VHF Spectra Volume Low

[MtHighComm]

Hi All. I am new to this forum and have enjoying the posts. I have a VHF front mount Spectra D43KMA73A5BK with volume issues that I need help with. I do not seem to have any radio audio volume but do get the beeps. Also the volume control readout seems to be limited to a 5 or 6 reading on the readout. I do have good receiver sensitivity as I can see the busy light come on, and I hear a click in the speaker, when I apply a signal to the antenna. The manual I have is the 68P81070C95A which does not go into board schematics. Might anybody sbe able to shed some light on this dim radio's problem. Thanks Don

[txshooter]

Leaky caps! As these radios she the capacitors begin to leak. They will most likely need to be replaced. Search her on the board and you will find lot's of people with this very same problem.

The repeater builder site has a page describing how to fix these, or there are several people here that can fix them as well. Will is the first one that comes to mind.

[MtHighComm]

Hi Txshooter. Thanks for the reply. I went to the Repeater Builder webpage and printed the entire section on Capacitor Replacement. Will be placing an order for the necessary caps this morning. I obtained a box of Spectras in assorted stages of disassembly and am trying to get a few up and running. So far I have been able to get two VHF and two 900s working. Should have enough parts for 4 or 5 more. Great learning experience. Thanks again Don

[wazzzzzzzzup]

are the astro spectras known for the cap problem as well?

i know alot of the early revision spectras AK BK made from 87 to early 90's had alot of cap issures but the astro spectras have been made since 94

wass

[jackhackett]

I've had a couple of spectras with low receive volume, beeps were ok... the leaking caps had damaged a resistor in the control head.

[MtHighComm]

Would the Leaky Capacitors cause the Volume rocker switch not to have much effect on the volume output and readout on the display? My unit sees to stay at around 5 or 6. I noticed it seemed to change by one digit on the display when audio was trying to come through. Capacitors are ordered. Wish me luck Don

[Will]

are the astro spectras known for the cap problem as well?

i know alot of the early revision spectras AK BK made from 87 to early 90's had alot of cap issures but the astro spectras have been made since 94

wass

Yes, same leaky caps were used in the Astro Spectra's. And I have seen many Spectras and Astro Spectras built since '94 have leaky caps in them.

[Will]

Would the Leaky Capacitors cause the Volume rocker switch not to have much effect on the volume output and readout on the display? My unit sees to stay at around 5 or 6. I noticed it seemed to change by one digit on the display when audio was trying to come through. Capacitors are ordered. Wish me luck Don

Luck, YES.

The control heads do have the problem you describe, most but not allways from the leaking caps (2 of them there).

Be very carefull the Spectras are serious surfaace mount componet radios. Also there are multi layers in the circuit boards that the bad caps 'eat up' the hidden traces in. Stick with the radial leaded caps I mentioned in the article, unless you have the correct surface mount componet reflow/rework tools.