• You can now help support WorldwideDX when you shop on Amazon at no additional cost to you! Simply follow this Shop on Amazon link first and a portion of any purchase is sent to WorldwideDX to help with site costs.

New Ranger 39VHP—Low RX audio - almost none

CbRadiosPRONTO

Well-Known Member
Mar 21, 2014
401
126
73
USA
www.cradiospronto.com
A new radio came in with low RX audio. Volume cranked, ear to speaker, then I can hear it. Rf gain level is up and signal meter responds as it should so the rf is there. The audio is just almost nonexistent.

Note: TX and Talkback audio is fine.
 

Attachments

  • FE4E079E-BAFA-4F82-B2B2-C69895EB75AB.jpeg
    FE4E079E-BAFA-4F82-B2B2-C69895EB75AB.jpeg
    2.1 MB · Views: 33

What the hell is going on here?RCI 39 WTF.jpg
It looks like that regulator was moved over to pass that wire through the board and they did some other "modifications" to make that happen. I would bet that is where your low audio RX issue is.
 
Last edited:
I did notice that. Strangely, the location where that 1st leg (closest to the front of the radio) normally solders to, still has a full 13+ volts. This radio is brand new out of the box from the factory. The picture was just to show which board it has since most people aren’t familiar with it. I thought it was strange but it has to be stock. However, I have another one in stock. I will open it up on Monday and see what that looks like.
 
Last edited:
Yeah it wouldn't surprise me as I've seen some strange solder pad and trace fixes out of new in the box radios. My favorite is when they throw a big blob of solder to rebuild a trace that was damaged during the component installation. Maybe in your case it's a broken trace and they tried to bypass it by going to the next component in the chain but they didn't nail it right.... No telling anymore coming from an ranger built radio... Sad to see that in time instead of having better qc it's only gotten worse. Maybe that radio was the last one of the day on Friday right before quiting time! Someone's care meter bounced of zero!
 
First thing I would do is to unsolder the center pin (collector) of Q44, the squelch switch transistor. You don't have to remove the transistor, only enough of the solder to isolate the pin from the copper pad. If this restores the receiver audio it tells you there is an issue with the squelch circuit.

Won't tell you what that issue is, but this narrows it down at least.

73
 
Trouble with the ceramic filter should hold the S-meter reading down.

signal meter responds as it should so the rf is there.

Pretty sure he's right about looking in the audio circuits for the trouble.

A 'scope will let you follow the signal and see where it falls off the cliff.

If you have one handy.

But taking the squelch-switch transistors' collector out of circuit will at least point a finger at or away from the squelch circuit.

Checking for a squelch "pop" in the speaker audio is a quicker way. If you hear the soft transient noise of the squelch opening and closing as the squelch knob is cranked end-to-end that would suggest the squelch circuit is not stuck.

73
 
  • Like
Reactions: NZ8N
*********************************************

BRAIN FART ALERT

*********************************************

When posting this, I retrieved a picture from my phone that was the inside of a Galaxy 98vhp, to which I finished installing nitros. I simply grabbed the wrong photo and cannot edit or delete the post.

Feeling stupid, I will now post the correct picture. The picture was just to inform anyone (that didn’t know) which board is being used in this relatively new model.

Prodece with ridicule in 3...2...1...
 

Attachments

  • 682FDC02-F7C3-44EB-B18C-1BFD27F21FC4.jpeg
    682FDC02-F7C3-44EB-B18C-1BFD27F21FC4.jpeg
    2.6 MB · Views: 19
*********************************************

BRAIN FART ALERT

*********************************************

When posting this, I retrieved a picture from my phone that was the inside of a Galaxy 98vhp, to which I finished installing nitros. I simply grabbed the wrong photo and cannot edit or delete the post.

Feeling stupid, I will now post the correct picture. The picture was just to inform anyone (that didn’t know) which board is being used in this relatively new model.

Prodece with ridicule in 3...2...1...
I looked up a video of an unboxing of a new 39VHP on youtube and I became a bit confused as to where the power plug was in your first picture. Now it makes MUCH more sense.
Is there a board number on this radio somewhere? Because it's not in this picture anywhere that I can find.
 
Last edited:

dxChat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
  • dxBot:
    Tucker442 has left the room.
  • @ BJ radionut:
    LIVE 10:00 AM EST :cool:
  • @ Charles Edwards:
    I'm looking for factory settings 1 through 59 for a AT 5555 n2 or AT500 M2 I only wrote down half the values feel like a idiot I need help will be appreciated