UHF MCX1000 Alignment
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 6:41 am
I've got one of these things that I'm trying to use on the amateur 70 cm band. It programmed up and the VCO locks just fine on 70 cm but it was pretty deaf.
Unfortunately I have little in the way of test equipment, and only have access to service manual for the VHF version of the radio. What I do have is a PC-based Windfreak SynthUSBII signal generator and a VOM.
The service manual calls for a Motorola RF probe and adapter that I do not have, so what I did was this:
1. Connect VOM across speaker leads.
2. Inject weak signal into radio (This signal generator doesn't have uV or dB signal level settings, so I can't provide them).
3. Adjust L5 for maximum AC voltage reading on VOM.
4. Adjust L707-L709 for minimum AC voltage reading on VOM.
All of my channels are within 5 MHz of each other, and adjusting L704-L706 had no effect so I'm going to presume that the radio is only using the "high" front end.
The radio can definitely hear better than it could before, but it's Rx sensitivity is pretty poor compared to my GM300 and GE Monogram that I use on this band.
I'm probably doing something wrong, aside from the obvious problem of not having the proper test equipment.
Can somebody offer up a better way to tune this thing using what I have available?
Unfortunately I have little in the way of test equipment, and only have access to service manual for the VHF version of the radio. What I do have is a PC-based Windfreak SynthUSBII signal generator and a VOM.
The service manual calls for a Motorola RF probe and adapter that I do not have, so what I did was this:
1. Connect VOM across speaker leads.
2. Inject weak signal into radio (This signal generator doesn't have uV or dB signal level settings, so I can't provide them).
3. Adjust L5 for maximum AC voltage reading on VOM.
4. Adjust L707-L709 for minimum AC voltage reading on VOM.
All of my channels are within 5 MHz of each other, and adjusting L704-L706 had no effect so I'm going to presume that the radio is only using the "high" front end.
The radio can definitely hear better than it could before, but it's Rx sensitivity is pretty poor compared to my GM300 and GE Monogram that I use on this band.
I'm probably doing something wrong, aside from the obvious problem of not having the proper test equipment.
Can somebody offer up a better way to tune this thing using what I have available?