Agree that solder joints are a big issue in radios today. Not on in cb but in ham radios also. Less they use the cheaper it is on them. Great explanation Mike.
Didn't think about that. I've got a Uniden I'm fixing to open up that acts like it's transmitting but it's not sending anything to the SWR meter. It will talk to a radio next to it. I thought it might be the finals but it may just be a break in that connection. Great video! I'm going to pull the covers off and get to looking.
Yep, I put stickers on the inside showing the date repair/calibration and my website, and I also put one on the case seam when I put it back together to seal it, so I can see if someone's played with it if I get one back. I log all my repairs to a database against the radios serial number, so I can see its history.
And to create an even better solder joint "fix" get yourself a roll of desoldering braid and remove the old solder at the PCB pad; that will let you inspect the mechanical aspect of the component lead as well. Little bit of flux, some good solder like Mike recommends and viola! - a nice shiny new solder connection and hopefully problem solved. Once you do it and are successful you'll actually find that it's kinda fun.
I got a Cobra 148 gtl-dx once and inside the radio taped to the inside lid was a full record of upgraded components or replaced components and modifications carried out along with dates etc. Which is really helpful for technicians.
Hey Mike Mike here. I had a very good tech tell me that if I got a Galaxy (or any other Black box radio) take it home hook it up make sure it works then take it apart and procede to go over ALL the solder joints to make sure it stays working for some time. Critical for a mobile. :) Love your vids. Keep em coming.
I learned from work with outside telecom circuit boards that constant variation of climate temperature over time, from keeping the radio inside the car or truck, will weaken solder joints. The joints will expand and contract with the temperature, and eventually the solder cracks. I doubt cheap chinese radio solder will hold up to the expansion and contraction, but even the industrial solder joints designed for weather can succumb, especially when condensation becomes a factor. Something to keep in mind if you are keeping your radio on the vehicle.
You beat me to it but I think it’s the unleaded solder. It’s much harder than tin lead mix and it doesn’t flex and just fractures instead. Automotive installation are also hard on electronics. Great video I’m am armchair electronics engineer I love watching your repairs stuff so I don’t have to.
That was a very good video. Please keep the videos coming. I would love to learn how to work on cb's and police scanners. Your videos are a great help.
I'm trying to fix this now on my 880. I'm surprised that coax connection lasted as long as it did, a lot of us prefer to mount the radio to the top of the dashboard instead of the overhead compartment so if the defrosters are on you can bet the solder is going to cook
Thermal print won't last very long. One hot summer and it will be blacked out. Don't have to put the shop name, but documenting the trouble, repair and date is a very good idea.
I suspect the new production wave soldering machine operators and managers are not cleaning the dross off the wave because it cost time and money to keep a wave pool clean. Also, the components are produced and reeled so fast that edges are no longer square and electrodes are left with metal rubbish attached to the leads. Quality control is expensive. If the pcb supply is left out that oxidation is also added into the mix leaving voids, air bubbles in the joints and insufficient solder joints.
That's probably the two big key problems. Cheaply made and poor quality control. With just a little more effort this type radio could be so much more reliable.
Good video I got a galaxy 33 HP it was working good took it out of my big truck for about 3 months put it back in hooked it back up still working good then my antenna bracket broke well never had time to fix it so my CB stayed in the truck well yesterday I fixed my bracket and now the CB will come on but that’s it will not key put a new mic still nothing and I did check the wire for the antenna in side of the CB and that’s fine please help
I highly agree with you Mike, even older ones often has bad solder joints... Just a quick question, what would you recomend for a low cost CB/Ssb radio?? New, used, base or mobile doesnt Matter... I have a dozen of working AM only radios but no SSB ones
Any of the old SSB rigs with Uniden or Cybernet chassis were good. President, Uniden, Lafayette, Cobra, Teaberry, Realistic, there are soooooo many to pick from. Basically comes down to which one you like.
Hi Mike. I really enjoy all your videos. One quick question, what is that push on PL259 adapter you use and where can I find one? What a great time saving gadget. Keep up the great work, Karl
Karl Fell - You can find them on eBay. Just do a search for “Push-On PL-259”. (Without the quotes.) They aren’t very expensive. I probably don’t have to mention this, but never use them for permanent installations. They are only intended for testing purposes.
I got a Uniden pc68xl..i got it off line..no mic,no power cord or antenna..i hooked it up, and put my 4 pin Cobra mic (which was brand new with cheap Cobra c.b.)..and i can hear people but they cannot hear me. The p.a. doesn't really work either and the actual c.b. bleeds over onto it. Is there something wrong with the cb?..or do I have to use a certain mic with this?..I hooked my Cobra back up with this mic and it works just fine......( I finally got 1 trucker to answer me when I drove down and sat in their truck stop parking lot..he said he " could barely hear me and I should throw that piece of shit out the window."
