Scanner lost sensitivity

[mike704]

I am programing a PRO-2050 for someone. It had been working fine till today. For some reason the sensitivity is way down. No national weather service on 162.475 which is an easy catch where I live. 800 Mhz was there but much weaker than it has been. I did a reset on the scanner but that didn't help. I checked the inside for broken connectors or bad solder joints but everything looks okay. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Mike704

 

[k5xs]

Mike,

I'd first verify that sensitivity is truly down by using the same antenna on the suspect scanner and on another. That will eliminate antenna problems and (if you're using an external antenna) feedline problems.

I'd next take apart the scanner far enough to see the antenna-receiver connector and "ohm it out" with a volt-ohm meter. It may look fine, but it may have a hairline fracture.

If it is still sick after that, I'm afraid I'd conclude there is something blown in the front end of the receiver and, absent a schematic I could troubleshoot from, I'd pack it off to Radio Shack.

Good luck!
Bernie K5XS

 

[mike704]

Scanner Deaf

It doesn't support rebanding so it might be time to retire it. I'll see what the owner wants to do. I don't want to get into it again. I would imagine a this point the charge to fix it would be close to the cost of a new scanner.

Thanks for the reply.

Mike