Hello Swizzradios. You did a great job giving the community a kind of solution for long time irritating problem. A few years ago I returned on CB after 20 years of pause. I noticed that all old radios similar to this have the same problem. 20-30 years ago they measured signals fine. I found your video, as a solution for the problem, however after my own tests I found out that this modification is cure for the consequence of malfunction rather than repair which caused the problem at first place. At first place, I have to notice that you mentioned D14 as a rectifier. It is, but it's main purpose is to allow DC current to flow in one direction (S meter DC voltage from IC1 pin7). Real RF rectifier are D11 and D12. Putting germanium diode at D14 helps getting better results, but not completely as you found out by yourself when measured modified radio, commenting at 6:37. Secondly, you didn't test receiver on signals above S9 which is very important. As you can see, signals arond S 9 are very dense. Even if you would increase incoming signal by 20-30 dB, S meter will show insufficient advance into red zone. Moreover signals below S5 very easily drops so there is great problem with the S meter linearity. Beside S meter problem that almost all signals on antenna were around S9, there was more noise in FM audio than on other CB radios. We have to ask ourselves how these radios worked correctly when they were new, even with silicon D14. That leads to conclusion that something has malfunction and needs repair, rather than modification. My findings lead me to faulty AGC circuit. S meter readings directly represents AGC voltage. Measurement of D17 and D18 (MC301) showed their voltage characteristics are not as specified in datasheet. I tried a few different diodes I had at the moment, but at the end I used ordinary 1N4148 and got about 80% accuracy. I am aware that these diodes and original have very different voltage characteristics below 0,6V and that causes non linearity below S5 or S6. AGC (and S meter reading) is greatly affected by surrounding elements, mainly R71, R72 and R73. In some similar radios, linearization network is used between R71 and AGC out IC1 pin 14. So far my friends and I have replaced AGC diodes in several Jackson, Grant and Superstar radios. Finally we can recognize each other just looking at S meter. Prior to that, almost all signals were around S9. Please look at my results on drive.google.com/drive/folders/1A_fLRkwMaXv6iTrPjANaAIJfGKzxQipV?usp=sharing
I own a Superstar SS-158EDX and I almost gave it up due this problem. I changed D14 - 1N4148 (625 ohms) by a schottky 1N5711 (233 ohms) and it works very well. Germanium diodes are very dificult to find here in Brazil and the available ones have poor quality. Thank you very much for your tip.
Metclapton hello. Thank you for your question. Yes, there are two diodes in series. You can Bridge one of These two diodes (D7/D8), and you will solve this Problem with the lazy needle. Please remember: The D7/8 are Silicon diodes with 0.6 Volts Forward voltage. You can replace These two diodes with 1N60 or OA95. Then you get more voltage drive for the S-meter, like the PB010AA/AB modification. Have a nice mod. 73's...
Hello dr Irish OM, thank you for the inputs. Yes, the most CB-radios were only designed to show an approximate signal level. I hate lazy S-meters. I want moving S-needles to show very low signals like CYBERNET radios. I'll make a video about the modification on a SUPER STAR 3900 (EPT3600). This CB-radio has also a lazy needle...Best 73's...
Mr Zoltàn hello and congrats to your modification. CB-radios and antennas are a passion of mine. It was a beautiful time in the 80ies: Big CBer partys and events without smartphones and facebook profiles... Happy airwaves to you..
Hi SWIZZRADIOS !!! Thank you read my message. Here local little team use the radio.... this is hobby. I'm website administrator. The team there is hungary. Website: cbklub.atw.hu My radio nick name is "Zolee". Look at little team website. (sorry little speak in english) Thank you for upload this video. !!!!!!! I have my radio Galaxy Saturn. '73 DX Best regards Zolee. :)
Hello Cobraman, thank you for the commend. The new video of the S-meter correction on a SUPER STAR 3900 is in the pipeline. I'll it upload in the next view days. Best 73 to you...
Hi Stefan, habe soeben die Modifikation bei meiner SS360FM durchgeführt. Habe noch NOS Toshiba original 1N60 und Siemens AA112 Germanium Dioden geerbt.😉 Das Ergebnis ist klasse! Vielen Dank für dein Video! 73, Ralf
Hallo Ralf, alles klar. Du könntest noch den TR17 mit einem rauscharmen 2SC2999 Transistor ersetzen, so wäre da die Empfindlichkeit im RX-Pfad, noch ca 6dB besser. Dann müsstest du aber den RX nochmals etwas nachstimmen und das S-Meter nochmals nacheichen, so käme es dann noch besser. Nun wünsche ich dir noch eine schöne Adventszeit und good DX. 73, Stefan....
