Mark-Rodgers.com

Convert Computer Power Supply to use for CB / Ham radio

noreply@blogger.com (MRodgers) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:56:00 +0000

Got a old computer or power supply laying around?
Put it to good use, by converting it to a 12 volt supply for a CB or small ham radio.

1st of all, most power supplies cant just be wired to work for 12 volts, the right way.
Im using an older power supply, not sure what the type is (sorry) but it used a push button hard on/off switch on the computer.

**Make sure the power cord is disconnected**
Take the power supply apart.
I removed the old push button on/off switch and re-wired it to a SPST 6a/125v toggle switch.
I drilled it into the case, above the power cord location. This allows me to have a self contained switch, instead of one hanging on a cord.

Yellow wires are going to be you +12volt.
Black wired are Neg.
Red wires are +5 volt.
White wire is -5volt
Blue wire is -12 volt.

Remove the Blue, White and all but 1 red wire. Just cut them as close to the pins as possible.
You will need 1 red wire.
You will also need a 10 ohm, 10 watt resistor, available from Radio shack.
This will need to be wired and soldered inline with a Black Negative wire, to put a load on the +5volt circuit. Without this, your power supply wont produce the correct voltage.

Without a load on the +5volt circuit, I tested 10.2 volts on the 12volt wires. After adding the load resistor, I got 12.1 volts.
You will need to secure the resistor to a heat sink or to the case, with zip ties, because this will need some metal to cool it, as it will get hot. You can put it near the fan too, to keep it cooler.

I also found the voltage regulator VR pot, and I adjusted it to the max, which gave me 12.5volts, which makes it even better for 12 volt equipment.

Now all you need to do is limit the amount of +12voltwires and Negitivewires that you will need, as there are probably more than you will ever need. I cust all but 4 of each.

Now put the power supply back together, and thats it!
Now I have a 12 volt, 7 amp power supply for under $5 in parts.

Cobra 25, 29 Uniden PC 66, 68, 78 Talkback Mod

noreply@blogger.com (MRodgers) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:26:00 +0000

This is a easy $1 mod to add talkback to your CB Radio.
This will work for the following radios with no problems.

Cobra 25
Cobra29
Uniden 66
Uniden 68
Uniden 76
Uniden 78
and many more.

All you need is a simple resistor added to the bottom of the board, near the Ext and Pa speaker jacks.

Find the 2 solder points, closest to the rear of the radio, directly above the EXT and Pa jacks.
These are going to be the Negative or Ground side for the audio.

Solder a 1/4 or 1/2 watt resistor between these two solder points. Make sure that the resistor itself does not short out anything on the board or touch anything else. You can wrap it in tape, heat shrink or just keep it lifted slightly above the board.

Use a 100-500 ohm resistor.
The Lower the resistance is, the Louder it will be.
A 100 ohm will be Louder than a 470 ohm.
I like to use a 220 for most mics, or a 470 for good power mics.
You can also wire up a 1K variable pot to adjust the volume level.
You can also use a switch to turn it on/off, just wire it in series.
Ive used the Norm/Ch9/Ch19 switch as a Off/Low/Hi with 2 resistors, to make it adjustable for different mics or volume levels.

Thats it! Just 2 solder points for basic talkback.

CB Mic Connector Problem

noreply@blogger.com (MRodgers) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:30:00 +0000

If you have ever had a CB mic that randomly cuts out on the Receive, Transmit or Audio, even when you have checked the wiring in the plug and it seems fine, then this is the EASY fix for most radios.

Most radios, including Cobra, Uniden, Galaxy and more use a connector that can fail easily, but its a simple 30 second FREE fix.
This is only for 4 pin microphone connectors, as the 5 and 6 pin are built different.

If you look closely at the male pins on the radio's connector, you will notice that they are split down the center. I have found over the years that these pins tend to get pinched together and flattened, when they should be slightly spaced apart, to create a good electrical connection.

Simply take a small flat head screwdriver and push it into the slots on the pins and spread them SLIGHTLY apart. Spread them less than 1mm. If you spread them too much, you can bend they way out of place and they may break when trying to bend it back.
This allows the MALE pins to fit better into the FEMALE holes in the mic's plug.

this should solve most problems, as long as the wires are soldered properly.
I have done this in over 50 radios over the years after other people have tried to re-wire mic plugs and swap out mics endlessly, when it was just a simple bad connection thats easily overlooked.

