[WriteLog] ft1000mp frquency read out

[Hal Kennedy]

Bob, The "good" news on loss of CAT operation in a Yaesu MP series radio
is its not that hard to fix.  I lost it in one of my MPs in a lightening
strike, and a month later I lost in my other MP in a second storm.  BTW,
both times the other end - the computer end of the CAT connection was
also blown.  I had to replace the motherboard in my logging computer
both times.

What is almost certainly blown in your MP is the actual CAT serial
interface chip.  It is shown on the schematic.  You can order the part
from Yaesu - they will charge you about $20 (what I did the first time).
I then found the same part in the Digikey catalog for $1.47 - which is
where I bought my second one.
It is surface mount and it is very easy to get to.  You can replace it
by removing the bottom cover and installing a new chip.  Its right there
- you do not have to remove any circuit boards.  You do have to know how
to unsolder a 14 pin SMD chip however and solder in a new one - which is
not a task for beginners.  It's too bad they didn't put it in a socket -
as the thing makes a great fuse.

I tried removing my first one with a small iron and solder wick and made
a huge mess of things.  I started lifting circuit lands off the board
and backed off and took it to an expert who charged me $100 to replace
the chip.  BUT, I watched how he did it and did the second one myself in
10 minutes with no trouble at all.  There is a special U-shaped
soldering tip that is usually used for this - it fits over the IC and
heats all the pins at the same time - but that's not what this fellow
did.

Secret to success:  He used two small irons.  He ran a bunch of extra
solder down both sides of the part and held the two irons on the pins -
one on each side.  This way he was able to have the solder on all 14
pins liquid at the same time.  If you just pull the irons up at that
point the part will usually come with the irons.  If not, you may need a
third hand with a set of tweezers.  After the old IC is out, solder wick
up all the solder, put the new part down, and carefully solder each pin.
10 minutes and $1.47 later I was back in business.  BUT - I've been
soldering for 45 years and have small irons.  If you don't feel
comfortable - take it to anyone who can do an SMD device - doesn't have
to be a "radio repairman."

73
Hal
N4GG




-----Original Message-----
From: writelog-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:writelog-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of robert beaudoin
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:59 PM
To: WriteLog at contesting.com
Subject: [WriteLog] ft1000mp frquency read out

Thanks to marsh ka5m, Hal n4gg, Barry w5gn for help on my ft1000mp
problem.  Well I am a long time user of writelog and was aware of your
sugestions, but I did double check what you said.  After another two
hours
of trouble shooting with diferent computers and a ts870 I realized
what I had suspected in the begining but was really wishing was not true
but was.
The ft1000mp mark 5 lost it's CAT operation. No signal in or out the
serial port.
Not sure how it happenedm tho I discovered it day after severe
electrical
storm.  This storm ruined my rotor control box.   After messing up both
rigs 
during storm last summer I developed habit of disconecting antennas
after EVERY
USE OF RIG. I had antennas disconected this time also. So maybe this had
nothing to do CAT malfunction.  Everything else about rig and writelog
work fine so will
wait till after Alabama QSO Party in 2 weeks before sending rig back to
Yaesu.  73 Thanks again for help. 
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