| Author |
Message |
    
Candyman
| | Posted on Friday, June 29, 2001 - 1:31 pm: | 
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I found the message below posted on rec.radio.cb. Ranger sent it out to all their dealers.
I did a little checking on this and it seems that the main culprit is Turbo Tunes.
Turbo Tunes are causing radios to overheat and fail early. Ranger is not amused.
>>>Start rec.radio.cb message>>>
Warranty Notes
We have noticed an increase in radios sent in for warranty repair that have
problems directly related to the modulation limiter being clipped or
removed. Radios sent back with this modification will not be covered by
warranty. When you clip parts out of a well-designed radio, you can cause
harmonics, which result in distortion. If you clip a part, then you have
defeated the purpose for which that part was intended. This may cause
related parts to go bad; thus causing the radio to perform in a way that it
was not designed.
We made this decision after a hard analysis of radios returned for warranty
and/or repair during a two month period. We even went so far as to fly both
the top technician and engineer from the factory to assist us in solving the
problems. The result of the analysis, and confirmed by the factory
personnel, were startling to us - 87% of the returned radios were caused by
the below modifications. This reflects a problem that is not with the radio
or it's manufacturing process. It can also cause you problems with your
customer, as when something goes wrong, they tend to blame you, your mother,
father, your kids, and every one at Ranger - both here and in China! All
because of something someone else did.
Here is the list of controls &/or components we found that are commonly
de-tuned &/or removed by customers:
RCI-6300 Series: VR14 (AM Carrier), VR16 (AM Modulation), and Q39 (TX Audio
Limiter).
RCI-6900 Series: VR15 (AM Carrier), VR17 (AM Modulation), and Q43 (TX Audio
Limiter).
RCI-2950/70/90 Series: VR13 (AM Carrier), VR14 (AM Modulation), and Q32 (TX
Audio Limiter).
RCI-2950/70/90 DX Series: VR15 (AM Carrier), VR17 (AM Modulation), and Q43
(TX Audio Limiter).
If the above components are removed or max-tuned, the warranty will be
voided, as it is a bad practice and by doing these modifications can cause
problems of spurious emissions and overheating.
So, let's start an education process. Tell your customers that over
modulation causes the user and the radio to sound like crap. It overworks
the components of the electronic device and causes the parts to have
premature wear and failure. Inform them that in accordance with good
technical practice, you will not be a part of that kind of "butchering". You
may hear some flack from them at first, but if you explain it to them
correctly, they should understand. Plus you can show them the difference in
the output signal of a clean sounding radio transmission verses an
over-modulated and distorted signal.
Then explain that if they clip a part out of a radio, they have defeated the
purpose for which that part was intended. This may cause some other or
related parts to go bad; thus causing the radio to perform in a way that it
was not designed. An example is the overheating problem caused by removing
the TX audio limiter. It causes the power transistors to overheat and shut
down or just burn out.
I think, together, we can help clean up the signals and cut way down on the
problems that you encounter with these operators. If we can eliminate this
one area of problems for you, we can free up the Ranger technicians to
solving and repairing real problems.
And, if you are going to "verify" the "alignment and tuning" of a Ranger
radio before selling it to a customer, let me remind you to please check all
the features and functions of the radio BEFORE opening and breaking the
seals. This way, if something is wrong, it can be taken care of in the
fastest way possible. It doesn't take that long to check and it may save you
some headaches. It also removes any doubt of whether the radio was at fault
or something someone else did that caused the failure. Our actual failure
rate of the radios is one of the lowest in the industry, so just take the
time to check it out first.
>>>End rec.radio.cb message>>> |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Friday, June 29, 2001 - 10:12 pm: |
|
Thanks CM: The more we get the word out on early failures with the EE_ turbo tune units the better. That is why they go back to them on repairs and not to Ranger. The buyers of these units are trading lifespan for a few extra watts.
I had a TT 6900FHP and it ran as hot as heck. They also look horrible on a spec. analyzer (so much for their claim as to these radios being clean) |
CQDX181
| | Posted on Friday, June 29, 2001 - 11:57 pm: |
|
Candyman,
Thank you so much for posting that informative piece! I was personally shocked that 87% of failures are due to consumer and retailer modifications. Wow! Do the radio hobby a favor Candyman, and post that wherever you can!
Steve
181 |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Saturday, June 30, 2001 - 8:15 am: |
|
http://www.rangerusa.com/techtips.html#war |
batwings tech
| | Posted on Saturday, June 30, 2001 - 4:13 pm: |
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spread this also;
http://www.tyler.bbb.org/report.html?compid=21001767&national=Y
looks like turbo tunes aren't the only thing they do that is causing trouble. |
vernonott
| | Posted on Saturday, June 30, 2001 - 10:48 pm: |
|
I have purchased two radios from the boys in the great state of Texas.The first ,a reconditioned turbo tuned Galaxy 99 that didn't work when I received it {had to have it realigned locally).The second,a General Grant that runs so hot I have to run a computer fan on it to keep it from burning up.I refuse to send these radios back to the same people who messed them up in the first place.I have also purchased four radios (three Galaxys and one Voyage ) from Copper with no problems of any kind.Burn me once and I'll forgive you.Burn me twice and I'm finished with you.Big boys in the great state of Texas-I'm finished with you! |
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