Help ID'ing Radio

mfn002 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-16-2009, 03:34 PM

I recently won a radio on eBay that I intend to try to fix up. It's a COMMX II VHF radio. It uses a series of BCD switches located on the top of the radio to program in the single frequency. It needs a battery and charger. The seller said he could not find anything on this radio online. Does anyone here know anything about this radio or have experience using one?
Thanks!

kb0nly · #2 (**permalink**) 09-16-2009, 04:02 PM

Never heard of the company that made it... Looks like some older ham rigs of the era with those rotary switches to select the frequency on top. Cool old technology!

fineshot1 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-16-2009, 04:13 PM

First hit on a google search although there is no reference to that model above
and what radios are on this web site all looks like vertex products.

Comtronix Corporation

mfn002 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-16-2009, 04:57 PM

It's arriving tomorrow, so I might have more information then. From that website, it appears that Comtronix might be a radio dealer now. I suspect that at one time they did make their own radios. Is there any way to look up the FCC ID on the radio?

kd7eir · #5 (**permalink**) 09-16-2009, 05:15 PM

Look up the FCC ID here: OET -- FCC ID Search

Which will lead to this: https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/eas/GetEas...I9I3COMMXII%27

It covers 150-170 MHz with 5 watt/1 watt

You can find contact info on that second link, but I'm not sure how accurate it is now.

N_Jay · #6 (**permalink**) 09-16-2009, 05:23 PM

Call Comtronix. The web site says they have been in business for 40 years and in the right city, so it has to be the right company.

Wyandotte · #7 (**permalink**) 09-17-2009, 10:00 PM

I gotta tell you, I keep looking at that radio and it keeps reminding me of a old, old Tempo 2M handheld.

KF7DUR · #8 (**permalink**) 09-18-2009, 12:37 AM

I had one of those 20 years ago. You can only change the rx freq. from the top of the radio. You can program 10 tx/rx freqs in the radio. They are recalled by switching to T/R and then selecting via the last dial on the right. You have to open the radio to program the 10 "memory" channels. You dial the freq with the top thumbwheels along with the memory location and the press a push button inside the radio to store the freq. I drilled a hole in the case above the switch and could program it without opening the case by using a paperclip to operate the switch.

Hope that helps.
Ken

kd7eir · #9 (**permalink**) 09-18-2009, 10:04 PM

This is the Tempo S1

mfn002 · #10 (**permalink**) 09-19-2009, 12:11 PM

I got the radio on Thursday. The port that connects the battery pack to the radio was badly corroded and I had to modify the radio to operate off of a 9V battery. Once I got it powered up, I discovered a few problems:

A) The radio is stuck in open squelch (static) and adjusting the squelch does nothing
B) The PL selector switches on the PTT key do not work
C) It will not transmit in the T/R mode
D) The memory board does not work
E) The coin cell battery pack going to the memory board had leaked and I had to remove it

Other than that, the RX is extemely good, and picked up a sheriff's office frequency from a neighboring county--without the antenna attached.

It appeared that at one time someone had attempted to fix the radio; one of the case screws under the battery door was missing, there were tool marks around the retaining nut holding the volume/squelch rotary switch in place, and pry marks below the top of the case.

KF7DUR · #11 (**permalink**) 09-19-2009, 02:13 PM

Try running the radio on 12v that might fix the squelch problem. If I remember correctly the middle jack on the back of the radio was for running it on 12v.
Replacing the coin cell battery may fix the memory problem.

mfn002 · #12 (**permalink**) 09-20-2009, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KF7DUR

Try running the radio on 12v that might fix the squelch problem. If I remember correctly the middle jack on the back of the radio was for running it on 12v.
Replacing the coin cell battery may fix the memory problem.

I'll try the 12V idea. As for the coin cell pack, that was soldered to the board and I had to desolder it to pull it out. I had to remove the middle jack because it showed signs of corrosion and there was no continuity between the contacts and the board. What was the specified voltage on the battery pack?

mfn002 · #13 (**permalink**) 09-20-2009, 04:47 PM

Well, I tried to run it off of 12VDC and it would go on briefly then turn off. As for the squelch problem, I suspect it might have something to do with the switch, even though both levels turn smoothly. I would replace it, but I don't know the exact specs on it, and it looks incredibly difficult to access it without removing an entire circuit board.

Just found on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I have to say, this radio looks VERY familiar. Is it possible that my COMMX II is a slightly altered and rebranded version of this radio?