they were id think the radio would not key at all. The radio is worth fixing and Id like to see if any techs on here can give me any pointers? Finals, rf regulator? I havent a clue. Any help would be appreiciated!!
Richey
DX freak/Mad Dog/Puppet Master
CEF#885
I can only do the best I can with what I got.
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3923
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 08, 2007 - 11:11 pm: |
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the washington is just a general lee with an american flag on it, instead of confederate. both are re-tagged connex 3300's. as for the irf520's, can't honestly say if that is 'factory', but i don't think so. my guess is the radio was 'gotten rid of' after the irf520 mod BECAUSE it was done incorrectly & didn't work properly. low output is usually the problem with poorly done mosfet conversions. |
Dx_freak
Junior Member
Username: Dx_freak
Post Number: 27
Registered: 2-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, September 09, 2007 - 3:10 am: |
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I got ahold of the person I bought this from and found out it was bought a little over a yr ago and he bought it brand new. It came with the mosfit already done. I also looked into it and found out that they were made this way from the factory. Mine has the silver face and no flag on it well actually it does, a little bitty 1 american. It is exactly like the connex 3300 hp though. I also believe this has a 2 yr warrantee on it and if so, I might beable to get it factory repaired under warrantee. That would be nice. Only thing is, who the heck made it? Who makes the general line of radios is anyones guess. I have the guy try to come up with the needed paper work as we speek. If he dont, well I guess it will go to repair shop monday morning.
Richey
DX freak/Mad Dog/Puppet Master
CEF#885
I can only do the best I can with what I got.
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3927
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, September 09, 2007 - 7:48 am: |
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yup, that 'little bitty 1 american' is all that differentiates it from a gen'l lee. rci/ranger makes them...you'll have to call them to ask about 'general' radios, though as i've heard of conflicting warranty-honoring policy on generals-needs to be taken care through where they were bought from usually. |
Dx_freak
Junior Member
Username: Dx_freak
Post Number: 31
Registered: 2-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 5:23 pm: |
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Does anyone know who is the manufacture of this radio, General Washington Moblie Radio? I know it is not Ranger.
Richey
DX freak/Mad Dog/Puppet Master
CEF#885
I can only do the best I can with what I got.
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Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 14424
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 5:49 pm: |
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The General Hill, General Lee and General Washington mobile radios are all manufactured by RCI/Ranger Communications Inc.
Lon ~ Tech808 ~ N9CEF
CEF#808 ~ CEF HAM#33 ~ CVC#002
Tech808@copperelectronics.com
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3945
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 8:05 pm: |
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there are/were also genl sherman, stonewall jackson, longstreet, grant.....all made by rci/ranger |
Dx_freak
Junior Member
Username: Dx_freak
Post Number: 34
Registered: 2-2007
| | Posted on Friday, September 21, 2007 - 8:47 pm: |
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I placed a call to Ranger Communications Ranger Radios 1-800-668-6314 and was told by the lady that answered, they do not manufacture the general washington radio. I thought forsure that ranger manufactured the washington radio's. I found out that the finals are bad in the radio by pulling and ohm checking them and have ordered 3 new finals. The good ol IRF520 finals. I will install the new finals, and after that, this radio will be donated to a better cause. My 1st radio with them and it lasted a whole day or so wow, what a deal. Them must be some junk finals or something. Must be why magnuim black flaged them for the S series radio's. Glad the good ol voyage is back on line.
Richey
DX freak/Mad Dog/Puppet Master
CEF#885
I can only do the best I can with what I got.
