Sony ICF-PRO80 - very weak FM recepetion - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

chlowden · 14th Jul 2022, 6:36 am

Hello
I have an issue with very poor FM and above reception on a Sony ICF-PRO80.
The Sony ICF-PRO70 ICF-PRO80 Capacitor Repair Kit from sparedparts.com has been done and the AM / FM IC has been replaced. Changing the IC greatly improved the AM performance but the FM reception continues to be extremely poor. The squelch has been checked and seems to be functioning properly.

Has anyone else experienced this issue?
Many thanks

agardiner · 14th Jul 2022, 8:14 am

The AM section on these is normally the problem; FM tends to be straightforward.

You say that you have already re-capped the unit. Were any of the old capacitors leaking. These Sony sets often suffer with this, and cleaning up any residue is critical otherwise they do have a habit of 'going deaf', due to stray capacitance left on the board.

Goldieoldie · 15th Jul 2022, 5:10 pm

To add about leaky capacitors ,check the lead through vias are ok as they can corrode from the leaky caps.
The coils for FM are thicker than the AM ones which often fail but worth checking .

chlowden · 22nd Jul 2022, 9:02 am

Thank you. I will check these.

Goldieoldie · 16th Aug 2022, 8:47 pm

Check T3 FM IF ,they can go open circuit resulting in no FM broadcast band.
Lower frequency’s will still work as it uses a different circuit
Cheers
Pete

14th Jul 2022, 6:36 am	#1
chlowden Diode Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Paris, France Posts: 5	Sony ICF-PRO80 - very weak FM recepetion Hello I have an issue with very poor FM and above reception on a Sony ICF-PRO80. The Sony ICF-PRO70 ICF-PRO80 Capacitor Repair Kit from sparedparts.com has been done and the AM / FM IC has been replaced. Changing the IC greatly improved the AM performance but the FM reception continues to be extremely poor. The squelch has been checked and seems to be functioning properly. Has anyone else experienced this issue? Many thanks

14th Jul 2022, 8:14 am	#2
agardiner Octode Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Thetford, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 1,742	Re: Sony ICF-PRO80 - very weak FM recepetion The AM section on these is normally the problem; FM tends to be straightforward. You say that you have already re-capped the unit. Were any of the old capacitors leaking. These Sony sets often suffer with this, and cleaning up any residue is critical otherwise they do have a habit of 'going deaf', due to stray capacitance left on the board.

15th Jul 2022, 5:10 pm	#3
Goldieoldie Octode Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Petersfield, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 1,043	Re: Sony ICF-PRO80 - very weak FM recepetion To add about leaky capacitors ,check the lead through vias are ok as they can corrode from the leaky caps. The coils for FM are thicker than the AM ones which often fail but worth checking .

22nd Jul 2022, 9:02 am	#4
chlowden Diode Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Paris, France Posts: 5	Re: Sony ICF-PRO80 - very weak FM recepetion Thank you. I will check these.

16th Aug 2022, 8:47 pm	#5
Goldieoldie Octode Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Petersfield, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 1,043	Re: Sony ICF-PRO80 - very weak FM recepetion Check T3 FM IF ,they can go open circuit resulting in no FM broadcast band. Lower frequency’s will still work as it uses a different circuit Cheers Pete