#69 Shop Talk Ghost FT 101 Radio Shack Camera

[@albertmorris4889]

Good evening and boy did the TS-120 problem bring back memories. A local guy here kept having his rig shut down on him. I finally visited him and found out he had a rel hefty linear supply (probably 40 or 50 amps homebrew. He had a heavy pigtail with ring terminals on the output studs, but the pigtail was only about a foot long and he had 3 or 4 radio power cables attached to that pigtail with AC wire nuts. These cables were all stranded wire. Measuring at the PS output the voltage was very steady, but at the power input of his rig, the voltage varied and dropped almost all the way out on peaks. I convinced him the popper way was to put ring terminals on end of each power cable and put those on the output studs and tighten them all down. His problem magically went away :). Enjoy watching your vids. I do not have the patience for much detail work (IE SMD and high density) these days so you have my admiration in that area. 73 - AL WB8FEQ

[@TheRadioShop]

Yep, that is what we have to do is help folks understand there is a proper way to do things. So many out there want to learn but have no idea where to start. Glad you like the videos. And I have plenty of patience these days :)Thanks for sharing that story.

[@willwasson8113]

Thanks for getting back to the FT-101 :-) I've been waiting patiently, but I understand that you have lots of things to do and that all of us are getting exactly what we paid for. I can't understand how people can give you misery when you are giving them stuff for free. I love all that old Radio Shop stuff too. I think I bought all that stuff back when I was a kid :-) Bring back a lot of good memories.

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks Will. Some folks only like certain things. When you give them something different they don't like it. I even want to do this 101 series on every video. But other things have to be done also. We will get there my friend. Thanks for watching and being a part of this.

[@w.rustylane5650]

I'm glad I got a dedicated power supply for my Kenwood TS-430S. My power supply is the PS-430 which is perfect for the radio. Just upgraded to General Ham license and cannot wait to get my Kenwood TS-430S on line. Just need a 49:1 balun and an end fed half wave antenna and an antenna tuner. Now that's a cool way to monitor without an extender card. I've seen that done before. 73 from K9POW in eastern Tennessee.

[@cheezervvvvv]

Hi, just wanted to say your video and audio quality only runs second to the content of your videos. Really appreciate the clear explanations as you troubleshoot and repair electronics. I can spend hours watching you solve problems. I don't pretend to understand all of it but the more I watch the more I learn , so thank you for that.

[@mikecanton5129]

looking forward to follow this checkup on 101's have 2-i need to go through thanks again!

[@johnbellas490]

Great video Buddy, Can't wait until you get to the point of neutralization of the final on the FT 101, Yes I remember the Radio Shack circuit board kits, bought several of them myself many moons ago. At one time I worked for NELCO in Walden, N.Y. and they produced single and double sided copper circuit boards in different sizes and thickness. I then was selected to work for IBM in East Fishkill, N.Y. and had the chance to make chips !!! I also love old tube radios I have quite a collection. I also have 12 transistor pocket radio (LARGE POCKET required) that is in its OWN CARDBOARD CASE with the EARPHONE and 9 VOLTbattery still in the little bag !! All 3 items are in their place in a purple velvet lined case in the box, The Radio was made by ZENITH, it still works too.. Best Regards as always, looking forward to your next video John A Bellas ----- KC2UVN

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks John for that great story. Awesome!.Be glad when I get to the neutralization part also. That will mean we are finished with this series :-) Thanks again for watching and sharing.

[@ZenithClarity]

Just subbed. I used to have an almost complete 101E setup. I was missing the heart though, the amp, 4-500 bucks. I ran into tough times as usual and had to sell it all. Even had the original box and the original shipping box. Your video really made me miss it. Maybe i can get another setup going someday. Really am going to enjoy this series. Thanks for putting the time in! Mark

[@TheRadioShop]

Mark, Thanks for the kind words. I really love the old 101 radios. Sorry you had to sell your. Hope you can run across another one day. Pretty cheap at ham fest at times. But requires work.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thumbs up Bud!

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks for stopping by Paul. Waiting on your next adventure.

