| Author |
Message |
    
Sintronic_Cpu
| | Posted on Sunday, September 01, 2002 - 11:22 am: | 
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307 or anyone who knows... did they make unmodifiable versions of the RCI 2990DX.
My local electronic store has one left but everyone keeps returning it telling them it can't be modded. I know it doesn't have the plug in module, is that what is missing?
One of my local buddies has the 2990DX and had to get that module and something else because the LCD wouldn't track after the module was in place.
Either way, can all 2990DXs be modded for 11 Meter and if the module IS a must, does Copper sell them and for how much?
Thank you in advance!  |
2600
| | Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 2:35 am: |
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The module is the latest stage of the "Cat-and-Mouse" game the manufacturers keep playing with the FCC. To be sold legally, the radio has to be "crippled" so that it will cover ONLY the 10-meter ham frequencies. Why they had to make this 'module' the means to "un-cripple" the new DX radios makes it sound like the FCC has leaned on them, complaining that a 2-pin jumper (like the older ones used) is TOO EASY to get around. Don't know what else would explain it.
Without the module, you are stuck on Ham frequencies only. I looked inside one of these modules. A circuit board with a single chip has the number scraped off of it, and a few surface-mount parts are all that's in it. Can't see how anyone would go about duplicating it. The dealers who know why you bought the radio, and how you want to run it, will pack the thing IN BETWEEN the outer carton and the printed radio carton. Legitimate "Ham-Only" dealers will not include it at all. My suggestion is to find a sympathetic dealer who buys directly from RCI. See if they can sweet-talk their factory sales rep into sending them a module for you. There is NO other source for this little "dongle". The incentive for someone to 'crack' the design of it and make duplicates just isn't there.
73 |
Sintronic_Cpu
| | Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 2:51 pm: |
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I sent 307 an e-mail about converting a 2970DX that didn't have a module...he told me some cannot be converted, but if it is one that can be Copper sells the module.
I wonder if the same is true for the 2990DX. As long as it can be converted buying the module separate is no problem. I know I cannot get the module from this store that is selling this 2990DX, it's one of those ham only stores.
What do you think 307? |
307
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 7:36 am: |
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It is for sure "some" can be and "some" can't be modified. A.E.S. and H.R.O buy from RCI on a "No-11 meter band" basis. I had a friend buy one , he brought it over and I installed the "pigtail" connector to "add" the small board (the pigtail was not even in the radio). IT DID NOT WORK!!
307 |
Sintronic_Cpu
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 1:55 pm: |
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A.E.S and H.R.O? Do you know anything about R and L Electronics, Hamilton Ohio. Someone bought one there, no pigtail, no place to plug anything in, but took it to a tech 50 miles away and paid him $150 to convert it and now it works on 11 meter, but the guy who converted it wouldn't tell me what was involved! Hmmm, any input on this?
Thank you. |
Sintronic_Cpu
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 2:18 pm: |
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Hmm, I just called the guy who converted it again and begged him to tell me how he converted it, finally he said ALL NON CONVERTABLE Rangers ARE convertable, they still require a pigtail, the $150 was for a whole new head (processor and LCD) and pigtail. But he WAS right, just like I've heard here it before, it isn't very cost efficient, I'd be better getting a 2995DX from Copper next week, than buy this one and pay all that extra! |
2600
| | Posted on Friday, September 06, 2002 - 1:44 am: |
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Yuck!! Two different computers that look alike? That's the only way I can think they did this. Anybody know the difference in chip markings? You could tell a non-convertible HR2510 this way. I should think they number the two chips differently in some way? Changing the whole CPU/display board isn't a "conversion", it's a rebuild. And not a cheap one, at that.
73 |
Ss8541
| | Posted on Friday, September 20, 2002 - 8:40 pm: |
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yes 2600, the chip is different, but with the same markings. the only way to tell them a part is that the non-convertible chip has a green sticker on the chip. if you have a convertible chip, the module, and are are comfortable with smt repair you could replace the green dot chip with the the non green dot chip. the way this chip is designed removal and re-installation is actually easier than the chipswitch of a 2510. well this depends on how you do it. if you are limited on smt removal devices and take the easiest route, the chip being removed is useless after removal. but who cares, it is useless to begin with and that is why it is being removed. |
2600
| | Posted on Sunday, September 22, 2002 - 1:19 am: |
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Sounds like a medium nightmare to me. RCI has always claimed that they do not import the chips on their CPU boards as separate items. Ask for one, and they offer you the complete board. Can't sell 'em if you don't import 'em to begin with. I always figured they set the price for their CPU boards calculated to be high enough, you'll get discouraged and just buy another radio, and low enough nobody has an incentive to invest real money to make 'retrofit' copies or replacements.
Thanks for the tip about the green sticker. Out of all the hot discussion on this subject, that is the FIRST concrete info I have gotten about telling them apart.
SMT work is just expensive enough to undertake that people stop and ask "is it worth this" first. This one sounds like a clear case of diminishing returns on investment to me. The price of radios just keeps dropping steadily. The price of working on one just keeps rising.....
73 |
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