Codan 9323 help needed

[POD]

I have a Codan 9323 remote-head HF set and 9350 auto-tune antenna. The radio is mounted to the rear bulkhead of the defender dual-cab. Last week I was driving on a rough road in torrential rain and the HF switched itself on. I believe there was water ingress into either the control head (most likely), the main radio unit or both. I stopped and switched it off; a few minutes later it switched on again. I left it on as it was raining hard and I didn't want to stop and walk around the car again in the pouring rain. The radio started to go through some failed tune cycles (the antenna whip was stowed and the auto-tune folded down, microphone stored separate to the radio), make general static noise etc. When I got home I went to switch it off and it would not respond to any control buttons. I left it until the next morning as it's a bit of work to access the power disconnect.
Next day I removed both the remote head and the main radio unit, took the covers off and made sure everything was dry, gave the boards a bit of a spray with electronic cleaning solvent, re-installed the radio and it lit up as soon as power was connected, the display has a start-up message (Codan logo and slogan) and there is no response to any of the control inputs.
Is anyone able to offer advice or direct me to someone who may be able to fix a 30-year old HF set?

[Tins]

If water got into the remote head unit it might be worth checking if it has got between the button membrane and its board. No response to the buttons may be as simple as that.

[Tins]

Of course, if you want to get technical... (https://manuals.repeater-builder.com/Codan/Codan%20Obsolete%20CD/data/tsm/9323-9360-9390-9780/(15-02051)%20TSM.pdf) A good repair shop should be able to do something with that. There are still a few around, I know a couple around here.

[POD]

The button membrane is firmly affixed to the front board, I don't know how much damage I might do by prising it off. My knowledge of electronics is VERY limited. The technical manual assumes a level of knowledge of this subject that I do not possess. When you say 'around here', where is that? Your address says 'The Hills' but that doesn't mean anything to me, I'm assuming it's not the Strezleckis or the Dandenongs?

[4bee]

The button membrane is firmly affixed to the front board, I don't know how much damage I might do by prising it off. My knowledge of electronics is VERY limited. The technical manual assumes a level of knowledge of this subject that I do not possess. When you say 'around here', where is that? Your address says 'The Hills' but that doesn't mean anything to me, I'm assuming it's not the Strezleckis or the Dandenongs?


Certainly not the Adelaide Hills either.[biggrin][smilebigeye]

[Tins]

The button membrane is firmly affixed to the front board, I don't know how much damage I might do by prising it off. My knowledge of electronics is VERY limited. The technical manual assumes a level of knowledge of this subject that I do not possess. When you say 'around here', where is that? Your address says 'The Hills' but that doesn't mean anything to me, I'm assuming it's not the Strezleckis or the Dandenongs?

The Hills is a local name for the Dandenongs. Places I meant are in Boronia and Croydon.

[oka374]

Many many moons ago I used to install codan and Barrett HF's in all sorts of vehicles etc and the touch panels/membranes are a non repairable item, if you were to get it apart it would never be able to be used again anyway. Towards the end of my performing that job we had quite a few people with remote heads that either ended up being only able to control the unit from the actual transceiver if they had a touch panel on the actual radio or they bought a new radio. I gave up on my 8xxx series Codan and fitted a Barrett as they don't use the non repairable membrane type switches.
It might be that a long session of drying it out might sort it but it might also have gone to god.

[4bee]

Many many moons ago I used to install codan and Barrett HF's in all sorts of vehicles etc and the touch panels/membranes are a non repairable item, if you were to get it apart it would never be able to be used again anyway. Towards the end of my performing that job we had quite a few people with remote heads that either ended up being only able to control the unit from the actual transceiver if they had a touch panel on the actual radio or they bought a new radio. I gave up on my 8xxx series Codan and fitted a Barrett as they don't use the non repairable membrane type switches.
It might be that a long session of drying it out might sort it but it might also have gone to god.

Would he/she know what to do with it or are they possibly technically challenged? Just asking for a friend you understand.
[bighmmm] [smilebigeye]

[oka374]

Get them to pull the remote apart and shove the touch panel in a bag of rice for a week or so, could also try parking it on a nice warm window sill in the sun during the day after that, you never know but it might come back to life. If they were the same tech as the earlier 8 series I wouldn't hold much hope though.

