Posted on 01/02/2011 11:03:21 AM PST by Zionist Conspirator
Well, it's not enough that I have to put up with ongoing computer problems, now my radio is messed up.
Several years ago I purchased a Sangean portable battery-operated radio from The Short Wave Store. It's one of those radios where the batteries are the primary power source (the AC adapter had to be purchased separately and is very large, heavy, and unwieldy). Unfortunately, for whatever reason, batteries no longer work in it.
Now let's be absolutely clear about this: it's not the batteries themselves. Not only are they only three months old (and they're Energizer lithiums at that), but I purchased some brand-new batteries out of the store just day before yesterday. The radio simply cannot tell it has batteries in it at all. No batteries will work in it and without batteries its portability is dead. And the large heavy adapter makes moving it around and powering it with electricity very inconvenient.
Okay. So it's not the batteries. Plus I've gone into it with a pencil eraser to clean off any corrosion or whatever. Still doesn't work. And I've pushed the re-set button, in the off-chance that that might solve the problem. I didn't expect it to, and it didn't.
Does anyone out there have any insights into this problem or any suggestions as to what can be done for it? Is this problem fixable? With my ongoing computer problems I really don't need to spend over a hundred dollars on another radio because the one I have can't tell it has batteries in it.
Help please?
Solder crack at the battery connection to circuit board
I'm not familiar with a "lock switch."
Also, you might try pressing the reset button on the bottom of the unit. That may clear some electronic snafu within the unit.
I did that already (I mentioned it in my initial post). Didn't fix the problem.
>> the AC adapter had to be purchased separately and is very large, heavy, and unwieldy <<
I think you’re operating here under some kinda misconception. I have the same radio. A very small power adapter is all you need. Take the Sangean to your nearest Radio Shack store. They’ll be able to fit you out with the correct 6V adapter and matching plug.
There are no lithium “AA’s.”
My camera is very disappointed to find out the “AA” lithiums installed are not legit
The lock switch is in the middle of the right side of the unit, according to the manual.
-PJ
There is no more Grundig.
It was bought out a number of years ago by the Chinese.
They now operate under the Eton label.
Used Grundigs are available on Ebay and elsewhere but get big bucks.
My camera gets real moody with regular batteries much better with lithium “AA’
I don't know how they switch out the battery supply, could be electromechanical (relay) or solid state (electonically).
At any rate if adapter is not plugged in radio should default to battery circuit. Since it isn't you will have to open up the radio and follow the positive lead of the battery compartment to circuit board and see what you can find. A meter would help but you may see something visually.
>> My camera is very disappointed to find out the “AA” lithiums installed are not legit <<
My camera says, “Dittoes!”
The performance of the lithium AA’s in my camera has been outstanding, by the way. Held out just as advertised — ca. eight times the useful lives of akalines.
On the other hand, when I put them in an MP-3 player, they didn’t last much longer than those ultra-cheap Costco akalines. Happened this way twice. So I’d recommend against putting lithiums in a radio. Probably would be a huge waste of money.
I’ll up the Grundig recommendation and add you should find a pre-1997 model that uses analog dials....
My two oldest Grundigs, one from the 1980’s and the other a 1995 or so, have lived longer than the newer 2 2000’s model years that I bought, both had the electronic dials die from what looks (post mortem autopsy) like corrosion that ate the contacts on the silicon.
The new Grundigs are incredibly light weight though... however I don’t trust them for long term use...
>> I don’t have the beep. <<
Hmm. Maybe they got so many complaints about it that models newer than mine didn’t incorporate the beep.
(Mine is vintage ca. 1999.)
>> The radio does turn itself off and then start to alarm with a beep (ascending volume) between 11:15 and 11:45 am, and I don’t know how to cancel this ‘feature’. <<
Try Googling both “DX-398” and “Sangean 398.” You might find something on point.
The switching is mechanical and is internal to the power connector. The power connector is soldered directly to the circuit board. The battery connectors are also wired directly to the circuit board.
If the radio works with the external supply, then the problem is almost surely with the power connector.
Get some contact cleaner, and squirt some into the connector, then work the power connector in and out a few times.
If this doesn’t help, you will have to live with it as replacing the connector is a difficult and tedious process that would cost almost as much as a new radio if you paid a tech to do it.
Taking one of these radios apart is a tricky proposition, and not for a newbie to attempt.
The Grundig 700 is a brick. While newer models are much lighter, when it comes to electronics, I usually get better long-term performance with devices that have some heft.
Dittos on the analog dial recommendation.
Digital is fine if you know exactly what frequency you’re looking for, but if you’re just searching, analog is the way to go.
I have a high end Satellit 3400 which is a beast, and a Panasonic RF-2200, which, in terms of performance, simply blows it away. Both are from the eighties.
In one respect, the 3400 is ideal in that it has analog tuning and a digital counter for a frequency readout.
According to the manual, http://www.sangean.com/products/download/manual/ATS-505_IBOK.pdf , it's right above the volume knob. That's shown on page 2 and designated a "LICK switch" on the next page 2. Seems to be just two page 2s and licking is surely optional.
There must be some kind of damage on the inside that prevents it from using its batteries. I have a friend who's an electronics repairman. Maybe he can fix it. If not . . . I'll just have to "live with it" (as a fellow FReeper put it). But what a pain in the tail!
Power connector spring loaded?
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