So I recently got an MCX1000 and programmed it up with my GMRS frequencies and now need to retune the units RX. Now, I contacted some people here on the board and I got really great directions on how to actually do it and it doesn’t seem that hard. My only problem is I lack a service monitor or signal generator, nor do I directly know anyone in my area that has one. I then started looking at prices for both type of units, wow I almost fell off my chair. I didn’t realize how much nice ones would be, but I guess it makes sense for what they do. So I’m kind of in a pickle, the MCX is a pretty heavy unit so shipping both ways would cost some money. What should I do? Is there any cheap way of doing this? I want to try myself because I always want to learn new things but the cost of the right tools just seem a little high for me. Suggestions for the cheap way of doing things?
Alex
Tuning MCX1000
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kc7gr
- Posts: 1031
- Joined: Wed Mar 13, 2002 4:00 pm
- What radios do you own?: Motorola, Icom, Sunair (HF).
Re: Tuning MCX1000
I don't know if you consider $40/hour "cheap," but I can do the alignment for you. I know Monty can do it as well, and I think there's at least one other Batlabber that does, so you've got a grand opportunity to shop around.DjMtrx3 wrote: <snippety> So I?m kind of in a pickle, the MCX is a pretty heavy unit so shipping both ways would cost some money. What should I do? Is there any cheap way of doing this? I want to try myself because I always want to learn new things but the cost of the right tools just seem a little high for me. Suggestions for the cheap way of doing things?
Alex
The only kicker with me is that you'd have to ship the radio to western Washington state.
FWIW: A service monitor (ideally), or a decent sig gen (bare minimum) is a wise investment if you plan to be doing anything serious with radio gear. I've seen decent enough Wavetek and HP gear from $150-$400, and I've seen older service monitors as low as $1,000.
PM or E-mail me if you decide you want me to do the tweaking for you.
Keep the peace(es).
Bruce Lane, KC7GR
"Raf tras spintern. Raf tras spoit."
Alex. there are three "slugs" on the right hand side of the chassis labled L701- 703. These are the receiver front end and depending what the radio was originaly tuned for need just a turn or two either way. There are three more coils just to the front of the L701-703 and three more below them. The top three are for the 460 range receiver filter and the bottom three are for the lower 450 or 440 range. receiver filter.
You could "tweek" them in order while listening to a weak station on GMRS or what ever else you had programmed in your radio in that frequency range, 460 to 463 would be ideal. only six coils!!!
You could "tweek" them in order while listening to a weak station on GMRS or what ever else you had programmed in your radio in that frequency range, 460 to 463 would be ideal. only six coils!!!
Hi Folks....
Along the same lines, I have two VHF and one UHF MCX1000s that I want to tune up on the 2 m and 70 cm bands respectively. I bought the RSS and have access to a service monitor, what I am lacking is documentation. I haven't been able to find any service manuals. (I've been watching eBay for a couple of months and according to Motorola Online they are NLA.) The silk screening on the PC boards is pretty informative, but I still hate to start tuning slugs without the docs.
Most of my questions regard the dual front end option on my 136-162 MHz radios. How does the radio select which front end to use? Is it based on receive frequency? Or are certain modes assigned to each front end? And looking at the information provided by Will, it appears all UHF models are dual front end... Is that true? (I haven't re-opened my UHF model to find out...) Is there a certain sequence or tuning procedure that needs to be followed?
Are there anything else I should know to tune these radios? I'm inclinded to start fiddling with them since I can't seem to get the manuals. (I've been tuning all sorts of Motorola gear for almost 15 years, so how different can the MCX1000 be?) Better yet, can someone post a Cliff Notes version (i.e. a synopsis) of the tuning instructions?
Thanks in advance...
--z
Along the same lines, I have two VHF and one UHF MCX1000s that I want to tune up on the 2 m and 70 cm bands respectively. I bought the RSS and have access to a service monitor, what I am lacking is documentation. I haven't been able to find any service manuals. (I've been watching eBay for a couple of months and according to Motorola Online they are NLA.) The silk screening on the PC boards is pretty informative, but I still hate to start tuning slugs without the docs.
Most of my questions regard the dual front end option on my 136-162 MHz radios. How does the radio select which front end to use? Is it based on receive frequency? Or are certain modes assigned to each front end? And looking at the information provided by Will, it appears all UHF models are dual front end... Is that true? (I haven't re-opened my UHF model to find out...) Is there a certain sequence or tuning procedure that needs to be followed?
Are there anything else I should know to tune these radios? I'm inclinded to start fiddling with them since I can't seem to get the manuals. (I've been tuning all sorts of Motorola gear for almost 15 years, so how different can the MCX1000 be?) Better yet, can someone post a Cliff Notes version (i.e. a synopsis) of the tuning instructions?
Thanks in advance...
--z