IC-215 crystal mess - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

CesarLG · 17th Jan 2019, 5:40 pm

Hello! I just received a ICOM IC-215 bookshelf Vhf transceiver
It is fine on its electronics but the frequency in reception doesn't match at all the Tx frequency on each channel

This is the crystal set up as I received it.

I have made some measures and this is what it looks like

I guess the whole Rx crystal section is wrong. I have made some measuerments on J8 pin but my freq meter doesn't seem to be able to get a measurement. In adition I see two J8 points. One in the Rx section, down the speaker, and another J8 pin in the middle of the main board.

Has any of you have experience with this rigs?
the trimmers are soldered as you can see...

ex seismic · 17th Jan 2019, 5:51 pm

Assuming they are the right crystals for the radio, looks good. Two simplex channels and a bunch of repeaters.
That is how ceramic trimmers are made. Look good as well.

gmb

Jon_G4MDC · 17th Jan 2019, 6:22 pm

I have one of these. It just works.
The crystals look good. The measured frequencies on RX do not.
I think maybe not enough drive to the counter? Check the coupling method maybe.
The measured TX freqs are believable but might need some tweaking.
Interesting that there are 600kHz split repeater pairs there for 145.2/145.8 and 145.225/145.825 MHz.
We never saw those used here in G - maybe used in EA however?

IC215 RX crystals seem to do OK in the VXO of the IC202 2m Rig which was it's look alike. They are all around 14.9x MHz parallel resonance and multiplied.

For repeater use in G today they need CTCSS - mine has that. Don't remember now what I did. It is on GB3AL Amersham 145.7375/1375 with 77Hz.
I cut the deviation for the 12.5kHz channel spacing we have here now - RX filters seem OK.

Jon_G4MDC · 17th Jan 2019, 6:52 pm

Here are some pictures.

Crystals side. One is missing because it covered a useful range for
my IC202 converted to 4 metres. It was not much use on 2m = Stolen.

CTCSS board is mounted in the battery compartment. AA Nicads (yes not NiMh)
have 2x the capacity of original Ni-Cads and do not self discharge.
Piano keys select the tone in use only on TX.

Inside the lid are the codes to set the different CTCSS tones used in G.

That loudspeaker is not original - but at least it has one.

vu2nan-nandu · 19th Jan 2019, 11:03 am

Hi OM Cesar,

Would it be possible for you to use low-power transmissions, from a synthesizer-based 2m rig into a dummy load, to test the receive channels?

73,

Nandu.

CesarLG · 22nd Jan 2019, 12:22 am

Hello! I have been testing that. Channels seem to be fine for the repeaters in Spain. The onmh thing missing is the sub tone! Where are you guys hooking it up in order to get the tone durong transmission?
Do you leave it on always or you managed to pug a switch somewhere?

Thank you!

17th Jan 2019, 5:40 pm	#1
CesarLG Tetrode Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Barcelona, Spain. Posts: 62	IC-215 crystal mess Hello! I just received a ICOM IC-215 bookshelf Vhf transceiver It is fine on its electronics but the frequency in reception doesn't match at all the Tx frequency on each channel This is the crystal set up as I received it. I have made some measures and this is what it looks like I guess the whole Rx crystal section is wrong. I have made some measuerments on J8 pin but my freq meter doesn't seem to be able to get a measurement. In adition I see two J8 points. One in the Rx section, down the speaker, and another J8 pin in the middle of the main board. Has any of you have experience with this rigs? the trimmers are soldered as you can see... Attached Thumbnails __________________ EA3IAV

17th Jan 2019, 5:51 pm	#2
ex seismic Heptode Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tonbridge, Kent, UK. Posts: 686	Re: IC-215 crystal mess Assuming they are the right crystals for the radio, looks good. Two simplex channels and a bunch of repeaters. That is how ceramic trimmers are made. Look good as well. gmb

17th Jan 2019, 6:22 pm	#3
Jon_G4MDC Nonode Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 2,015	Re: IC-215 crystal mess I have one of these. It just works. The crystals look good. The measured frequencies on RX do not. I think maybe not enough drive to the counter? Check the coupling method maybe. The measured TX freqs are believable but might need some tweaking. Interesting that there are 600kHz split repeater pairs there for 145.2/145.8 and 145.225/145.825 MHz. We never saw those used here in G - maybe used in EA however? IC215 RX crystals seem to do OK in the VXO of the IC202 2m Rig which was it's look alike. They are all around 14.9x MHz parallel resonance and multiplied. For repeater use in G today they need CTCSS - mine has that. Don't remember now what I did. It is on GB3AL Amersham 145.7375/1375 with 77Hz. I cut the deviation for the 12.5kHz channel spacing we have here now - RX filters seem OK. Last edited by Jon_G4MDC; 17th Jan 2019 at 6:28 pm.

17th Jan 2019, 6:52 pm	#4
Jon_G4MDC Nonode Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 2,015	Re: IC-215 crystal mess Here are some pictures. Crystals side. One is missing because it covered a useful range for my IC202 converted to 4 metres. It was not much use on 2m = Stolen. CTCSS board is mounted in the battery compartment. AA Nicads (yes not NiMh) have 2x the capacity of original Ni-Cads and do not self discharge. Piano keys select the tone in use only on TX. Inside the lid are the codes to set the different CTCSS tones used in G. That loudspeaker is not original - but at least it has one. Attached Thumbnails

19th Jan 2019, 11:03 am	#5
vu2nan-nandu Pentode Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Bangalore, India Posts: 132	Re: IC-215 crystal mess Hi OM Cesar, Would it be possible for you to use low-power transmissions, from a synthesizer-based 2m rig into a dummy load, to test the receive channels? 73, Nandu. __________________ https://nandustips.blogspot.com

22nd Jan 2019, 12:22 am	#6
CesarLG Tetrode Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Barcelona, Spain. Posts: 62	Re: IC-215 crystal mess Hello! I have been testing that. Channels seem to be fine for the repeaters in Spain. The onmh thing missing is the sub tone! Where are you guys hooking it up in order to get the tone durong transmission? Do you leave it on always or you managed to pug a switch somewhere? Thank you! __________________ EA3IAV