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Texas Star DX-250 repair

Greg T

Greg T

WDX-945 (Jazz Singer) Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Sep 18, 2014
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Escanaba, Michigan
Is there a reputable repair shop that works on these that won't take a year and/or cost me my wife? I have one that is old (maybe 30 years) and the damn radio kicked a 16 watt carrier into side band and smoked it. Got the radio fixed, but now looking for someone to repair the amp. Actually, it's not mine, but my buddy is internet incapable. I have no idea who to ship it to.

tia
 

nomadradio said:
Wasn't there a guy named Steve in Texas who did this?

Or maybe not. Found his YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/user/TexasStarRepair/featured


Two videos. Both from 11 years ago.

Not a good sign.

73
Click to expand...

Thanx for the response. I did ask the guy at First Class Radio (he's doing a Ranger for my friend) and he says they work on them. But, he's had the Ranger for almost 3 months. I guess the radio is done now.
 
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What ever happened to that guy Mike? Texas Star Repair. He really knew his stuff. He used to have a nice web site also and it has been gone for a while. Someone said he went back to Texas Star. That may only be a rumor.
 
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Low_Boy said:
What ever happened to that guy Mike? Texas Star Repair. He really knew his stuff. He used to have a nice web site also and it has been gone for a while. Someone said he went back to Texas Star. That may only be a rumor.
Click to expand...
I think there is a thread about him, I think I remember that someone talked to him fairly recently. I don't remember if it was a Texas Star thread, or at the end of a different thread. I guess I'm not much help.
 
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Good luck finding anyone who takes mail in and isnt up to their eyeballs in work. Of course you have to be located in one of the most remote regions of the lower 48 so chances of finding a local screwdriver is pretty low.
My suggestion is your friend needs to buy/borrow another amp to use while he sends this one out to be fixed. If he popped pills and they're toshibas hes bummin as the 2290's are being priced up to $100 used and $200 new like the 2879's. Repairs arent going to be cheap plus figure in shipping both ways at $25 a ride.
Id call a few amp builders and see what their schedules are like and you might get lucky with a yooper sob story. I know can be rough when you live in the middle of nowhere. Id try this guy first. If he cant he may lead you to who can. https://youtube.com/c/3made1
 
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It's possible for you to repair the amp yourself with help from the guys here if you can solder parts without covering everything beside the intended component. It will be a lot cheaper and quicker too.
 
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Can be easy to repair if you have the tools, supplies, equipment and some skill. The Upper Peninsula can be pretty remote and may be hard to get the stuff needed if you dont already have it.
Some clear detailed pics of the inside would help to see what damage was done and what you may need to get started. As Ranch55 said it may be an easy fix and hopefully the pills are good.
 
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Tokin said:
Good luck finding anyone who takes mail in and isnt up to their eyeballs in work. Of course you have to be located in one of the most remote regions of the lower 48 so chances of finding a local screwdriver is pretty low.
My suggestion is your friend needs to buy/borrow another amp to use while he sends this one out to be fixed. If he popped pills and they're toshibas hes bummin as the 2290's are being priced up to $100 used and $200 new like the 2879's. Repairs arent going to be cheap plus figure in shipping both ways at $25 a ride.
Id call a few amp builders and see what their schedules are like and you might get lucky with a yooper sob story. I know can be rough when you live in the middle of nowhere. Id try this guy first. If he cant he may lead you to who can. https://youtube.com/c/3made1
Click to expand...

Well, that's the thing, the transistors are SRF 2072 and I'm guessing from late 70s to 80s. I could actually change them, myself, I've done quite a bit of soldering and such, just not a diagnostician. I've scrutinized the inside and can nothing that was overheated, no discoloration of anything. The radio was throwing a 15 watt carrier on SSB so my guess is the outputs are toast. He has the opportunity to buy another DX-250 from a guy, but we're trying to see if he'll let us test it first. He can get it for $150.00. More than likely cheaper than two transistors. I'll just have to do the power wire upgrade on it if he gets it.

Thanks for all responses, folks! Much appreciated.
 
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Greg T said:
Well, that's the thing, the transistors are SRF 2072 and I'm guessing from late 70s to 80s. I could actually change them, myself, I've done quite a bit of soldering and such, just not a diagnostician. I've scrutinized the inside and can nothing that was overheated, no discoloration of anything. The radio was throwing a 15 watt carrier on SSB so my guess is the outputs are toast. He has the opportunity to buy another DX-250 from a guy, but we're trying to see if he'll let us test it first. He can get it for $150.00. More than likely cheaper than two transistors. I'll just have to do the power wire upgrade on it if he gets it.

Thanks for all responses, folks! Much appreciated.
Click to expand...
$80/pill at rf parts
Screenshot_20210717-192623.png
 
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If you do put new transistors in it, don't apply any power before you have checked R8 for a proper resistance reading. It tends to blow out when transistors fail. When it does, the bias current on the RF transistors goes through the roof. Can blow out a new pair of RF transistors before you key it more than a few seconds.

http://www.cbtricks.com/Amp/txstar/dx250_dx350/graphics/ts_dx250_dx350_sch.pdf

You'll never guess how I learned about that pitfall.

73
 
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nomadradio said:
If you do put new transistors in it, don't apply any power before you have checked R8 for a proper resistance reading. It tends to blow out when transistors fail. When it does, the bias current on the RF transistors goes through the roof. Can blow out a new pair of RF transistors before you key it more than a few seconds.

http://www.cbtricks.com/Amp/txstar/dx250_dx350/graphics/ts_dx250_dx350_sch.pdf

You'll never guess how I learned about that pitfall.

73
Click to expand...

As long as I've been messing with electronics, I still don't grasp how, in this case, 1.8 ohms can be the difference between success and failure.....I mean, that's the resistance in a set of crappy meter leads.
 
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