OLD Realistic Pro 37, muddled keyboard.

[vern007]

I found an old Realistic Pro 37 Hyperscan hand-held in my drawer. I remember the thing just died on me sometime in the late 90s and I just put it aside. Anyway, I plugged in the AC plug and got the display working but no matter how hard I push down on the keys, nothing is happening. Is there a way to clean these things? Here is a picture that looks similar to my unit.

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/861/pro37lm2.jpg

Thanks in advance!

 

[Viper43]

take it apart and clean the board where the keypad rests with rubbing alcohol, always worked for any I had problems with.

V

 

[vern007]

OK. I undid the screws in the back and removed the squelch toggles and was able to remove the back of the scanner. But how do I remove the front so I can access the keyboard pad? Is it just a matter of prying it open or do I have to fuss with some screws on the circuit board? I noticed near the battery area there are a couple of screws, right below the battery area is the front of the key pad. Should I remove those screws or is it just a matter of prying the thing open?

 

[Paco-Jerte]

You need a solder gun to get to the lower board ...

 

[trimmerj]

Use a soldering pencil to remove the antenna connection from the top board, then remove the standoffs. Unsolder the bond wire and unplug any molex connectors. You can then seperate the top board from the lower. Once the top board is off, remove the screws
securing the logic board to the face of the case.

 

[roadranger]

OK. I undid the screws in the back and removed the squelch toggles and was able to remove the back of the scanner. But how do I remove the front so I can access the keyboard pad? Is it just a matter of prying it open or do I have to fuss with some screws on the circuit board? I noticed near the battery area there are a couple of screws, right below the battery area is the front of the key pad. Should I remove those screws or is it just a matter of prying the thing open?

I think that I have the one in the picture! Anyway, you should just be able to unscrew the board from the front.

 

[Hamop54]

Pro37 Keyboard

I have an old Pro 37 scanner myself and the same thing happened with the keys. I was able to bring them back to life however and here's how...

Last year the keys quit after the radio was sitting in the hot car during Ham Radio Field Day. Recently I got an interest in the reviving the keys as I had done before by pressing on the back of the keyboard after taking out the batteries. This time however I put the scanner in the freezer for about 20 mins to try and reverse what had happened in the hot sun last year: It worked! As the radio came back to room temprature I again pressed on the back of the keyboard. I repeated this process several times and the keys are good as new.
I did not use any alchohol and was not able to remove the backing on the keyboard so I just left it alone. Hope this helps.

Very 73 Dan WA2CLP

 

[Hamop54]

Well it's been about 2 weeks since I put the PRO-37 back into service with keys that function. It's been working great. In fact I had a lot of fun taking the scanner up to the State Line Lookout with VHF marine channels programmed. I could hear traffice from Port Washington and Oyster Bay NY. Also listened to air traffic control as well. Boy the Westerchester Co Airport sure is busy! The PRO-37 functions great during severe weather by not only tuning NOAA Wx but the Bergen Skywarn on the Oakland 10-70 repeater as well. I started this hobby (Ham Radio) as a listener and am still loving it.
That it all. If you have a PRO-37 with keyboard problems I hope you can get it working again like I did. 73 Dan