GE 7-2990A

I would like to find one of the GE "Super Radios", but no joy so far. They were touted to be exceptional.

Frank -I can't be too harsh on GE (they have also supplied me with a monthly stipend for the past 21+ years :-) for contracting this radio design/main board position; overall a very good receiver, with or without a long-wire antenna.

I have had one response from "electrotanya" - it was: "it's harder to put back in", in Hungarian 


If this stuff was easy, anyone could do it!!

Kend,
 One of THOSE horrible radios.
I hated those where you had to remove the entire case to get to adjustments. I didn't run into them too often, but detested working on them when I had to repair one of them. It always seemed that a wire would break off and it was a real PITA to figure out where it went back to. Phones with cameras do make it a lot easier though.

Frank - I have the original "Service Manual" which has alignments, layouts, stringing guide, etc. BUT it doesn't cover the assembly/disassembly procedures. At some point, someone would have been through the procedure for removing the main board - when you take the back off, you are looking at the BOTTOM of the main board and ALL of the adjustments are on the opposite side of the board. I just have to get the main board away in order to access the audio output jack and replace it. I did previously check out "Electrotanya" - they listed the same pubs I currently have. Thanks for the tip to post a message at "Electrotanya", just did.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Might get you the schematic. They list some Panasonic/ Matsushita models with similar numbers. 
barring that, put in a request in the forum.
 Oh, be sure to click "English".

Thanks Frank - The Japanese manual I had access to was for the Pansonic RF-2600C, which seems to be similar to the GE 7-2900A but on the OUTSIDE only - the innards of the GE 7-2990A are a very different story. The GE was made by National Pansonic (Matsushita).

Kend-
I  have used Google Translate with fair success. Just snap a pix or point the smart fone at the text and it does a fair job of translation when I have tried it.

A little late to the discussion, but [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] explains it well. Thanks Cliff for the 3.5mm jack layouts. see also [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] for additional info....

Thanks Cliff. I have to say that I am without words to respond with. I would guess that ham radio operators have not (generally) referred to either type of phone jack or plug in that manner. 2 conductor and 3 conductor jacks/plugs are the terms I am most familiar with. Thanks.
73, Rod

TS jack were originally designed for telephone systems

T = Tip
S = Sleeve
-----------------

Trs Jack

T = Tip
R = Ring
S = Sleeve



[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Hi Kend,
OK. I have to finally ask what is a "TS" style phone jack? I have to admit that I am not familiar with them. 1/8'' or 1/4" or something else? PC board mount or panel mounting? There was also a 3/16" size that was used on WWII military radio equipment primarily for microphone connections. Collins and also R.L. Drake used them for the same purpose on some models of their radio equipment. In fact, such plugs have been called "Collins" plugs for years now. Good luck on your work with the GE. 
73, Rod  WB6FBF

Thanks for the input, Rod. I have a couple of spare TS type jacks laying around and once I get to the the one in the unit, I'll replace it - it should then last for my lifetime. The problem lies in what is the best way to get to it...

Like a blind dog in a meat house - he can smell the meat, but can't get to it. --author unknown

Hope that phone jack will clean up OK once you can get to it. A "bad" one can be a nuisance and prevent any audio from getting to the speaker. If it is of the earlier open type you may find the contacts simply out of alignment with each other. I had one jack (1/8") in a computer sound system that was found to be internally defective. I ended up wiring around it as the original PC board mount jack was non-standard and didn't really need the headphone jack. Enough of those on most computers. Good luck.
73, Rod  WB6FBF

Cliff, thanks for the response. I have the service and operators manual for this unit and it doesn't go in to the tear-down section, mainly alignment and mechanicals, etc. I did manage to get a Japanese version of the proper factory service manual but no help as it is all in Japanese. This unit is similar to but not identical the Pansonic RF-2600C/DR-26. When you take off the rear panel, you are faced with the BOTTOM of the main PC board (solder runs only). The alignment stuff is on  the opposite side of the board, ummm.

I think that I will have to remove everything inside so I can get to the front TS audio jack, which needs cleaning/replacement. I have only had to repair this unit once in the early 90's - bad nylon gear (cracked) in the tuning assy. which is easy to get to - got a nylon gear that was identical from a hobby shop that dealt in slot cars and their associated parts.

Hopefully, someone has been down this road....


"Anything can happen - but it usually doesn't" --humorist Robert Benchley

You might try to look for the service manual, on line if you hadn't. That would include online book stores.
Radio Ham clubs and even contact G.E. (doubtful).

Has anyone attempted a tear-down of the GE 7-2990A SW receiver? In order to replace the TS headphone output jack, it looks like you have to take the main board out, which has all the other components mounted to it. There must be a better way to get to that jack which is under the main board. Any ones response with previous experience on this receiver will be appreciated.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]