Senile digital radio, Sony ICF 2001
Stephen M. Powell
settings) both at random times while it's playing and when it's
switched between FM and AM/SW. When it loses it's settings, it
locks up. The only way to reset it is to remove the batteries that
power the memory circuit for a minute or so.
Has anyone run into this before? I checked inside the case for lose
connections etc. None of the chips that were readily visible appear to
be the memory chip. Battery voltage OK.
I'd like to get some more use out of the radio. The case is such that
it would be easy to add an extra battery and boast the memory circuit
voltage from 3.0 to 3.8 or 4.5 volts. If nothing else, could someone
guess at what family of memory chips were probably used in the early
1980's and what voltage limit they would have?
Details: Sony ICF-2001 Digital Radio AM/SW/FM circa 1981
PPL Synthesized
Memory circuit uses two AA batteries
Main power is 4.5 volts
stephen...@taxspam.sfol.com
delete the six character political statement from the address
tony kathro
Stephen M. Powell wrote in message
<370bfad4...@netnews.worldnet.att.net>...
Hi stephen,
I have the same radio with the same problem. Mine seems to have developed a
bit as the years have gone by. The fault you describe is likely to be dry
joints around the synth. circuit area. (like most of us I have probably
spent many more hours thinking of the possible fault than it would take to
get in there and find it) My radio has fallen on its back many, many times
and the problem has become a little worse each time. Percussive maint. has
worked reliably to restore use until the next time it falls over. I have
been reluctant to get into it so far because it also has another problem I
have been waiting to see listed on a N.G. sometime. The short wave
sensitivity has gone south in a big way. I know that the slightly later
model ICF 2001D had a problem with a Jfet in the front end but have never
seen a reference to the same fault and the cure in the ICF 2001.
Possibly someone is able to point me in the right direction so that I can
tackle both faults at the same time. The radio seems like an old friend now
and I would surely hate to deep six It. Thanks in advance
Tony
Kathro
Michael Black
problems. There may even be a faq for the 2001 (unless I'm thinking of a
faq I saw for the 2010).
Michael
Mark Fraser
position.
First action: get inside, find a place where I could touch a wire to get an
improved
signal. Second action: solder the antenna to that spot. Third action: pray
that I
don't subject it to a static discharge, and fry the rest of the front end.
I'd appreciate any further information, as I still love the radio, and can live
with the
battery life (it's on the adaptor most of the time, anyway).... / mark
Brian Tucker
I guess I'll take the time to add that I have the same radio, with the
same problem. I got it off of someone, and have had it for two years,
and it's always done it. It almost seems to be a bad connection
somewhere, it will work for a long time continuously if it wants to, but
when you really start use it, it will do this after 10 seconds, or ten
minutes. The manual states that the processor can lock up during dry
seasons from static discharge. Got me. Hope someone can find a
solution.
-Brian
Stephen M. Powell
>>I have an old portable digital radio that loses it's memory (channel
>>settings) both at random times while it's playing and when it's
>>switched between FM and AM/SW. When it loses it's settings, it
>>locks up. The only way to reset it is to remove the batteries that
>>power the memory circuit for a minute or so.
>I have the same radio with the same problem. Mine seems to have developed a
>bit as the years have gone by. The fault you describe is likely to be dry
>joints around the synth. circuit area. (like most of us I have probably
>spent many more hours thinking of the possible fault than it would take to
>get in there and find it)
I'm guessing that the board with IC's 201-203 is the area your talking
about.
> My radio has fallen on its back many, many times
>and the problem has become a little worse each time. Percussive maint. has
>worked reliably to restore use until the next time it falls over. I have
>been reluctant to get into it so far because it also has another problem I
>have been waiting to see listed on a N.G. sometime. The short wave
>sensitivity has gone south in a big way. I know that the slightly later
>model ICF 2001D had a problem with a Jfet in the front end but have never
I did some internet searches and came up with some fixes for the
2010/2001D models. These models seem to be of similar design.
You might want to take a look at them
http://members.home.net/snarayan/misc/sw/sony2010.html
ftp://oak.oakland.edu/pub/hamradio/mods/sony/sonysw
Unfortunatly, the memory problem my radio has doesn't seem to be
related to the battery compartment problem they talk about.
Michael Black
the same as the 2010. On the other hand, there is a 2001 with a suffix,
could be the 2001D, that is more or less the 2010 for a market somewhere
else in the world. There is a fair difference between the 2001 and the
2010, so there must bea fair difference between the 2001 and the 2001D.
Michael
George Silver
1976) and the 2001D (circa 1984) differ by the addition a rotary tuner,
synchronous detection, 32 memories, a 4 program timer, and the 116 to 136
Aircraft band to the D version. Each model may have PCB differences due to
frequency restrictions depending on the area of the world it is to be sold
in. (US FM band, aircraft band, 54-87mhz military etc).
The 2010 and 2001D are the same radio. The ICF2010 was a North American
version. The number change came about for sales regions reasons. Mr Steve
Whitt of Ipswich, Suffock, England has published several enlightening
booklets on the ICF2001D/2010.
The memory and pretuning sets for these radios is maintained by 2 AA cells
in the lower part of the Battery compartment, (as viewed with the
compartment lid off).
The cells are spring loaded on one end resulting in a bump sensitivity,
the contacts between batteries or terminals and battery, are easily
interrupted causing memory loss.
It seems that as time goes on the spring seems to lose some of its
tension and the interruptions occur with easier bumps.
The current through these contacts is micro amps so the cleanliness of
the contact area also affects the longevity. Clean the battery ends to
remove any finger oils when installing the batteries.
Among the first things a SONY 2010 or 2001D owner should do after
reading the manuals and then the bits of info in the magazines and (now on
the net) is to add a 2200uf 6v or 10v cap across the batteries that power
the computer..
This makes it immune to any shocks (which is the cause of the otherwise
interruption. caused by the batteries moving into the tension springs and
momentarily disconnecting).
The large capacitor is not physically big, about 3/8" by 3/4 inch and in
my
cases is mounted beside the speaker with cord and silicon glue.
The size of the capacitor was chosen to allow the changing of the batteries
without losing the memory content, if the battery set is changed in less
than 30 secs or so.(your results may vary).
This modification has been available on the BBS and SW,Sony news groups for
years.. not hard, just have to have a 15watt soldering iron and some silicon
glue.
( THE last production run of the ICF2010 is "said to have this feature
included"
I have not seen one yet)
A 3v Lithium battery of the same diameter as AA, can be installed with a
conductive spacer (or soldered in) to provide 5 year or so service.. Works
great...
The first RF amp (Q303) of the Sony 2010/2001D Radios is a Fet. easily
damaged by static electricity.
The whip antenna input to this stage is diode protected, But the external
antenna jack inputs to the RF amp are not protected. Diodes can be put in
the adapter case provided by SONY and will protect the FET if the outside of
the jack is "always contacted first" whenever the plug is inserted. A sure
way is to add the diodes (opposed and in parallel) across the traces on the
Jack and RF board of the radio..
The original RF amp (Q303) Sony part 2SK152 Or equivalent can be
obtained from a Sony Service Center or a locally purchased, a EGG512,
2N5951 or Radio Shack 276-2035 are all said to work effectively.
--
George (Tinkr) Silver
Retire, too many hobbies..
Michael Black wrote in message ...