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Spectra+ Deviation Balance Tuning

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tlball

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When I try to perform the Deviation Balance (Compensation) test, by the book or as described in this forum, I run into an issue. The Low transmission doesn't yield usable Deviation values to compare the High transmission to. Where it says "wait approximately five seconds for the signal to stabilize", my radios simply don't stabilize, even when left until the Tuner software times out its PTT Keyup.

I'm using a fairly new Aeroflex (Viavi now I guess) 8800SX. It handles everything else for tuning the Spectras without issue.

Rx Info
(Test Freq IE 173.9875 MHz)
FM Demod
12.5k Intermediate Freq Bandwidth
T/R Port
Auto Automatic Gain Control
None or 15k LP Audio Freq Bandwidth
0 Offset
Preamp Off
 
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tlball

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Update:
Looking through my options, I realized a better AFBW option available is 20-5k Bandpass. This has not helped resolve the underlying issue.
 
ramal121

ramal121

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One of the classic symptoms of Spectra cap failure is the low speed data goes to pot. You may be a victim.

Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk
 
RFI-EMI-GUY

RFI-EMI-GUY

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Can you manually run the soft pot values through its range to see if the low tone ramps up?

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk
 
RFI-EMI-GUY

RFI-EMI-GUY

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ramal121 said:
One of the classic symptoms of Spectra cap failure is the low speed data goes to pot. You may be a victim.

Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Are all Spectras doomed?

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk
 
RFI-EMI-GUY

RFI-EMI-GUY

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n5ims said:
This should tell you everything you need to know (and then some). Recapping the Spectra
Click to expand...
I have a UHF I re capped over 15 years ago. The audio still pops, though the distortion is gone. I think I have a tantalum in backwards. At the time the 10uf/16V were the main culprits. The UHF radio spent its life in my van in hot Florida weather operating 3 to 4 hours a day. I have an 800 radio, that still works well. Spent its life monitoring a trunk system on a sporadic basis in the AC of the house. Maybe it's command board is worth swapping.

What I really want is an ASTRO Spectra specifically with DES 56 Securenet.

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com501

com501

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If you have the thing apart, it's easy to replace ALL the electrolytics. Don't just cherry pick.
 
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techman210

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com501 said:
If you have the thing apart, it's easy to replace ALL the electrolytics. Don't just cherry pick.
Click to expand...

That’s absolutely true. It only takes a few minutes to remove the 9 or so capacitors. Do them all at once.

If you see signs of capacitor leakage on the printed circuit board, it’s just not about replacing the electrolytics.

Sometimes you have to verify, and if necessary, rebuild circuit traces on the board – because leaking capacitor’s will also dissolve and corrode some of the copper traces.

Remove the caps, and then ohm-out all the traces nearby. Install jumpers on top of the traces as necessary. Clean them with alcohol or solder flux remover, THEN install the capacitors.
 
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tlball

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Back to the original topic, I found a workaround using the O-Scope function with a cable from Audio out to Audio in. The O-scope was able to resolve the Low transmission into readable data. Comparing the Peak-Peak (or simply the Peak because the waves are uniform Sines), I was able to compare to the High transmission values.

Apparently a relatively simple O-Scope would be better for this test than advanced technology. Let me put on my shocked face.
 
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