[@larryk4mu240]

Hi Buddy, good video. My opinion is your video quality is right there with the best ones (and does not take many seconds to get into focus). I consider your audio to be great. I can understand everything said and the volume does not change from one shot to another which I consider most important. Sure, I hear the air conditioning and the tones from the radio under test is a little loud, but I can hear and understand everything you say. So in your upgrading please keep the audio in mind. You’re now well over 2k viewers and climbing. Congratulations my friend. 73

[@TheRadioShop]

Hi Larry. Now this is the type of feedback I like hearing. When I do decide to upgrade I will keep all this in mind. I want my channel to stay informative and give folks what they want to see. With feedback like this it tells me what I need to shoot for. Yeah 2k already and still climbing. Cannot believe it.Thanks for the comments my friend.

[@nigelwright5172]

Hi buddy yesterday i got 2 ft101 s the first one ,the one with 11m on band switch witch i find a bit out of place although 11m was a ham band at the time one radio is for parts although it has a top looking front face plate the radio thats running only needs a driver tube i am looking for manuals for it ,so i will be following along with your fix ,great stuff ,best of good health to you ,73'

[@TheRadioShop]

Great! Go to the Fox Tango web site and down load the 30 meg manual. It is about the best on the net. Do not throw out the other radio as only a parts rig. It may could be fixed also. Good luck with them.

[@bundylovess]

Big thumbs up mate

[@TheRadioShop]

Appreciate allan.

[@dennisqwertyuiop]

great tip on non extender boards

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks Dennis. Those boards are about 100 bucks.

[@gh778jk]

I had that very same PCB etching kit when I was a child!!! The very same! The cardboard box was different (It said 'Archer', one of the Tandy/Radio Shack brands) but the content was a 100% identical! It must have been the early seventies when I got that... Oh deary me.... I am getting old!! Paddy

[@wa6gxq]

Great Video Buddy. Enjoyed can't wait for the next. take care.

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks very much Barry.

[@gilbertstevenson3275]

I took the tubes out turn to heater switch on and it didn't blow a fuse so I've got bad tubes thank you radio shop

[@TheRadioShop]

You are welcome

[@Scott-K7sce]

i'm looking forward to more 101 videos, will help me out on mine. i have a early model 101 w/o the speech processor, i do believe the wires on top of the vfo inside the case go to the optional board. and all the cards inside are A model boards and no cw filter

[@TheRadioShop]

Must be a 101 plain. Those wires are for a processor. Stay tuned more to come.

[@TRXLab]

Hi Buddy, yeah it is always a challenge to keep the shop up to date... Take care bro 73

[@TheRadioShop]

You got that right. Always something to do. Take care also bro.

[@daytonpyro]

more 101. and i never owned one. would you like to work on a kenwood ts 940s?

[@mikesradiorepair]

The fastest way to make extender boards is with a table saw. I know, sounds a little brutal but it works. Pick a blade that has at least a few flat teeth. The trick is to set the blade depth to just remove the copper. Once you have the blade depth set its only a matter of minutes to cut all the traces out. Really simple and fast.

[@TheRadioShop]

Not a bad idea Mike. I was just about to make a new insert for the table saw to have a smaller gap where the blade comes through the top. Can practice on a piece of paneling. Thanks!

[@margaqrt]

My TS-120 is not recapped and it doesn't drift noticeably. In fact it performs better than my TS-420 on all modes and as good as my FT-747GX. I can't tell from the video but those power leads look too thin. And yes, I agree, pyramid supplies are OKAY for CBs that draw substantially less power (100 watts vs 4). You can get away with decent quality switching mode supply and for that radio nothing less than 30 amps. But linears are the best for these rigs Love the IC 745. That's the first piece of Icom gear I plan to buy. Nice antenna array! 73.

[@TheRadioShop]

The TS-120 is one tough rig. Yes those wires are a bit thin but are stock. I also have a passion for the IC-745. Thanks for watching

[@voltlog]

thumbs up, keep these videos coming.

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks brother. Good to see you.

[@jemasons]

another great video!

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks Bill!