Sirius Sat Radio Antenna Hack / Mod

noreply@blogger.com (MRodgers) — Thu, 14 May 2009 05:31:00 +0000

Sirius XACT XTR3 Tuner.

This will mod improve the FM radio signal on your unit.
Open the unit up by removing the 2 screws on the bottom, using a Hex screwdriver.
Remove the top cover.

The large copper wire circle is the FM broadcast antenna that sends the signal to your radio.

There are 2 ways to improve your signal.

#1. Find the top part of the loop wire, and CUT it at the connection point to the board. Cut it in 2 places, about 1mm apart, so that it cant touch anymore. This goes back to ground and decreases the range.

#2. Do the #1 mod, but also solder a 31" piece of thin wire (24-18gauge) to the BOTTOM connection point.

This will now be a full length wire antenna.
This wire will be tuned to the 89 MHZ portion of the radio band, which is where most Sat Radios are tuned to, due to empty radio stations in that range.
Try to keep the wire straight, and not bunched or coiled up.

Radio Shack HTX-242 COS / COR Mod

noreply@blogger.com (MRodgers) — Thu, 14 May 2009 02:15:00 +0000

This is a mod for the Radio Shack HTX 242 radio.

It allows this 2 Meter Ham Radio mobile to allow COS /COR sense to be used for a repeater RX or other use requiring squelch or signal sense.

Open the bottom cover on the radio by removing the 4 screws.

On the radio's front right, find the 3 transistors about 1 inch in from both the front and right side.
There is a resistor with a "473" printed on it, just below the top transistor. Tap off the RIGHT side of this resistor.

This will provide ~ +3VDC when no signal is present, and will drop to 0v when there is a signal.
This is a High to Low signal point. Most repeater controllers can be switched to select the correct setting. If not, you can make a small signal transistor switching circuit.

XM Radio Mod / Hack - Pioneer GEX-FM903XM

noreply@blogger.com (MRodgers) — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:46:00 +0000

This is the mod /hack for the Pioneer GEX-FM903XM tuner.

Open the case with the 4 screws.
Remove the screw for the heat sink for the Voltage Regulator transistors.
Remove the screw in the center of the board.
Twist the metal pieces along the edge of the board that are used as hold downs.

You can tap the audio in 2 different places.

#1. Tap near the 8pin IC near the center of the board, on the top.
There are 2 surface mount resistors, one above and one below the IC. They are both Grey in color . Tap the left side of each.

This will give you your Left and Right channel + audio.
You can get ground - from one of many place. You can use the center screw in the middle of the board, or one of the metal lids over the DIGITAL or ANTENNA modules.

#2 spot is on the bottom of the board.
There are some test points on the top left of the board.
Locate the 3 test points labeled:
RCH AGND LCH

These are the Right Channel, Audio Ground and Left Channel.
Simply tap all 3 of these for audio.

That is all there is to it, for getting RCA audio out of the Pioneer GEX FM 903 XM tuner.

Selectone ST-907 Programmer Board

noreply@blogger.com (MRodgers) — Wed, 06 May 2009 02:13:00 +0000

I had a request by E-Mail to help a fellow HAM operator get info or a schematic on the no longer supported Selecton Model ST-907 programmer board for DTMF and ANI Tone Encoder boards. Selectone no longer has any info on it, so I made up a schematic.

Parts List, From Left to Right.
36 Pin Parallel Printer Connector
9v Battery Clip
13 Pin programming connector for Selectone boards
Zenier Diode
10K 5% 1/4w Resistor
10K 5% 1/4w Resistor
100K 5% 1/4w Resistor
Zenier Diode
47K 5% 1/4w Resistor
47K 5% 1/4w Resistor
2N4401 Transistor
47K 5% 1/4w Resistor
10K 5% 1/4w Resistor
2N3906 Transistor
10K 5% 1/4w Resistor

All the pins #19-36 are connected to ground/neg.
12 holes are provided on the bottom of board for prototyping, testing or direct wiring.

My schematic isnt 100% exactly the same on the trace locations, and its not to scale, but the original board used a double sided traces, so I had to modify it a little bit for one sided viewing, so it wouldnt get confused, as some traces were too close or overlapped on top and bottom. I did try to get it as close as possible tho.

