Pye 150BQ pocket radio 1957 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

FERNSEH · 22nd May 2020, 3:27 pm

Just finished the repair of this early transistor radio. No parts were needed and all the faults were caused by bad ground connections due to short comings of the PCB track design. After supplying the receiver with 6 volts from a power source there was no results. First fault found was the emitter resistor R16 of transistor V4 was not connected to the + ground supply. A wire link fixed the audio amplifier but there was still no stations coming through. Move on to the IF amplifiers.
A convenient point to check the base voltage of the final IF amplifier transistor V3 is the junction of the two neutralising capacitors C12 and C20. The capacitors are located on the print side of the PCB. The base voltage of V3 should be -0.58V but the measured voltage was nearer -6V, the emitter volts were also -6V. Again, another bad ground connection, a break in the printed circuit, see the second attachment. Another wire link fixed the IF amplifier and now stations are coming in, at the HF end of the medium waveband, the LF end was dead. Connecting the frame of the tuning capacitor to PCB ground solved that problem.
So now the set works but it's not exactly the best early transistor radio, even peaking up the IF transformer didn't improve the performance much.

DFWB.

vinrads · 22nd May 2020, 3:48 pm

Well done that man! I remember these new, the print used to bubble up when soldering components. Mick.

Cobaltblue · 22nd May 2020, 5:14 pm

Nice set I had always thought this to be a 1958 model though still very early for UK transistor radio.

Cheers

Mike T

FERNSEH · 22nd May 2020, 5:25 pm

Servicing information for this set can be found in the 1958/59 Radio and Television servicing book. You may well be right, it could be a 1958 model.

DFWB.

60 oldjohn · 22nd May 2020, 6:05 pm

IIRC two versions using different batteries. AA or no8 I think. What's your set use?

John.

FERNSEH · 22nd May 2020, 6:30 pm

Hi John,
The original batteries were two 3 volt Ever-Ready type 1915 or equivalents such as Vidor V0003, Drydex 2T5 and GEC L6106.
Long obsolete and replacements can be four AA cells.

A thread introduced by Michael Cummings in 2012:
https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=78716
Quote: "and the 1915 was two AA or U12 joined together,"

DFWB.

22nd May 2020, 3:27 pm	#1
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Pye 150BQ pocket radio 1957 Just finished the repair of this early transistor radio. No parts were needed and all the faults were caused by bad ground connections due to short comings of the PCB track design. After supplying the receiver with 6 volts from a power source there was no results. First fault found was the emitter resistor R16 of transistor V4 was not connected to the + ground supply. A wire link fixed the audio amplifier but there was still no stations coming through. Move on to the IF amplifiers. A convenient point to check the base voltage of the final IF amplifier transistor V3 is the junction of the two neutralising capacitors C12 and C20. The capacitors are located on the print side of the PCB. The base voltage of V3 should be -0.58V but the measured voltage was nearer -6V, the emitter volts were also -6V. Again, another bad ground connection, a break in the printed circuit, see the second attachment. Another wire link fixed the IF amplifier and now stations are coming in, at the HF end of the medium waveband, the LF end was dead. Connecting the frame of the tuning capacitor to PCB ground solved that problem. So now the set works but it's not exactly the best early transistor radio, even peaking up the IF transformer didn't improve the performance much. DFWB. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by AC/HL; 22nd May 2020 at 6:01 pm. Reason: Forum rule B8

22nd May 2020, 3:48 pm	#2
vinrads Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 3,766	Re: Pye 150BQ pocket radio 1957 Well done that man! I remember these new, the print used to bubble up when soldering components. Mick.

22nd May 2020, 5:14 pm	#3
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,878	Re: Pye 150BQ pocket radio 1957 Nice set I had always thought this to be a 1958 model though still very early for UK transistor radio. Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

22nd May 2020, 5:25 pm	#4
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: Pye 150BQ pocket radio 1957 Servicing information for this set can be found in the 1958/59 Radio and Television servicing book. You may well be right, it could be a 1958 model. DFWB.

22nd May 2020, 6:05 pm	#5
60 oldjohn Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 3,988	Re: Pye 150BQ pocket radio 1957 IIRC two versions using different batteries. AA or no8 I think. What's your set use? John. __________________ My favourite text message "I'll be there in five minutes, if not read again" Last edited by 60 oldjohn; 22nd May 2020 at 6:11 pm.

22nd May 2020, 6:30 pm	#6
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: Pye 150BQ pocket radio 1957 Hi John, The original batteries were two 3 volt Ever-Ready type 1915 or equivalents such as Vidor V0003, Drydex 2T5 and GEC L6106. Long obsolete and replacements can be four AA cells. A thread introduced by Michael Cummings in 2012: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=78716 Quote: "and the 1915 was two AA or U12 joined together," DFWB.