Thread: My propensity for buying faulty goods continues.

Now you got it working the soldering on the mic pins will let go, I had 2 of those radios with the same problem

That doesn’t instill confidence!

The mike was replaced by Oricom because the outer sheath on the curly cord was falling off.

Originally Posted by p38arover

Then I thought, "I wonder if the case transfers power to another part of the board". So I soldered it up (I used to be an electronics tech) and plugged it in. The radio powered up. Now to see if it continues to work.

I don't like your chances. Both pins of that tin are connected to the ground plane and there's a track directly between the pins.
I'd wager your pulling it to bits and putting it back together moved whatever was causing the issue and Murphy just popped down the pub for a pint. He'll be back.

That’s what I thought, too, Brad, and why I initially dismissed the idea that soldering would make any difference.

I’ll get some acetone and clean the resin off that area. It certainly looks like the ground plane goes to both transformer mounting lugs (dunno if it’s a transformer, it looks like a small IF transformer as seen in transistor radios).

Originally Posted by p38arover

Later...



Well, so much for continuing to work. The radio stopped powering up again about a year ago. I got onto Oricom at the time but but they told me that the repair cost would be more than the cost of a new radio.

I thought I might as well open it up, nothing to lose. I went over the board with a magnifying glass and found a soldered joint where a transformer case wasn't properly soldered. I thought, "Nah, that wouldn't be it." Then I thought, "I wonder if the case transfers power to another part of the board". So I soldered it up (I used to be an electronics tech) and plugged it in. The radio powered up. Now to see if it continues to work.

UH380_1 (1 of 1).jpg

See the unsoldered pin in the middle of the pic below:

UH380_2 (1 of 1).jpg

Does you propensity etc, apply if others purchase something say, as a gift, still bugger up or only if you put out the readies?

Originally Posted by 4bee

Does you propensity etc, apply if others purchase something say, as a gift, still bugger up or only if you put out the readies?

Only if he touches it, thinks about it, looks at it or any other tenuous link, apart from that, all good.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Only if he touches it, thinks about it, looks at it or any other tenuous link, apart from that, all good.

Christ! That is really living life on the edge alright!


Ron probably awakens in the Morn thinking "What won't I touch or purchase today or should I stay in bed, but hey, I'm still breathing already"

That has to a good start to the day in anyone's language.

Originally Posted by p38arover

That doesn’t instill confidence!

The mike was replaced by Oricom because the outer sheath on the curly cord was falling off.

Wild guess, the outer sheath was... rotting / decomposing / flaking off ?
If so, bad luck, for the base urethane material is made in the same...place...that 'all' urethane base is made.... from which we make soles of work boots, shoes.. plastic rubber on things like binoculars, all outer sheath of cables on aviation headsets...
And your radio.

Bring back cloth covered cabling !!!