BCD436HP/BCD536HP: DOA

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K2KOH

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Well, my original BCD436 finally died. Turn it on one morning, booted, but nothing. Replaced the card...nothing. I know the nut holding the antenna mount constantly would loosen and it needed tightening. Probably finally gave up the ghost. I have another 436, plus a 536 and an SDS100. Think it's worth sending to Uniden, or just keep it for parts.
 

kruser

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Have someone open it up and tighten the antenna connector and then look at the connection between the antenna connector and the PC board where the antenna jacks center pin goes to. If your antenna jack has been loose for some time, the problem is most likely just the wire connecting the jack to the radios PC Board has broken.
It's a very easy fix for someone with half decent soldering skills.
 

K2KOH

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Check if it will receive the NOAA weather frequencies.
Nada. NYSEG has a control channel a quarter mile away and there's nothing. I'm gonna go with the antenna connector separated. I suck at soldering, so....LOL
 

tvengr

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If the scanner powers up, will not receive NOAA weather, and the antenna connector is loose, it is a good bet that the connection from the antenna connector to the circuit board is broken.
 

gary123

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Agreed look for a physical rather than an electronic failure.
 

kruser

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Nada. NYSEG has a control channel a quarter mile away and there's nothing. I'm gonna go with the antenna connector separated. I suck at soldering, so....LOL
That repair may be possible even if you "suck" at soldering!

I'd open it up and take a look at how close the other parts are if you do see a broken wire at the antenna connector. If it broke where it connects to the inside connection point of the antenna jack, you may be able to fix that one even if your soldering skills are poor or bad!
Just watch for excessive solder that may have dripped off your solder iron onto the board. If that happens, something tiny like a sewing needle or real fine screwdriver should pop the dropped solder off of the board it dripped onto.
If it doesn't just pop off, you should probably stop and try and find a buddy or someone local to you that is good at soldering and let them finish things.

Also, if you have a control channel that close or even the VHF NOAA WX frequency may come to life if you touch the circuit board at the point the antenna connector should make its connection. Use a paperclip or a small gauge of stiff wire with just an 1/8th inch or less of insulation stripped away so you can see that you are touching the right solder point on the PC Board. If things come to life, soldering that antenna wire between the jack on the inside the case and the PC Board will fix you right up.
Just be careful or let someone else do the repair if you feel that you can't try the repair.
 

rja1

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If you're that close to a NYSEG site (Brewster, probably) & you can't hear it, it MAY be a broken connection between the SMA connector & the PC board. However, my 436, with NO antenna, would hear Carmel PD (154.025) & I used to live off Secor Road, about 2 minutes east of the TSP. That's at least 3 miles as the crow flies. The signal was noisy, but I could copy what they were saying.

If you attempt to fix it yourself, use a low wattage soldering pencil with a fine tip. Do NOT use a soldering gun.
 
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