Could I have the dreaded Spectra Cancer?

[Bob]

I noticed this evening that I'm hearing a LOT more noise when weak signals are being received on my Spectra. It almost sounds like a multi-path signal. The stronger signals still come in full-quieting without any discernable noise.

The antenna, cable, and termination are fine. I've tried a couple different radios - the noise follows this particular radio.

Whaddaya think? Caps starting to go?

[d119]

I noticed this evening that I'm hearing a LOT more noise when weak signals are being received on my Spectra. It almost sounds like a multi-path signal. The stronger signals still come in full-quieting without any discernable noise.

The antenna, cable, and termination are fine. I've tried a couple different radios - the noise follows this particular radio.

Whaddaya think? Caps starting to go?

You betcha. Best to PM Will here on the board and arrange for a repair unless you want to do it yourself.

[Will]

Yes, sounds like problems due to leaked (past tense) cap(s).

You can also get simular "noise" problems when the Synth has 'cancer' due to leaking caps..... this will also show up on transmit audio.

[Bob]

Thanks Gents. That's what I thought.

Will, when you get a few minutes, can you drop me a PM with some rough numbers for repair? I realize that it's tough to say without seeing how much damage has been done. I just need to decide whether it's worth fixing or if I need to push up the timeline on my astro spectra project.

Maybe this weekend, I'll open it up and take a look around.

[Will]

Bob,

Seems that your Spectra IS worth repairing. The cost is very reasonable.
I'll PM with the details.

[John]

I have several Spectras with cap problems. Can someone tell what caps you are buying to repair them. I looked at some SMD ones but they seem to be a real pain to get soldered on the board. I would like to get some from somewhere like Mouser.

John

[jackhackett]

I've been getting mine from Mouser, regular radial lead, look for the 7mm height ones, they'll be a lot easier to fit than standard sizes. For the two in the control head I've been using surface mount to get the lowest clearance, but you could probably fit the 7mm's in there ok. I've been replacing the 16v caps with 25v ones, 50v with 50v.

[wavetar]

Some nice pics from jackhackett, for reference:

http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.p ... ht=#312462

[KitN1MCC]

will this also cause the Display on the a9 be screwy

[Will]

will this also cause the Display on the a9 be screwy

H ave seen this many times in the A9 head, leaked capacitor(s) (past tense) dammage affects the display and or functions (buttons).

[kd5wyu]

I hate to threadjack, but I am wondering if my Spectra is sick too.

I have a white-tag (known issues?) 900 mhz C5 Spectra that has to sit and cook for a while before it will wake up. This is in the ham band if it matters.

It will come on and do a self-test then the display will fade out like you cut the power supply off and the caps are discharging.

If I let it sit with B+ on long enough, the radio will eventually come on and stay on.

It seems to work normally (and works beautifully according to a service monitor RF-wise) once it cooks for a while and warms up.

Does this sound like craptastic capacitor syndrome?

-b-

[jackhackett]

If you have a Spectra and the caps haven't been replaced yet, they're going to need it, more likely sooner than later. 10 years old is about the age where you start seeing problems, if you've got one that old I would replace them even if you don't see any symptoms yet, better to get it done before any corrosion starts.