Sommerkamp TS780DX – (Coffee-warmer 2) Allignment

In my youth, end of the 70ies, it was my dream to have such a radio. Today I know that it is one of the worst radios that existed. I love it now, to have one 🙂

I looked a very long time for one of that radios. I wished me a TS-788DXcc, but this one the TS-780DX is harder to get as the TS-788DX. I had the luck that in the Ham Radio exhibition, one was sales. I got it for 100€.

The mike was strong modified with a lot of holes in and broken. So I throw it away.

Its seem to be not possible to get one of the “service manuals” with alignment instructions.
So I find out all alignment points by my self in the circuit layout.

And here they are…
Alignment under side
The interesting alignment points on the under side

Alignment upper side
The interesting alignment points on the upper side

AM Mod prozent
AM modulation factor, at 60% the modulation

AM Mod
is clear with a 1kHz sine wave. More AM modulation will disturb the modulation

The TS-780DX can not use FM with modern radios together! Its an very old FM standard
what use the 1.5 KHz filter from SSB. That does not working very well.
FM Hub

FM frequency deviation, 1.5KHz. That’s the max what this filter can handle
If you adjust more, the the FM Mod is strong disturb.

FM Mod
FM modulation clearness. They are still spikes on the sine. And so it sounds.
But it works not better, without a big modification.
You can try to get the FM receiving clearer with the FM filter (see upper side alignment pictures at the left side).

The SSB ist very good, for that the radio was build
Zweitontest SSB
Two tone Test in SSB, looks very good so far. If this is not clear, see at the bias and the ALC.

max Output
The maximum power in SSB, 100W, on FM 45W and on AM 20W with upward modulation to 50W

The Frequency is drifting with the temperature of this radio very high. I measure a difference from 700 Hz! So you can try to get it better. But with the temperature in your room, the frequency is changing. We have in Germany a proverb: “Sie läuft wie ein Feldhase” Translation “It runs like a hare” 🙂
FM Frequency
AM/FM Frequency, that 10 Hz to high. very good

One Tone Test 1KHz
The SSB frequency I check with a 1Khz test tone. So that frequency is the offset

USB Frequency
USB Frequency is 30 Hz too low. Good enough.

LSB Frequency
LSB Frequency is 130 Hz too high. it will works. You will not often use LSB

IMG_4061
Front view with open case

IMG_4062
upper side inside with the main board

IMG_4064
under side inside with the VXO

IMG_4065
Front view
IMG_4066
Self made mike with volume control

IMG_4069
in action 🙂

With this crystals the frequencies are:
Frequency table

If I get the right color, I will paint the case new with Sommerkamp blue.

 

7 thoughts on “Sommerkamp TS780DX – (Coffee-warmer 2) Allignment

  1. Bonjour
    Je recherche le scanner d’un 788Dx car le mien que je tourne Ă  droite ou a gauche rien ce passe
    73
    Thierry

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