I have a Ramsey FM30 and an FM100. Both of them sound fine, if your only 30 feet away.
The power seems to have just pooped out. Since Ramsey no longer builds them I'm assuming they no longer repair them. These were both great transmitters. Does anyone know where I might be able to get them repaired?
thanks for any input on this.
Blitherin1 - Radio on the River FM
The biggest problem with these is the GAL-5 output chip they use which blows with any static electricity on or off near the antenna. Usually when this happens it's got no transmission of any kind except right near the circuit board. You say you still get 30 feet but I'm thinking it's still the output gone. It would still be radiating a bit.
The FM30 and the FM 100 both used the GAL-5 chip for the output unless you got the 1 watt version where an extra transistor was used. Did you have them from new or did you get them from elsewhere already built? Other than checking the electrolytic capacitors the GAL-5 is the culprit and is a tiny surface mount that needs a magnifying glass to do. It was the one already on the board when you got the kit.
You can get GAL-5s on Ebay in packs of 25 or more. They are not a proprietary part, neither is the transistor on the 1 watt version. You can still call Ramsey and see if they do repairs but there's no consumer electronic repair places anymore as you know and who would know about these transmitters. You may have to fix this yourself. I had an FM 25B a long time ago and this kept happening and got tired of fixing and threw it out.
There is a fix for this though!.....If you get this fixed, get a 2.2uH coil and solder across the output on the circuit board from antenna to ground. This is how the Decade which I use protects the output. The coil will work similar to a surge protector but will not block the FM signal as at those frequencies it's a very high impedance but continuous with DC.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/JW-MILLER-9250-222-Fixed-Inductor-2-2uH-10-Axial-NEW-Qty-5/201055944011?hash=item2ecfde3d4b:g:ntYAAOxy4eJTKg3Z
Unfortunately I looked on Ebay and found no results for the GAL-5 amplifier chip at the present time but if you know an electronics technician maybe he/she can suggest another amplifier chip that could work?
Here's the info on the chip.....
https://www.minicircuits.com/pdfs/GALI-5+.pdf
WATCH THIS VIDEO!
This is your problem with the Ramsey transmitters.
Here he shows the GAL-5 problem and a replacement with a compatible part. The replacement is mentioned in the video....this should help.
Another forum member posted that the GAL-5 is really the GALI-5 and yes they are on Ebay..... https://www.ebay.ca/itm/GALI-5-MMIC-MONOLITHIC-RF-AMPLIFIER-MINI-CIRCUITS/192916489557?hash=item2ceab80555:g:q14AAOSwh35c2p8O
Thank you very much. This is awesome!
By the way here's another chip you could use as it would cause less interference..........
The Gali- 74 which you will find on the internet also to replace the Gali-5
But get the 2.2uH coil also. An electronics store should have these that sell parts. Or get on ebay.
Its really the Gali 74+ as posted on The Initiative site by one of the founding members of The New Radio Revolution. You will need to register as a member but I'm not like that "Other" site. I done this because of advertising spam filling the sub boards which had nothing to do with part 15 or Hobby Broadcasting.
We will also have some C-Quam AM Stereo projects on the site too as we've switched things up a bit there.
http://the-initiative.boards.net