[@Rebel9668]

That Handycam looks light years ahead of the one I use for my videos, lol. Several years ago I got a Sony Handycam DVD-650 and basically just stored it away not using it. I just started making youtube videos this year and dug that camera out to use for it. It may be old but I imagine I'll be using it for years to come. It's built like a tank, LOL. The battery holds a 93 minute charge which is a lot longer than any video I'd ever try to make but I see they sell batteries on amazon for it that have 15 hours on a charge and look like a brick. Take care, Gary

[@TheRadioShop]

The Sony is about 2 years old now. It does pretty good. Cannot complain. About any camera is fine. I see folks use their phones all the time with decent videos. Will have to check out your videos.

[@vetterfellow]

Wondering if you can give me some information?. what tubes does a Yaesu ft - 101E take?. By the way love your channel. Thank you.

[@TheRadioShop]

12BY7 driver and 6JS6C for the finals. Thanks and glad you like them.

[@chrismckenna4689]

You mentioned that some of the older radios don't care for switching power supplies. I'm a complete newbie, but I have a TS-140s, a TS-180s, and a Yaesu FT101. Could you perhaps explain why that is so? Thanks so much, and I love your channel. That's why I got the FT-101!

[@TheRadioShop]

Hi Chris, let me clarify for you. It is not that some radios will not work with a SMPS. All radios will work with them. The problem comes from the radio and supply. SMPS can produce a lot of noise which is picked up by some receivers as "birdies" If there is a station on that frequency all you will hear is the supply. Hope that helps my friend.

[@chrismckenna4689]

The Radio Shop thanks Buddy!

[@jukeman57]

You really should look into moving to a Linux operating system. I run the Mint distribution. Really love it. Very fast and stable. Lots of free to use open-source software. Many good video editors too. You can use it on that old laptop.

[@TheRadioShop]

I have only played with Linux a little. I do need to try it more often

[@PapasDino]

If you do end up running over that old laptop it would make a great video! Thanks for the trip down memory lane, the old TS-120S was my first mobile HF rig.

[@TheRadioShop]

That would be an awesome video. Love walking down memory lane when I can. Thanks for stopping in Dino.

[@TheRangerDale]

Buddy great Video, got a little chuckle on those instructions from the Radio shack stuff ? yea got all the info , all in ONE language ENGLISH , Yes Ft101 be a lot of guys following along been so many about, and see lot grabbing them up maybe to follow along what they need to repair and understand. windows 10 Now there is a subject left a lone , Real shame I own my computer , but not with windows 10 on it ! think you know what am saying "" ADMINISTRATOR lost Privileges of owner ship !! "" Every time I take a Update on it its HE#$ lol lol Tks buddy for your Tips and efforts 73's

[@TheRadioShop]

Yeah those instructions lol. Pretty good back then though.I love the 101 radios. Fun to own and repair.I am ok on win 8. Hate Win 10.Thanks for watching Dale.

[@mikewagers894]

I've noticed no vids on a Kenwood ts 830

[@TheRadioShop]

Never see any come into the shop that often. Due tp size and weight of the rig I tell folks to find locals to work on them.

[@jonmu8140]

Do you have links to the block diagrams you use?

[@TheRadioShop]

Yes, I will find it and leave a comment here. I think it is on my website.

[@jonmu8140]

By the way what is your website?

[@TheRadioShop]

gokarters.com/smf/index.phpIt is in the bottom of each video. Click the "Show More" tab for links under each video

[@TheRadioShop]

www.qsl.net/nw2m/third of the way down will give you a link to block diagram.

[@g1fsh]

hi Buddy hope u are doing good? thanks for a super video i really like the ft101 serise its full of detail thats hard if not imposible to find any where else thanks for sharing that with us. Is the laptop just getting too hot? it may just need new thermal compound between the processor and its heatsink? U take care my friend

[@TheRadioShop]

Hi Gary, Good to see you and hope you are well. Other than some joint pain I am doing fine. Thanks for asking. Yep, only a few bits and pieces on the web about doing actual repair to these rigs. My intent is to get folks an understanding of how this unit works and be able to follow along in real life. Folks are telling me it is a thermal problem. May hack into it later. Thanks for watching my friend and good to see you.

