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Message |
    
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1714
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 10:59 pm: | 
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i finally received my DX302 in the mail last wed.
it was dirty, and reaked of smoke, but the front panel was clean, no scratched off lettering or anything.
cleaned it all up and did as much of an alignment as i could. (one section seems to need some serious stuff, sweep gen. and o-scope, stuff i dont have.
anyway, it works.
all funtions work.
BUT, the receive is WEAK!!!
WWV at 10 mhz gives me full scale on the sangean, and was barely audible on the DX302.
yes, i am using the preselector correctly.
it scans through the band fine, but it seems to have better receive in the middle portion of the KHZ tuning range. like from .300 to .600
this is true regardless of where the MHZ knob is set,and also regardless of the preselector setting.
so Tech833, and anyone else:
would re-capping this thing improve this?
do front end transistors, and RF amp transistors get weak?
or do they just work or not work?
any help is appreciated, i like the radio, but its performance is not the greatest at the moment.
thanks in advance,
matt |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 1366
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 3:17 pm: |
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Hi Matt.
None of those things will do what you say it is doing. The ONLY thing that would- Alignment.
One of your I.F. stages is way out of whack. The only way to align the I.F. stages is with an RF generator. You CANNOT simply 'peak' on a received signal and align the I.F. If you do, it will only be sensitive in one spot (middle of the dial in your case).
You need to do a real alignment on that, and it should wake right up! |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1722
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 11:11 pm: |
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ok cool,
i have a signal generator, but its not fancy enough to measure the mV output, meaning that i cant properly adjust an S-meter, or a suelch circuit etc...
i will do the alignment the right way tonite hopefully.
i have to say though, that i might be mistaken about the weakness of the receiver.
i only have the sangean to compare it to, and while it may seem more sensitive, it might just be picking up alot more noise.
maybe i am just not used to the triple conversion receiver yet.
i think my problems with WWV were because i am not used to the preselector yet, and thought i had it set right.
last night i was listening to 3840 and 3940 and was able to hear a bunch of people.
SW broadcast stations were coming in fine too.
the meter is stingy, and i am too used to looking at one instead of using my ears.
i will do the alignment, and post the results.
may take me a week though as i am very busy at the moment.
i really appreciate your input.
to me it is invaluable.
next time you and the wife are in vegas; you have to let me buy you guys lunch or something.
take it easy,
matt |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 1368
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 9:50 am: |
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Hi Matt.
You 'owe' me nothing.
A triple conversion receiver will be very sharp and selective compared to what you are used to. Also, it should be quite a bit more sensitive. As far as CB radios go, most are only single conversion, and prone to images. The Cobra 148 used to have a double conversion receiver, and was the best receiver you could buy in a CB transceiver (at the time). I do not know what receivers are like now, but I am sure someone could chime in.
So, if you have ever noticed the performance improvement of a 148 over other radios, then you should see a similar improvement on your 302 over your Sangean radio.
I passed on the NAB convention in Vegas this year, but I may have to go next year. If I do, I will look you up. Can you recommend a good vegetarian restaurant? I am on a real low cholesterol diet. |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1729
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 8:17 pm: |
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i can recommend a few.
the fiance's family is very into vegan food, as are a few "hippie" friends of mine.
the 148 chassis is to date, the best receiver in a solid state CB. IMO of course.
the dual conversion receiver with the lower noise 1st RF amp transistor installed is a thing of beauty.
i run a 2000gtl which is the base version, and i have NEVER heard a CB receiver better than mine.
(havent heard ALL radios though)
im glad you used that comparison as it is something i have a bit of experience with.
i think i am noticing the same phenomenon i did when i started using the 2000gtl.
since there was no noise, i thought the receive was weak.
WRONG!
i will continue to get used to the radio, and will give it a full alignment as soon as i get a free minute. LOL
i do think i want to re-cap the 302, there is a slight hum when the volume is all the way down, and there are so few electrolytics in this radio, it should be pretty simple.
thanks for all the help,
do you need an apprentice to climb towers and do other dirty work for you? J/K!!!
we dont want to raise kids in vegas, and im considering other lines of work.
your industry seems all locked up with no room to start learning.
darn!
hope all is well with you and the family,
matt |
Hollowpoint445
Senior Member
Username: Hollowpoint445
Post Number: 1242
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 11:41 pm: |
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I've read that owners of the DX302 have differing opinions on it's sensitivity mostly because of the varying quality of the factory alignment. Most of the positive reviews I've read say that after a good alignment they really come alive, so I'm sure yours will too Matt.
The difference between my DX392/818CS and my TS450 (also triple conversion) is like night and day. The TS450 not only sounds better, but it also has better sensitivity and selectivity. I think you'll find that the DX302 will be a similar step up from your DX390.
I'm interested to read what you think of it after an alignment because I'm still kicking around the idea of buying one myself. The only reason I didn't buy one yet is because of it's lack of filter options. If I could choose from a couple of AM and SSB bandwidths (Wide for fidelity - narrow for tougher signals) I'd buy one. I did read an article where a guy added extra filters by using a simple toggle switch. If I can find a DX302 that's inexpensive I might do the same because I've already collected a few different 455kHz filters. |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 1369
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 9:03 am: |
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Thanks Matt.
