I Bought a FAULTY VQ Retro Mini for £6.95 | Let's FIX It!

This broken View Quest DAB Radio was purchased from eBay, and I'm trying to fix it in this video. It doesn't appear to have any power and the LCD screen won't light up.
Let's see if we can FIX It?!
Hope you enjoy!
Steve
PS. I'm not an expert in repairs at all. I do this for fun, and it may not be the best or safest way to go about repairing broken stuff. I'm pretty good at melting plastic though. Please don't copy me - I'm an idiot.
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[@davidjoel3155]

You know what I like about your channel? You, you are such a relatable character. There are other channels, but they soo technical (still enjoy their content), but there is some this relatable about this channel. Good work man. Am busy binging though all your past videos. Hope you continue growing!

[@jimmyramkisoen191278]

Hi Stez! I suspect that by reflowing the connections you resolved the corrosion which was acting like a resistor eating that 1 volt that the display needed. Nice video!

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Jimmy! That is an excellent thought, you're probably right! I never thought of it that way, but a poorly soldered connection I suppose can reduce the current flow. 👍

[@jasondoesthings919]

A lucky fix is still a fix, great job. You tracked those traces down like a champ.

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Jason, yep I'll definitely take it! You've gotta be in it to win it, as they say! (Not sure who "they" are) 👍

[@jasondoesthings919]

@@StezStixFix 😂😂😂

[@davidmasterton8823]

It’s annoying to be searching for the problem and suddenly it’s working, on the plus side it is working 👍 good job 👍

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks David! Yeah, I'm still annoyed that I can't pinpoint the fault exactly. But, its still working perfectly and is a cracking unit! So, I'm happy with that!

[@anthonywenban7471]

Hi Stez, I think the large “vias” that you stuck your probe in to check the voltage was the problem, and when you stuck your probe in to measure the 2.6v you disturbed the copper just enough to make a connection, I would stick a jumper wire over it as the fault may come back!

[@SimonEllwood]

The connector with the dodgy pads should be stabilized. Glue on the component side (maybe hot glue) and adding additional formed lead clippings on the solder side can work wonders. The reason is that the contacts can break again especially on a portable device. I keep all the clippings from my components for jobs like this. Form them with pliers to act like the weak or broken tracks and scrape the track back beyond the loose copper. A lot of 1980s items fail on the connectors.

[@dbracer]

Definitely this. Also, the failure is probably caused by the socket not being pressed home properly before soldering. If it wasn't seated properly, the pressure from pushing home the plug could lift the tracks, as they're on the opposite side to the socket. If so, it would have been broken like this direct from the factory and only worked by luck in the first place.

[@guywilton7471]

Loved the video - great to watch someone fault finding as it's no longer my day-to-day job anymore and at times I do miss it lol However....what I don't miss is doing all the work and not finding the fault, only for the bloody thing to function properly.....good result, but less satisfying Something I did wonder is if you'd be better measuring continuity not using the tone, but reading the resistance - I always got seduced by using the tone and chased faults that I could have seen earlier......& to be fair, the instructors did teach us not to rely on the tone during Technical Training Anyway..... I'm being a meddling old f*** and I don't mean to criticise and spoil your fun Keep up the great videos!

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Guy! No, you're absolutely right. Relying on that beep has got me in to trouble a couple of times before! I'd love to find out the actual fault with this, but I suspect it's probably just a few dodgy solder joints from factory. I don't think the device actually worked after rolling off the production line (which would explain how it was in such good condition and still had the cellophane wrap on the handle) Not really that exciting, but I can't really think what else it could be! 👍

[@borisdg]

I like your editing. Always makes me smile.

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Boris! 😊

[@AtomicShrimp]

The battery insertion bit was a lovely little detail. Love it.

[@whatislovebutonelonggame5406]

"Oh, it's working now..." way to go!~

[@StezStixFix]

🤣 thanks Wilbolg! ☺

[@austinbishop2500]

Just fixed mine, it eats batteries so I only use the USB power supply, I've reflowed the 5v socket a few times now and I do agree the standard of soldering leaves a lot to be desired.