Software for the ST-907 board can still be found on the Selectone website.
http://www.com-spec.com/selectone/download/st_confg.zip

I made the schematic using a cool program called ExpressSCH. You can built schematics and have a company make PCB boards for you for a reasonable price, if you wish.
The software can be found below for FREE!
http://www.expresspcb.com/ExpressPCBHtm/Free_schematic_software.htm

Here is my file for the Selectone ST-907 Board.
http://www.mark-rodgers.com/Project%20Pics/Selectone%20ST-907.sch

Please let me know if you have trouble downloading the file.

Cobra 148 GTL Audio and Power Mods.

noreply@blogger.com (MRodgers) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:24:00 +0000

A simple way to really increase the audio of a Cobra 148 GTL CB radio is to find R126 and jumper it. It is a 10K ohm resistor about 1" to the LEFT of the MIC jack.
Do NOT remove the TR25 Mod Limiter on this radio, as it will sound like crap later.

To add extra channels install 2 switches in the radio, or use the HI/LOW and BRT/DIM switches on the front.
My friend wanted 2 new switches on the rear, so thats what I did with this radio.

You will need 2 SPST switches.

Find the PLL IC and find pins 10, 11 and 12 and the large Ground trace near pin 10.

Wire Switch 1 to Pin 10 (pin goes to nothing) and also to GND pad.
Wire Switch 2 to pin 11 and pin 12.
Be very careful to not use too much heat on the IC pins, and they are fragile and you can damage the PLL chip. Use a 30watt max solder pencil.

Uniden PC 66 and PC 68 Audio and Power Mods

noreply@blogger.com (MRodgers) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 05:22:00 +0000

Here is a simple $5 way to crank your Uniden PC 66 or PC 68 radio to be a loud talker.

Parts you need.
35volt 220uf Electrolytic Capacitor
10 Ohm, 1watt resistor

1st we'll do the audio.
There is no internal VR# adjustment pot to turn up on this radio, just on the front.
Doing a few small mods opens it up about 40% more audio. You may not need any power mic after this mod.

On the PC 66 look right below the mic connector.
On the PC 68 its on the front right side, near the edge fine these 4 parts.
R76 Remove and add Jumper wire across this.
R78 Remove (Added resistance on audio line to ground)
Q14 Remove (Mod Limiter)
C97 Remove (Filtered Audio to Ground)

This basically opens up the restrictions on the audio pre-amp circuit.

If you plan to use a good power mc, you might need to leave C97 in to reduce RF squeal or hum.
Some people prefer to leave the mod limiters in, to reduce splatter, but for a LOUD radio, I a remove it on this model.

Next is the power output.
This is a touchy subject for some people, but I prefer to use "swing kits" in my radios.
I like to have my radio deadkey low, and swing high when I talk.
This add a lot more audio and "punch" to your voice.
What it basically does is lowers your output when your not talking, and raises it when you do talk. This reduces the power load on the radio, due to poor design, and "reserves" some power for your audio.

To add the swing kit, find JV17 in the back of the radio, in front of the Final.
Remove this jumper wire.

Now install your 35volt, 220uf Capacitor in this spot. Use the NEGATIVE side in the hole towards the BACK of the radio. Insulate the wire with tape or heat shirnk tubing to prevent it from shorting the metal nearby.

Now flip the radio upside down.
Find where you remove the jumper wire, and install the 1W, 10 Ohm resistor.

Now that you have installed everything, tune the radio. On most of these radios, you dont need to adjust the L10 coil, but some radios are off a little bit from the factory.
Spread the coils on L8 apart slightly.

You can also replace the c2028 Final transistor with a high power 2sc1969. This will be a great mod, if you can happen to find them, as they have been discontinued and are getting harder to find new.

That's it!
Thats the secret to tuning up a Uniden PC 66 or PC68.
Save yourself $20-50 at a radio repair shop, if you want to do this work yourself.

RX Recieve boost on Cobra 29 and Uniden PC 78

noreply@blogger.com (MRodgers) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:15:00 +0000

Here is a very simple was to use 1 or 2 components to add super recieve boost to a Cobra 29 or Uniden PC78 CB radio.

Parts + tools required:
CB radio (duh)
Soldering pencil 15-40w. Do NOT use a large gun.
Small solder like .032" 60/40 mix or similar mix.
22-24guage wire
220k to 470k ohm 1/4 or 1/2watt resistor.
Simple SPST switch or existing switch on radio.

