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Hello all. I purchased a VHF Spectra on ebay a couple of weeks ago to use as a 2M rig at my house. The model no# is D43KMA7JA5BK with a band split of 146-174 MHz. I know it was close to the edge of the 2m band but hoped it would go out far enough to work. I programmed the radio up yesterday with some local repeaters and tested. I immediately made a contact on our club's repeater and asked for a radio check. Contact reported full quieting. I was able to key up once more but then began to hear a squeal coming from radio and the error tone on key up. I turned radio off and checked my antenna and it was fine, powered radio back on and I now receive the FAIL 001 on PTT.

Questions:

I understand that FAIL001 is the Synthesizer error, Is this because the radio is the 146-174 MHz instead of the 136-170 MHz band split?
Could this be a bad capacitor issue?
I paid about $85.00 for this radio, is it worth having all the capacitors replaced, (beyond my soldering skill level)?
Anyone have any advise on how to proceed I thank you in advance.

Program a couple frequencies that are higher in the band and see if they all give the FAIL001 or if its just on the edge of the split. Also, make sure your input voltage is good, I have seen some radios in other series unlock at their band edges if the supply was too low.

I suppose it could be a cap issue, as those darn things can cause all sorts of goofy problems. If I were you, I would get the caps replaced if you clear up this Fail001, as they can completely ruin a perfectly good radio. A couple bucks worth of caps and paying somebody for labor is still cheaper than buying a whole new radio.

Talk to Will. I have had 3 radios caps replaced for anywhere from 60 to 100 bucks!

Pretty cheap for excellent work!

RPDM313 wrote:Talk to Will. I have had 3 radios caps replaced for anywhere from 60 to 100 bucks!

Pretty cheap for excellent work!

What is Will's username?

Will

davkenrem wrote:The model no# is D43KMA7JA5BK with a band split of 146-174 MHz.
Questions:
I understand that FAIL001 is the Synthesizer error, Is this because the radio is the 146-174 MHz instead of the 136-170 MHz band split?
Could this be a bad capacitor issue?
I paid about $85.00 for this radio, is it worth having all the capacitors replaced, (beyond my soldering skill level)?
Anyone have any advise on how to proceed I thank you in advance.

It very well could be the bad capacitor issue. VHF range 2 Spectras will cover the 144 to 146 part of the ham band.
Yes I think it is worth repairing and bringing up to factory specifications.

Thanks for all the advice, I think I have someone here local who can do the caps for me. I'll report back the outcome.