[@turks1966]

Reflowing the joints was the solution, thanks for sharing, very interesting to see you work through the problem to figure out how to fix these broken items.

[@juiceboxhero3576]

Love the vids! Great editing, clear explanations, and attention holding content. Idk why your channel hasn't blown up yet! Also makes me wonder how much money I could be saving on stuff that I buy 🤔

[@I_RacooN_I]

Thank you Steve for taking us on such an amazing adventure..

[@takashiemota9784]

So glad Steve is still making videos.

[@oldguy8177able]

i understand your frustration,you want to know for future reference i guess you should reference what you remember doing and that all you can do.I think you did a fantastic job,I think most of us would be a bit overwhelmed.

[@shawnwade302]

I just subscribed to your channel today. I really enjoy your videos. I used to enjoy tinkering around with broken devices and toys. There are other repair KZbin channels out there but many of them seem to be too serious and technical. You however seem like a regular guy a person could talk ,joke with and have a beer with while playing retro video games with. greetings from Iowa (Midwestern state of the USA).

[@chris-pike]

Good to see another of your fixes there Steve did this get you thinking what the problem was even though you fixed it !!! nice radio too and its now working - Nice 1 👍

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Chris! Yeah, It's been bugging me since I fixed it, but I really think it was the dodgy factory solder joints. Looking at the excellent condition of the item, and the fact that it still had the plastic wrapping on the handle, I don't think it ever worked from leaving the factory. Reflowing the solder joints is what I'm gonna put the fix down to! 😊

[@karmatingz5797]

great job Stez. I am kinda hooked on watching you repair DABs now. My problem is I cannot find why my power cable does not work, the batteries do, but not the power and nothing looks damaged. Cannot even find where to get spare parts....no cheap duplicates to buy (as yet!). But cheers this is good stuff.

[@Finditfixitphilipit]

Great video. I think we have another mymatevince in the pipeline will have a go at anything which is what I like. I will mainly be doing consoles but I will try when I start my channel to get some other stuff and rwpair also. It's not everyone's cup of tea but it's great content

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Philip! I love trying to fix things that I haven't had any experience with before, makes it much more exciting for me (and more of a challenge, I guess!) Look forward to seeing your content when you get up and running, wish you all the best with it 👍

[@Finditfixitphilipit]

@@StezStixFix As I say I will also fix things that are not of the norm. Maybe do a "retro Friday" "console Saturday" and "controller sunday"

[@StezStixFix]

I like the sound of that! 👍

[@OidHunter]

Brilliant purchase and investigation.. We'll done and I watched to the end 🙂 We have the same radio in blue which made me watch in case it developed the same fault in future. I'm shocked but shouldn't be surprised at the soldering workmanship.. VQ probably tried to find the cheapest electronics sweatshop factory in China 🙄

[@ToxoRetro]

Looks like a cool little radio. Glad you managed to fix it Stez. Sure it would've been nice to know what the trigger was, but at least it was something you'd done correctly. Early in the video, I did think "will he note the polarity?" - you sure did. 👍

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Toxo! Yeah, it's a cracking little radio and is working perfectly (I've used it every day since, and I'm made up with it!) 😊

[@jwilko7998]

Stayed to the end, well done that man, tip is to give it some good tapping around the board to try and make it go it to fault condition if it don't you have fixed it.

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks J! I've been bouncing it around and it's still working perfectly, and I've used it every day since. Really hope it stays fixed, and I think it will, I love this little thing! 😊

[@pappy601]

This video has an incredible thumbnail

[@sio2y]

I've had two of those. Had the same issue with both - the speaker quality degraded significantly over time, to the point that everything sounded like it was underwater. The DAB reception wasn't great either, but that could possibly have been the walls in my house.

