[TowerTalk] G-2800DXA lightning damage

[Kenneth Goodwin]

Plus the Green Heron uses transient-voltage-suppression (TVS) diodes which
blow after an event (> 20V on two lines >80V on two lines).  The diodes blow
(self-destruct) so they are easy to identify and don't degrade like MOVs.
With a near field hit last year, I lost all four TVS diodes even with a
PolyPhasor rotator line device installed at the single point ground
(although I'll admit I think the energy came thru the connections at the
computer since all of my USB connections went south).  Spending $5, I
installed four new diodes to repair the RT-21 controller.  Ken K5RG

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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 20:12:47 -0700
From: Grant Saviers <grants2 at pacbell.net>
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] [Bulk] Re:  G-2800DXA lightning damage
Message-ID: <5407D8AF.5000104 at pacbell.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed

Having been into the 2800 control box for mechanical repairs, I understand
why Yaesu doesn't repair them.  It's a dog's breakfast of interconnections
among 3 pcbs.  The schematics are just as bad, spaghetti signal flows.  The
servo control to drive the pointer drive motor is complex.  The gear train
behind the pointer is not for the fumble fingered and the o-ring used to
drive the pointer is just this side of comical.  The whole thing has to come
apart for replacement when they stretch or dry rot.  My advice is to buy a
Green Heron if the control box is bad.

The rotator mechanics OTOH seem pretty well made and designed (except for
getting the 500 ohm pot precisely aligned).

Grant KZ1W