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Mods for Ranger RCI-2950
Modification
voor Ranger RCI-2950
The only difference
between the old and new versions of the RCI2950 is the new CPU board.
They require slightly different modifications.
Old
Version
The old version of this
radio can be expanded from 26 Mhz to 32 Mhz. Although the use of the 30
-32 Mhz range may need realignment.
First find the PC board
with the jumpers on (behind the front panel).Then find 'J2',there is a
jumper on pins P3 and P4.If this is jumper is removed you will get
coverage from 26 Mhz to 29.7 Mhz.
If this jumper is then
place on P1 and P2 coverage will be from 26 Mhz to 32 Mhz(re tuning may
be needed to operate in 30-32 Mhz range).
The CPU now needs to be
reset by pressing the button located below 'J2'
New
Version
As the CPU board has
changed the modification is different. On the CPU board there is only
one jumper with two positions available. In one position it covers 28
Mhz to 30 Mhz, In the other it covers 26 Mhz to 30 Mhz. But if you jump
all three pins together you'll get 26 Mhz to 30 Mhz.(If this is
incorrect PLEASE tell me)
Problem..........Clarifier Mod (open) for the Mirage/Ranger
RCI-2950
The Fix:
First I
must assume that you have the "proper" equipment for this modification.
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Locate R-197
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Unsolder the wire lead side of this resistor that goes to the black
wire of plug
- Make
sure that the "hole" is cleaned out good from where R-197 was
removed
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Solder a piece of wire from this hole to Pin #3 of IC6 (about 6
inches)
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Remove D-59
Let your radio
"cook" for a couple of hours to get "used" to the new modification.
Full Time "Talk Back"
RCI - 2950 & 2970 Other
Tips
1.
Receiver Temporarily Shuts Down
2.
Very "Noisy" Receiver
Improved receive gain
Quieting of AM reception and improving
gain of incoming signals is a common request from radio operators. In
the first stages of the HF input 2SC1674 transistor can be found. This
transistor is responsible for the amplification of a small detected
signals. A problems exist if the transistor itself is noisy as is such
the case of the 2SC1674 when compared to other low noise packages. Along
with the amplification of the incoming signals is transistor noise.
Replacement of this transistor with a higher gain, lower noise
transistor greatly improves the signal to noise ratio of your receiver.
We will use an 2SC2999 transistor that has higher gain lower noise
characteristic. Replace the
2SC1674
(Q18) with an
2SC2999
(or similar low noise and high gain transistor) to achieve this improved
signal to noise ratio.
Re-Adjust L8 and L9
The gain will improved with more than 6dB with the same signal to noise
ratio.
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Adjustment points of RCI-2950 series |
Frequency adjustment points of
RCI-2950 series.

Click on
the image to see a bigger view
of the main board.11
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RCI-2950dx 18.9251 - 36.1049 freq mod |
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Do you want to go down to 20mhz
on that dx radio??
After you have the module
installed, you can trick it into
going to any frequency between
18.9251-36.1049mhz! This
involves a little math but you
can do it!!
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You first program the split
function...for our example
we will use 6.965mhz..
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After this is programmed
leave the spit function at
-split..
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Next press manual to get to
the cb display and have it
on ch 1..
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Press the mic key
momentairly and notice the
buzzz from the radio, it's
because the spit function is
still active..
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Press Man again.. and Bingo
"(UNQUOTE) ......
I have tried this without the
module (i don't even know what
module is being mentioned) and
would you beleive i can actualy
transmit and receive on these
frequency's.... In order for it
to be a 100% right i will hafe
to re-align the radio
again........ Kind of sounds
like the AR3500 in a small
way... My self i can't wait til
the future when the rest of this
radio's secrets are reveiled. |
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RCI-2950dx 15 meter conversion |
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1- Radio must have the
module connected to rx/tx
from 32.000 - 24.000 mhz.
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2- Open radio on the speaker
side.
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3- Face the back side of
radio towards you. leaving
the front panel away from
you.
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4- Looking where the module
is plugged in on the back
side of the front panel
there will be 2 sets of pins
right above the module plug
in. connect the 2 right pins
together.
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5- Reassemble the radio.
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6- Turn radio on and radio
should start at 21.000.
I have done this modification
but have not TX on an antenna.
It does TX RF but not sure how
well the RX is. Please don't do
this modification if you are
unsure or uncomfortable with
this mod. I take no
responsibility on the outcome. |
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Reference the accompanying
pictorial sketch (below) for
component location during your
alignment process. The pictorial
component layouts are adjusted
to the factory settings for my
radio and yours may differ. All
alignments are done at your own
risk and you assume any and all
liabilities for your own
mistakes. The forgoing has been
performed on many of the RCI
29xx series amateur radios. Why
they call this an amateur radio
is beyond me. The RCI 29xx
series radio has horrible
grounding problems and the
frequency drifts after warm-up.
