Here I was complaining this morning about the overly priced radios you see on Fleabay and yard sales and I had a beautiful old-school 148 dropped in my lap! Taiwan model, side-mic, white power connector. At first peek, it looks completely virgin other than an SPST switch installed on the back that I have no idea (yet) what it does. I'll figure that out soon enough.
Good news is this mystery switch is the only extra hole it has. No channel mods, the clarifier is bone stock as is the wax in the coils, so I don't think a screwdriver has touched it. Finding virgin 148's is nearly impossible these days - or at least in my area.
Radio does work, but seems a little low on the the output (with stock mic, approx. 2.8 deadkey - swing about 3.5 and about 8 on SSB). My guess it just needs a good wash and tune (and re-cap).
Anyhow...
Looking at my SAMS, it shows the PC412AA board. Do any of you 148 surgeons know if the caps are different on the PC412AB board? I did some brief searching and found a few posts about these radios and there were some mentions of a few cap changes that the SAMS didn't reflect. Also mentioned was these Taiwan models like to pop some of the caps especially after sitting. I was told this radio has been sitting for many years and with the layer of dust it had on it.. I'd say that's a good bet.
I have a few other radios to re-cap after I finish my Cobra 2k so I'll have to place another Mouser and/or Digikey order anyway. Now that I have several radios to do, it will be more cost effective to buy the caps in larger amounts.
So... up-to-date and accurate cap list anyone? Bueller? Beuulllleeer?
Many thanks in advance!
Good news is this mystery switch is the only extra hole it has. No channel mods, the clarifier is bone stock as is the wax in the coils, so I don't think a screwdriver has touched it. Finding virgin 148's is nearly impossible these days - or at least in my area.
Radio does work, but seems a little low on the the output (with stock mic, approx. 2.8 deadkey - swing about 3.5 and about 8 on SSB). My guess it just needs a good wash and tune (and re-cap).
Anyhow...
Looking at my SAMS, it shows the PC412AA board. Do any of you 148 surgeons know if the caps are different on the PC412AB board? I did some brief searching and found a few posts about these radios and there were some mentions of a few cap changes that the SAMS didn't reflect. Also mentioned was these Taiwan models like to pop some of the caps especially after sitting. I was told this radio has been sitting for many years and with the layer of dust it had on it.. I'd say that's a good bet.
I have a few other radios to re-cap after I finish my Cobra 2k so I'll have to place another Mouser and/or Digikey order anyway. Now that I have several radios to do, it will be more cost effective to buy the caps in larger amounts.
So... up-to-date and accurate cap list anyone? Bueller? Beuulllleeer?
Many thanks in advance!
