This complete, tested FM828 E Band transceiver is the type that over the years has been a very popular choice to build 6m (Amateur Band) repeaters. Why? it is well laid out, extremely reliable and has a high duty cycle and being quartz crystal locked, it is really not much use for anything else! Certainly not a good choice for multi-channel mobile radio although I guess a single channel communications or receive-only system could still be built around these.
The equipment being offered has not been modified (but there is tons of information on the component changes required and NO SMD to contend with!) and if the transmitter is 'fired up' the user MUST use an appropriate dummy load with good shielding otherwise you could well interfere with services operating in the Low VHF frequency range, 68Mhz ~ 88Mhz
It is illegal to interfere with these services and the consequences can be severe!
I have other FM828 series components, boards etc HERE - time to do some experimentation with this nice old analog communications technology!
PHILIPS - Mobile/Fixed Base Transceiver
Type: FM828 E Band (Mk2)
SINGLE CHANNEL MODEL
68Mhz ~ 88Mhz design frequency range
Analog - not a hint of digital technology in these units!
**NOTE** This unit DOES NOT have the internal speaker fitted - the case is the wrong type (no holes in the top) and the speaker terminals inside have never seen a touch of solder. You could fit an internal loudspeaker but you would need to change the case topside - easier to just run an external speaker via the rear DIN socket.
Dimensions: 267mm x 186mm x 68mm
Weight: 2.2Kg
Nicely engineered (the old fashioned way with discrete components, no SMD, interconnections laced etc)
Arranged as 4 basic boards:
Power Supply
Receiver
RF Exciter
RF Power Output Module
Other boards can be fitted but are not included with this unit - this is the most basic FM828 you can get, but ready to 'play around with'!
Plenty of manuals, discussion forums online talk about these legendary units (after almost 50 years these things just keep on going!) To get you started, try having a look at this forum HERE but keep in mind there is absolutely tons of information about modding this equipment.
COSMETIC CONDITION:
I USED to be heavily involved in Amateur Radio and Maritime Communications (35+ years ago) but due to time pressures, dropped out and haven't been on-air for yonks. The idea was to mod the various FM828 series equipment I had for use on the Amateur band (6m) use but that project never got off the ground. I even had an idea of just setting up a few 'receive only' systems to monitor the Rural Fire Service communications but that was a long long time ago and I think they have gone to trunked systems up on UHF these days.
The case on this particular unit is in pristine condition, from memory I picked it up from an equipment distributor that was closing down. The case is clean, doesn't look like it has ever been mounted.
All knobs are undamaged and clean
Both push buttons (ON-OFF & AUX) are clean and undamaged.
All boards are clean and do not appear to have any mods undertaken, although something is up with the TX exciter board (see my notes below)
PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOT SUPPLYING ANY CRYSTALS (RX or TX) with this unit, although I do have some available separately HERE (for testing) but keep in mind those crystals will not allow you to listen or transmit in the 6 metre band.
TESTING:
Receiver: Connected an external speaker, antenna (for RX) and powered up the 'beast', Green LED indicates (channel busy) which was actually the squelch fully open (white noise). I sent a test signal from a sig gen on 68Mhz (using one of the crystals I am offering separately) and all ok - RX is fine.
Transmitter: Fired up the transmitter (pin 4 of the rear 5 pin DIN socket taken to ground) and the Red LED lights, I can hear the relay switch over but NO RF out into the dummy load. I then looked a bit closer at the Transmit/Exciter board and for some reason someone has cut three of the laced wires (white/pink/grey) - not desoldered, just cut. I am not going to spend more time investigating where these wires go - that's the experimenter's task! So, in it's current form the transmit is NOT working. As there is no drive to the RF PA module at the rear, I cannot confirm this is working but based on other E band units I have/had, I have not had any with faulty RF PA boards - pretty safe to assume this module is ok.
So there you have it, yes it's crystal locked and yes it is designed for Low Band VHF but perhaps someone can see potential in this unit - getting it going just for fun, experimentation or as a museum piece!