It is my assumption, and that of
most, that this is RCI's attempt
at selling mass quantities of
"Hybrid CB" Radios - and boy
have they!
RCI-2950 - 2970
Elignment
Adjust VR14 (AM Modulation AMC)
for maximum forward modulation.
I personally don't recommend
removing Q32 (Modulation
Limiter) for more modulation -
the radio will splatter enough
without its removal.
Set your desired operating
frequency or choose a frequency
that is in "middle" of the band
that you prefer to operate. With
a Watt Meter connected and a
properly adjusted antenna;
adjust L34, L13, L14, L46, and
L10 in AM Mode for maximum
forward output.
VR11 (RF Driver Bias) should be
adjusted for maximum forward RF
output in AM Mode. After
adjustment repeat the
adjustments of L34, L13, L14,
and L10.
Disconnect your antenna and
install a wattmeter and a dummy
load to the output of the radio.
On the front of the radio;
rotate the RF PWR control to its
maximum - full clockwise
position and adjust VR13 (AM
High Power) for 12-Watts "dead
key - no audio" output. Rotate
the RF PWR control to its
minimum - full counter clockwise
position and adjust VR15 (AM Low
Power) for 2-Watts "dead key -
no audio" output. With a watt
meter and antenna hooked up, and
no modulation injected, you
should see about 15 watts
minimum to 30 watts maximum RF
output.
Disconnect your antenna and
install a wattmeter and a dummy
load to the output of the radio.
On the front of the radio;
rotate the RF PWR control to its
maximum - full clockwise
position and adjust VR12 (SSB
High Power ALC) for a maximum
PEP on SSB. Rotate the RF PWR
control to its minimum - full
counter clockwise position and
adjust VR16 (SSB Low Power ALC)
for a minimum 6 Watts PEP on SSB.
With a watt meter and antenna
hooked up, and speaking normally
into the microphone, you should
see about 40 watts maximum RF
output.
With the antenna disconnected,
and a wattmeter and dummy load
installed, set the RF PWR
control to minimum - full
counter clockwise position.
Adjust VR8 (RF Power Meter) to
reflect the actual "minimum"
output of the radio. |
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RCI 2950 New Model, Extended RX/TX |
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Remove the bottom cover and with
the rear panel nearest to you,
observe a pair of jumper posts
in the cutout of the aluminum
bracket behind the front panel
looking like " : : ". Jumper the
right pair.
Replace the bottom cover and you
now have continuous coverage
from 24-32 Mhz (but output may
be reduced over 30 Mhz).
Press the "MAN" button and the
display changes to the CB mode
with channels 1-40 available.
Press again to restore VFO
display. Be advised that this
rig is NOT FCC type accepted for
CB use despite the
manufacturer's provision of a CB
channel display.
Amateur Ops, do not jeopardize
your priveledges by transmitting
on out-of-band frequencies or on
the chicken band.
The best use of this mod is as a
driver for a 10M to 2M
transverter such as the Ten-Tec
1210, providing all modes and
full coverage of the 2 meter ham
band using 28 to 32 Mhz. |
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Frequency Modification for Ranger RCI-2950 |
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1- Remove the case. I
*think* you can remove
either the top cover or the
bottom cover to get to the
PC board with the jumpers.
It will be a small PC board
immediately behind the front
panel.
2- Locate "J2". There will
be a jumper on pins P3 and
P4.
3- Remove this jumper to
expand coverage to 26 MHz -
29.7 MHz.
4- Move the jumper from
P3-P4 to P1-P2 to expand
coverage to 26 MHz - 32 MHz.
5- After moving (or
removing) the jumper, press
the CPU reset button
(located below J2).
NOTE:
Operation between 30-32MHz may
require retuning the VCO. |
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CB Channel Readout Modification |
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1- Locate J1. There will be
a jumper on pins P1-P2.
2- Remove jumper and place
on P2-P3.
3- Press the LOCK button on
the front panel. The readout
will now display the CB
channel number 1-40 -- also
will display "A" channels.
3-Press LOCK again to return
to VFO mode.
NOTE:
The SHF button will not operate
while in CB mode.
This modification will disable
the frequency lock function. |
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CB Channel 9 Select Modification |
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1- Locate J3. There is a
jumper between P1-P2.
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2- Remove the jumper and
place it on P2-P3.