Disconect the power cord from the radio. Dont do any work with it plugged in, just in case.

1st find pin 14 on the PLL of the radio. Do this with the radio upside down, front facing you.
you will see that Pin 14 is a blank pin with no traces, or it may have a small capacitor on it going to the large ground trace.
Solder a wire to that, being very carefully not to use too much heat or leave it on too long, as the PLL chip is very fragile.

Attach this wire to your switch with about 4-8" of wire, depending where your switch is located. If using an existing switch read below. I prefer to use the pointless CH9 switch.

On the other side of the switch connect your resistor. Be sure to trim the resistor so it doesnt have a long leg to where it may touch anything else.
On the other side of the resistor, add about 6-8" of wire.

Now find Resistor R11. You will need to tap the wire onto this resistor on the end of the resistor closest to the BACK of the radio. If you test it, you should get about + 0.8volts from here. This is going to supply the power for you receive boost.

Thats it! 2 wires, a switch and a resistor.
The reason you need a switch is cause this is going to be VERY sensitive and you should only use it when you need it, cause strong signals may peg your meter.
I got results of a signal of 2db with the boost off. I flipped it on and it jumped to 10+db.
This doesnt just increase the meter reading. It boosts up the actual receive and makes it so much louder and clearer.

I recomend using the 470k ohm resistor as the 220k may be too high, and the 470k is plenty for any of my customer's needs.

This should work on all the Cobra 29 models.
Cobra 29 WX
Cobra 29 LTD
Cobra 29 Classic
Cobra 29 ST
or any other variation, Except the older D858 PLL chip.
It also works for the Uniden PC 78 models or any variation.

Send a text message via E-Mail

noreply@blogger.com (MRodgers) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 08:35:00 +0000

Free Email To SMS Gateways (Major US Carriers)


Carrier	Email to SMS Gateway
Alltel	[10-digit phone number]@message.alltel.com Example: 1234567890@message.alltel.com
AT&T (formerly Cingular)	[10-digit phone number]@txt.att.net [10-digit phone number]@mms.att.net (MMS) [10-digit phone number]@cingularme.com Example: 1234567890@txt.att.net
Boost Mobile	[10-digit phone number]@myboostmobile.com Example: 1234567890@myboostmobile.com
Nextel (now Sprint Nextel)	[10-digit telephone number]@messaging.nextel.com Example: 1234567890@messaging.nextel.com
Sprint PCS (now Sprint Nextel)	[10-digit phone number]@messaging.sprintpcs.com [10-digit phone number]@pm.sprint.com (MMS) Example: 1234567890@messaging.sprintpcs.com
T-Mobile	[10-digit phone number]@tmomail.net Example: 1234567890@tmomail.net
US Cellular	[10-digit phone number]email.uscc.net (SMS) [10-digit phone number]@mms.uscc.net (MMS) Example: 1234567890@email.uscc.net
Verizon	[10-digit phone number]@vtext.com [10-digit phone number]@vzwpix.com (MMS) Example: 1234567890@vtext.com
Virgin Mobile USA	[10-digit phone number]@vmobl.com Example: 1234567890@vmobl.com

Free Email To SMS Gateways (International + Smaller US)

These are all I could find from Wikipedia and other sources. If you’re aware of any other ones please share them in comments and I’ll add them to the list.


