Modification works great! Only one problem making a 5-minute job way way too technical and risk actually burning traces off of your board!. Proper way to do this procedure cut green wire at both ends with small sharp scissors or Precision wire cutters. Number two. take a razor blade slide under the small resistor underneath that use corner of the razor blade and gently pry it off the board it will pop right out! They don't Solder these in too well. As described in his video you will lose all memory channels but this is the cleanest way and safest way to do this procedure. any one of us that's ever put a soldering gun in our hands has burnt a Trace. Remember the money you got in your hands. And accidents do happen. Trust me go for the Razer Blade and cut the wire at solder joints
Thanks for this! After the modification, the transmit frequencies are 140 - 173.995 MHz and 400 - 469.995 MHz. It goes without saying that transmitting on most of these frequencies is illegal. Of note is that if you're using the Kenwood programming software, after the radio resets, you must first READ the empty data from the radio so the software recognizes the radio, then re-WRITE your programming data to the radio.
It's *always* preferable to de-solder parts off the board vs just prying them off the way some people have done. Breaking or prying them off can inadvertently damage nearby circuit traces and cause unintended problems afterward. If for any reason you decide or need to restore the radio (undo the mod), you can simply solder the resistor and green wire back into place so you should indeed save these two items after their removal. It's good to see someone showing this modification the right way :)
You are much braver then me when it come to that. I bought my Yaesu FT 2900R already with the mod done. I am not the best at soldering anyways. I did a mod on a CB once and had friend tell me that my soldering job sucked ass!
Use two soldering irons, one at each end of the resistor and simultaneously melt the solder on each pad to avoid lifting PCB tracks. With steady hands you can lift and hold the resistor between the two soldering iron tips, a good lamp and a bench magnifier is essential kit when working with SMDs.
Best way to remove the resistor is to first put down some flux on both ends and then add more solder to both ends, building up a slight pool on each end. You want that additional thermal mass on each end to help keep both ends molten while floating the resistor loose. Adding more flux to both ends to keep the metal clean and flowing as you reheat both ends, then push the resistor off its pads. Note that the solder paste used by the factory melts at a much lower temp than most wire solder, but the board itself will sink a lot of heat away. Paste flux or liquid flux for circuit board rework is available from most component suppliers. Paste flux added to solder wick before use will greatly increase its pick-up speed while requiring less heat into the joint. Don't forget to use a flux remover afterward. No flux remover handy? Heet brand gas line antifreeze additive (ONLY in the Yellow bottle, NOT in the Red bottle) is 100% methanol and does a good job cleaning up afterward with no residue.
I have a Kenwood TM-D710GE and there is no green wire but a component soldered where the green wire should be. There are no 2 components below where the green wire should be so there is nothing that can be removed there. I removed the component where your green wire is and now I am able to transmit on all frequencies.
As above the D710GE is different but removing the component that sits where the green wire sits in teh video does the job! One thing to remember for anyone is if using the MCP 6A program i.e D710G then after mod it will re-set. Since this mod resets the rig YOU MUST READ the config first, before loading any saved config via the programming software. M0OLI
After this mod can you use the Itinerant Frequency's? Say 151.5125 as an example or 151.625. Mostly wondering about the step frequency, I understand these frequency are in the new 140-173.995NHZ range.
In Australia but wondering...does that open up the ability to listen as well as the broadcasting you speak of? I imagine in a USA state of emergency it would be helpful to know whats happening? Thanks for all your great vids!
just got a TM D710E second hand and wanted to do this mod, it has wide band RX but looking inside the green wire has been removed but a resistor is in its place and no resistor at point 1 or 2, can i still mod it to TX wideband?
Yes John, I have just modded mine. There is a resistor where the green wire is. Remove it and that's it. There is no further mods needed. You will be able tx outside the amateur bands.
Modification works great! Only one problem making a 5-minute job way way too technical and risk actually burning traces off of your board!. Proper way to do this procedure cut green wire at both ends with small sharp scissors or Precision wire cutters. Number two. take a razor blade slide under the small resistor underneath that use corner of the razor blade and gently pry it off the board it will pop right out! They don't Solder these in too well. As described in his video you will lose all memory channels but this is the cleanest way and safest way to do this procedure. any one of us that's ever put a soldering gun in our hands has burnt a Trace. Remember the money you got in your hands. And accidents do happen. Trust me go for the Razer Blade and cut the wire at solder joints
Its the resistor below that one, resistor 2 that does the x band repeat. If you read the board you can see where it is labeled.
Thanks for this! After the modification, the transmit frequencies are 140 - 173.995 MHz and 400 - 469.995 MHz. It goes without saying that transmitting on most of these frequencies is illegal.
Of note is that if you're using the Kenwood programming software, after the radio resets, you must first READ the empty data from the radio so the software recognizes the radio, then re-WRITE your programming data to the radio.
I used this modification on my 710G and it works as described....
