With the batteries out, you might try shorting the + and - terminals together.
That should neutralize any charges in the radio that the batteries might "see."

I first learned of the problem when I changed batteries in a watch. The
instructions gave the wrong places to short out but I figured out what they
wanted to do.

When It happened on my DX-392, I knew what to do as well as when my batteries
quit in my eTR7 while it was operating.

Bill, K5BY

(WShoots1) wrote in message ...
With the batteries out, you might try shorting the + and - terminals together.
That should neutralize any charges in the radio that the batteries might "see."

I first learned of the problem when I changed batteries in a watch. The
instructions gave the wrong places to short out but I figured out what they
wanted to do.

When It happened on my DX-392, I knew what to do as well as when my batteries
quit in my eTR7 while it was operating.

Bill, K5BY
Can you say a little bit more about this? I am not sure how to do the
short. And what would cause this condition? Would cheapo batteries
cause it to occur?

Right now the problem seems to have mysteriously gone away. But, once
in a while, the lock indicator is showing up when i turn on the radio.

Can you say a little bit more about this? I am not sure how to do the short.
And what would cause this condition? Would cheapo batteries cause it to occur?


I believe that when the batteries die with the radio on, different things
inside shut down at different times, leaving various items of capacitance
charged up to different levels. Touching the ends of a wire, with the batteries
(actually cells) removed, to the positive and negative battery terminals for a
few seconds should discharge the capacitance to equal and negligible levels.
It's like removing a static electricity charge.

Right now the problem seems to have mysteriously gone away. But, once in a
while, the lock indicator is showing up when i turn on the radio.

You could still have poor tension at the end terminals of the battery as
someone had mentioned. The next time I seem to have battery problem with my
DX-392, I'll try slipping a quarter in between the D cells at an accessible
point.

One time on the 392, after replacing the D's (it uses AA's for backup), FM
stations were slow to lock in. That improved to normal over several days. I
suspect a problem with the PLL circuit from day one. Some FM stations seem to
come in better 0.5 MHz higher. Too, it seems to depend upon the frequency. I'm
sure I caught one station shifting when I turned my monitor on or off. (That
thing should require an FCC license as a transmitter.)

73,
Bill, K5BY

(WShoots1) wrote in message ...
Can you say a little bit more about this? I am not sure how to do the short.
And what would cause this condition? Would cheapo batteries cause it to occur?


I believe that when the batteries die with the radio on, different things
inside shut down at different times, leaving various items of capacitance
charged up to different levels. Touching the ends of a wire, with the batteries
(actually cells) removed, to the positive and negative battery terminals for a
few seconds should discharge the capacitance to equal and negligible levels.
It's like removing a static electricity charge.

Right now the problem seems to have mysteriously gone away. But, once in a
while, the lock indicator is showing up when i turn on the radio.

You could still have poor tension at the end terminals of the battery as
someone had mentioned. The next time I seem to have battery problem with my
DX-392, I'll try slipping a quarter in between the D cells at an accessible
point.

One time on the 392, after replacing the D's (it uses AA's for backup), FM
stations were slow to lock in. That improved to normal over several days. I
suspect a problem with the PLL circuit from day one. Some FM stations seem to
come in better 0.5 MHz higher. Too, it seems to depend upon the frequency. I'm
sure I caught one station shifting when I turned my monitor on or off. (That
thing should require an FCC license as a transmitter.)

73,
Bill, K5BY

Hey, your help here is invaluable. After about a week fo everything
going fine, I came home last night to find the 396 staring back at me
with the flashing 12:00. I'll try this trick at home tonight[ I am
hoping to DX the all-sta game broadcasts.

(T) wrote in message . com...

I am
hoping to DX the all-sta game broadcasts.

FWIW:
http://www.monitoringtimes.com/mt-bball.html

The DX-396 does not have SSB, but my guess is that AFRTS will be
broadcasting the All-Star Game.

(T) wrote in message . com...

Right now the problem seems to have mysteriously gone away. But, once
in a while, the lock indicator is showing up when i turn on the radio.

That's interesting. I turned on my DX-399 today for the first time in
perhaps two weeks. It too has low cells, AA alkalines in the case of
my DX-399. The lock indicator showed up when I turned on the radio. I
unlocked the radio, and it worked uneventfully.

Let's back up. I printed out all of this thread's comments regarding your
radio. It worked and then you saw that it had quit.

You don't mention using an ac wall adapter, so the C cells must momentarily
break connection while the unit is on. Vibration from the speaker, especially
when the volume is turned up, could cause poorly contacting cells to briefly
break connection.

Otherwise, once it is working good, it should continue to work until the
battery dies.

73,
Bill, K5BY

(WShoots1) wrote in message ...
Let's back up. I printed out all of this thread's comments regarding your
radio. It worked and then you saw that it had quit.

You don't mention using an ac wall adapter, so the C cells must momentarily
break connection while the unit is on. Vibration from the speaker, especially
when the volume is turned up, could cause poorly contacting cells to briefly
break connection.

Otherwise, once it is working good, it should continue to work until the
battery dies.

73,
Bill, K5BY

Well, this is the freaky thing. The radio had been off and untouched
all day. Had been working fine for about 3 days. I came home and once
again the 12:00 was flashing, and all the presets cleared. Nobody else
has access to this room but me, so I don't think of foul play.

I am going to try the short trick tonight, and if keeps acting up,
going to RS and asking for an exchange. Of course, this radio was on
clearance. What do you think they'd offer?

T wrote:

(WShoots1) wrote in message ...
Let's back up. I printed out all of this thread's comments regarding your
radio. It worked and then you saw that it had quit.

You don't mention using an ac wall adapter, so the C cells must momentarily
break connection while the unit is on. Vibration from the speaker, especially
when the volume is turned up, could cause poorly contacting cells to briefly
break connection.

Otherwise, once it is working good, it should continue to work until the
battery dies.

73,
Bill, K5BY

Well, this is the freaky thing. The radio had been off and untouched
all day. Had been working fine for about 3 days. I came home and once
again the 12:00 was flashing, and all the presets cleared. Nobody else
has access to this room but me, so I don't think of foul play.

I am going to try the short trick tonight, and if keeps acting up,
going to RS and asking for an exchange. Of course, this radio was on
clearance. What do you think they'd offer?

A cell phone, long distance service, a credit card, and a satellite dish.

As for the radio - they may offer to repair it.

The radio had been off and untouched all day. Had been working fine for
about 3 days. I came home and once again the 12:00 was flashing, and all the
presets cleared.

Oh boy. It sure sounds like the cells unconnected. If there's no backup inside,
that's it.

Although I don't know about SW receivers, much of the newer equipment having
memories, such as my few years old Radio Shack 2M HT and, I suspect, my new
Grundig eTR7 SW RX, as well as computers, musical keyboards, etc., have either
a high capacitance capacitor or a piggyback battery on a chip to retain memory.
Although the cap will sometimes fail due to age, the battery will indeed fail
eventually. And that requires replacing the chip it's on.

As for what Shack will allow you, please let us know. G

Good luck,
Bill, K5BY