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3950
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 22, 2007 - 9:47 am: |
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the general lee is the exact same radio, same board, same mods etc as the general washington, and both are exactly the same as the NEW connex 3300 mosfet radio (yup, apparently there is a mosfet washington, i knew about the lee & connex, just not the washington). look up schematic, modification, parts or whatever other info for the connex 3300 mosfet & it is what you need. while the mod is different, the galaxy 33HP/mosfet version is also the same.
the 'lady' responded as she's been told-you won't get any other answer. trust me, it's ranger/rci. |
Dx_freak
Junior Member
Username: Dx_freak
Post Number: 35
Registered: 2-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, September 22, 2007 - 5:16 pm: |
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Ya I have looked at the washington and the voyage and they are the same inside also, Same board everything, but the finals, beats me Pat??? Im questioned, and also believe the lady answering the phone was wrong. Oh well, I will have the washington going again soon also. Hey Pat, I bet u know, is the tr17 on my voyage the place to put a 2sc2999 to improve the receive? I have a bunch of this stuff, except the diods though, but I do have the 2sc2999 to replace the factory 2sc1674. Is that the right tr to replace?/ Let me know and thanks for the help.
Richey
DX freak/Mad Dog/Puppet Master
CEF#885
I can only do the best I can with what I got.
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3954
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 28, 2007 - 4:36 pm: |
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yes....tr17. look at a schematic, trace from antenna to receive portion, through transformer & 1st 2sc1674 you see is the 1 to replace. |
Dx_freak
Junior Member
Username: Dx_freak
Post Number: 37
Registered: 2-2007
| | Posted on Friday, September 28, 2007 - 6:51 pm: |
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Thanks Pat, I have also been doing alot of reading on the receive mod that calls for replacing the diodes and putting the nte583's in, any info on which ones? I see lots of stuff on that mod and would like to see if or not it will help. I think I might try it on this voyage VR9000, Thanks for the info, Dx.
Richey
DX freak/Mad Dog/Puppet Master
CEF#885
I can only do the best I can with what I got.
|
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3955
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 28, 2007 - 7:45 pm: |
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all the mods for 'look-a-like' radios are basically the same. even though they are different, a lot of the 148/xl mods will work in ranger radios....parts #'s are different of course, some locations are different & some circuits won't respond the same due to different parts values. search this site for 148 and/or grant xl mods posted by kid vicious or me. then compare current galaxy schematics to uniden schematics & match up the mods. some will work just fine, others....an example is the 2sc2999 mod in OLD galaxy radios. some that had nasty 'white noise' only get nastier with the receive increase. trial & error, just go easy with heat from the iron. |
Dx_freak
Junior Member
Username: Dx_freak
Post Number: 43
Registered: 2-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 10:20 pm: |
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I purchessed 10 of these irf520 finals from an onine site for like a few bucks plus shipping. Came out to be like a buck50 each, Anyway, I did this due to the fact that I thought that was the problem with this washington. Well to say the least, I was right on the $$. I put in 3 of these new finals rebiased the radio and low and behold, MODULATION OUT THE well you know. Well while I was in the thing, I thought, will the NPC-RC Modification work on this radio. With me having 25 bucks in the radio I figured I needed to find out. All I did was the resistor and diode part of the modification to the radio and reset the bias on it and gave it a try, well on low I have a 2 watt deadkey and 30 watt swing. With the thing on high, it deadkeys 10 and swings 40 watts. It worked perfect. So in the outcome, I have a 25 dollar 40 watt general washington radio and new knowledge that the NPC-RC Modification will work on these high low switchable non variable radio's. SWEET!! I was happy the finals fixed it and I have 6 extras now due to my buying 10 of them for like a buck50 as above. Now, it is time to try these in a galaxy 66v single final and im going to try them in a cobra. I just need to find out if I need companion parts like you do with the elk2030's. I someone knows, please advise me. I willpost my results after I complete the mods. Imexcited with this radio stuff. I have only been messing with repairing them for a few months and thanks to good ideas and info from forums like this 1, well it makes it easier!!!
Richey
DX freak/Mad Dog/Puppet Master
CEF#885
I can only do the best I can with what I got.
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3971
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, October 13, 2007 - 10:44 pm: |
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very good  ....and yes, you'll need the companion parts whenever replacing a bipolar transistor with a mosfet, no matter the type. |
