[Skimmertalk] RU9CZD skimmer QS1R died in the recent thunderstorm. Help needed.

[Igor Sokolov]

Thanks to all who helped us. Indeed only USB chip was damaged. It was 
replaced and QS1R is working now. We are looking for a new location for 
RU9CZD skimmer. It will probably be some rural place with less man made 
noise. In order to protect the receiver from static in the future we 
plan to put a cathode follower between the antenna and QS1R. Does 
anybody have experience using this type of protection? Do you think it 
is a good idea?

73, Igor UA9CDC


13.08.2021 17:35, Prasad VU2PTT пишет:
> Igor,
>
> I had lost the USB chip in the QS1R here from a very nearby lightning 
> strike some time back. Replacing it worked - nothing else was affected 
> on the board. Lost many other things too but the QS1R had only this 
> part damaged.
>
> Good luck!
>
> 73,
>
> Prasad VU2PTT.
>
> On Fri, 13 Aug 2021 at 6:58 AM, Igor Sokolov <ua9cdc at gmail.com 
> <mailto:ua9cdc at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>     Thank you guys. Visual inspection did no reveal any damage. The radio
>     does not respond when connected to computer USB. That is why we
>     thought
>     may be only USB was affected. IF the USB chip CY7C6813A does not
>     require
>     firmware we will try to substitute it first.
>
>     13.08.2021 0:01, Pete Smith N4ZR пишет:
>     >
>     > Amen.  I thought mine had a USB transceiver problem, but when I
>     looked
>     > more closely, the ADC chip - still a $105 part - showed severe
>     burning
>     > and bubbling on its top surface.  Since there is very little
>     between
>     > the antenna input and the ADC, it's not hard to imagine
>     lightning damage.
>     >
>     > 73, Pete N4ZR
>     > Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network
>     > web server at<http://beta.reversebeacon.net
>     <http://beta.reversebeacon.net>>.
>     > For spots, please use your favorite
>     > "retail" DX cluster.
>     > On 8/12/2021 2:50 PM, Bob Wilson, N6TV wrote:
>     >> That is the USB transceiver chip, so I imagine it does not need
>     any
>     >> firmware installed.
>     >>
>     >> But if there was lightning nearby while the antenna was connected,
>     >> many more chips could be damaged.
>     >>
>     >> 73,
>     >> Bob, N6TV
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> On Thu, Aug 12, 2021 at 11:20 AM Igor Sokolov <ua9cdc at gmail.com
>     <mailto:ua9cdc at gmail.com>
>     >> <mailto:ua9cdc at gmail.com <mailto:ua9cdc at gmail.com>>> wrote:
>     >>
>     >>     RU9CZD skimmer is off line as our trusted QS1R that have been
>     >>     serving us
>     >>     for many years went out of order during recent thunderstorm. We
>     >>     would
>     >>     like to try and fix it. The suspect is CY7C6813A. This chip is
>     >>     available
>     >>     locally but the question is, does it need some sort of firmware
>     >>     installed prior to soldering it in. Is this firmware
>     available from
>     >>     somewhere? Help would be highly appreciated.
>     >>
>     >>
>     >>     73, Igor UA9CDC
>     >>
>     >>     _______________________________________________
>
>