Carrier	Email to SMS Gateway
7-11 Speakout (USA GSM)	number@cingularme.com
Airtel (Karnataka, India)	number@airtelkk.com
Airtel Wireless (Montana, USA)	number@sms.airtelmontana.com
Alaska Communications Systems	number@msg.acsalaska.com
Aql	number@text.aql.com
AT&T Enterprise Paging	number@page.att.net
BigRedGiant Mobile Solutions	number@tachyonsms.co.uk
Bell Mobility & Solo Mobile (Canada)	number@txt.bell.ca
BPL Mobile (Mumbai, India)	number@bplmobile.com
Cellular One (Dobson)	number@mobile.celloneusa.com
Cingular (Postpaid)	number@cingularme.com
Centennial Wireless	number@cwemail.com
Cingular (GoPhone prepaid)	number@cingularme.com (SMS)
Claro (Brasil)	number@clarotorpedo.com.br
Claro (Nicaragua)	number@ideasclaro-ca.com
Comcel	number@comcel.com.co
Cricket	number@sms.mycricket.com (SMS)
CTI	number@sms.ctimovil.com.ar
Emtel (Mauritius)	number@emtelworld.net
Fido (Canada)	number@fido.ca
General Communications Inc.	number@msg.gci.net
Globalstar (satellite)	number@msg.globalstarusa.com
Helio	number@messaging.sprintpcs.com
Illinois Valley Cellular	number@ivctext.com
Iridium (satellite)	number@msg.iridium.com
Iusacell	number@rek2.com.mx
i wireless	number.iws@iwspcs.net
Koodo Mobile (Canada)	number@msg.koodomobile.com
LMT (Latvia)	number@sms.lmt.lv
Meteor (Ireland)	number@sms.mymeteor.ie
Mero Mobile (Nepal)	977number@sms.spicenepal.com
MetroPCS	number@mymetropcs.com
Movicom (Argentina)	number@sms.movistar.net.ar
Mobitel (Sri Lanka)	number@sms.mobitel.lk
Movistar (Colombia)	number@movistar.com.co
MTN (South Africa)	number@sms.co.za
MTS (Canada)	number@text.mtsmobility.com
Nextel (United States)	number@messaging.nextel.com
Nextel (Argentina)	TwoWay.11number@nextel.net.ar
Orange Polska (Poland)	9digit@orange.pl
Personal (Argentina)	number@alertas.personal.com.ar
Plus GSM (Poland)	+48number@text.plusgsm.pl
President’s Choice (Canada)	number@txt.bell.ca
Qwest	number@qwestmp.com
Rogers (Canada)	number@pcs.rogers.com
SL Interactive (Australia)	number@slinteractive.com.au
Sasktel (Canada)	number@sms.sasktel.com
Setar Mobile email (Aruba)	297+number@mas.aw
Suncom	number@tms.suncom.com
T-Mobile (Austria)	number@sms.t-mobile.at
T-Mobile (UK)	number@t-mobile.uk.net
Telus Mobility (Canada)	number@msg.telus.com
Thumb Cellular	number@sms.thumbcellular.com
Tigo (Formerly Ola)	number@sms.tigo.com.co
Tracfone (prepaid)	number@mmst5.tracfone.com
Unicel	number@utext.com
Virgin Mobile (Canada)	number@vmobile.ca
Vodacom (South Africa)	number@voda.co.za
Vodafone (Italy)	number@sms.vodafone.it
YCC	number@sms.ycc.ru
MobiPCS (Hawaii only)	number@mobipcs.net

UPDATES:

If you can’t find a gateway for your current provider here, check out following links:

CB Echo board audio problems

noreply@blogger.com (MRodgers) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 02:37:00 +0000

As a CB tech, I have worked on lots of radios, and I have had to fix many hack jobs.
One problem I have come across a lot lately is echo boards not working right.

The main problem I see is a echo board that requires 8volts, but the hack tech hooked it up directly to 12-14 volts. This can blow the board, but luckily most of the time it just makes it squeal and hum. If it takes 8 volts, its as simply as tapping into the 8 volt regulator. 95% of radios have this on the board.
Most Cobra radios use TR23 for 8 volts.
Most Galaxy radios use Q37 or TR41 for 8 volt supply.
They are the large transistor in the front right of the radio, when the face is towards you, component side up.
Simply use a volt meter and tap there. Walla, No squeal, No Hum.

The next problem is the adjustment for the echo time.
For some reason, some boards wont do a slow echo. If you turn the speed to the left of center, it turns off. This is a problem with the board setup, but it can be solved easy.
Simply remove the Ground/Shield wire from the time pot, and relocate it to the Ground/Shield of the Amount pot. This will allow the adjustment to be turned down all the way, and have slower echo.
Sometimes this will create a hum when its all the way down. If so, add a .1uf capacitor to the now empty left pin of the speed pot, to either the 2 ground/shield wires or to the metal frame of the pot, where there may be another capacitor located. This should remove the hum when you turn the speed all the way down.

http://www.LoudMouthRadios.com

Hannah Montana MP3 Player - Volume Fix

noreply@blogger.com (MRodgers) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 07:07:00 +0000

I bought my daughter a Hanna Montanna MP3 player from JC Penny for her birthday. It was on clearance, and she saw it and said she wanted it, so I went back later to buy it.

