[Yaesu] Yaesu FT-980 issues

Wed Mar 3 02:03:02 EST 2010

Hello Eddy,
Neither of my 2 FT980s has the mod - but only one of the rigs features he wandering birdie. 
It seems to be predominantly at initial switch-on - maybe it is still 'there' but outside a Ham band....?
73,
Phil
---- Edward Swynar <gswynar at durham.net> wrote: 
> Hi Phil,
>> Has your specific FT-980 with the "creeping phantom birdie" on it had the
> Yaesu general coverage transmitting kit intalled into it...?
>> Mine has, and it started the creeping birdie syndrome only after its
> installation---Brian confirmed likewise with his, in a separate e-mail to
> me...
>> How's yours in this regard...?
>> ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ
>>> **********************************
>> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Phil VK4BAA" <philhss at tesco.net>
> To: "Brian Harris" <cosmophone at yahoo.com>; <yaesu at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2010 12:31 AM
> Subject: Re: [Yaesu] Yaesu FT-980 issues
>>> > Hello Brian,
> >
> > I have 2 FT980s - one of which I've owned from new in the mid-80s and the
> other I bought for spares some time ago.
> >
> > One of the rigs has the symptoms that you describe as regards a
> 'travelling birdie' scampering across the band just after switch-on. I've
> not got to the bottom of it and have learned to live with it. I initially
> thought that it was something un-locking as an oscillator did get
> temperature sensitive at one stage. As the shack got warmer, the rig started
> to misbehave. A prod around with a can of freezer spray taught it some
> manners and a capacitor was changed out if my memory serves me well.
> >
> > I had originally thought that the CPU board had a 'watch battery' mounted
> on it that may well be of a lower voltage than it used to be. However,
> searching for it proved me wrong - dodgy memory again! However, the two AA
> bateries in the little holder beneath the flap under the rig can also cause
> some symptoms of distress on the scrolling display when they are running
> low.
> >
> > I changed-out a handful of capacitors some years ago within the oscillator
> section which removed the warm-up drift at switch-on. It's a Yaesu
> modification from years back and well worth doing. I'm also looking at the
> roofing filter modification that is on the Net - I've got the hardware ready
> to go but haven't got around to installing anything as yet.
> >
> > Over the last few years, I've noticed that some solder joints become a bit
> brittle, as well as some of the wire wrapping too. I had one of the meters
> apparently die on me last year but a quick sniff around inside showed that a
> wire had come away from the multi-way switch for the meter on the front
> panel. I've no idea as to why the wire let go like that as the rig hadn't
> been moved....
> >
> > Hope you get the old girl fixed - she sure is worth the effort!
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Phil Smeaton
> > VK4BAA
> >
> >
> >
> > ---- Brian Harris <cosmophone at yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > I have an FT-980 with two minor problems. I am curious to know if these
> are common, well known problems and, if so, does anyone know the causes and
> if there are any factory recommended modifications that address them. I am
> an experienced BSEE engineer and electronic technician so feel free to cut
> loose with high tech answers.
> > >
> > > Problem #1 - Lately, more often than not, when I turn the rig off and
> let it sit for awhile before turning it back on, it will come on in the
> General Coverage mode rather than the Amateur Mode, when the rig was in the
> Amateur Mode when it was turned off. Perhaps there is a battery backed up
> RAM that's losing its memory due to a worn out battery? To my knowledge, if
> there is a backup battery in the rig, it has never been changed.
> > >
> > > Problem #2 - Once in awhile, when I have turned the rig on from being
> cold, after a few minutes I will hear a wandering birdie sweep through the
> IF passband. This usually happens only once and this happens with and
> without an antenna connected, so it's not coming in from the outside world.
> While this birdie is not a shop stopper, I would like to correct it if
> possible.
> > >
> > > Thanks for reading,
> > >
> > > Brian Harris, WA5UEK
> > >
> > > phone 214-763-5977
> > >
> > > email cosmophone at yahoo.com
> > >
> > > website www.myhamshack.com/wa5uek
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether
> to answer "present" or "not guilty." Theodore Roosevelt
> > >
> > >
> > >
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