Equipment to properly tune radios.

[mmckenna]

I have many of the tools I assume will be necessary already:
lab grade benchtop power supply
Fluke 117
Hakko soldering station
Small silent benchtop air compressor
SWR Meter
Helping hands
Hand tools
capacitors/resistors/diodes and other pcb components scavenged from audio amplifiers and other electronics that I was either unable to repair or weren't worth the cost to repair.

I have read posts where many of you speak to your experience about repairing radios the proper way with the proper testing equipment. I would really appreciate your advice on the proper equipment to be able to at least revive my grandfather's radios and set them properly, even if I never have a paying customer.

I think you have a really good start. And nice of your grandfather to offer to get you started. My grandfather gave me an old shortwave radio he'd built from a kit a long time ago, and birthday gifts were usually tool or radio related. Took a while to get traction, but it's lead to a rewarding career.

I think as a hobby, learning to tinker with radios is a good start. Take some of those old CB radios and just start disassembling them to see what makes them go. Chances are you'll find things like a blow fuse, loose wire, etc. You may be able to use parts from some to repair others.

If you get a chance to take some IP networking classes, jump at it. Get your amateur radio license if you are interested, that can open up more possibilities. With some time, you may want to start looking around for jobs with local radio shops or similar. They often like to hire younger techs that are willing to learn. That way they can train you the way they want. You might end up with the dirty jobs, but we've all been there.

I'm kind of envious. If I'd known in High School where I was headed, I probably would have got where I am a bit sooner, but it's been a heck of a fun ride getting where I am. Radio can be a great career.

 

[jhooten]

A GROL isn't difficult to get. For the most part, ~almost~ everyone I've run into in this line of work either has one, or has proven themselves pretty well.

A lot of agencies and large companies still require a GROL, however.

Or "industry certification" was listed on the vacancy announcement I applied for. They accepted military experience in my case. I did go ahead and get the GROL later, Just in case.

 

[nd5y]

Back in the day, I thought you had to be licensed to repair CB radios. Since CB radios come under Part 95 of the FCC Rules and Regulations, are you required to be licensed by the FCC to repair CB radios today? It seems like you would. Just curious.

No.

You need a commercial operator license to repair and maintain the following:

• All ship radio and radar stations.
• All coast stations.
• All hand-carried units used to communicate with ships and coast stations on marine frequencies.
• All aircraft stations and aeronautical ground stations (including hand-carried portable units) used to communicate with aircraft.

You do NOT need a commercial radio operator license to operate, repair, or maintain any of the following types of stations:

• Two-way land mobile radio equipment, such as that used by police and fire departments, taxicabs and truckers, businesses and industries, ambulances and rescue squads, and local, state, and federal government agencies.
• Personal radio equipment used in the Citizens Band Radio Service (CBRS), Radio Control Radio Service (RCRS), and General Mobile Radio Services (GMRS).
• Auxiliary broadcast stations, such as remote pickup stations.
• Domestic public fixed and mobile radio systems, such as mobile telephone systems, cellular systems, rural radio systems, point-to-point microwave systems, multipoint distribution systems, etc.
• Stations that operate in the Cable Television Relay Service.
• Satellite stations, both uplink and downlink of all types.

Commercial Radio Operator License Program

Rule Part47 C.F.R, Parts 13

www.fcc.gov

 

[WB9YBM]

First things first, I am not wanting to do illegal or irresponsible peaking and tuning to radios. Quite the opposite. My grandfather is a truck driver and has a large box or two of cb radios he has collected over the years that have issues of one kind or another. I am good with circuit boards and replacing components, I repair audio amplifiers for cars and home theater fairly often as a hobby and for some small profit. I would like to know what equipment would be needed to repair these old radios and bring them back to their peak legal performance. I assume from everything I have read that many will need modulation limiters soldered back into the pcb and some may need new finals if they have been burned out. Where can you buy quality components for cb radios, digikey/mouser?

An oscilloscope would probably come in handy, along with a frequency counter, and signal generator (RG & AF), and a god dummy load. A selection of tuning tools as well (if you don't have them already). Also here are a few additional parts sources for you: Jameco Electronics - Electronic Components Distributor (Jameco's got some of the better prices around); https://www.newark.com/ and for RF-specific items: Home page . Digi-Key (that you've already mentioned) is a good source, although a bit pricey; Mouser doesn't have quite the selection when compared to other places but they make a good back-up.

I think it's a great idea that you're trying to keep those old radios alive! To a lesser extent I've been trying to do something similar, mainly I guess because I hate seeing stuff go to waste so I'd rather rebuild it and see it get put back into use. Even though there might not be as much demand for the older or more basic radios because they lack the "bells and whistles" of the top-end or modern radios, I'll use basic radios as introductory loaners for people not familiar with CB (or just want to borrow one for a road trip) so they can get their feet wet without getting (possibly) overwhelmed with the features of the fancier radios.

