Alinco DX-70 ISSUE

[Mudfoot]

Picked up an older DX-70T. It's in fairly good shape, seems to operate OK.

However, the S meter shows two bars with antenna disconnected and on a dummy load. The meter will show signal strength of other stations, as long as they are greater than 2 S units.

Somehow, I feel like it's going to be something other than adjusting the gain pot or adjustment of the S meter.

I got it fairly cheap, so I'd be willing to invest no more than a C note.

Any input appreciated.

 

[M0GVZ]

However, the S meter shows two bars with antenna disconnected and on a dummy load. The meter will show signal strength of other stations, as long as they are greater than 2 S units.

Any input appreciated.

All amateur radios do that if the RF gain is turned down. Unlike a CB where you will see the signal meter dropping for a given strength, the minimum that the signal meter will drop to raises to indicate the minimum strength it will receive and what would be a S9 signal with the RF gain at 100% will still be indicated as a S9. As you decrease the RF gain the minimum indication of the S meter rises.

I think if you press the RF button you'll find that the gain isn't at 100% and that by increasing it to 100% you'll see the problem disappear.

Sadly many amateurs don't know how to use RF gain properly, keep it whacked at 100% unnecessarily deafening themselves with white noise so never see this phenomenon. It sounds like you may have bought it from an amateur that did know how to use it properly.

 

[Mudfoot]

I've noticed it only does it when the radio warms up.

Sounds like something that will need chased down. I'm just gonna part it out.