+Henry Dillard Anything in the PLL and synthesizer circuits that cause the PLL to go out of lock will kill a radio. First thing to check is if the PLL is locked and if the oscillator circuits are working correctly.
I have a TRC-466 that set in a truck awhile put it in another truck it worked a few days than nothing. I have no sound or transmission on my meter. Any ideas ? I'd like to repair it
I'm wanting to see if u could possibly help me out. I have a galaxy dx 958 in my semi. It works good for the first few minutes and then quits working. If I unplug the mic for few seconds and plug it back in it works for few minutes again. I tried a different mic with same results.
I have a Galaxy 33HP good RX and good carrier but no modulation at all. Radio is in real good shape inside and out. Tried different mics. Any suggestions?
I tried googling that transistor for specs,but it only showed the radios it was used in. Thank you very much,I really appreciate the help. Is it the same thing as a 2SC114?
@@577buttfan lol thanks...i think I gave that radio to you and you said you weren't sure what was wrong with it. Also when I squeeze the radio case the channel display goes out and something else I can't remember. I'll bring it to you if you wanna check it out. My 95t Is doing the same thing. No AM but works on ssb.
@@ymmij1973 sounds like 8v regulator solder pad on the channel selector light. Usually no AM is the regulator but not always. I been steering away from repairs as younl know especially on the black box radios.But I'll take a look for ya Jimmy possibly in a few weeks. Bump bump
Agree that solder joints are a big issue in radios today. Not on in cb but in ham radios also. Less they use the cheaper it is on them. Great explanation Mike.
Didn't think about that. I've got a Uniden I'm fixing to open up that acts like it's transmitting but it's not sending anything to the SWR meter. It will talk to a radio next to it. I thought it might be the finals but it may just be a break in that connection.
Great video! I'm going to pull the covers off and get to looking.
Yep, I put stickers on the inside showing the date repair/calibration and my website, and I also put one on the case seam when I put it back together to seal it, so I can see if someone's played with it if I get one back.
I log all my repairs to a database against the radios serial number, so I can see its history.
i realize it is quite randomly asking but do anyone know a good site to watch newly released series online?
@Yahir Theo I use Flixzone. You can find it on google :)
I still run a 1982 Cobra 148 GTL-DX MK2. Never had the covers off. 100% stock. Best export radio in history. Uniden built. Timeless.
And to create an even better solder joint "fix" get yourself a roll of desoldering braid and remove the old solder at the PCB pad; that will let you inspect the mechanical aspect of the component lead as well. Little bit of flux, some good solder like Mike recommends and viola! - a nice shiny new solder connection and hopefully problem solved. Once you do it and are successful you'll actually find that it's kinda fun.
I got a Cobra 148 gtl-dx once and inside the radio taped to the inside lid was a full record of upgraded components or replaced components and modifications carried out along with dates etc. Which is really helpful for technicians.
Hey Mike Mike here. I had a very good tech tell me that if I got a Galaxy (or any other Black box radio) take it home hook it up make sure it works then take it apart and procede to go over ALL the solder joints to make sure it stays working for some time. Critical for a mobile. :) Love your vids. Keep em coming.
Mike youre the best my friend and learned alot from you on the videos you post on UA-cam. 100%
I really enjoy your easy to understand explanations of things. love your videos!
I learned from work with outside telecom circuit boards that constant variation of climate temperature over time, from keeping the radio inside the car or truck, will weaken solder joints. The joints will expand and contract with the temperature, and eventually the solder cracks. I doubt cheap chinese radio solder will hold up to the expansion and contraction, but even the industrial solder joints designed for weather can succumb, especially when condensation becomes a factor. Something to keep in mind if you are keeping your radio on the vehicle.
You beat me to it but I think it’s the unleaded solder. It’s much harder than tin lead mix and it doesn’t flex and just fractures instead. Automotive installation are also hard on electronics. Great video I’m am armchair electronics engineer I love watching your repairs stuff so I don’t have to.
That was a very good video. Please keep the videos coming. I would love to learn how to work on cb's and police scanners. Your videos are a great help.
Great video thanks
I'm trying to fix this now on my 880. I'm surprised that coax connection lasted as long as it did, a lot of us prefer to mount the radio to the top of the dashboard instead of the overhead compartment so if the defrosters are on you can bet the solder is going to cook
Thermal print won't last very long. One hot summer and it will be blacked out. Don't have to put the shop name, but documenting the trouble, repair and date is a very good idea.
I love the big fat red wire on the bottom. I know that was not done by you.
That was already there.
I suspect the new production wave soldering machine operators and managers are not cleaning the dross off the wave because it cost time and money to keep a wave pool clean. Also, the components are produced and reeled so fast that edges are no longer square and electrodes are left with metal rubbish attached to the leads. Quality control is expensive. If the pcb supply is left out that oxidation is also added into the mix leaving voids, air bubbles in the joints and insufficient solder joints.
