2 Meter IC-215 FM Dial Light Modification

[K2WH]

A recent acquisition of mine is an old ICOM 215 2 meter FM rig. I also have the ICOM 502 which is a 6 meter SSB rig; both in basically the same package or appearance. For some time I did not like the dial light which is an incandescent grain of wheat type bulb. So, I replaced the IC215 bulb with a super bright white LED and attached is an image of the 215 with the new dial light vs the 502 yellow dull pilot light. And, running on batteries or NiCads, it draws much less power.

I think it gives the rig a new more modern appearance or appeal. Sorta when you wax your car. It doesn't really drive better, but it feels that way. What do you think?


Attachment 101542

K2WH

[KO6WB]

Good job and yes it does look better. That's good enough for a 10 db gain in operating satisfaction.
I used to have the IC-202 and it was a load of fun. Covered the entire bay area and into the Sacramento Valley. Used it on SSTV as well. Had a homebrewed amplifier that took the power up to 50W. Coupled that into an eight element quagi and it was off and running. 2 meter SSB was more popular then, awe, the memories.
Have fun
73
Gary

[K2WH]

Good job and yes it does look better. That's good enough for a 10 db gain in operating satisfaction.
I used to have the IC-202 and it was a load of fun. Covered the entire bay area and into the Sacramento Valley. Used it on SSTV as well. Had a homebrewed amplifier that took the power up to 50W. Coupled that into an eight element quagi and it was off and running. 2 meter SSB was more popular then, awe, the memories.
Have fun
73
Gary

Thanks for the compliment. I too had a 202 (looking for one again), and I used it to drive a 4CX250 homebrew amp to ~ 350 watts out to a pair of 11 element Cushcraft beams. Using that 202 with the amp and beams, I worked everything east of the Mississippi including Texas and up through North Dakota. E-skip and tropo. Yes, those were the days.

K2WH

[K9STH]

WH:

Who moved both Texas and North Dakota! Last time I looked both were WEST of the Mississippi River!

Glen, K9STH

[K2WH]

WH:

Who moved both Texas and North Dakota! Last time I looked both were WEST of the Mississippi River!

Glen, K9STH

Ya know what, you're right. I didn't even think about that. So, then I can safely say I worked everything east of the Mississippi and a few west of the Mississippi.

K2WH

[WA7PRC]

on second thought...

[KL7HNY]

Wow -- nice job! I still have the '215 that I bought new from the Henry Radio (R.I.P.) branch in Anaheim when I visited there on a brief EMS training assignment in late 1976. Even though the lamp is switchable from the panel to save battery juice, I like the idea of being able to actually see it *and* save battery juice with the LED.
And, somehow, I'll resist the temptation and encouragement of all the eekBay ads (and my local 11 meter crowd) to put in one of the 7-color randomly variable lightshow LEDs.
Of course, as soon as I can actually see the meter, though, I'll have to figure out why it doesn't return completely to zero when the power is off. Guess it's been knocked around a bit too much on the many moves since it was new. I suppose it's too much to hope that there are junkers of this model floating around anywhere....
Again, great looking mod. Thanks for the idea and for publishing the pics.
73,
Barney kl7hny

[KO6WB]

Henry Radio is alive and well, they just don't sell amateur radio equipment anymore. They are in the commercial amplifier market now.
Some people have very weird thought processes. Multi-colored LED's, echo mikes, rodger beeps. Strange indeed but hey, I guess some of the stuff we do could be strange to others.
Have fun
73
Gary