Hi to all,
here you have a step to step way to modify your IC3230 to enhance it with
frequency coverage,transponder function and 9k6 Baud packet use.
Is not easy make changes inside this tranceiver, so if you've not skill
ask to another ham to help you !!!
A good range of the frequencies are 120 - 175 MHz and 400 - 500 Mhz
and 850 - 950 Mhz. Your RIG can surely handle more frequency but not with
a big success on sensibility.
If you make this, you'll be the responsible of your RIG.
Make it just if your law permit this to you !!!
-
Take off the screws of the two covers (6+6) and remove them unplugging
the speaker plug.
-
Take off the 4 screws of the front panel (2 for each side) and be careful
removing it because you have a couple of flat cables.
-
Open the diodes,with a cutter, located under the front panel.
They look as 1N4148 kind and you cannot make mistakes. More cuts
it's meaning more new function, so you must cut all the available diodes.
The diodes are located on the board called LOGIC UNIT.
-
Replace the front panel with the four screws.
Connect a shield-cable (RG-58) on the small coaxial plug on the
MAIN-B board and make this cable able to go outside of your RIG when
you replace the two covers. To do this you can remove the small cover
in the back of the RTX, the one just above the original antenna cable.
This new coax-cable will be to apply the 900 MHz antenna.
If you're not interested to listen to this band, you have just to
replace the front panel and jump to point 5.
-
Plug in the speaker and replace the covers.
If you like to make the 9k6 mod jump to point 6.
Now power on and type in the frequency coverage as request, for the VHF and
the UHF. Above I alredy mentioned the sure working frequencies.
To power on the transponder old the BAND and SET botton for two seconds.
Same operation is required to disable it.
-
Make same operation as point 1 and 2 if not yet ready.
-
Unplug the two flat cables. Be kindly !!! And use appropriate tool
to open the plugs.
-
Unscrew the LOGIC UNIT (4 screws) and unplug it.
Take off from the back all the screws around the antenna cables
Take off the screws on the metal plates to cover the high power section
on both sides.
-
Make free the 8 soldered pins with a solder and the tools that you prefer
for this operation, located near the VCO Unit on MAIN B.
Make free the pin near the power cable (+) and the pin near the antenna
cable (hot). Pratically you have 10 pass trought pins to desolder.
-
Unscrew all the screws on the MAIN A and MAIN B boars and remove them
from the aluminum block. Unplug the back fan from MAIN A board.
EASY ??? Now is all open !!!
-
Solder a shield-cable on PIN 2 of J2 of VCO B for the TX Audio on UHF
Solder a shield-cable on PIN 2 of J2 of VCO B for the TX Audio on VHF
Choose the smaller cable that you can have for this !!! You just have
a little bit of distance. A good idea is to apply a capacitor to filter
the signals (100.000 pF usually is good).
-
Place back the MAIN A and MAIN B board. If you're lucky positioning your
cables will be easy. But be careful, because you musn't damage the cables.
Use teh right screws and solder the 10 PINs.
-
Place back the LOGIC UNIT with the right screws and work on it !
Solder a shield-cable on PIN 11 of J2 for UHF RX Audio
Solder a shield-cable on PIN 14 of J3 for VHF RX Audio
It's always good place the capicitors on this connections.
-
Place back the front panel flat cables and the panel too.
If you like you can place a wire for the PTT signal directly inside
your RTX and than follow the hole in the back where you place the
900 MHz antenna to have all the cables outside. Replace the back fan
plug. Replace back all the screws on your table and remeber to plug-in
the speaker plug before to replace the two covers.
EASY !!!! Now if you done a good job all it's running ....
but check your watch ... you spent here one day and your wife
is still waiting for you to make shopping.
You can test your RIG tommorow !!! Will be better !!!
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