[@Jinxnator]

And stezzzzy is on it again brilliant ❤️

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Jinxy! 😊

[@Ratchet_effect]

Steve, you won! You succeeded after you Dabbled in the Dab & found the trap, I'm very surprised you and others didn't spot it. (Not the re=flow) after that 🤯🤪

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Steve! Ooh, what did I miss!? 😳

[@Ratchet_effect]

Sorry my man I only just noticed you replied 😓 I'm super tired but didn't want to go sleep without answering you. I'll let you sleep on it and see if you can spot what it was, your clever you'll get it 🥱😴 BBL shit I nearly put kisses on the end of that message 😅

[@StezStixFix]

🤣 feel free to add kisses on the end of your messages! 😂 do you mean the resistor that I took off and put back? 🤔

[@Ratchet_effect]

Tart, still love my bother Steve 😂 I was tired and wasn't thinking straight, no not resistor. I was going to give you the cryptic version but nah! it was the Via that killed your backlight, I'm pretty sure of it. That's what was pulling the power low. Hey you ever fixed a 2.6" TV from the 80s the Casio. You got-a try one they are a handful and packed to the eye balls with components, sandwich boards with wires joining them. I did one today with a decode AV issue, Scope for the win! 😁 xx

[@StezStixFix]

@@Ratchet_effect ahha, gotcha! Thanks Steve. Never worked on a pocket TV, but it is definitely on my list! Sound alike ot would be fun! 🙃☺

[@parisiadrian]

Great video! On the minute 7:10 you have some colt solder joints probably that was your problem from a beginning. To fix those joints I like to add solder with lead. I'm subscribing to the channel!

[@tamishaambriz2653]

Hi! I don't fix anything, but I find your content entertaining and fascinating! Do you sell the items that you repair?

[@misterlobsterman]

I work as the IT guy in a school, and they regularly bring me faulty... everything basically. Quarter of the time i fix them, i have no idea what i've done that helped. Yeah, it happens sometimes. Results are what's important :)

[@Ratten86]

How can someone charge so much for a faulty device, i wonder 🤷‍♂️ Btw, stubled across your channel just the other day and I love it 🤗

[@DigitalDiabloUK]

As BigClive would say, looks like post QC degredation in Chinese build quality. I expect your 'working' one was when VQ were doing detailed inspections, and then the broken one was a much later one where the Chinese outsourcers had 'trimmed the fat' in production costs, as represented by that "ArtisAnal" solder quality. Either that or it was just a Friday afternoon one.

[@dr_ned_flanders]

Great fix. Well done.

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Ned! 😊

[@flibble666]

Nice fix my bet is on the ribbon cable.

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Mr Flibble! Yeah, I think you're right. I'm just annoyed I didn't try it straight after reflowing the solder on the ribbon cable, then I would have known for sure! 👍

[@flibble666]

@@StezStixFix It's all part of fixing stuff annoyingly I've had it with PCs and laptops and other stuff so many times over the years and it also makes you wonder if said fix is only going to be temporary but you just have to go with it and cross that bridge when or if you come to it.

[@StezStixFix]

@@flibble666 Very true! I've used it every day since I fixed it last week and it's working perfectly, so I actually think it will be a long term fix. I hope so, cos I love this little thing now! 😊

[@leeg4116]

The manufacturer should have gone to *insert name of possible pcb sponsor here* Also, another great video mate

[@StezStixFix]

😁 thanks Lee!

[@mikemargo]

You fixed one of the hundreds of dry joints … they all need re doing!

[@ragnabob]

Love your videos man!!

[@johanlaurasia]

Recently found (and subbed) to your channel, very enjoyable videos.

[@eclectarama]

Love it, young Steve.

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Steve! 😊

[@joshholbrooks1181]

Good work something must have been loose

[@can-I-fix-it]

Its still a nice fix.