Hello stresstest. I'm back again. The S-meter of DX94HP is one with a big wide scale. The S-9 point is in the middle of the scale. On the S-meter of a SS360FM, is the S-9 point on the right end of the scale. On my SS360FM, is the original measured level of S9+60dB, aproximately S9+30 on the S-meter scale. In the next view days, I'll make a video about the S-meter modification on a SUPER STAR 3900. Then I'll show also S-meter levels over S-9. Maybe until 9+30dB. Best 73 to you...
Hello mr stresstest. I don't know. But the AGC circuits of DX94HP and SS360FM are very similar. All electronic parts of the AGC circuits are identic. But the AGC quad-amp-regulator of the DX94HP is the TA6324, this of the SS360 is the TA75902P or NJM2902N. The pinning of both ic's is identic but the specifications are anything different. The S-meter impedance of moving coil of DX94HP is different like which from SS360. The moving coil of DX94HP is a vertical moving type, SS360 is horizontale.
Hello Joloke. In my SUPER STAR 3900, I'm using an old 1N60 Ge Diode. You'll find these in old AM-CB-radios. Please take a look into my video: How to wake up a lazy s-needle on a SUPER STAR 3900..." Best 73's
Hello dear Swizzradio, i did the mod on my Galaxy Pluto and on my Grant successfully ; any idea for the Lincoln (1996 model same as HR2510) ? My Lincoln's s-meter is sort of lazy too... Thanks and 73 !
Mister Ernest Fogg hello, thank you for your interest on my channel. Yes, these SUPER STAR's are really big rigs. But there is no time in the moment to repair CB-radios. But in the Winter I'll look to repair a lot of CB-radios in my old stock. All in all, CB-radios and -antennas are a passion of me. There was a beautiful time in the 80ies: Big CBiers parties, without smartphones and facebook profiles. So I'm not on facebook, but on 27 MHz… Best 73 to you and yours...
Hello Mr Christophe, thank you for your interest. Please replace the D14 (2S2075) with a 1N60 or similar and your lazy S-meter will also show the small signals. But now is to realign the RX section. I wish you good luck with the modification. Happy airwaves to you...
@@SWIZZRADIOS Dear Stefan, thanks a lot for your kind answer, and I am always looking forward to watch your very interesting videos :) My warmest 73 my friend ! KP733 Chris
Good evening, could you tell me how to transfer this equipment to Mosfeet? the endings they carry are in disuse thank you very much and take care EA7JZM 
Hello dr OM EA7JZM, thank you for your interest. Please take a look in to this link as follows: www.cbtricks.com/miscellaneous/fet_papers/mosfet_conv/graphics/3600xxx_ssb_mosfet.pdf I wish you good luck by the modification and best 73 to you...
Hi I am having a problem with my RCI 2950, when it is on AM it is at ''half volume'' ,, but all FM USB LSB are good could you explain what that is please thanks
driveheronman CB radio fan hello, thank you for the question. I'm sorry the RCI5950 isn't more in my collection. I can't check your problem any more. Please tell your problem to an other RCI2950 user on youtube. Best regards to you.
6koko3 hello, thank you for your interest. Yes, you should replace the diode with the 1N60 and realigne the RX/IF section. I think that's it. Best regards to you....
![BAK Jay - Find Out (For Your Love) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/10FJO_XBCvY/mqdefault.jpg)
Hello Swizzradios. You did a great job giving the community a kind of solution for long time irritating problem.
A few years ago I returned on CB after 20 years of pause.
I noticed that all old radios similar to this have the same problem. 20-30 years ago they measured signals fine. I found your video, as a solution for the problem, however after my own tests I found out that this modification is cure for the consequence of malfunction rather than repair which caused the problem at first place.
At first place, I have to notice that you mentioned D14 as a rectifier. It is, but it's main purpose is to allow DC current to flow in one direction (S meter DC voltage from IC1 pin7). Real RF rectifier are D11 and D12. Putting germanium diode at D14 helps getting better results, but not completely as you found out by yourself when measured modified radio, commenting at 6:37.
