2100H TX fried

[ironhorse1]

Has anyone here had to have the TX side of a 2100H repaired? The RX side works great! Just wondering what it might cost to have it repaired if possible. Thanks!

 

[R7000]

Considering that the 2100H is a great value when bought new, it might not pay to have it repaired. I'm amazed that so much radio can cost so little. I have a 2000 and a 2100H.

Tom

 

[ReceiverBeaver]

I might suggest you check this. I've had several of these rigs and still use one in my truck....er....a.....Beaver Tactical Unit. After around a year's worth of use, the accumulated actions of moving the mic cord around causes strain in the modular connector, particularly on the mic end. This can effect a variety of functions (any of the 6 pins), and one of them is TRANSMIT. Mine recently did this in fact. So if you havn't already, unplug the cord from the mic (and radio end if you want) and clean the pin surfaces with electrical contact cleaner or denatured alcohol or something satisfactory for cleaning electrical contacts and plug 'er back in and give it a try. Another ham friend one time had to take the mic apart and bend the male pins out a little bit to make better and more secure contact with the female mic end of the plug.

This is just what happened on mine last week. The effected function was: no transmit: but received and performed all other off-the-mic functions just fine.

This wear and tear is found in the other radios too ( most all modern mobile rigs) that use the phone-style modular plugs and I hate them.

Wish they would go back to the previous 8 pin plug secured with a locking nut on the radio end and hard-wired to the mic. Much more sturdy.

If your antenna is satisfactorily tuned and you don't think you've been operating with a high SWR, then your final power transistor shouldn't fail from just normal use.

Check those mic connections!

good luck

 

[HabboX]

Yes, definitely check the microphone out. The microphone for the IC-2200H is notorious for having problems. I own three IC-2200H transceivers. One is hooked to EchoLink and has been kept in transmit position for extended periods at high power. I've had it running for more than a year with no problems (I don't use a microphone on it though).

 

[Hoofy]

With the IC2000 and 2100 there is a protection diode that can burn out and cause the tx problem you're referring to. To determine if the diode is the problem try transmitting with a scanner or receiver nearby. If it is the diode then the radio will be transmitting a few miliwatts. If the rf module is fried nothing should come through.

I've had this happen on both a 2000 and a 2100 due to running high power with an elevated swr.

You can probably do the repair yourself if you are careful and have some soldering ability. I can give you more detail if you think that is what the problem is. I don't have the info right here in front of me now.

I believe this diode is supposed to keep the power module from frying. Good luck.

 

[ironhorse1]

Thanks for all the info!! I inspected the mic and cable. I replaced one RJ-45 connector that didn't look exactly right to me (it looked cracked), opened the mic and made sure all the connections were making good contact (also at the radio end) and put it all back together. I now believe that Hoofy may be on to something here as nothing changed with the output level. I can hit a repeater that's about 5 miles from me, but nothing else.

ReceiverBeaver, I agree about the RJ-45 connectors! The 8 pin plugs are much more secure and cause less strain on the cords.

I appreciate all the insight into what could cause this problem and hope it may have helped someone else too!!

Hoofy, will you please send me the info on the diode when you have time??

Thanks!!

 

[mancow]

You should be able to determine if it's a PTT logic problem without opening anything. If the radio shifts from RX mode to TX then it's not in the mic or mic cable. I'm not familiar with the model but surely the RX will cut out and some sort of indicator is supposed to light or show up when in TX mode regardless of the TX power being generated or not.

I have a dual band old Icom, I don't recall the model number, that was dicked up by some fool trying to make his own remote head with phone wire. :roll: It was given to me by a friend but I think it's probably a total loss. He tore it up pretty bad.

I wouldn't doubt if the RF block is similar or the same. If it ends up being an RF block problem you could use this one for parts.

 

[ironhorse1]

Mancow,

Thanks for the offer!!! I'll investigate this and let you know if it's the same. If it is, how much do you want for your radio?

You should be able to determine if it's a PTT logic problem without opening anything. If the radio shifts from RX mode to TX then it's not in the mic or mic cable. I'm not familiar with the model but surely the RX will cut out and some sort of indicator is supposed to light or show up when in TX mode regardless of the TX power being generated or not.

I have a dual band old Icom, I don't recall the model number, that was dicked up by some fool trying to make his own remote head with phone wire. :roll: It was given to me by a friend but I think it's probably a total loss. He tore it up pretty bad.

I wouldn't doubt if the RF block is similar or the same. If it ends up being an RF block problem you could use this one for parts.