[POD]

I'll pull the remote head apart again and try giving it more drying time. First time around, i put it in the fan-forced oven set on about 120 degrees, with the door a few inches open to ensure it did not get overcooked. Left it like that for a couple of hours in the hope it would dry any trapped moisture.
At the back of the touch panel, when the remote head is dismantled, the rear of the touch button switches are accessible; if I put an ohm meter across those terminals, will an open or closed circuit reading be of any use? I obviously know very little about those things but am assuming that, electrically, they are a simple momentary switch?

[POD]

The remote head is toast, I tried several ways of drying it out as suggested and the failure persisted so, with nothing to lose, I peeled a corner of the facia membrane to see what would happen with the contactor taken out of the power button. Result was as expected.
I've arranged a purchase of another 9323 complete, there will be enough components that I don't need- such as a bench power supply and a 9350 auto-tune antenna- that I should be able to recoup a decent proportion of the purchase cost. The radio that I've bought is not programmed with the VKS-737 channels that I need. I'm given to understand that I might be able to use the replacement control head from that radio to operate my original unit- if they are of the same generation and assuming my actual radio unit itself is ok.
In the event that I can't operate the old radio with the new remote head, I'll need to get the VKS channels programmed into the new radio; wondering if anyone here has the capability to do that, or can direct me to someone who would do it at a reasonable cost? There was a bloke in my area who programmed my old 8528 but he died a while back.

[Tins]

Dunno if this helps you. You can now download the CodanXP programming software and the how to from Codan here. (http://www.g4kfk.co.uk/html/codan.html) I can't, as my Mac doesn't read MS-DOS... A PC might.

[4bee]

The remote head is toast, I tried several ways of drying it out as suggested and the failure persisted so, with nothing to lose, I peeled a corner of the facia membrane to see what would happen with the contactor taken out of the power button. Result was as expected.
I've arranged a purchase of another 9323 complete, there will be enough components that I don't need- such as a bench power supply and a 9350 auto-tune antenna- that I should be able to recoup a decent proportion of the purchase cost. The radio that I've bought is not programmed with the VKS-737 channels that I need. I'm given to understand that I might be able to use the replacement control head from that radio to operate my original unit- if they are of the same generation and assuming my actual radio unit itself is ok.
In the event that I can't operate the old radio with the new remote head, I'll need to get the VKS channels programmed into the new radio; wondering if anyone here has the capability to do that, or can direct me to someone who would do it at a reasonable cost? There was a bloke in my area who programmed my old 8528 but he died a while back.


That was totally unthinking of him, I dunno you can't rely on some folk.

Maybe there still is in the form of Club who would be only too happy to help a damsel in distress?

[p38arover]

Dunno if this helps you. You can now download the CodanXP programming software and the how to from Codan here. (http://www.g4kfk.co.uk/html/codan.html) I can't, as my Mac doesn't read MS-DOS... A PC might.

Ahh! That wasn't available when I had a 9323. One will still need a programming cable. I wonder where one would find out the cable data? I'll ask on my local radio club mailing list on which I am a member.

Thanks Tins.

EDIT: our radio club mailing list is on Groups.io

I dawned on me that there might be a Codan group on there. There are several so one might be able to get the programming cable off one of those lists.

Look here: Codan (https://groups.io/search?q=codan&p=SubsCount%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2C0)

EDIT 2: I've just found and downloaded the programming cable info off Groups.io

[POD]

Well that's handy being able to download the XP software, other info I'd found was saying it was for dealers only.
Ron, would you be able to forward the details of the programming cable please?
Looks like I'll need to get hold of an old computer with a serial port. I kept one for ages when I had my old Range Rover with EAS as I'd need to use the laptop to reset faults every time the EAS went into fault mode (frequently). Got rid of the old laptop after getting rid of the Rangie. Apparently the XP program does not work well with a USB-serial adaptor, which was also an issue with the old EASUnlock software.