Good luck to you in your endeavors and if you need more help feel free to keep posting those questions!

 

[ladn]

Qualified may mean trained by the factory (where ever that may be). Or it might mean "owner of a golden screwdriver".

Or watched a YouTube video!

 

[WB9YBM]

Qualified may mean trained by the factory (where ever that may be).

I wonder how many factories are still training people, unless they're employees. Additionally there are other ways to get trained, as well. (Colleges come to mind but I'm sure there are more options out there.)

 

[sloop]

Something else you might consider is a good on-line or community college basic electronics class. There's more to fixing old radios than just replacing a few parts and turning a tuning slug.

 

[mmckenna]

I wonder how many factories are still training people, unless they're employees. Additionally there are other ways to get trained, as well. (Colleges come to mind but I'm sure there are more options out there.)

Most large manufacturers have training programs. I've been to courses at Kenwood and planning on doing some training at Harris.

 

[techynyc]

If your looking for SAMS Photofact Guides for old CBs, Radios, CD players etc, this was one one resource I found which may allow you to access to the old CB, scanner or Ham Radio technical schematics you are seeking. As I understand it, the Austin Public Library scanned in their entire SAMS collection so it can be access and distributed electronically ... but you will need a Library ID to search and access them. Not sure if you can get one but if you know someone in Austin..a friend of friend...its possible.

https://library.austintexas.gov/database/sams-photofact-online

 

[merlin]

In the 70s, my early days of radio, I worked for Pathcom (Pace CB and marine VHF) My commercial license had me doing post mfg. alighnment/final inspection. One would not need the high end equipment today to service these radios, but should produce quality repair. Proper service manuals are prerequisite. Decent tools and solder station.
What you have should work.
You will need some background/knowledge working with HF receivers, transmitters, and audio circuits.
Equipment you will need , A decent O scope, 100Mhz recommended. A decent HF signal generator, A frequency counter good to 50 Mhz. A distortion meter suggested. <for transmit> another prerequisite, A 50 ohm dummy load, 30 watt or more. An RF VTVM. A spectrum analyzer or = good to 500Mhz.
This will start you rolling and adding to your workbench as you go. Exemplary photo below, L>R-top>bottom:
5 amp variable, E&I bench power supply
General scanner for monitoring
Wavetek signal generator
Tectronics dual trace 100 Mhz osciloscope
Tectronics 10 Mhz function generator
Tracking signal generator (for analyzer)
One of 2 spectrum analyzers
100 watt dummy load/50 db attenuator (not shown 50 watt 20 db attenuator)
Bi-directional watt meter (compare to Bird 43)
13,2 V 30 amp regulated power supply
Off right, one of several Weller soldering stations
This is soon to be the over bench shelf and work in progress. Not shown, pegboard with multitude cables,jumpers.
Box of coaxial adapters and jumpers. Excelite tool box stuffed,,Etc
So you see how it goes. 73s

 

[merlin]

Back in the day, I thought you had to be licensed to repair CB radios. Since CB radios come under Part 95 of the FCC Rules and Regulations, are you required to be licensed by the FCC to repair CB radios today? It seems like you would. Just curious.

My observation is the FCC has thrown 11 meter CB under the bus, nothing enforced except that causing interference to other service, and don't be like smiley CBer,,tune for maximum smoke.

 

[WB9YBM]

If your looking for SAMS Photofact Guides for old CBs, Radios, CD players etc, this was one one resource I found which may allow you to access to the old CB, scanner or Ham Radio technical schematics you are seeking.

I've also found old manuals just by typing in the name & model # on an Internet search. But yeah, back in the day SAMA photofacts covered a lot of other neat stuff too, all the way to television sets. Great resource!

 

[jbhunt04]

There are many golden screwdriver jockeys out there, some even post videos of their destruction of radios on YouTube...

 

[WB9YBM]

There are many golden screwdriver jockeys out there, some even post videos of their destruction of radios on YouTube...

yeah--that reminds me of a few CBs I found at resale shops that didn't work. All I had to do was undo modifications and they'd work again.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

There are many golden screwdriver jockeys out there, some even post videos of their destruction of radios on YouTube...

I get queasy watching them clip out parts and squish coils to bump up the needle on the wattmeter. No spectrum analyzer, no theory, no logic.

If you seek illegal power, just send off for a RM Italy, and please put at least a low pass filter after it so you don't mess with the ATC folks.

 

[jbhunt04]

I get queasy watching them clip out parts and squish coils to bump up the needle on the wattmeter. No spectrum analyzer, no theory, no logic.

If you seek illegal power, just send off for a RM Italy, and please put at least a low pass filter after it so you don't mess with the ATC folks.

The funny thing is, there is the war going on, on YouTube between all these screwdriver jockeys. The funniest one is where a guy dropped his customers radio on a live feed...