Batboard

I just got a MTX 9250, 900 MHZ for ham use & it works great there, however I have 1 question. When the button is pressed to light up the buttons & screen, it seems the top right lamp is burned out, as the top 2 rows of buttons on the far right side [menu buttons] don't seem to light up. Can that bulb be replaced, or is it a sealed unit, or is this normal? I guess any full keypad Waris would be the same. Thanks for any help. GARY N4KVE

Not exactly sure what your reference is but if you are refering to the LCD that is a sealed unit (including the LED backlight). The keypad lights are each really small LED's that all operate in parallel, one lights they all light etc. They keypad itself works on a grid system. I know I've personally never run into an issue where just one or two of those LED's have gone out, however if I did I'd check the current limiting resistors to the LED's before changing anything. The resistor you should be looking for is R621 (1k) and is located on the backside (non keypad side) near the upper seft had side, it's all alone. (this is assuming the board is the same as this schematic for the HT1250's I have).

OK, can someone please grab a full keypad Waris radio & check the buttons when they are lit. I'm refering to the top 2 rows which are menu buttons. Not the touchtone buttons below. Specifically the right side. The right arrow & the one above it. The 2 buttons above the #3 def button. Not really noticible in a lit room, so try it in the dark. Do these light up like the buttons to the left of them? I'm just wondering if this is normal. Thanks for the help. GARY N4KVE

N4KVE wrote:OK, can someone please grab a full keypad Waris radio & check the buttons when they are lit. I'm refering to the top 2 rows which are menu buttons. Not the touchtone buttons below. Specifically the right side. The right arrow & the one above it. The 2 buttons above the #3 def button. Not really noticible in a lit room, so try it in the dark. Do these light up like the buttons to the left of them? I'm just wondering if this is normal. Thanks for the help. GARY N4KVE

On my current MTX9250 (which I purchase new from Motorola in October 2008), the menu buttons on the right side light up exactly the same as those on the left side. The same was true with the MTX9250 that I purchased used and which was stolen last September.

Thanks John. I guess the top right led on my radio is out then. I just wanted to know if this was normal. For what I have into this radio & charger [$80] it's not a big deal. Otherwise the radio looks brand new, & works great. GARY N4KVE

N4KVE wrote:Thanks John. I guess the top right led on my radio is out then. I just wanted to know if this was normal. For what I have into this radio & charger [$80] it's not a big deal. Otherwise the radio looks brand new, & works great. GARY N4KVE

Hi Gary,

My guess would be that somebody re-cased the radio and perhaps flexed the board during reinstallation. The board is under a shield that is press-fit into the front of the case and sometimes a little too much pressure is applied. I doubt the LEDs actually failed, but probably are not working due to a connection problem.

At the price that you paid for the radio, it may not be worth replacing the board - but, you can if it really bothers you. Let me know if you need a part number and price from Motorola. Replacement can be a bit of a pain, only due to the keyboard shield not being the easiest thing to remove and reinstall.

here is the keyboard part number:0104007J99. it runs about $23. as far as installation goes, the following is copied from the service manual.

To remove the keypad retainer shield:
a. Insert the tip of a “penknife size,” flat blade screwdriver in the opening at the end of the
keypad retainer arm tab.
b. Pry the tab away from the side of the front cover until it moves past the ledges on the side
wall. Repeat this procedure for the four remaining retainer arm tabs.
Figure 3-6: Remove Retainer
4. Note that the two “top hooks” are still held underneath the front cover—right below the speaker.
Lift the keypad retainer out of the front cover, then lift and pivot the two hooks out of the front
cover.
5. If disassembly involves the removal of the display module, disconnect the display flex from the
keypad option board connector by lifting the latch on the connector. (This is similar to the process
for releasing the flexes.) (see page 3-5.)
6. The display module is attached to the front cover with a double-sided adhesive pad. Carefully pull
up on the display module, using a small screwdriver, if necessary, and remove it from the front
cover. Use a new piece of double-sided adhesive to re-mount the display to the cover.
7. The keypad/PassPort/option board can be removed without the use of tools.
CAUTION Take care not to damage the display. Do not cut, bend, or pinch the heat
seal. Display modules contain CMOS devices. Be sure to use ESD protection.



if you are ordering the board already, i would suggest also ordering the keypad flex controller :8480475Z03

the cost is about $3. that flex is bent in 3 places to fit into the radio and everytime you take it apart you run the risk of it going bad. for some reason you can take these things apart sometimes 10-15 times and the flex be fine. and sometimes you take it apart once and when you put back together the flex has gone bad. it is not required BUT, for three bucks it is good to have just in case.

If you need any more help PM me.

Thanks for all the help. I think I'll just leave it alone as it's a bit involved for me & I don't really need those buttons lit to use the radio. If someone local to me here was talented in this work I'd go for it, but if I tried this, I'm sure I would mess something up. Thanks again. GARY N4KVE