Well the night before her 4th birthday party, I opened it up, to charge the battery and load songs onto it, so its ready for her.
Well I got it loaded easy, didnt need the drivers for XP.
I tested it and the stupid volume controls didnt work.
So I had to try to fix it for her, cause it was after midnight, and I didnt have time to exchange it before her party.

So I opened the case up, simply with 1 small Phillips Head screw at the bottom.
Then the rest un-clips from the bottom up.

Once its open, peel off the battery pack, that has double sided tape.
Find the 2 volume buttons, there marked on the board.

There are 4 terminals for each volume control. I think they only use 2, thats logical, but the other 2 are for mounting.

I simply added a tiny amount of solder to each of the pins, using a 25 watt soldering iron, and WALLA! they work now.
I'm not sure what pin on them was bad, but it doesnt hurt to touch up on them all.

I dont know if maybe this one was just bad, or if there are others with problems, but I put this out here, in case other people have the same problem too.
Good Luck!

My Mobile Radio Setup

noreply@blogger.com (MRodgers) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 06:02:00 +0000

Galaxy 959 CB
I have it tuned down to 1w DeadKey, swings about 10w, with swing kit installed.
I adjusted the tone on the roger beep, and shortened it.
Blue Meter LEDs.
Super Modulation mod. This is the LOUDEST audio CB in the Metro Detroit area. Don't believe me, ask anyone on CH 19 out there.
UPDATED: Texas Star 667V with modified SC1446 Driver board.
Road Devil Red Mic, with modded mic element.

Wilson 1000 Roof Mount Antenna.

Bearcat Scanner.
Blue backlight LED mod done.
Mini mag mount, tuned for VHF Hi freqs.

LED Lightbar
Light + PA/AirHorn Controller

My Base Station Radio Setup

noreply@blogger.com (MRodgers) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:53:00 +0000

My base station radio setup:

Galaxy 55 Cb/HAM radio.
Tuned down to 3/4w DK and swings about 8w.
I added a "Roger K" beep to it.
The meter now has a 7 color changing LED in it.
I use a old 80's Turner +2 desk mic.
I also have a Land Matic voice changer, that I can put inline.
I have a RF Limited TRB-1 Echo board that I might put back into the radio sometime.
White Tornado 225w amp. It really only puts out about 150w tho.

I have a 102" stainless steel whip on a 10' pipe mounted on my chimney.
I would use a Antron99 CB base antenna, but Im not allowed to have antennas up here, and this is hidden pretty good, and not easily visible.

Yeasu FT-2500M 2 Meter mobile.
I use a simple mobile 1/4wave dual band antenna on a trucker mount, on my chimney. It works for what I need. I wish I could use my good 15' repeater base antenna tho, but Im not allowed here.

Radio Shack Pro-2030
80 Channel, non trunking scanner.
Used to monitor Fire + EMS dispatch.

I used to have a RS Pro-96 Digital scanner, but I was stolen a few years ago.

Galaxy Melaka Blue LED Conversion + Mods

noreply@blogger.com (MRodgers) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 03:32:00 +0000

I have a used Galaxy Melaka CB/HAM base station radio that im working on modding and doing a all blue LED conversion on.

To do the Blue LED mod, I needed SIX 5mm LED's, ONE 470k ohm resistor, and a 2digit channel number LED module.

The MODE selector originally used 6 white 12v wheat lamps.
I removed all 6 lamps, and installed the LEDs, watching the polarity of them. They all share a common POSITIVE, and are selected by the ground. I had to remove the main POS wire, coming off the voltage regulator board, and I added the 470k ohm resistor in series with the wire, so it drops the voltage from 12v to 3v.

The signal meter also used a 12v wheat lamp.
I replaced that with a Blue LED and a resistor.
I will probably add 2 more LEDs to increase the brightness, due to the black background being kind of dark to see.

The channel display takes a little work to de-solder the original module, and then installing the new one is simple as long as all the PCB holes are good and clean.
It takes 8 pins to desolder and put back in.

I also added a echo board to the radio and mounted the control in the back.

I added a simple swing kit, and tuned the radio to 1w deadkey, swinging 6w.

I also added switchable talkback. Simply cut D80, and install a switch.
Open= ON. Closed=Off.
On this board, there is no way to do a variable talkback, unless you install a seperate talkabck board.