It's *always* preferable to de-solder parts off the board vs just prying them off the way some people have done. Breaking or prying them off can inadvertently damage nearby circuit traces and cause unintended problems afterward. If for any reason you decide or need to restore the radio (undo the mod), you can simply solder the resistor and green wire back into place so you should indeed save these two items after their removal.
It's good to see someone showing this modification the right way :)
You are much braver then me when it come to that. I bought my Yaesu FT 2900R already with the mod done. I am not the best at soldering anyways. I did a mod on a CB once and had friend tell me that my soldering job sucked ass!
Use two soldering irons, one at each end of the resistor and simultaneously melt the solder on each pad to avoid lifting PCB tracks. With steady hands you can lift and hold the resistor between the two soldering iron tips, a good lamp and a bench magnifier is essential kit when working with SMDs.
Best way to remove the resistor is to first put down some flux on both ends and then add more solder to both ends, building up a slight pool on each end. You want that additional thermal mass on each end to help keep both ends molten while floating the resistor loose. Adding more flux to both ends to keep the metal clean and flowing as you reheat both ends, then push the resistor off its pads. Note that the solder paste used by the factory melts at a much lower temp than most wire solder, but the board itself will sink a lot of heat away. Paste flux or liquid flux for circuit board rework is available from most component suppliers. Paste flux added to solder wick before use will greatly increase its pick-up speed while requiring less heat into the joint. Don't forget to use a flux remover afterward. No flux remover handy? Heet brand gas line antifreeze additive (ONLY in the Yellow bottle, NOT in the Red bottle) is 100% methanol and does a good job cleaning up afterward with no residue.
I didn't have too much time to see what all changed as far as transmitting but Ill be looking at that after work today.
I have a Kenwood TM-D710GE and there is no green wire but a component soldered where the green wire should be. There are no 2 components below where the green wire should be so there is nothing that can be removed there. I removed the component where your green wire is and now I am able to transmit on all frequencies.
As above the D710GE is different but removing the component that sits where the green wire sits in teh video does the job! One thing to remember for anyone is if using the MCP 6A program i.e D710G then after mod it will re-set. Since this mod resets the rig YOU MUST READ the config first, before loading any saved config via the programming software. M0OLI
So I still have yet to find the "EXACT" frequencies that are actually unlocked by this mod... Can anyone list them?
I have modded all of my radios. Nice to be able to hear other freqs.
gREAT JOB, YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY A PROFESSIONAL, AND SOLDIER EXPERT.
KC5EBM
Add solder on top of the wick. It helps transfer heat quicker.
Are you able to use the crossband repeat function using MURS and GMRS frequencies after the mod?
I would love to know this as well. Seems likely . I would love to setup a cross band repeater on FRS ...Theoretically, of course
After this mod can you use the Itinerant Frequency's? Say 151.5125 as an example or 151.625. Mostly wondering about the step frequency, I understand these frequency are in the new 140-173.995NHZ range.
thanks for the reply. ..do you happen to know how long the warranty is good for?
Worked great...thanks...
Also is that the radio you would recommend today for the style in which you use this model?
In Australia but wondering...does that open up the ability to listen as well as the broadcasting you speak of? I imagine in a USA state of emergency it would be helpful to know whats happening? Thanks for all your great vids!
Do you know how to do this on a TK-859 E2??????
more flux please :) It really does help.
just got a TM D710E second hand and wanted to do this mod, it has wide band RX but looking inside the green wire has been removed but a resistor is in its place and no resistor at point 1 or 2, can i still mod it to TX wideband?
Yes John, I have just modded mine. There is a resistor where the green wire is. Remove it and that's it. There is no further mods needed. You will be able tx outside the amateur bands.
Thanks I did go ahead and remove it and works well, makes a great scanner now and I can use it on ham bands and my 4x4 response callouts.
will this mod void the warranty? I would like to have the ability to use my rig as backup for my vhf marine radio out on the water...
if you have to send the unit in for any reason that would require them to test it or go "inside" yes yes yes, it would indeed void it'
does it open for the GMRS frequencies as well?
Mark Mollat yup
I don't know what any of that means, but it was cool to watch...lol.
J
hi how far does it tx for in the uhf band
ha
well glad you did so, thanks brother.
why not just cut the wire
so we can just cut???
@@nikolasmaragakis1596 yep
Does this mod open up to receive or just the transmit
Just transmit I believe because the radio will receive on more frequencies than it will transmit on
and tx on them if needed.
I need to use 477MHz can this radio go there or is it limited to 470MHz?
Noi, it can't transmit on 477, the limit is 470.
Im not sure what you are asking here.
Does this enable TX/RX on 220?
yes, full tx and rx
Too bad it doesn't open up aircraft bands. That would have been very useful in emergencies.
Wouldn’t matter as the airband is AM.
No, no, not that one... the red wire! (lol)
LOL