Secondly, you didn't test receiver on signals above S9 which is very important. As you can see, signals arond S 9 are very dense. Even if you would increase incoming signal by 20-30 dB, S meter will show insufficient advance into red zone. Moreover signals below S5 very easily drops so there is great problem with the S meter linearity. Beside S meter problem that almost all signals on antenna were around S9, there was more noise in FM audio than on other CB radios.
We have to ask ourselves how these radios worked correctly when they were new, even with silicon D14. That leads to conclusion that something has malfunction and needs repair, rather than modification.
My findings lead me to faulty AGC circuit. S meter readings directly represents AGC voltage. Measurement of D17 and D18 (MC301) showed their voltage characteristics are not as specified in datasheet. I tried a few different diodes I had at the moment, but at the end I used ordinary 1N4148 and got about 80% accuracy. I am aware that these diodes and original have very different voltage characteristics below 0,6V and that causes non linearity below S5 or S6.
AGC (and S meter reading) is greatly affected by surrounding elements, mainly R71, R72 and R73. In some similar radios, linearization network is used between R71 and AGC out IC1 pin 14.
So far my friends and I have replaced AGC diodes in several Jackson, Grant and Superstar radios. Finally we can recognize each other just looking at S meter. Prior to that, almost all signals were around S9.
Please look at my results on drive.google.com/drive/folders/1A_fLRkwMaXv6iTrPjANaAIJfGKzxQipV?usp=sharing
Hello my friend YU7RSX, thank you for the info. I'll look forward and replace the AGC diode. Happy airwaves to you...
I own a Superstar SS-158EDX and I almost gave it up due this problem. I changed D14 - 1N4148 (625 ohms) by a schottky 1N5711 (233 ohms) and it works very well. Germanium diodes are very dificult to find here in Brazil and the available ones have poor quality. Thank you very much for your tip.
CB radio-fan hello, thank you for your post. You' re welcome. Best 73s to you..
Metclapton hello. Thank you for your question. Yes, there are two diodes in series. You can Bridge one of These two diodes (D7/D8), and you will solve this Problem with the lazy needle. Please remember: The D7/8 are Silicon diodes with 0.6 Volts Forward voltage. You can replace These two diodes with 1N60 or OA95. Then you get more voltage drive for the S-meter, like the PB010AA/AB modification. Have a nice mod. 73's...
Hello dr Irish OM, thank you for the inputs. Yes, the most CB-radios were only designed to show an approximate signal level. I hate lazy S-meters. I want moving S-needles to show very low signals like CYBERNET radios. I'll make a video about the modification on a SUPER STAR 3900 (EPT3600). This CB-radio has also a lazy needle...Best 73's...
I changed 1N4148 now OA1182 this is great
thank you !!! very nice day
Mr Zoltàn hello and congrats to your modification. CB-radios and antennas are a passion of mine. It was a beautiful time in the 80ies: Big CBer partys and events without smartphones and facebook profiles... Happy airwaves to you..
Hi SWIZZRADIOS !!! Thank you read my message. Here local little team use the radio.... this is hobby. I'm website administrator. The team there is hungary. Website: cbklub.atw.hu
My radio nick name is "Zolee". Look at little team website.
(sorry little speak in english)
Thank you for upload this video. !!!!!!!
I have my radio Galaxy Saturn.
'73 DX Best regards Zolee. :)
Hello Cobraman, thank you for the commend. The new video of the S-meter correction on a SUPER STAR 3900 is in the pipeline. I'll it upload in the next view days. Best 73 to you...
Hi Stefan, habe soeben die Modifikation bei meiner SS360FM durchgeführt. Habe noch NOS Toshiba original 1N60 und Siemens AA112 Germanium Dioden geerbt.😉
Das Ergebnis ist klasse! Vielen Dank für dein Video! 73, Ralf
Hallo Ralf, alles klar. Du könntest noch den TR17 mit einem rauscharmen 2SC2999 Transistor ersetzen, so wäre da die Empfindlichkeit im RX-Pfad, noch ca 6dB besser. Dann müsstest du aber den RX nochmals etwas nachstimmen und das S-Meter nochmals nacheichen, so käme es dann noch besser. Nun wünsche ich dir noch eine schöne Adventszeit und good DX. 73, Stefan....
Hello dr OM, thank you for the flowers... You're welcome...Best 73's..
