Yeticom Optima Mk2

I know when they first came out Alan they was one of the radios to have ,I think there was some teething problems at first because they did a Mk1 Mk2 Mk2b Mk3 versions all with slight differences they also were sold under different names ie: Jopax ,Albright ,Magnum 257, anyway here is a old video review it's about 10 years old when they first came out 
Link 
https://youtu.be/VbTttvuRs8o

Hi Alan,

As Martin has already mentioned they were 'must have' radio for a while. One of the teething issues was VFO wobble and the blank screen error as far as I could find out.

Unfortunately Yeti never did release a service manual or circuit diagrams

There's a few pictures about on the web of the internals but not sure how much help that'd be to you.
Nice to hear you still plugging on with your radio repairs.

Sorry I can't help out mate.


All the best,
Victor

Thanks for the reply's gents.
Looks like i will have to pull it apart and see what can be done.
Victor.
New panel in the scanner looks good.

I bet it does too Alan
Did you use that electroluminescent tape in the end?

I'm sure you'll suss the Optima as well.

Yes to the tape Victor and got a double order by mistake but they don't want me to send it back lol.

Aha, Brucie bonus!

Hello Alan,

I have the mk2.5 version. I bought it second hand seven years' a go and It has been a great radio. Compact size, good frequency coverage, all mode and 50w out the back with a good fan/ cooling fin arrangement. They work very well with Icom mics. I use mine with an Icom sm30 desk mic.

They work very well with the Icom hm36 mic too. Make sure the mic is a genuine Icom and not a Chinese copy.

The guy i get this one from said it was a mk2B so it could well be the same radio as yours John.
It came with a Icom hm36 mic but not sure if it is genuine or not as never had one in my hand before.
Is there a way to tell ,,,, might just open it and see what's in there.

Fake hm36 by the look of it and the online pictures.
The pickup is in the top hole not in the centre.
Anybody confirm the pickup position ?????

Hello Alan,

I threw mine in the bin, not long after getting it. From memory, when the two mics were sat next to each other, the genuine mic had much better quality of plastics. I never opened it up to look inside. If you buy from a reputable trader and steer clear of eBay you will know you are getting the genuine article. The copies are much cheaper too.

Performance wise. I did some back to back tests with the Optima's orginal mic and all the reports I got, were the Optima's mic sounded better then the cheap Icom copy. I borrowed a genuine hm36 from a mate and the difference was night and day. The genuine hm36 really lifted the audio on fm (they always sounded a little quiet on this mode) and ssb, giving my audio a real punchy clear sound. Idea for dx.

It lives.
Finally spoken on it after all this time.
Had a chat with a ham who was calling on the 5s and he did a recording and played it back to me.
I had asked him about the audio as the mic that came with it looks and feels cheep plus it's only got the basic guts not a genuine Icom.
He said it was bang on frequency and sounder like a expensive "studio mic" his words.
Well it can go on the shelf now lol back to the 450d.

Pleased you have got it working, Alan. They are cracking radios.

Nice one Alan.

Bet you enjoyed repairing it and a good result from your work
Well done

Got into a member i think later on.
Guy called Ian he was static mobile in Leek Staffordshire witch is a fair hop from my qth in Holyhead.

Hello Alan,

That is a good copy. I think I probably know the station you worked. Leek is not far from me and I regularly talk to stations from that area when I am out with the radio.