Clansman VRC 321

[Radspad]

Hi There!
I just wondered if anyone has had any experience with the Clansman VRC 321 radio? I recently purchased this model from a surplus dealer as untested hoping my luck was in. It is cosmetically in new unissued condition.The problem is on startup, the bleeps continue forever, which should stop after 5-10 seconds as the set is brought into life. I read somewhere that a guy had a similar problem which was caused by a thermal switch that should kick in. Any ideas or solutions would be very much appreciated. Brian. GOCGI

[G6Tanuki]

From memory, they had 'issues' with contacts on some relays going high-resistance if not used for a long time: there was an EMER about this.

--G6Tanuki

[Radspad]

Thanks for that! I will look into that, sounds promising:

[radiotircoed]

Well, yes but a long time ago. I was on the first Royal Signals Technicians course for servicing the 321/353...

[Radspad]

So you are wised up on these sets. Just the person to write a useful fault finding book on them, as there seems to be very little info on the web. Cheers, Brian.

[wave solder]

I had a VRC321 that did just this, the fault on mine was an IC (the only one) on Board 1E which is positioned on the top right of the front panel when looking at the front of the radio. In this particular case the top had been knocked off the top of the IC. A replacement IC solved the problem.

The internal power supply on mine also had a fault that caused this to happen, it is worth checking the voltage rails.

My experience with military equipment is that if the condition looks good, then it is a sign of it not being used due to a fault. The more battered it looks the more likely it is to work.

[radiotircoed]

I'll dig out my notes and manuals this weekend...

[Radspad]

Thanks, Radio Tircoed I would be very grateful. I think you are right about the condition and lack of use Wave Solder.

[Ben-G4BXD]

Originally Posted by wave solder

My experience with military equipment is that if the condition looks good, then it is a sign of it not being used due to a fault. The more battered it looks the more likely it is to work.

--------------------

I agree. I have had great looking sets that were duff and manky looking sets that worked great. Maybe the duff ones end up on the QM stores shelf, only coming down when sold off.

VRC321, mine beeps but then thankfully turns on. The fact it beeps for every freq change is ****** annoying though. Also, on ssb, with the external l.s. connected the feedback of ones own speech in the mic is very loud. OK on AM but too much on ssb. Even turning down the speaker itself jut means all the audio is low, not just the talkback. Will need to go inside and fix it so the speakers muted during tx.

Ben.

[Radspad]

Cheers Ben.

[radiotircoed]

Not managed to get my documentation but the early 321's had terrible trouble with dry joints particularly around relay bases so G6 Tanuki may be on the right track. I Will get back with some pointers...

[Radspad]

Thanks! I have been finding my way around the set today but not seen the relays, are they inside the modules? I did a voltage check on the psu rail and found some of the voltages are going negative but can't initially see why.
Cheers, Brian.

[wave solder]

I presume you have found this useful document on VMARS website?:-

http://www.vmarsmanuals.co.uk/newsle...321_repair.pdf

[Radspad]

Yes, it was very useful and the only document I could find, but it's a good start.

[trh01uk]

Originally Posted by Radspad

So you are wised up on these sets. Just the person to write a useful fault finding book on them, as there seems to be very little info on the web. Cheers, Brian.

Brian,

There's a good reason why the EMERs are not spread around the web, and that is that they are still Crown copyright. So I can't post them here or anywhere else on the net.

I only have some of the VRC-321 EMERs, but they may prove useful. These are however freely available, along with the "training notes" from the Royal School of Signals which include full circuit diagrams, provided you undertake not to sell them or put them on the web. I have been distributing Clansman docs like this for sometime, in return for a written undertaking that they are "only for personal use" (i.e what you have to sign when you take copies from a library). I've just put together the EMERs on CD for the VRC322 system for someone else.

PM me, and I will sort you out.


Richard

[Radspad]

Hello Richard!
Thanks very much for that,
Brian. G0CGI

[Mark Gluch]

Hello Gentlemen!

I've recently acquired a VRC 321, and it has the "dreaded" continous beeping at power up. Have heard that it may be possible to set the frequency selectors to 1.5 MHz, and power up and it will reset. Can anyone verify?

Thanks

Mark