Ian MC hello, thank you for your commend.... You're welcome..Best 73's..
Fred Dread hello, thank you for the commend, you're welcome.
Hello...In the next view days, I'll make a vid about the modification on a SUPER STAR 3900 (EPT3600). This CB-radio has also a lazy needle...
Hello stresstest. I'm back again. The S-meter of DX94HP is one with a big wide scale. The S-9 point is in the middle of the scale. On the S-meter of a SS360FM, is the S-9 point on the right end of the scale. On my SS360FM, is the original measured level of S9+60dB, aproximately S9+30 on the S-meter scale. In the next view days, I'll make a video about the S-meter modification on a SUPER STAR 3900. Then I'll show also S-meter levels over S-9. Maybe until 9+30dB. Best 73 to you...
Hello mr stresstest. I don't know. But the AGC circuits of DX94HP and SS360FM are very similar. All electronic parts of the AGC circuits are identic. But the AGC quad-amp-regulator of the DX94HP is the TA6324, this of the SS360 is the TA75902P or NJM2902N. The pinning of both ic's is identic but the specifications are anything different. The S-meter impedance of moving coil of DX94HP is different like which from SS360. The moving coil of DX94HP is a vertical moving type, SS360 is horizontale.
Hello Joloke. In my SUPER STAR 3900, I'm using an old 1N60 Ge Diode. You'll find these in old AM-CB-radios. Please take a look into my video: How to wake up a lazy s-needle on a SUPER STAR 3900..." Best 73's
Hello dear Swizzradio, i did the mod on my Galaxy Pluto and on my Grant successfully ; any idea for the Lincoln (1996 model same as HR2510) ? My Lincoln's s-meter is sort of lazy too... Thanks and 73 !
Mr Christophe hello, thank you for your interest. I'm sorry, I've no plan....
Do you still do repairs?.
Mister Ernest Fogg hello, thank you for your interest on my channel. Yes, these SUPER STAR's are really big rigs. But there is no time in the moment to repair CB-radios. But in the Winter I'll look to repair a lot of CB-radios in my old stock. All in all, CB-radios and -antennas are a passion of me. There was a beautiful time in the 80ies: Big CBiers parties, without smartphones and facebook profiles. So I'm not on facebook, but on 27 MHz… Best 73 to you and yours...
Hello dear OM, is this supposed to work well on President Grant PC-999AD ?
Hello Mr Christophe, thank you for your interest. Please replace the D14 (2S2075) with a 1N60 or similar and your lazy S-meter will also show the small signals. But now is to realign the RX section. I wish you good luck with the modification. Happy airwaves to you...
@@SWIZZRADIOS Dear Stefan, thanks a lot for your kind answer, and I am always looking forward to watch your very interesting videos :)
My warmest 73 my friend ! KP733 Chris
Good evening, could you tell me how to transfer this equipment to Mosfeet? the endings they carry are in disuse thank you very much and take care EA7JZM

Hello dr OM EA7JZM, thank you for your interest. Please take a look in to this link as follows: www.cbtricks.com/miscellaneous/fet_papers/mosfet_conv/graphics/3600xxx_ssb_mosfet.pdf
I wish you good luck by the modification and best 73 to you...
Ok. 73 and 51 for you and component famili thank you
Hi there I would like to ask if this is the correct diode.....1N60P Germanium Detector Diode?
Thx in advance :)
Hi there! Yes of course, 1N60P Germanium Detector Diode is absolutely similar. Good luck at the modification. Happy airwaves to you...
Thank you very much :)
If germanium diodes are dificult to find in your location, I suggest a schottky diode 1N5711 (233 ohms).
Oh yes, these work very good. Thank you.
Hi I am having a problem with my RCI 2950, when it is on AM it is at ''half volume'' ,, but all FM USB LSB are good could you explain what that is please thanks
driveheronman CB radio fan hello, thank you for the question. I'm sorry the RCI5950 isn't more in my collection. I can't check your problem any more. Please tell your problem to an other RCI2950 user on youtube. Best regards to you.
OK thank you for your reply
I have exactly the same problem, on a Superstar360 FM, Could it be a AGC problem or rather an IF unalignment?
6koko3 hello, thank you for your interest. Yes, you should replace the diode with the 1N60 and realigne the RX/IF section. I think that's it. Best regards to you....