OK, so the counter is still dead. I know what's wrong with it and have ordered parts to repair it, they should arrive today if the post works. Probably needs a calibration too so I'll call in a favour for that.

Before I can proceed further I need to see signal into the radio, to that end I'm going to be using one of the DDS modules as a signal generator and will be picking up a couple of rotary encoders later today to build one of these:

http://www.g4jnt.com/AD9850-Controller.pdf

That should at least allow me to check through the receiver and if I get a signal there, I can make a reasonable assumption that the PLL is working correctly and all aligned correctly.

I've also managed to buy one of the Anytone/Quixiang rigs, a KPO DX-5000 (anyone know how to work out which software version?) so I'll be on air, probably listening more than chatting but the dog will still be front stage.

Gordon's Alive!!!!

VCO lock, mixer crystals wobbling as they should, it transmits.

Somewhere.

Frequency counter not working. Oh well, I'll fix that and then align the PLL, Loop crystal and the LO crystal.

It seems the dog isn't as much of one as I thought it might be.

It lives

Kind of.

Most static voltages are correct, the PLL supply is at 8.4 volts, nothing gets hot, current draw is right around 300mA on RX (depends on channel display at this stage, I can see segments changing the current draw as I select channels) so I'm happy to put the MB8719 into it when it arrives.

Headache now so I'll check the crystals are oscillating somewhere near the correct frequencies tomorrow when I dig out my 'scope and counter.

The post came.

And it delivered these:

Which I forgot I'd ordered. There are two AD9851 versions on their way as well.

Good grief...

The Tone switch was wired as a Roger Beep switch, connecting or disconnecting one leg of C146, but whenever the mod was active, you got HF cut on the received audio because the original function was still connected. Odd.

The SWR/Power/Cal switch was wired to short out the AM Power preset (the Red and White/Violet wire in the 'as was' pictures), VR11 and had another unknown function but the Blue and Yellow wires were floating loose inside the case and it will remain a mystery now.

Other mods found? Umm, so far, D8 shorted with a wire link to cure 'lazy' needle. Not sure if this mod will stay or not, it's a minor one that won't affect the operation of the radio much and may actually improve it.

I'm sure there may be other 'mods' to be found, likely just as inept but it's time for sleep now.

More tomorrow if I get time.

Somebody stop me..

This is getting a bit addictive, started stripping and cleaning the front panel now. The wiring has been chopped about quite a bit, bizarrely, the three front panel switches I'd have expected to have been re-purposed to add 'functions' still have what looks like original wiring and the only 'useful' switch, the SWR/Power/Cal switch had been bodged for some as yet unknown purpose.

Hopefully the wiring diagram will be accurate.

Channel switch, before:

And after:

Ready to put back in now.

(I know, the flux isn't left on purely out of laziness on the manufacturer's part, it's there to help protect the board a little too, or that's how it's been explained to me in the past, so I'll be giving it a light spray of a PCB lacquer before it goes into service)

Drying out.

The board is almost clean, it's actually in really good shape as well, no unpleasant poker work soldering (wait 'til you see the iron I use, you'll shudder but it really is the best I've ever used) and only a couple of track cuts which have been done neatly so should be easy to sort out.

The component side of the board is a bit mucky still and I've yet to strip off the front panel so I can clean up the switches but I'm feeling oddly confident and enthused with this project.

One thing I do like about this radio, the option for dual outputs. Now I have a mind to do a MOSFET conversion on it as well but I'm getting a bit ahead of myself there I think.

Cleaned and dried nicely, it really is in pretty good condition under the muck.

PLL removed and the tracks around it aren't too bad either considering it's been hacked about (all that damage was already done)

Cup of tea time.

Now to start getting it back to stock, thanks to a great guy, (Andy) I have a PLL winging its way to me so by weekend I hope to be able to transmit.

I think now I'm going to give it some power and see if it lights up, if you see smoke, call the fire brigade.

More updates as they happen.