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Anytone at-5555n II (version 2)

I started poking around the innards of mine at lunchtime today. Here's what I have for voltages so far. All numbers are with radio at full RF power and into a dummy load using the stock mic set to EL level 36. The power supply is a MegaWatt S-400-12 set to 13.8 volts. Nothing else is running off this power supply. I don't see any obvious physical signs of damage to the board.

Pictures of measurement locations are at the bottom.

Power cord plug end:
13.845 volts​

Power cord connection inside case:
13.826 volts not keyed​
13.401 volts on SSB with modulation​
13.585 volts on AM with modulation​

TIP36C Bipolar Transistor
Left pin​
13.375 volts not keyed​
12.855 volts on AM with modulation​
12.626 volts on SSB with modulation​
Right pin​
13.823 volts not keyed​
13.553 volts on AM with modulation​
13.344 volts on SSB with modulation​

L7808CV voltage regulator
Left pin​
13.681 volts not keyed​
13.140 volts on SSB with modulation​
13.341 volts on AM with modulation​
Right pin​
8.052 volts not keyed​
No change when mic keyed and modulation​

PowerIn1.jpg

TIP36C_BipolarTransistor1.jpg

L7808CV_VoltageRegulator1.jpg
 
I started poking around the innards of mine at lunchtime today. Here's what I have for voltages so far. All numbers are with radio at full RF power and into a dummy load using the stock mic set to EL level 36. The power supply is a MegaWatt S-400-12 set to 13.8 volts. Nothing else is running off this power supply. I don't see any obvious physical signs of damage to the board.

Pictures of measurement locations are at the bottom.

Power cord plug end:
13.845 volts​

Power cord connection inside case:
13.826 volts not keyed​
13.401 volts on SSB with modulation​
13.585 volts on AM with modulation​

TIP36C Bipolar Transistor
Left pin​
13.375 volts not keyed​
12.855 volts on AM with modulation​
12.626 volts on SSB with modulation​
Right pin​
13.823 volts not keyed​
13.553 volts on AM with modulation​
13.344 volts on SSB with modulation​

L7808CV voltage regulator
Left pin​
13.681 volts not keyed​
13.140 volts on SSB with modulation​
13.341 volts on AM with modulation​
Right pin​
8.052 volts not keyed​
No change when mic keyed and modulation​

View attachment 69542

View attachment 69543

View attachment 69544
Two things jump out at me in my observations. Q552, looks like it is cracked and the power in soldering looks like shit.
 
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Q552, looks like it is cracked
I noticed that too. If it is indeed cracked, it needs to be replaced, and may well be the cause of the problem..........
I've seen those fail with a loud bang more than once before....from too much input voltage.
OP are you using a good meter to read that 13.8VDC ? Some meters read falsely when in the presense of RF.
 
I noticed that too. If it is indeed cracked, it needs to be replaced, and may well be the cause of the problem..........
I've seen those fail with a loud bang more than once before....from too much input voltage.
OP are you using a good meter to read that 13.8VDC ? Some meters read falsely when in the presense of RF.

I did measure it with two DVMs. One reads to 3 decimal places and the other to two. They gave the same rounded readings.

I happen to have a new TIP36CW still in the original packaging from Mouser that I will put in tonight to see what happens. I also have a new L7808CV too but the specs say it should be 13.8 in and 8 volts out and that's what the one in the radio does now. I also have a handful of new Vishay IRF520s from digikey.com still in the original packaging. I bought some spares when I was messing around with a few radios last year. The parts were cheap but the shipping was not, so why not grab some extras at the same time? Of course this is the reason that I have brake parts from motorcycle and car models I will never own again, but you never know when they might come in handy.

To the soldering station... i.e. my office desk.
 
I did measure it with two DVMs. One reads to 3 decimal places and the other to two. They gave the same rounded readings.

I happen to have a new TIP36CW still in the original packaging from Mouser that I will put in tonight to see what happens. I also have a new L7808CV too but the specs say it should be 13.8 in and 8 volts out and that's what the one in the radio does now. I also have a handful of new Vishay IRF520s from digikey.com still in the original packaging. I bought some spares when I was messing around with a few radios last year. The parts were cheap but the shipping was not, so why not grab some extras at the same time? Of course this is the reason that I have brake parts from motorcycle and car models I will never own again, but you never know when they might come in handy.

To the soldering station... i.e. my office desk.
While you are at it, reflow that power input pin.

SL
 
The new TIP36 has the same voltage readings as the one I removed. The marks on the one I removed look like they are from the tip of the probe I was using when measuring the voltage and my aim was a bit off at times. My wife chimed in and said it reminds her of the bathroom. Thank you dear.

TIP36C_BipolarTransistorRemoved.jpg
 
All these little things your folks recommended to me in the spring of 2023 like the good small soldering iron and solder sucker make this stuff a lot less difficult to do. Not easy, but less difficult. Now if only it will somehow magically get this radio working again. I hope so because I like it and it was working great up right until this issue. But with the cost of the 6666Pro and QT60 Pro, it doesn't make sense for me to spend $200 trying to get this working.
 
All these little things your folks recommended to me in the spring of 2023 like the good small soldering iron and solder sucker make this stuff a lot less difficult to do. Not easy, but less difficult. Now if only it will somehow magically get this radio working again. I hope so because I like it and it was working great up right until this issue. But with the cost of the 6666Pro and QT60 Pro, it doesn't make sense for me to spend $200 trying to get this working.
You are correct on the economics, but I hope you are successful with the fix.
 
Thanks for the leads. Hopefully the fuse and fuse holder can be eliminated from the list of suspects since it's now been tried with at least 3 power cords and 3 power supplies at two different locations.

I have lineman gloves, a newer multimeter, a clamp meter, a second power supply I used when checking the bias, plus 3 or 4 older multimeters that are left over for nastier chores in older engine bays. Also a few good soldering irons, solder sucker, etc. And 10x and 30x lighted magnifying glasses for my geezer eyes (excellent investment at only $13 each!). Out in my workshop I also have a MIG welder, an air compressor and air chisel depending on how this goes.

View attachment 69509

View attachment 69508

View attachment 69507
Did you forget the Sledge Hammer , Shot Gum, or 250 Ton Press?
 
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Reactions: TimmyTheTorch
Last night I replaced the TIP36C bipolar transistor and reflowed the connection to the power plug with no improvement in the modulation or dimming of the display during SSB modulation.

I went rummaging through my radio parts stash and I do have a new L7808CV voltage regulator (U750), a new C2314 (Q109 pre-driver?) as well as six new IRF520 and four 13N10 MOSFETs (Q102, Q102, Q103, Q104). Is there any point in me replacing any of these (and checking/setting the bias) as a Hail-Mary type of play? I don't mind removing, testing and replacing these because the parts are inexpensive and I already have them. But if it's unlikely to help, I won't bother.

Beyond that, it's beyond my skillset and knowledge to even know what to do next. Then the decision would have to be to decide between the 6666 Pro, the QT60 Pro or Anytone Q5N2 short chassis. I like the larger display better on the latter two units but maybe it's because I'm used to my current Q5N2. The 6666 Pro looks like a great unit too!

You can also tell in the picture below that one of my daughter's cats has been closely supervising me whilst I poke around in the radio. He's very curious, and nosy.

Q5N2.jpg
 
Before you decide to change anything .......

Have you tried to tighten the screws that hold the circuit board to the aluminum
frame? There's one in your last picture between Q103 and Q109, just a thought.

They should be very tight .........

73
 

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