[Yaesu] FT990 Problems...

[Bry Carling]

LATEST UPDATE:

The USPS is DENYING the claim for damage based on their 
insurance.

They claim that they did not damage the FT990 and therefore
place the onus on the shipper.

Meanwhile I am out several hundred $$ and QRT.
Now we begin the appeal process.  Sigh....

I will let everyone know if USPS and my seller make good on 
what I paid for here.

> Many thanks Jim.
> I will open it up carefully and take alook...
> 
> > Brian,
> > 
> > It's not the switches.  The FT990 is a computer-controlled rig, i.e. the pushbuttons on the front panel are read by a microcontroller and the controller then implements the requested actions.  The kind of confused symptoms you describe are likely the result of a problem with the front panel, and may be as simple as an intermittent connection on the front panel connectors.  If I recall correctly, the front panel of the 990 has its own micro which in turn talks to the main processor.  The main processor is on 
a 
> plug in board, and I think the front panel plugs into a "motherboard".  If not, there will be a cable.  I'd open it up and remove and re-seat all of the boards including the connections to the front panel and see if your problems go away.  It doesn't take but one intermittent contact to cause a lot of confusing symptoms, so your problems may not be that tough to fix.  On the other hand, if it's not as simple as an intermittent connection, it might be tough.  Try reseating ever
> > ything first and see if that helps.
> > 
> > I assume the radio basically "works", i.e. if you can get it into a useful mode it receives and transmits?  If so, based on the symptoms you describe it seems the problem is most likely the front panel itself.  The switches are scanned by the front panel controller .... there is not a wire to each switch, they're wired in a matrix and the front panel controller scans continuously for a switch closure, then determines which switch it is by reading determining the intersection of inputs and outputs on the 
front 
> panel micro.  
> > 
> > I'm at work and don't have access to the documentation but I think my description is essentially correct.  If i'm wrong, my apology.  I'll dig into it later.  
> > 
> > The 990 is a very good radio and worth fixing.  This problem is repairable, so don't despair.  I'll help if I can.
> > 
> > If you elect to have someone else work on it, I recommend Paul Hansen, W6XA.  He worked on mine years ago after it was seriously damaged by lightning (the insurance company considered it totaled) and it's worked problem free ever since.  Paul is in Anderson S.C. but I think he still does pickup and delivery to HRO in Atlanta.  He's a good guy.
> > 
> > 73,
> > Jim
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >  -------------- Original message ----------------------
> > From: "Bry Carling" <bcarling at cfl.rr.com>
> > > Hello all,
> > > 
> > > I just bought an FT990 and am experiencing some problems...
> > > 
> > > Most of the time, the MODE SWITCHES do not appear to work right,  
> > > and  some other controls too.
> > > 
> > > I can select LSB, USB, FM or RTTY only. Sometimes only LSB. 
> > > CW and AM and PKT do not work when pressed.
> > > Sometimes the RTTY mode will allow signals to be heard
> > > and the filter comes up as 2.4 kHz. If you press 2.0 kHz
> > > it stays there and will not go back to 2.4 kHz and all the signals 
> > > disappear.
> > > 
> > > Am I doing something silly here? Could the switches themselves be bad?
> > > 
> > > 
> > > The RF FSP switych lights up, but the other three next to it do not.
> > > KEYER, BK-IN and NB
> > > 
> > > The DOWN button works but the UP one does not.
> > > The 3.5,  7,  18 and 21 MHz band switches do not work.
> > > 
> > > The bands that DO work, all wake up in 2.4 kHz filter setting
> > > but if you change to 2.0 kHz you can then ONLY select 500 Hz 
> > > or 2.0 kHz and all signals disappear.
> > > 
> > > Sometimes there are slightly different combinations of problems.
> > > 
> > > Also - the carrier offset seems to be messed up.
> > > USB and LSB are filtered wrongly. One is all highs the other 
> > > is all lows.
> > > 
> > > I suspect that is to do with the switches under the lid for 
> > > "CAR POINT."
> > > 
> > > I suspect the radio may have had a bump in shipping.
> > > It is cosmetically fine and the seller assured me it was 
> > > working properly.
> > > 
> > > Now I am having some doubts!
> > > 
> > > Ideas from anyone with experience on this radio? I would 
> > > really appreciate hearing from you...
> > > 
> > > 73 - Brian Carling, AF4K
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > http://www.foxtango.org
> > 
> >   
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> http://www.foxtango.org
> 
>   
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
> <*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
>     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FoxTango/
> 
> <*> Your email settings:
>     Individual Email | Traditional
> 
> <*> To change settings online go to:
>     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FoxTango/join
>     (Yahoo! ID required)
> 
> <*> To change settings via email:
>     mailto:FoxTango-digest at yahoogroups.com 
>     mailto:FoxTango-fullfeatured at yahoogroups.com
> 
> <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>     FoxTango-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com
> 
> <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
>     http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>  
>