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks James! ☺

[@dak2]

Til the end my friend

[@clivebradley2633]

I do like an enthusiast who is affronted by a device with the temerity to go wrong :D

[@kennethbarker852]

1st class video to watch thank you take care kind regards from me kenneth💟💟💟👍

[@coondogtheman]

Those holes going through the board sometimes fail. Maybe bridging those two holes together will give a more reliable connection. I've reflowed solder connections on a variety of electronics and it has fixed many issues. It fixed a low power and cutting out issue on my old ghetto blaster boombox, I reflowed the main filter cap and the radio works better and is louder.

[@andyhowlett2231]

You could have checked if the pads/tracks were still connected first with your meter. I worked in TV/hifi/video repair for 40 years and my rule was always to find the problem before jumping in with the iron. Anyway, could that via be faulty? I've seen them go high resistance a few times. The cure is just to fit a piece of wire through the hole and resolder.

[@hydrolisk1792]

I would have flooded the vias with solder to make sure that there is a good connection thru to the other side of the board. Sometimes during manufacturing, not enough tinning gets into the vias to make a good connection and it winds up becoming a fail point later on.

[@Jimnymudhunter]

I knew the backlight was ment to be 3.2v.. they seem to make most backlights 3.2v for wider use of lipo/li-lon batterys that and 11v ones.. 2.5v (i think you said it was) is a odd voltage.

[@simonlunt353]

Good lad it’s what I call a bug bear when you can’t find out what you did to get it working but you did it so well done 👍 l still think these small companies are bloody too small 🤣 but I enjoyed watching your video stay safe 👍😊

[@RBKing80]

Great video Steve,

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks RB! 😊

[@Jinxnator]

RBBBBBBBB Bro from a another mother lol

[@RBKing80]

@@Jinxnator Yo

[@Jinxnator]

@@RBKing80 🥰

[@wherami]

Amazing how many things are fixed with a reflow.

[@TechnicNerdAT]

u widened up the via which had bad connection to the top layer of the trace. by doing this now it should be fixed. u could soulder the via (blob on the hole) to get sure

[@StezStixFix]

Ah! Thanks Technic, that definitely sounds plausible 👍

[@flobiish]

You should ad a voice over Steve, a VOS, if you will to announce your patrons. Maybe doing rap.

[@davidroberts2920]

Hi Stez, I was working on one of those digital radios’ months ago, it had a short on the board which was due to one of the components at 20:00 minute mark on the video, how did you know It was a voltage regulator? I goggled the part number but not a lot showed up apart from a Chinese semiconductor company. Unfortunately, I couldn't 100% identify the chip, so the Radio went in the bin. Nice Job by the way, I'm glad someone got there's to work. 👍👍

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks David! I've got to be honest, it was just a guess based on the voltages going in and back out. As it happens, it's just failed again and I've just finished recording another video on it. Dont want to give too much away, but it was the power board second time around though... 😊

[@davidroberts2920]

@@StezStixFix Thanks for your quick reply👍.That's unfortunate the radio broke again, don't think those radios were built to last. but on the plus side we get another video out of it. 😁👍.

[@TheDrBlackross]

0.7V drop across a diode, was there a flipped one (diode junction voltage drop is usually 0.7v)? at 15.05 your good power was 3.26V and the faulty one measured 2.5V (i havent finished watching this video yet lol)

[@DanBird]

Great fix. Them solder joints where terrible, do you think that was probably the main problem?

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Dan. Yeah I think it probably was. They were definitely factory too, as some of them were underneath the LCD screen and I know that noone had been under there because the screen was still riveted to the board. And the fact that the unit is in such good condition (even with the cellophane wrap on the handle) I don't think this unit ever worked after rolling off the production line!

[@heypockyway6652]

Did you try pouring some sugar on it? Nice job, knowingly or not. What was the track at the end?

[@StezStixFix]

I forgot the sugar! 🤣 The track is one of the KZbin library freebies, think it's called High Rise or something like that 🤔

[@hotlavatube]

It'd be funny if the backlight was just turned off. My bedside clock (different brand) has variable backlight you can tap through different brightnesses including turned off.

