Raytheon radar repair

[MVCalypso]

Hi all,
I think I'm looking for a unicorn - an outfit or tech that still does actual, component level, electronics diagnosis and repair of marine electronics...

My radar has developed a head display problem (a late '80s vintage Raytheon R20 radar). I realize Raytheon no longer has board level components available.

OK, perhaps, I'm just getting old and feeling crotchety today, but I'd rather not (yet?) hear "just buy a new radar". Replacement might be where this ends up, but before that point I want to try to fix the unit I have. There are multiple reasons (that make sense to me at least) for this desire. Perhaps I'm a dinosaur, my folks grew up during the depression and I learned the "fix it" attitude.

I know that new radars have lost of fun bells & whistles, but the R20 does everything I need for running around SF bay and the Calif Delta. A cursory glance says new Radars appear to be in the $4k range + all the install hassles (and/or labor costs for that). Ouch.

I started messing with electronics in high school (no need to ask when that was - I'll just say that tubes were common then). I fixed many a tube TV set in those days.
Re the radar - I suspect the problem is a failed electrolytic cap in the CRT vertical drive circuity. See pic.

Parts wise, I suspect this repair is < $10 (I'd have said $1.00, but I suspect caps are more these days). I'll happily pay for a tech unicorn's expertise.

The kicker is that one really needs schematics to work from.... Reverse engineering the circuity is not a reasonable prerequisite for me.
Finding an old-timer experienced tech that knows the units would be a huge win.
So....
Anyone have a lead on schematics or a service manual for a Raytheon R20?
Does anyone know an outfit that still does real electronics bench repair?
Any location in the US is prob OK by me, shipping is no big deal.

 

[gettaway]

Ok - I'll answer with what you don't want to hear, we use Radar on our boats as a navigational tool when we have low or no visibility and if it has the ability- to set range markers and alarms to alert us when something is reflected within the range rings. I had a similar radar on a CHB 34 trawler when I was younger, I sold the boat and bought a newer boat with a better, newer Radar, it was night and day as far as accuracy, detail and ease of use. I now have a Carver 530 Voyager pilothouse with a new Simrad Radar/ chart plotter. it is touchscreen display, has a second display at the PH control. the level of detail and the ease of use with touchscreen is amazing. I too am one to tinker and make old things work again, but I would not go back to the antiquated technology of potentially lifesaving equipment.
Have you tried looking on Ebay for a newer Radar system? I I bought a Raymarine Radar GPS Chart plotter with a 12" Multifunction Display on Ebay with radome, GPS antenna and all of the wiring for about $1500.00, worked perfectly and was easy to install.
Good luck!

 

[drewc]

Hi, I see you are a fellow Bay Area boater. If you are still interested, I have an old but working R20 head unit that I replaced a few years ago... you're welcome to it. I also have the manual which contains a fold out schematic which you can also have. I am berthed on E-dock at Schoonmaker Point Marina in Sausalito if you'd like to drop by sometime.

 

[MVCalypso]

Hi, I see you are a fellow Bay Area boater. If you are still interested, I have an old but working R20 head unit that I replaced a few years ago... you're welcome to it. I also have the manual which contains a fold out schematic which you can also have. I am berthed on E-dock at Schoonmaker Point Marina in Sausalito if you'd like to drop by sometime.

Hi,
That's a very generous offer! I'd love to take you up on it. I'll shoot you a PM (or whatever they are called now with the new forum - "conversation"? with contact info. ;-)
Many thanks in advance!

 

[MVCalypso]

Ok - I'll answer with what you don't want to hear, we use Radar on our boats as a navigational tool when we have low or no visibility and if it has the ability- to set range markers and alarms to alert us when something is reflected within the range rings. I had a similar radar on a CHB 34 trawler when I was younger, I sold the boat and bought a newer boat with a better, newer Radar, it was night and day as far as accuracy, detail and ease of use. I now have a Carver 530 Voyager pilothouse with a new Simrad Radar/ chart plotter. it is touchscreen display, has a second display at the PH control. the level of detail and the ease of use with touchscreen is amazing. I too am one to tinker and make old things work again, but I would not go back to the antiquated technology of potentially lifesaving equipment.
Have you tried looking on Ebay for a newer Radar system? I I bought a Raymarine Radar GPS Chart plotter with a 12" Multifunction Display on Ebay with radome, GPS antenna and all of the wiring for about $1500.00, worked perfectly and was easy to install.
Good luck!

He he, I knew someone would give the new radar pitch ;-)
No problem, I actually really like new toys, but in this case the limiting factors are not only the $ involved, but there are physical space limitations (all the newer radars have gone to landscape panels and they won't fit where the current set is). I fear that might temp me to succumb to "well, as long as I'm doing the radar...". Next thing I know, I'd have a major electronics refit project on my hands. As I'm already knee deep in several other projects (boat & homes), I feel I need to not start another one right now.
I do appreciate the thought though...

 

[boomerang]

Dumb question, but have you opened the case? I'm sure there are horizontal , vertical, brightness & focus pots on the video board, just like any CRT display would have.

 

[MVCalypso]

Dumb question, but have you opened the case? I'm sure there are horizontal , vertical, brightness & focus pots on the video board, just like any CRT display would have.

I did open it & looked to see if there were any obvious burnt components - nothing visually obvious. I found an article online by a fellow in Fla that repairs older marine electronics. I emailed him, but learned yesterday that he's closed his business :-( Thus my inquiry re other repair leads.

For now, I've held off on any live troubleshooting with the case open as I'd need to rig up a 12v supply on a work bench etc. & I'll have to find things like my high voltage probes if I go that route.

 

[MVCalypso]

Hi, I see you are a fellow Bay Area boater. If you are still interested, I have an old but working R20 head unit that I replaced a few years ago... you're welcome to it. I also have the manual which contains a fold out schematic which you can also have. I am berthed on E-dock at Schoonmaker Point Marina in Sausalito if you'd like to drop by sometime.

Sent you a Conversation / PM

 

[MVCalypso]

Hi, I see you are a fellow Bay Area boater. If you are still interested, I have an old but working R20 head unit that I replaced a few years ago... you're welcome to it. I also have the manual which contains a fold out schematic which you can also have. I am berthed on E-dock at Schoonmaker Point Marina in Sausalito if you'd like to drop by sometime.

Hi, I sent you a pm/conversation early in the week with my contact info. I've not done that since the forum changes & I'm not sure if you got it or not - so I thought I'd drop a note here as a backup.