Yeticom Optima Mk3 Frequency Adjustment?

[buickid]

Dusted off the Optima and put it in the truck. On SSB, the clarifier needs to be around 2 o'clock for other stations to sound "normal". Couldn't find a service manual online, anyone know which pot I can tweak to get back closer to 12 o'clock?

Thanks,
Trevor

 

[Retro CB Guy]

Trevor, If you put the main PCB ID here, folks could possibly help more. I haven't used mine in years but they are great!

73's, Retro

 

[Pez]

Dusted off the Optima and put it in the truck. On SSB, the clarifier needs to be around 2 o'clock for other stations to sound "normal". Couldn't find a service manual online, anyone know which pot I can tweak to get back closer to 12 o'clock?

Thanks,
Trevor

It's been a while since I worked one of these, but from memory it might not be that simple... If it's like the earlier Albrecht/Dragon (SY) designs, it would have a can for each of the 1KHz steps, between 1-5KHz, which are used to achieve each division in the VFO step range... Meaning that the alignment process involves 5 times as much 'work' to get it aligned properly, compared to a more 'traditional' radio. Having said all that, I could be totally wrong about the Optima. But the man who should be able to give some good advice on these is @magnuman - he might chime in.

73

 

[buickid]

Hi there Retro and Pez, got some photos to share. Pez, I think you're right about the separate cans. What would be the way to go about tweaking those? I have an old R2001 service monitor that's more or less on frequency, certainly enough for these purposes. I checked the radio on AM and FM, it's +/- 100Hz. Clarifier doesn't affect those modes, interestingly enough.

Thanks!

 

[Retro CB Guy]

 

[Pez]

OK, I would reference the document attached as a guide only.

Regarding the clarifier not functioning on AM/FM mode - you need to align the radio in SSB mode. Inject a 1KHz tone into microphone and if you are in LSB mode, you will see a TX frequency -1KHz lower than the VFO frequency. If you are in USB mode, you will see a TX frequency +1KHz higher than the VFO frequency. (I think this is what you are asking about?)

First, center your clarifier, then I would make sure the reference, etc is correct.

Then you will need to work out which of the cans T17 - T22 are for which particular 1KHz step, and adjust them one at a time, accordingly.

For example,

27.380 might be T17
27.381 might be T18
27.382 might be T19...

etc.

Also, don't assume that they will go up in sequential order. They might be random cans for each 1KHz step value.

When 1,2,3,4,5 KHz steps are done, then steps 6,7,8,9,0 should fall in line.

Good luck!

 

[Pez]

I just had a closer look at your photos - the board is very clearly marked! You should be good to go, just take your time and use the right tools - don't break any of the slugs!

73

 

[Retro CB Guy]

Thanks good deal, and I've got the Albrecht AE-5890 which is similar too.

73

 

[buickid]

Thanks, that's super helpful. That's an interesting arrangement. So in theory if you only used channels on 5KHz spacings, you could get away with aligning only one of the cans. Where's a good place to buy a quality alignment tool? I have a few but they're pretty old and beat.

 

[Cheech]

I tried multiple times contacting them about alignment information for this radio. Never could get any information from them. I still have my radio and like it but their attitude when I asked about alignment information really aggravated me.

 

[NZ8N]

https://www.repeater-builder.com/radio-shack/htx-10/htx-10-service-manual.pdf

I have 2 of these.