[@bunnylove273]

hi bud very interesting vid looks like to me you kicked the gremlins out of the radio lol

[@StezStixFix]

Haha, thanks Bunny! I think you're right 😁

[@soldesign72]

What does the flux do?

[@OOOHBILLY]

Heck yea

[@Beaps73]

Haha enjoyed that, thanks for sharing buddy

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Beaps! 😊

[@Beaps73]

@@StezStixFix your slowly creeping up the, one of my fav YT channels. I don't know you just remind me of me. I like how you ask yourself questions.

[@StezStixFix]

@@Beaps73 Thanks Beaps, really appreciate that mate. I never get a good answer from myself when I ask, but it does seem to help somehow! 🤣

[@Beaps73]

@@StezStixFix when my dad was alive he used to fix me and my brothers bikes in the night while we was asleep. I could hear him talking to himself about issues he came up against. The next day my bike was like factory, so it pays to talk haha

[@StezStixFix]

Love that, Beaps! 😍

[@thack3624]

watching from USA wondering what the heck is DAB haha looked it up, seems factory to me, with tape still on handle, probably just had a small issue with one of the solder areas you touched up from smd cooker, could have had large dodgy via that you probed and connected it back together or as others mentioned eating that last volt required, seems silly to me to have linear regulators on a battery driven device

[@didierdubos]

Maybe an issue with the via (the big one) or as you cleaned the voltage regulator, a bad solder

[@lukasdvoracek842]

YOU ARE A WIZZARD STEZSTIX! 😀

[@psi23k]

The problem is now the companies have to use lead free solder, which is junk, to comply with safety issues.

[@systmuk]

nice

[@davidthomson6837]

Do you have an ebay account where you sell the stuff you fix? 👍

[@andycooper4230]

Enjoyed that one feel your pain lol

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Andy! 🤣

[@SkyfighterZX]

Some say he still can't sleep at night because he didnt know what fixed this one xD

[@clivebradley2633]

Burning some plastics with a soldering iron releases a lot of Chloride Ions which will eat your soldering iron tip

[@RetroJack]

It always amuses me that what the UK calls "DAB radio" is just called "radio" elsewhere - digital radio has been around for ages; it's not that special nowadays.

[@samuraidriver4x4]

Its called D.A.B. (as individual letters) in the Netherlands. Must say its still not really popular and reception isnt great

[@dj_noxxie]

Did anyone find the crack in the board

[@KelikakuCoutin]

Good job. Thanks for the content. Keep up the good work. בס'ד

[@scratchback2001]

S**t I hate printed circuit boards. The sooner we get back to point to point wiring, the better. They're a pain in the arse!

[@KoolBreeze420]

It could have been left over flux and cleaning it was the fix.

[@quanchyplimp]

Anything named/labelled as "Retro" is pretty much guaranteed to be JUNK., pale pasty blurry blue backlit displays and horrible clicky buttons, much like buying a Skoda back in the 80's, you knew it was shit!, but it got you going for next to nothing,..... but within 3 months, it's fucked and you're buying another, can you say "false economy". Always nice to fix something though! :) Most of these things are using LED free solder, those points get crusty and oxidize, but by relowing the solder points, you bought it back to life....is my guess, I think you realise that anyway.

[@jak_1894]

I bet that was expensive originally, but look at it there's nothing to it 🤦

[@danielgriffiths78]

Please can you not show the comments! 9 times out of 10 the first displayed comment tells me if you've fixed it or not and kind of ruins it

[@craigconway4093]

Good on ya Lasagna :)

[@jg5966]

Classic chinese doing

[@ScubaKid9091]

Just pressed dislike by mistake. Good video keep it up! Sorry!!

[@m.epictures6344]

It clearly wanted some sugar

[@michaelharding4556]

Iiiits woooorrrkiiiiing nooow. Bye