Sony Car Radio/ CD converting Japan to UK use ?
 

Model MDX C150 made for Japan use and FM band set to 76MHz to 90MHz, UK is
about 88 to 108 MHz

Monitoring the VT line to the tuner varies from 1.52V to 4.2V from end to
end of this band. 2 banks of 6 channels programmable in this 76 to 90 M
range plus 3 more that come up annunciated as 1ch with a VT of 5.66V, 2ch
of 6.83V and 3ch of 8.04 V which coincides with a local station on 107.8MHz,
B+(for FM ) on the tuner is 8.29V.

Other than shifting this VT voltage and a 'lying' LCD display anyone know
how to reprogram these extra 3 channels that don't respond to the Seek + / -
buttons or even better resetting the whole fm band.

Also what does BTM mean coming up on one button selection?

electronic hints and repair briefs
http://homepages.tcp.co.uk/~diverse

Also what does BTM mean coming up on one button selection?

Best Tuning Memory.


--
Graham.


%Profound_observation%

New Zealand imports a lot of second-hand Japanese cars with the same FM
tuning problem.

The solution is to purchase a device called a band expander which plugs in
between the aerial and the radio and also connects to the 12 volt supply.
The expander costs around NZ$15 = approximately 4 UK pounds and works by
shifting all of the station frequencies up by 12 MHz. In your case this
would give a tuning range of 88 to 102 MHz - I understand that there are
alternative units available that shift the frequency by 14mHz if you require
the top end of the band.

They work fine!

Terry Brookes




"N Cook" wrote in message
...
Model MDX C150 made for Japan use and FM band set to 76MHz to 90MHz, UK is
about 88 to 108 MHz

Monitoring the VT line to the tuner varies from 1.52V to 4.2V from end to
end of this band. 2 banks of 6 channels programmable in this 76 to 90 M
range plus 3 more that come up annunciated as 1ch with a VT of 5.66V, 2ch
of 6.83V and 3ch of 8.04 V which coincides with a local station on
107.8MHz,
B+(for FM ) on the tuner is 8.29V.

Other than shifting this VT voltage and a 'lying' LCD display anyone know
how to reprogram these extra 3 channels that don't respond to the Seek +
/ -
buttons or even better resetting the whole fm band.

Also what does BTM mean coming up on one button selection?

electronic hints and repair briefs
http://homepages.tcp.co.uk/~diverse

"Terry Brookes" wrote in message
...
New Zealand imports a lot of second-hand Japanese cars with the same FM
tuning problem.

The solution is to purchase a device called a band expander which plugs in
between the aerial and the radio and also connects to the 12 volt supply.
The expander costs around NZ$15 = approximately 4 UK pounds and works by
shifting all of the station frequencies up by 12 MHz. In your case this
would give a tuning range of 88 to 102 MHz - I understand that there are
alternative units available that shift the frequency by 14mHz if you
require
the top end of the band.

They work fine!

Terry Brookes




"N Cook" wrote in message
...
Model MDX C150 made for Japan use and FM band set to 76MHz to 90MHz, UK
is
about 88 to 108 MHz

Monitoring the VT line to the tuner varies from 1.52V to 4.2V from end
to
end of this band. 2 banks of 6 channels programmable in this 76 to 90 M
range plus 3 more that come up annunciated as 1ch with a VT of 5.66V,
2ch
of 6.83V and 3ch of 8.04 V which coincides with a local station on
107.8MHz,
B+(for FM ) on the tuner is 8.29V.

Other than shifting this VT voltage and a 'lying' LCD display anyone
know
how to reprogram these extra 3 channels that don't respond to the Seek +
/ -
buttons or even better resetting the whole fm band.

Also what does BTM mean coming up on one button selection?

electronic hints and repair briefs
http://homepages.tcp.co.uk/~diverse






But the LCD displays would still read 76 to 90 MHz in these Japanese/NZ
hybrids ?

electronic hints and repair briefs
http://homepages.tcp.co.uk/~diverse

When I popped off the faceplate on my CD stereo while the power was
on(oops!)
the radio started tuning the 76-90 jap band. Resetting the micro
restored the range back to 88-108...So it maybe that your radio has
the setup available...check with manufacturer in japan.
Another alternative, if you can pull up the volts (1 series resistor
on feed, and 1 pullup) the micro, if getting a sample of the local osc
would be trying to
correct it back...

www.jaycar.com.au has the converters, too.

"N Cook" wrote in message
...
Model MDX C150 made for Japan use and FM band set to 76MHz to 90MHz, UK is
about 88 to 108 MHz

Monitoring the VT line to the tuner varies from 1.52V to 4.2V from end to
end of this band. 2 banks of 6 channels programmable in this 76 to 90 M
range plus 3 more that come up annunciated as 1ch with a VT of 5.66V, 2ch
of 6.83V and 3ch of 8.04 V which coincides with a local station on
107.8MHz,
B+(for FM ) on the tuner is 8.29V.

Other than shifting this VT voltage and a 'lying' LCD display anyone know
how to reprogram these extra 3 channels that don't respond to the Seek +
/ -
buttons or even better resetting the whole fm band.

Also what does BTM mean coming up on one button selection?

electronic hints and repair briefs
http://homepages.tcp.co.uk/~diverse




I changed the 7.2M crystal associated with the LC7216 PLL to a double PAL
frequency crystal of 8.867238M
and this brought the range up to almost ideal, a slightly lower frequency
would be better.
LCD reading of 80.0 gives a tuned in station on 96.1M and 89.5 on LCD gives
a station
at 107.8MHz.
7.2M is used on LC7218 FM circuits so probably fairly generally applicable.

Will eventually appear on repair file on
http://homepages.tcp.co.uk/~diverse
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list etc