Pro 2005 backlight replacement

[BJ_NORTON]

I just bought a new backlight for my pro 2005 on E-bay. I was wondering if anyone here has replaced the back light on their 200x scanner, and if they had any hints, tips, suggestions, or problems you could share with me. I have found instructions on a few websites, and it looks like a fairly straight forward process, but then agian I have had other projesct that looked very simple and took several days.

I bought a backlight that is supposed to be a direct fit. I have seen some on the internet where you have to cut and trim them and then somehow seal them.

thanks for any help

BJ

 

[Halfpint]

The *main* tip... Be *very, very, very* *careful*! *Don't* try and `rush' things *at all*! If any of any of the glue doesn't want to let go *carefully* cut it away with a sharp `EXACTO' changing blades frequently. A number 11 blade is most likely your best bet. And keep the LCD supported with something that is *flat* and supports the *whole* thing. the only thing that can be `allowed?' to flex should be the EL panel. If you start to feel tired, jittery, or impatient, *QUIT*! Set it aside and either take a long `breather' or wait until the next day. You crack the LCD itself you've gotten yourself into a `whole 'nuther kettle of fish'!

Voice of `experience' from working on 2004s. {WAN GRIN!} Fortunately my 2006s had/have the display off `feature' and the EL panels were/are still good. (I had a couple stolen a while back and have just managed to get replacements.) The very first `mod' I installed was the display off `mod' on my `original' 2006s and it was the first `mod' if the unit didn't have it or didn't come from the factory that way on my replacements. After the hassles with my 2004s and their EL panels I didn't want to go through them with the 2006s.

Just an `Olde Fart's' 2¢ worth. {WAN GRIN!}

 

[W4KRR]

I replaced the backlight in my PRO-2006 with one I got off e-Bay. It was a litter easier than I expected. There was only a tiny amount of glue holding the old one in place, and it came out without much fuss. You have to cut the two tiny wires coming out the end of the old panel and solder the stubs to the wires on the new panel. This for me was the hardest part of the installation. But everything worked out fine, and it works great. Like Halfpint said, take your time and be careful, and everything should work out fine.

 

[BJ_NORTON]

Well, I was pleasently surprised at how easy it was. The hardest part was remebering I left my soldering iron at my parents house when I moved out, so I had to go to Fry's and get a new one (it really ticks me off to have to go there. I spend too much time looking at $20,000 plasma TVs ). The ony other problem I had was the leads on the replacement backlight were much shorter than the original. The old EL panel had the leads extend out from the panel a ways, and the down at a right angles to the PC board. The new EL panel was longer than the old one , so I was able to let the panel flex down long enough to let the leads touch the solder pads.

I didn't get tired or frustrated, but once site I read about said that a replacement for the LCD is around $90, so I kept that in mind and tried to be gentle with it. The glue threw me a bit of a loop. I ended up using a serated knife to "saw" through the glue. I don't even know why it was there. The panel doesn't move or anything, so I would think the leads holding it to the PC board would be enought to keep it in place. If I have trouble with it, I guess I'll have to open it up and put a dab of glue on it.

I also found that the previous owner of the radio had engraved his SSN into the casw, so I scrathced my call sign in next to his SSN. Funny I didn't notice it before, but I guess I never look at the bottom of the radio.

Now I think I might want to put a discriminator tap in. This is the first radio project that I have ever realy done, and I now see why a lot of guys get a kick out of it.

Wow, now I can read the display! its great!

Thanks for your help.

 

[jerneedog]

That's great...glad you were able to do this.
Looks great man.

Maybe...try not posting such a huge photo?
If so...then just post a link to it.
If it makes you scroll to the right, then it's most likely too big.

 

[BJ_NORTON]

Sorry about the huge pic.
My hard drive conced out on me,
so I just uploaded the pic straight from the memory card
on a PC I am not familiar with.
If if makes you feel better, the pic was about 4X5 on the screen
when I used the picture viewer

BJ

 

[bwhite]

ELs on Ebay

Does anyone have a new link for the eBay replacements?
I was seeing them for awhile, when I saw the good writeups here I decided to go with it and then could no longer find a functional link on eBay. Thanx

 

[Eng74]

You can also get them here. I have not had to replace mine but since I got the 2053 the 2006 is a back up. http://www.bncantenna.com/pro-lamp.htm

 

[bwhite]

Thanx, I sent them a request for complete instructions before I attempt. They warn about needing experience with soldering ribbon cables, that wouldn't be my forte.

 

[bwhite]

OK, 2 things.
#1. The gent at the above link is gonna stop selling the el's direct very soon.

2nd thing, you may notice that as a result of this fix I'm soliciting for a 2006 dead or alive in the classifieds. Why? Well, for those of us that don't live and breath electronics repair, we need some guidance as-to how to pull the radio apart. Some of this may be very intuitive for those that do it all the time. The two little switches that take care of dimming and "radio squelch" (whatever that is) broke. Even though I reassembled them they were/are not functional so I'm looking for this electronics panel these mount on to replace mine. I was able to get the el panel to light after soldering 2 terminals in the dimmer switch together, now it's on bright all the time; not exactly what I had in mind.

PS--I tried from many sources to get the complete rundown of how to do this but not much luck.

 

[bwhite]

OK, 2 things.
#1. The gent at the above link is gonna stop selling the el's direct very soon.

2nd thing, you may notice that as a result of this fix I'm soliciting for a 2006 dead or alive in the classifieds. Why? Well, for those of us that don't live and breath electronics repair, we need some guidance as-to how to pull the radio apart. Some of this may be very intuitive for those that do it all the time. The two little switches that take care of dimming and "radio squelch" (whatever that is) broke. Even though I reassembled them they were/are not functional so I'm looking for this electronics panel these mount on to replace mine. I was able to get the el panel to light after soldering 2 terminals in the dimmer switch together, now it's on bright all the time; not exactly what I had in mind.

PS--I tried from many sources to get the complete rundown of how to do this but not much luck.