My diet was not inspired by some hippies, ha ha!! Those vegans are easy to spot- Dark framed, sunk-in eyes and those malnutritioned cheekbone lines. Also, their teeth seem to have something wrong with them. A guy and his wife in my bible study class have been vegans for 15 years, and they do NOT look very healthy.
I had some real bad health problems late last year, and one of my problems was critically high cholesterol. I went on a zero cholesterol diet, and within a couple months, my bad cholesterol was down to 93. Anything under 100 is considered 'normal'. Since I simply hate taking medications, in order to keep the cholesterol low, I have to be on a real low cholesterol diet. I have been keeping it under control this way. Unfortunately, just about anything meat or milk based has high cholesterol. Rats!! I used to BBQ every weekend and eat BBQ leftovers through the whole week. Not now. Actually, I don't miss it much anymore, I am getting used to it. Being healthy now is more than worth it all.
I also discovered that a lot of the 'fat free' products also have no cholesterol. Fat free cheeses, almond milk, and Parkay margarine really don't taste bad once you get used to them. There are even some options when eating out. For instance, if you go to Taco Bell, you can order a 7-layer burrito without cheese and have a 0 cholesterol fast-food meal. Most of the burger joints now offer salads and fat-free dressings. Once in a while, I do get a small amount of meat, usually chicken. A portion about as big as the head of a D-104 mic is my limit for several days worth.
Anyway, back to the 302... I agree with 445. It is true that many 302's never live up to their true potential. After it got recapped, I did an alignment on the 302 I had, and wow! What a monster DX machine! You will be most impressed with the performance when it is aligned properly. The 302 easily held its own against the Kenwood R5000 and the TS-440 (same triple conv. receiver in both). Besides, the 302's audio is very smooth and easy to take for long periods of time. The low-end audio mod is a must, btw. You will find the 302 very easy to tune once you play with it a bit. The preselector makes the difference between an 'ok' radio and a real hot rod. The 302 IS a true hot rod! |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1739
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 01, 2006 - 12:27 am: |
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thanks guys,
congrats on the good health paul!
my fiance cooks with olive oil exclusively and swears by it, as does her mother who is a reflexologist, and nutritionist. (and very eccentric!)
hollowpoint, the only thing i could see as a drawback on this radio is that there is a bit of work involved in tuning in a station.
first MHZ, then KHZ, then preselector.
if you are tuning around looking for nothing in particular, i feel that you could miss something by not having it all tuned for the freq. you just passed.
but i like turning knobs so its great for me.
im sure ill get better at it.
seen the mods and going to do a few, including the audio mod.
caps are on the way, and when time allows so is the alignment.
i will post results, but it may take me a week or so to get to it.
thanks again guys,
hollowpoint, buy one, it looks cool even when off!
matt |
Hollowpoint445
Senior Member
Username: Hollowpoint445
Post Number: 1246
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 01, 2006 - 9:39 am: |
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I'm still kicking it around. On the one hand it's made by GRE and the best scanners I've ever used were made for Radio Shack by GRE.
On the other hand it's yet another radio I don't really need, and I'd be buying it for a specific purpose that I probably won't utilize.
I guess it comes down to price - if I find one cheap I'll probably pick one up. |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1745
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 01, 2006 - 7:15 pm: |
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that makes sense.
if i already had a receiver that was as good as this one, i wouldnt have gotten it either. |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1769
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 10:55 pm: |
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well, i re-capped and aligned the DX302 today.
i dont have a sweep generator or a distortion meter or an 0-scope, so there was some things i could not do.
luckily, i didnt mess with them in the first place, and they look very close to where theu should be per the service manual.
i did it here at work, which is the worst place ever to test a radio.
i am surrounded by automation equipment.
computers, drives, power supplies, monitors, you name it.
i swear it looks like i could launch the space shuttle from my station.
also im inside a 100' high theater with lighting and sound equip. all over the place.
amyway, i have to take it home to test it, and i cant wait. (somebody speed the show up!!!)
i will post the results tomorrow.
it looks promising, as some of the cans i tuned merely by S-meter reading showed a big increase when tuned properly.
wish me luck,
matt |
Hollowpoint445
Senior Member
Username: Hollowpoint445
Post Number: 1266
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 11:57 am: |
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How does it work now Matt? |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1799
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 9:42 pm: |
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it works pretty good, but by now im pretty sure that it needs a full alignment with the equip. that i dont have and dont have access to.
it is still stronger on the lower end of the KHZ tuning than on the upper end, so i know its the alignment that is off.
it really is fun to use though, and i like the looks of it.
i can tell that if properly aligned, its gonna perform great.
the big gamble with these seems to be whether or not the plastic gears are cracked.
i have found two so far, and im not sure if the others are on their way out.
lots of mechanics in this radio.
right now i am on the hunt for someone that knows how to align one of these the right way.
i am willing to pay to have it done, and that is rare, so you can tell how much i like this radio.
still fun but it hasnt had a chance to shine yet.
i'll keep you guys updated.
matt |
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