[p38arover]

There is another file which shows how to make the special plug. I’ll send it, too. PM your email address.

[POD]

I finally got hold of the radio yesterday. I spent this morning making up a cable for the programming, downloaded the XP file but I am unable to run the file (:
I downloaded an MS-DOS emulator app but I am completely mystified by it, the instructions and FAQs are like listening to a conversation in a language from another planet.
If anyone is able to point me towards someone with the capability to program channels into these older Codans, it would be very much appreciated. The only ones I have been able to find via google are either dead or retired.

[Tins]

I'll have a go at running DOS on VirtualBox and see if I can run the XP file. Dunno how this would help except to maybe see if you can do the same. Not sure if you run a Mac or PC, or Linux for that matter, but VBox runs on all of them.

Trouble is, I've found it sometimes difficult to get VBox to work well with some peripherals. I need to do this with the ancient BBS stuff for the Nanocom, and that works with Windows, not DOS. Anyway, I'll give it a go. ****ing down here, so inside it is.

[Tins]

Bloody hell. Been about 35 years since I used the DOS command line. Gunna need to get a cheat sheet.

[4bee]

I finally got hold of the radio yesterday. I spent this morning making up a cable for the programming, downloaded the XP file but I am unable to run the file (:
I downloaded an MS-DOS emulator app but I am completely mystified by it, the instructions and FAQs are like listening to a conversation in a language from another planet.
If anyone is able to point me towards someone with the capability to program channels into these older Codans, it would be very much appreciated. The only ones I have been able to find via google are either dead or retired.

Do CODAN not exist any more they were a local Co. in SA?

With world-class manufacturing capabilities in Adelaide, Australia and Penang, Malaysia, Codan Limited designs its own core products and retains strong control over the manufacturing process, particularly in the area of final assembly, testing and quality assurance.

[Tins]

Do CODAN not exist any more they were a local Co. in SA?



Dunno, but I hav one of their radios as well. Little later model, a NGT AR 2011. Also discontinued.

EDIT: Codan (https://codan.com.au/who-is-codan/the-company/#:~:text=Founded%20in%201959%20and%20headquartered ,consumer%20markets%20across%20the%20globe.) still exists.

[POD]

I've found a dealer in Renmark who is willing to perform the task for us when we pass through on our trip. Fingers crossed.

[4bee]

Dunno, but I hav one of their radios as well. Little later model, a NGT AR 2011. Also discontinued.

EDIT: Codan (https://codan.com.au/who-is-codan/the-company/#:~:text=Founded%20in%201959%20and%20headquartered ,consumer%20markets%20across%20the%20globe.) still exists. Then I would expect someone inside the organisation would be able to use few quid or am I living in cloud cuckoo Land? Eeeeerrr, Service Dept. perchance????

[Tins]

I've found a dealer in Renmark who is willing to perform the task for us when we pass through on our trip. Fingers crossed.

Good luck with it. I'm struggling getting the XP software to run.

[POD]

Had an interesting time with the bloke in Renmark. I installed the 9323 radio and remote head and 9350 antenna that I had acquired from a FB seller before we left home, I also took my old radio and the new cables just in case. He used an ancient laptop to run the XP program and was able to install my desired frequency profile and selcall ID into the radio that I bought off FB, however the radio would not transmit at all. Tried 3 mics- my new one, my old one, one of his- no response at all to the PTT. He got out a radio of his and we tried that; looked like I was going to be buying a radio from him. He went through the process of programming that one; we then found that it would not drive the auto-tune at all. Tune fail and no whirring from the 9350. We tried my old radio (an A series) with his remote head (a D series) which surprisingly played nicely together, tuned the antenna and transmitted properly. So I ended up buying the control head from him, reinstalling my original main unit, running the antenna that I bought from the FB seller, I left the FB radio with him rather than carry it as ballast but hung onto the FB control head (which won't talk to my radio but at least has intact screen etc).
I've got my old 9350 antenna that does not function since the water event prompted a thousand tune cycles; I stripped it down and the runner thing is right at the top of it's travel. I'll have a play with it as time permits and see if I can resurrect it.