3- Press the "roger beep"
button to go directly to CB
Channel 9.
NOTE:
Doing this modification makes it
impossible to turn off the roger
beep feature (unless, *possibly*
you make sure the roger beep is
turned off before moving the
jumper. I'm not sure). |
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Adjust VR14 (AMC) for maximum
forward modification. Mod
limiter Q32 can be removed for
more modulation, but it also
disables VR12 (SSB ALC) and
disables variable power for SSB.
I do not recommend removing Q32;
you'll have plenty of modulation
as is.
Tune L34, L13, L14, L46 and L10
in AM mode for maximum forward
swing, using a peak-reading
wattmeter. Try to balance for
even power from top to bottom of
frequency range.
NOTE: You'll have a LOT of
trouble identifying these cans.
Sorry, I don't know for sure
where they are either.
Adjust VR13 (AM High Power) for
12 watts dead key with the front
panel RF power control at
maximum. Adjust VR15 (AM Low
Power) for 2 watts dead key with
front panel RF power control at
minimum.
>From the 12-watt dead key you
should see a forward swing of
30-40 watts.
>From the 2-watt dead key you
should see a forward swing of
18-20 watts.
Adjust VR12 (SSB High Power ALC)
for maximum PEP on SSB, then
back off just a little, with
front panel RF power control at
maximum.
Adjust VR16 (SSB Low Power ALC)
for 5-6 watts PEP on SSB with
front panel RF power control at
minimum. You should see 40-50
watts PEP on SSB with front
panel RF power control at
maximum.
Microphone wiring diagram
Pin 1 -- shield
Pin 2 -- Audio
Pin 3 -- Transmit
Pin 4 -- Receive
Pin 5 -- Frequency select up These might be reversed.
Pin 6 -- Frequency select down /
Disclaimer:
The preceding message is posted
for information only. I do not
condone the modification of
amateur transceivers for use
outside the amateur band. It is
*possible* that performing the
tune-up modifications will
shorten the life of the radio's
components due to driving them
too close to their design
tolerances. I accept no
responsibility for possible
damage to any radio that is
modified in this way. I cannot
personally vouch for any of
these modifications; they were
given to me by a
technically-inclined friend. |
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Block Diagram

| Reading Point |
Adjustment |
Description |
Value |
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OSCILLATOR / PLL |
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| J13 |
L17 |
VCO-Voltage |
2,2
Volt |
| IC7
Pin 3 |
L21 |
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1,2
Volt |
| L61 |
VC1 |
RX AM |
10.240MHz |
| IC14
Pin 3 |
VR21 |
TX AM |
10.240MHz |
| D45 |
L27 |
TX AM |
10.6950MHz |
| D45 |
L29 |
TX USB |
10.6925MHz |
| D45 |
L28 |
TX LSB |
10.6975MHz |
| IC17
Pin 13 |
Check |
RX AM |
5.930MHz |
| IC17
Pin 12 |
L23 |
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Maximum on Oscilloscope |
| IC17
Pin 13 |
L24
L25 |
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Maximum on Oscilloscope |
| D116 |
L19 |
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Maximum on Oscilloscope |
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RECEIVER |
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L8 L9
L11 |
RF
Input |
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L12
L13 L14 |
1st IF |
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L3 L4
L5 L6 |
AM/FM
IF |
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L7 |
FM
Discriminator (Demodulator) |
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L15
L16 |
SSB IF |
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| TP1 |
L1 L2 |
NB/ANL
IF |
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VR3 |
AM
Squelch threshold |
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VR4 |
SSB
Squelch threshold |
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S-Meter |
VR2 |
RX SSB |
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S-Meter |
VR1 |
RX AM |
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TRANSMITTER |
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VR11 |
Bias
Driver |
10mA |
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VC3 |
Bias
Finale |
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L47 |
TX
Mixer input (10.695MHz carrier) |
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L48 |
TX
Mixer input (From PLL) |
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L45 |
TX
Mixer output |
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L43 |
Pre-Driver input |
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L34 |
Harmonic output |
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VR7 |
SSB
Modulator Balance |
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VR16 |
SSB
Low Power |
5 Watt
(ALC) |
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VR12 |
SSB
High Power |
40
Watt (ALC) |
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VR15 |
AM Low
Power |
4 Watt |
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VR13 |
AM
High Power |
30
Watt |
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VR14 |
90%
AM-Modulation |
AMC |
| Power
Meter |
VR8 |
TX AM |
ATTENTION
The KB2LJJ takes no responsibility for any damage during the modification or for
any wrong information made on this modification.
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