Yaesu FT 290 - Multiple faults - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Sean Williams · 21st Mar 2007, 6:00 pm

Ok, before I go mad looking for faults, has anyone had any of these symptoms, and fixed them?

No RF output power (not the PA Transistor - have changed that)

Signal meter endstopped on RX with no signal present

Poor RF sensitivity (NIL)

Demod problems on SSB/CW

There are probably more, but these are the ones that are bugging me at present.

Cheers
Sean

dsergeant · 21st Mar 2007, 7:12 pm

Probably best to start looking at the pll/synthesiser if you have these sorts of symptoms - and somewhat confusing, how can you know you have ssb/cw problems if the receive is totally deaf

My FT290 is now over 25 years old and still going strong...

I assume you have the manual.

Dave

Sean Williams · 21st Mar 2007, 7:40 pm

SSB/CW probs are very strange - I think all I can hear is PLL noise - pressing buttons on the front panel just modulates the noise from the speaker.

I only have a copy of the owners manual - no service manual sadly

Hermit6345 · 21st Mar 2007, 8:14 pm

Sean,

Have a look on www.mods.dk in the manuals section. They have a lot of stuff there for the 290. Try the following link and then scroll down to the FT290 stuff.

http://www.mods.dk/index.php?ListManuals=yaesu

Hope that helps.

Regards,

Ian

jim_beacon · 21st Mar 2007, 10:02 pm

Sean,

the RF output, as originally set up, requires the telescopic aerial to be present, and retracted. If the telescopic aerial is missing, the PA will require re-tuning.

Jim.

Sean Williams · 21st Mar 2007, 10:28 pm

Ok, looks like the VCO isnt too well - I will have a play when I get more time.....

Mike B... · 2nd Mar 2008, 7:55 pm

I know I'm digging up an old thread but I was wondering if you ever managed to rectify the faults with the 290,as I'm experiencing exactly the same problems as you describe.
I did speak to a friend regarding the probs and he suggested replacing D24&D25 (antenna switching diodes) as he says it sounds like the rf is not getting beyond these so any ideas about their exact location on the board would be most appreciated.
Cheers for now Mike B...

Sean Williams · 3rd Mar 2008, 8:18 am

No, I didnt - I got shot of the radio in the end - a lack of time and interest took over!
Cheers
Sean

21st Mar 2007, 6:00 pm	#1
Sean Williams Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: St.Ippolyts, Hitchin, Hertfordshire QRA IO91UW Posts: 3,517	Yaesu FT 290 - Multiple faults Ok, before I go mad looking for faults, has anyone had any of these symptoms, and fixed them? No RF output power (not the PA Transistor - have changed that) Signal meter endstopped on RX with no signal present Poor RF sensitivity (NIL) Demod problems on SSB/CW There are probably more, but these are the ones that are bugging me at present. Cheers Sean __________________ Engineers make things work and have spare bits when finished

21st Mar 2007, 7:12 pm	#2
dsergeant Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire,UK. Posts: 1,172	Re: Yaesu FT 290 - Multiple faults Probably best to start looking at the pll/synthesiser if you have these sorts of symptoms - and somewhat confusing, how can you know you have ssb/cw problems if the receive is totally deaf My FT290 is now over 25 years old and still going strong... I assume you have the manual. Dave

21st Mar 2007, 7:40 pm	#3
Sean Williams Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: St.Ippolyts, Hitchin, Hertfordshire QRA IO91UW Posts: 3,517	Re: Yaesu FT 290 - Multiple faults SSB/CW probs are very strange - I think all I can hear is PLL noise - pressing buttons on the front panel just modulates the noise from the speaker. I only have a copy of the owners manual - no service manual sadly __________________ Engineers make things work and have spare bits when finished

21st Mar 2007, 8:14 pm	#4
Hermit6345 Rest in Peace Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: North Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 638	Re: Yaesu FT 290 - Multiple faults Sean, Have a look on www.mods.dk in the manuals section. They have a lot of stuff there for the 290. Try the following link and then scroll down to the FT290 stuff. http://www.mods.dk/index.php?ListManuals=yaesu Hope that helps. Regards, Ian

21st Mar 2007, 10:02 pm	#5
jim_beacon Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bishop's Waltham, Hants, UK. Posts: 939	Re: Yaesu FT 290 - Multiple faults Sean, the RF output, as originally set up, requires the telescopic aerial to be present, and retracted. If the telescopic aerial is missing, the PA will require re-tuning. Jim.

21st Mar 2007, 10:28 pm	#6
Sean Williams Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: St.Ippolyts, Hitchin, Hertfordshire QRA IO91UW Posts: 3,517	Re: Yaesu FT 290 - Multiple faults Ok, looks like the VCO isnt too well - I will have a play when I get more time..... __________________ Engineers make things work and have spare bits when finished

2nd Mar 2008, 7:55 pm	#7
Mike B... Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 2	Re: Yaesu FT 290 - Multiple faults I know I'm digging up an old thread but I was wondering if you ever managed to rectify the faults with the 290,as I'm experiencing exactly the same problems as you describe. I did speak to a friend regarding the probs and he suggested replacing D24&D25 (antenna switching diodes) as he says it sounds like the rf is not getting beyond these so any ideas about their exact location on the board would be most appreciated. Cheers for now Mike B...

3rd Mar 2008, 8:18 am	#8
Sean Williams Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: St.Ippolyts, Hitchin, Hertfordshire QRA IO91UW Posts: 3,517	Re: Yaesu FT 290 - Multiple faults No, I didnt - I got shot of the radio in the end - a lack of time and interest took over! Cheers Sean __________________ Engineers make things work and have spare bits when finished