Any way to dim or turn off WS1025 backlight

[Indianabrad]

I recently picked up a WS1025 on eBay for ham repeaters, NWS weather & such. And I assume there is no way to dim or turn off the display backlight. Which seems to be about 10K lumens and runs at full brightness, unless you turn off the scanner. If Bill Cheek was still around, a backlight dimmer would have been his 2nd or 3rd mod for it, I'm sure.

 

[TAbirdman]

Unfortunately, no dimming option

 

[wtp]

how about a small piece of cardboard to cover the "room light" ?

 

[DVINTHEHOUSEMAN]

You could also drape a small cloth or a sock off the front over the display, or crack it open and replace the bright LED's with the super dim lime green LED's that seemed to be in every backlit electronics product from the 90's.

 

[Indianabrad]

that seemed to be in every backlit electronics product from the 90's.

Back in the 90's that wasn't LEDs, they were EL (electra-luminescent) panels. They were a bad design and on scanners that only had a dimer and not a backlight off button, they burned out in just a few yrs. Fortunately EL panels are not hard to change out. My Pro-2004 that I have had for 35 yrs, it is on its 4th EL backlight.

 

[DVINTHEHOUSEMAN]

Back in the 90's that wasn't LEDs, they were EL (electra-luminescent) panels. They were a bad design and on scanners that only had a dimer and not a backlight off button, they burned out in just a few yrs. Fortunately EL panels are not hard to change out. My Pro-2004 that I have had for 35 yrs, it is on its 4th EL backlight.

The electroluminescent ones are the cyan colored ones that light up the whole screen decently. Take the PRO-92/93/95 or something like the BC100XL for example, it has a pretty dim lime green backlight that only really works in pitch black environments. That's what style I was talking about.

I probably should've specified cheap as well in the part you quoted.

 

[Danny37]

Easiest option would be the apply a dimming screen to the display. I do it in my bedroom for other electronics so my room is dark at night.

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[Indianabrad]

I probably should've specified cheap as well in the part you quoted.

I have had a Pro-2004 for 35 yrs and the EL backlights are just what I told you they are, they were/are green & blue and there were no orange ones back in the 1990's. There are no gray areas, no hemhawing around, it is what I told you it is and that's that. I have been working on & modifying scanners for 35 years, when you have done it that long also, maybe you might be able to tell me something worth hearing.

 

[Indianabrad]

Easiest option would be the apply a dimming screen to the display.

Yeah, I was looking at diff tint sheets on the Zon, to cut & use.

 

[DVINTHEHOUSEMAN]

I have had a Pro-2004 for 35 yrs and the EL backlights are just what I told you they are, they were/are green & blue and there were no orange ones back in the 1990's. There are no gray areas, no hemhawing around, it is what I told you it is and that's that.

I am talking about an  LED, not an electroluminescent backlight. The technologies are completely different and not cross compatible. This is also not about a PRO-2004. That scanner is from the 1980's and not remotely close to the scanner this discussion is about.

What I am suggesting is the dim lime green LED's, which from my personal experience are found in low cost tech products from the 1990's. I did not mention using an electroluminescent backlight and an electroluminescent backlight is completely off the table.

I have been working on & modifying scanners for 35 years, when you have done it that long also, maybe you might be able to tell me something worth hearing.

That is not relevant to the discussion, and if you've been working on them that long, maybe you would know how to understand the different technologies and how they apply to different products.

Attached is a picture of my PRO-92 with its backlight on. Please study it carefully.