2950dx external S-Meter mod

[Gus Chiggins]

Want to put an analog meter on my radio for T-Hunting.
I see a couple of mods for the 2950s but mind is SMT and all the 2950 mod connection points don't seem relevant for this board.
The main board is labeled RANGER EPT695011A

One of the 2950 mods refers to some pads labeled J17 next to VR1 which I have. However none of those pads seem to be the meter output.
Another mod says meter + connects to D14 cathode. I can't find a D14 and don't even know if that would be relevant for this board.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Gus

[Gus Chiggins]

I found it!!! D14 is right next to VR1 and VR2 and there is a line silk-screened representing the cathode side. Not labeled but I searched for that mainboard number and found a labeled layout.
Hooked up a GAL1 S-Meter which are readily available and it works great. I put in a 1/8" stereo jack in the back to I could remove it when not needed. I pulled out the 12VDC too so I could use an LED for the meter powered by the radio. From my DVOM readings, this must be a 500mV meter as it looks like (at least on mine) 9 s-units is about 350mV DC.
Will be good for T-Hunting because I can use a long cable and put the meter right up on the dash making it easy to check while driving.

I know the ham clubs do 2m T-Hunting but I still love 11m AM hunting.

Also thinking of stealing one of my wife's stainless mixing bowls and putting a SO239 in the bottom and a handle and a 4" bit of wire for an element. Would be super directional and good for when you get real close to the transmitter. Wouldn't need to xmit with it. I could even rig up a 2 position antenna switch for the T-Hunt. "Too close for missiles. Switching to guns!"

[MDYoungblood]

I haven't seen this mod, maybe a couple pics when you get a chance.

3's

Greg

[Gus Chiggins]

I used a 1/8" stereo headphone jack in the rear panel. I connected +12VDC from my power-input to the radio to the "tip" connection on the jack. The center connection on the jack I connected with the white wire to the mainboard. Ground of the jack is connected to the chassis ground of the radio.

I put power on the tip to drive the LEDs which light the meter. You can do this any way you want. You don't need the +VDC for the meter to read. I only have it on my jack for the illumination.

Also, when you have the external meter plugged in. The LCD meter will no longer read. I guess the external meter puts too much load on the driver for them both to work at the same time. But if you unplug the meter the internal LCD meter comes back to life and works as normal.

VR1 adjusts meter for AM and FM. VR2 adjusts meter for SSB. Changing either of these will impact the LCD meter when the external meter is not plugged in. I left these alone since my GAL1 meter is close enough for T-Hunting. But you could tune these if you intend to only use the external meter.

Important note: I'm careful to have my radio power unplugged when I plug or unplug my external meter in the jack. Don't want 12VDC going to that mainboard connection. You could always put in a switch to kill the power to the jack if you wanted to. Or find a switched power point on the mainboard to take power from. I may do that later.

Mainboard

Power/Ground/Jack

Meter

Meter

plug

[MDYoungblood]

Cool. Did it effect the bar graph on the radio's display?

3's

Greg

[Gus Chiggins]

when the meter is unplugged. The LCD Bar graph operates as normal. When the meter is plugged in. the LCD Bar graph does nothing.