That's probably the two big key problems. Cheaply made and poor quality control. With just a little more effort this type radio could be so much more reliable.
Good video I got a galaxy 33 HP it was working good took it out of my big truck for about 3 months put it back in hooked it back up still working good then my antenna bracket broke well never had time to fix it so my CB stayed in the truck well yesterday I fixed my bracket and now the CB will come on but that’s it will not key put a new mic still nothing and I did check the wire for the antenna in side of the CB and that’s fine please help
Great video! good Lord how old is this video? did you just say RadioShack??..
I had the same thing go wrong with a yaesu 2m rig.
I highly agree with you Mike, even older ones often has bad solder joints...
Just a quick question, what would you recomend for a low cost CB/Ssb radio?? New, used, base or mobile doesnt Matter... I have a dozen of working AM only radios but no SSB ones
Any of the old SSB rigs with Uniden or Cybernet chassis were good. President, Uniden, Lafayette, Cobra, Teaberry, Realistic, there are soooooo many to pick from. Basically comes down to which one you like.
MikesRadioRepair thanks a lot Mike!!
Hi Mike. I really enjoy all your videos. One quick question, what is that push on PL259 adapter you use and where can I find one? What a great time saving gadget. Keep up the great work, Karl
Karl Fell - You can find them on eBay. Just do a search for “Push-On PL-259”. (Without the quotes.) They aren’t very expensive. I probably don’t have to mention this, but never use them for permanent installations. They are only intended for testing purposes.
Hi Mike how do I add music to my pa using microphone connection straight to speaker positive and negative wire?? Can u help
I got a Uniden pc68xl..i got it off line..no mic,no power cord or antenna..i hooked it up, and put my 4 pin Cobra mic (which was brand new with cheap Cobra c.b.)..and i can hear people but they cannot hear me. The p.a. doesn't really work either and the actual c.b. bleeds over onto it. Is there something wrong with the cb?..or do I have to use a certain mic with this?..I hooked my Cobra back up with this mic and it works just fine......( I finally got 1 trucker to answer me when I drove down and sat in their truck stop parking lot..he said he " could barely hear me and I should throw that piece of shit out the window."
i have a cobra 29 that has only whie noise on receive and also will not transmit anything. just goes quiet. what could be the problem?
+Henry Dillard
Anything in the PLL and synthesizer circuits that cause the PLL to go out of lock will kill a radio. First thing to check is if the PLL is locked and if the oscillator circuits are working correctly.
I have a TRC-466 that set in a truck awhile put it in another truck it worked a few days than nothing. I have no sound or transmission on my meter. Any ideas ? I'd like to repair it
I'm wanting to see if u could possibly help me out. I have a galaxy dx 958 in my semi. It works good for the first few minutes and then quits working. If I unplug the mic for few seconds and plug it back in it works for few minutes again. I tried a different mic with same results.
I have a Galaxy 33HP good RX and good carrier but no modulation at all. Radio is in real good shape inside and out. Tried different mics. Any suggestions?
mine did the same thing and broke the same wire.what kinda of wire do I need to fix this and where to get it?
I have a galaxy 99 v its not trasmiting or receiving
No Radio Shack
Got a question - do you by chance know a transistor that will replace a ranger TDTC0114YS Transistor for AM Detector?
William Colvin
Pretty much any supplier has them. It's a common dtc114ys.
I tried googling that transistor for specs,but it only showed the radios it was used in. Thank you very much,I really appreciate the help.
Is it the same thing as a 2SC114?
Knock on wood, because I own 3 black box base radios and I haven't had any problems yet.
Just get to the point and stop talking about where the radio has been and who worked on it.
Get to the repairs stop jabbering
Any radio techs out here that can give me some input...i have a galaxy 77hml no transmit on AM but works on sideband?
AM REGULATOR.
@@577buttfan lol thanks...i think I gave that radio to you and you said you weren't sure what was wrong with it. Also when I squeeze the radio case the channel display goes out and something else I can't remember.
I'll bring it to you if you wanna check it out. My 95t Is doing the same thing. No AM but works on ssb.
@@ymmij1973 sounds like 8v regulator solder pad on the channel selector light.
Usually no AM is the regulator but not always.
I been steering away from repairs as younl know especially on the black box radios.But I'll take a look for ya Jimmy possibly in a few weeks.
Bump bump
@@577buttfan you are the man. I will drop them off after Christmas. See what you can do. Thank you.
How do we get ahold of you
Just joking Mike. I know you did not do that. I have seen and removed that mod from a few radios
lol
Min 4, no info yet just bla bla bla so far
Why cant you just get to the point in all your video's...blaaaaaqq