I came across LilSmoke's posting a couple of days ago in reference to the mod for the ET-73. I read all the posting on the subject and as I am an inactive ham operator and my major in college was in electronics (that was never put to use) I couldn't resist this mod. I had tested the range of my ET-73 due to the fact I recommended one to one of my friends and he was complaining of no range. I found with line of sight my range was max at 100 feet and at the fringe. As you can see I really didn't have a problem as some have reported but inside my house it will drop out at about 40 ft through the house. Well to the mod...Most rf signals at high freq are absorbed by surrounding objects and antenna's work better uninsulated (paint,plastic covering etc.) so I used an antenna off an old receiver that used a rf remote. I epoxied a small tube in the top and soldered a small wire (1 1/2") to the tube and circuit board. This allows removal of the antenna for storage. Oh..yeah I bridged the two pads left of the wire on the board. Range is amazing. Line of sight 390ft!(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq312/JDNC/IMG_0052.jpg) As for myself..I don't recommend messing with the transmitter as it's tuned for 433mhz and adding a wire might cause more problems that it's worth. Oh..I cut the antenna at 5.5" as the wire I added was a little over an inch. I could cut it to 5 for a total length (wire & antenna) of 6.5 but I don't think I will.
I forgot to mention..the range of 390ft is as far as I've tested. I ran out of range this day as I was at the birm on my gun range. I couldn't find an area at home outside where I could lose the signal...amazing!
Nice... Can you get a pic of the inside where you soldered it all together? I need to do that with mine.
Nice mod JD Could you use a telescoping antenna. for that also.
Quote from: squirtthecat on October 12, 2009, 06:42:18 AM
Nice... Can you get a pic of the inside where you soldered it all together? I need to do that with mine.
yes enquiring minds wanna know.
HR
LilSmoke has a thread with the mod and pictures of the soldering points. I just installed a different antenna. As for a telescopic anntenna..I don't think there is enough room inside. Basically with the mod you just solder a wire to the board, cut it at 6.5 inches and drill a hole in the case of the unit and route the wire through.
JD
Oh..I forgot to say the way I tested it was warming the temp probe of the transmitter so I could see changes as I walked around. I did check it at 400ft with the receiver inside the house..but no dice. It couldn't pickup at that distance. I didn't have time to check to see what range I could get leaving the receiver in the house at different ranges, but I will later.
Here is the thread he was talking about..
http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?t=571
So you hit all three of those little pads, like so? Then up and out the top?
(forgive my crude MS Paint freehand skills)
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_CbvAIVzmFFM/StOTsNJZKxI/AAAAAAAA9F8/jRMC3MhF8HY/mav6.jpg)
Hey Squirt if you put a big enough antenna on it I could see your IT over here is STL ;D
SIA
Quote from: smokeitall on October 12, 2009, 01:43:42 PM
Hey Squirt if you put a big enough antenna on it I could see your IT over here is STL ;D
SIA
:D
(http://www.underhill.ca/Projects/Arecibo.jpg)
Squirtthecat,
Yep, all three pads and out the top! Based on what I've read..some report that they can't tell much difference after the mod, but most do. I really didn't think I would see much myself (but what the heck) and was very much pleased to find 4 times the range. But proof is in the pudding..let's see if it will continue this range in the future.
Quote from: JDNC on October 12, 2009, 02:32:10 PM
Squirtthecat,
Yep, all three pads and out the top! Based on what I've read..some report that they can't tell much difference after the mod, but most do. I really didn't think I would see much myself (but what the heck) and was very much pleased to find 4 times the range. But proof is in the pudding..let's see if it will continue this range in the future.
10-4!
I'll see if I can find my soldering pen, and enough chutzpah to actually try it.
Or maybe pop in in the mail to you, with a Jackson, and ask you to do it... ;)
I'm sure you can do it..I've been thinking that you might could use small brass tubing 1/8" or less for the antenna. Epoxy it into the case and solder to it connected it to the board with a small wire. I just happened to have the small stainless remote antenna on hand..but they're hard to come by unless you have one. The only problem with the small brass tube is that it would be easy to damage. But if you could find one that would slide in the other you could epoxy a 1/4" of the larger into the case crimping the bottom (the end to solder the wire to) creating a stop for the smaller tube (antenna). That way you could pull the antenna out for storage. I've found the brass tubing in hobby shops in the past in 10-12" sections. For that matter you could use a small section of tubing in the case and use solid copper or brazing rod for the antenna.
Quote from: JDNC on October 12, 2009, 03:22:38 PM
I'm sure you can do it..I've been thinking that you might could use small brass tubing 1/8" or less for the antenna. Epoxy it into the case and solder to it connected it to the board with a small wire. I just happened to have the small stainless remote antenna on hand..but they're hard to come by unless you have one. The only problem with the small brass tube is that it would be easy to damage. But if you could find one that would slide in the other you could epoxy a 1/4" of the larger into the case crimping the bottom (the end to solder the wire to) creating a stop for the smaller tube (antenna). That way you could pull the antenna out for storage. I've found the brass tubing in hobby shops in the past in 10-12" sections. For that matter you could use a small section of tubing in the case and use solid copper or brazing rod for the antenna.
Thanks JD. I'll give it a shot!
I think the members on the other side of the pond could see your IT with that ;D
SIA
Quote from: smokeitall on October 12, 2009, 06:40:11 PM
I think the members on the other side of the pond could see your IT with that ;D
SIA
I was aiming for Mars.. ;)
After seeing this Mod I decided to do it. I could never get a reading more than 30 feet or so from the smoker. I wasn't able to sit on the couch a view the temps. I had to set the receiver on the table near the back door and go check from time to time. The alarms are great but sometimes you just need to know where everything stands temp wise.
Thanks to those who posted the pics. They made this a no brainer. I was able to make the Mod (even though my eyes are old) with little trouble. I tested the range by having my Wife hold one of the Temp probes as I walked into the house, sat on the couch, walked out the front door and out to the Truck and into the road. I never lost connection. I am all set now. I just got my PID from Auber Instruments and have about 15 pounds of pork thawing in the fridge. I am looking forward to Pulled Pork.
I think I'll put it in Friday night.
PG, hope you have a great pulled pork day and take some pics.
The photos for the modification were taken by LilSmoker and the write up is also credited to him. Here is a link to the recipe site.
Maverick ET-73 Range Modification (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?t=571)
Thank You LilSmoker ;)
Hi guys, i actually used my modded ET 73 a few weeks ago, first time in ages, and it's still working fine, updates properly just as when i first did the mod.
Still can't buy the ET 73 on this side of the pond though :(
Hi LilSmoker;
I hope everything is going well. Good to see a post from you.