ARF2001. Odd counter display fault.

[nomadradio]

This one had me a bit baffled. Reminded me of the old wisdom about finding a turtle on its back atop a fence post.

You know he didn't get there by himself.

This ARF2001 radio (look it up) has a six-digit frequency display where the factory-stock clock would have been. This was an incredibly popular upgrade 40-plus years ago.

This radio was missing the top segment of all six digits. The industry standard name for that top segment is "a". Lower case "a".

So now that the counter module has been laboriously unbolted and exposed, what's wrong with this picture?

Okay, from this distance it's not so apparent. Here's what a closer look reveals.

Oddly enough, this transistor supplies current to the "a" segment of all six digits.

No trick to identify where it used to be before it got pulled out. Somehow.

Somehow.

Soldering this lead back where it came from fixed the problem. All seven segments now light up on the counter display.

But how did that turtle get up there?

73

 

[Handy Andy]

They may have noticed a "flicker" or change of brightness whiel the dispaly was active.

So in their research they may have been looking for the wire to the segment - not necessarily the cold solder or untinned lead of the driver transistor.

We had this problem on Neon "Pinball" displays back in my Arcade days.

​

These were from that age as well. The display above has bad segments but what I thought was interesting was the "REPAIRED" Sticker dating back to 1984 - one of the years I worked in Arcades repairing them and getting displays like these to work again.

Similar problem - just reheat the legs with fresh solder - which we bought from Radio Shack in the same mall - used as an expense against the "petty cash fund business account".

In those days, the "Neons" ran about 60~80 volts and had a separate tap to the main Iron transformer so they ran digital TT&L levels but had to use high - voltage switching run on 12V to work against the 60VAC 100mA - polling that these boards did - to show scores - credits some even have alphanumeric for words to show and deliver messages while you played.

That's a blast from the past...

 

[Retro CB Guy]

Yeah for the record, this ARF 2001 is mine ! A very rare situation to happen indeed. Got it fixed yesterday. Many thanks to Chris at Nomad Radio !!!

Handy Andy that's interesting too, especially because I used to work at the arcade back in the day during that time frame as well. Ballys Alladin Castle was where I worked.

73's and thanks for the post Nomad, Retro

 

[w9cll]

Handy Andy that's interesting too, especially because I used to work at the arcade back in the day during that time frame as well.

Chicago area?

 

[Retro CB Guy]

Chicago area?

No more southern IN. Louisville KY area sir.

73

 

[w9cll]

Got it, have a friend that worked for Bromley