I have an old JR radio that needs a new internal lithium battery. I
opened the radio compartment to find a 3V button battery that is
basically soldered in to the printed circuit board. As I did not have
the proper replacement parts I had to send mine in for repairs. I'm
quite ticked off with JR's installation method. I'm curious whether
someone out there has figured out a way to replace this battery with a
battery housing (& a battery).
On 28 Dec 2006 19:37:44 -0800, I said, "Pick a card, any card" and
Those batteries typically have a shelf life and useable life of
around 10 years. Ordinarily, that's more than enough time to get
100% use from it before you replace your equipment. Any other kind
of holder would not be reliable enough for backup memory. Standard
practice was to use a soldered connection for reliability. Today,
they use non-volatile RAM for storing things like programs and such.
Real time clocks still use a lithium battery which may or may not be
soldered in place.
--
Ray
I'm guessing that the repairs will cost around $50. This amount brings
into question whether it is worth repairing the radio. Unfortunately my
radio works just fine (at least it used to) and I just find it a waste
to toss a perfectly OK radio. My old sport watch never failed in use
and yet I could unscrew the battery cover and swap the battery with a
new one. For JR perhaps cost was a factor or perhaps it was the
reliability issue that you've mentioned but to me this is subpar
engineering. Thanks for your comments though.
Ray Haddad wrote:
---------------
What really ticks me off is that when the memory battery dies, or is
disconnected, the radio's computer drops its operating system. Not only do
you have to return it to get the battery replaced, but they also have to
reload the operating system. Even if one had a proper battery holder,
removing it without offering the system back up voltage in the interim would
lead to an R/C transmitter that doesn't know if it is a scanner/TV
set/microwave oven, etc.
Are you sure that the newer JR rigs use non volatile RAM? I wouldn't assume
so without some form of verification. Icom amateur radios did the same thing
for a while. We hams raised cane on them for this dufus form of engineering.
Happy New Year.
Ed Cregger
are you sure it holds the operating system? I would have thought that
would be in an EPROM of some description, as backing up a few bytes of
user changeable data is one thing,storing the OS that does not change is
something else
See how ridiculous the idea sounds? Yep, my JR X-347 drops the operating
system if you break battery continuity.
I don't know if my JR 8103 and 9303 are the same way. I hope not.
Ed Cregger
well I am no electronics designer but I would not have done it that way
,there must be a logical reason like the price of Eproms over volatile
ram or something similar
I had a "discussion" with JR and later with R.Stephens about the backup
battery in early JR radios.
Was told but the JR tech that only they had the skill and technical know
how to change the battery.
Complained to the highest up and was told much the same, I said BS, then
he admitted that it was possible and that the processor had to be
restarted with a jumper to reload the default values. That the system
was programmed to lock up if there was a RAM error.
I asked what pin to what pin to jumper, was then told that the
information was secret and proprietary.
Send it in and pay your money boy we are the all powerful
Hugh
50+ years of designing, prototyping, repairing RC systems.
Sounds like one would get a 3v (or whatever is used) source with a couple
of leads - and solder (or clip if possible) them to the board in parallel
with the JR battery to keeps things going while you remove the old one and
solder in the new one.
Doesn't seem too hard, but I haven't tried it
David
Hugh Prescott wrote:
Yep, that's how it is done, unless you are forgetful like me and don't get
around to it in time. Now I have a JR X-347 in like brand new condition that
doesn't know it is a radio. Should I spend the money to bring it up to date?
I have an 8103, a brand new still in the box 9303, a DX-6 and a DX-7
Spektrum radios. Oh, what shall I do?
My legs are bad from diabetes, so my ability to walk is very limited.
Believe it or not, this is why I bought the Spektrum radios - so I wouldn't
have to walk to the frequency control board and back again after finishing
flying for the day. No other reasons. Well, maybe some curiosity.
Anyone want to buy a brand new, never flown 9303 on six meter PCM with four
standard servos? I'll let it go for $450 plus shipping (48 US contiguous
states only). IIRC, this saves the buy $200. It should be on 50 MHz channel
04. New the end of last summer. Never removed from the box. No, I won't go
lower in price. US Postal money order only.
Ed Cregger
Not for a Tech class Ham License currently. Ya do need a license tho.
After the first, the code requirements will be dropped for all classes.
Time to upgrade to a General Class, I think!
Hi
As the "proud" owner of 2 JR radios - an X-347 and an X-388, the 347
at least being well over ten years old (nearer fifteen I think) but
still working well, this thread has rather spoilt my Christmas as it
seem that both sets are well overdue for self-destructing!!!!
However, having had too much homebrew last night and having blurred
vision and shaky hands as a result, this morning seemed the obvious
time to delve into the innards of my X-347. So having taken the back
off, undone every screw in sight, unplugged every connector I could
find, turned it upside down and shaken it, I was left with a workbench
of assorted bits and the odd screw and spring bouncing round the floor
- strewth, that's were the cunning devils hid the backup battery is
it, I have often wondered. Having stirred the pile of bits with my
finger and poked them a few times with a screwdriver I finally
realized, "Taking that apart perhaps wasn't a very sensible idea!!".
Having just re-assembled it without too many bits left over - just one
screw actually (said proudly) - and finally figuring out where the 6
little springs went, I took a deep breath and turned it on. There was
immediately a continuous warning buzz and a "backup error" message on
the screen. However, after a couple of seconds, the warning buzz
stopped and the display reverted to normal. It now appears that all my
personal model settings have been lost and the Tx has reverted to its
original factory settings, otherwise all seems fine.
Is this an indication that perhaps not all X-347 sets are the same and
if I were to replace the backup battery, I would not lose the
programming - or isn't life that simple??
One thing I would point out is that I live in the UK so mine is a
British radio - so could it be that UK sets are different and do not
lose the programming?
Regards
KGB
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