[@g1fsh]

Yeah I know what the joint pain feels like Buddy lol its our age lol. Good uck with the laptop.

[@g1fsh]

Good luck with the laptop even

[@MichaelLloyd]

Adobe Premiere Pro is very good video editing software. I have it bundled in with my photo editing software so I don't know how costly it is. I can tell you that it's easy to learn and out of the box it has a lot of features (like picture in picture) time warping or slowing. Editing in multiple clips is as easy as dragging them around on their own timeline. Also, another way to do the audio is to pick up something like a ZOOM H4N and record the audio separately and then use some software to synch the two together. Have you seen them use a slate (clacker, whatever) to mark the beginning of a scene in a movie? That's the signal for synching audio and video, without software. I still have our Johnson Messenger base and mobile rigs from 1975. KTJ3114 way back then. NE5U today :)

[@TheRadioShop]

Appreciate that information Michael. And never thought of using an external audio device. Good idea. I have a few Johnsons here. May have to drag them out one day.Thanks my friend.

[@patrickp4827]

Might be time for a Macbook? They're more expensive at first but they'll last you for years and years.

[@MrMac5150]

Real Good........... Let me have the laptop before giving it to the trash can.

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks MrMac. I was emailed a fix for it tonight. Guess I will give it one more shot....

[@MrMac5150]

The Radio Shop Let me know.

[@gilbertstevenson3275]

I have ft 101 B and when you turn the heater switch on it blows a fuse anyone tell me it could be a bad tube or

[@TheRadioShop]

Remove the tubes and try, Make be a bad tube.

[@buckaroobonsi555]

I have had fantastic luck with Asus Laptops, Sony Laptops and Dell's higher end laptops. I know peoples experience varies. I use Windows 10, keep Windows Defender going and Mc Afee antivirus. I have used Asus Mother Boards for 2 desk top builds and loved them. I recently tried Gigabyte and have liked that brand as well for mother boards! I turn off Windows automatic update and once a month I manually have it check for updates so it never updates when I do not want it too. The settings for peak hours of use does not work well if your 12hour window overlaps with one day and another. I only just gave up on Windows XP and XP64 for Servers. I tried Window's 7 and that was ok, Windows 8.1 and I did not get along well. When Microsoft offered the free upgrade to Windows 10 I tried it and liked it a lot. So I have transitioned all my older XP and Windows 7 and 8.1 PC's over to Windows 10 and so far I like it in spite of what every say's about it. Microsofts operating systems are at their best 3-5 years before they decide to stop supporting it! LOL When Microsoft first rolled out Windows 10 I had one laptop I had to load 10 on more than once but with 4 computer's switched over to 10 that is the only one that had that issue. When I had Windows 8.1 I freq. had to restore that laptop and it was a high end gaming laptop. Hope that helps. On 3 of my 4 computers when I power them up including the time it takes for me to type my password in until the system is fully booted is 29 seconds!

[@gilbertstevenson3275]

radio shop how can I get in contact with you I have a 757 GX 2 to be worked on

[@TheRadioShop]

under each video is a tab call show more. Click that tab then click on contact info

[@ghoshowwalks53]

or no por thing. going to a good home. ? australia 4814.

[@kennynvake4hve584]

I would put windows 7 on that laptop

[@TheRadioShop]

Tried t it failed.

[@mikesradiorepair]

You would be welcome to borrow one of my 50BMG or 338 Lapua rifles. Either one should efficiently vaporize the laptop. :)

[@TheRadioShop]

That would take care of it. Someone emailed me telling me what may be causing it. Will check it out and see. Ventilation....

[@TheRadioShop]

Yep, going to give that a look at this week if I can. These things are very thin and it want take much to block airflow. Thanks Roberto, good to see you.

[@damianred2003]

kenwood ts120 the best!!!

[@TheRadioShop]

Yes nice old rigs

[@1112223333111]

put windows 7 or linux mint on the laptop. new laptops are windows 10...its even worse

[@TheRadioShop]

Had Win 7 on it twice. Did the same thing. 7. 8. and 10. Neither matters. This laptop only has a gig processor in it anyway. Its hammer time :)