RCI 2950 2970 2990 Alignment

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Table of Contents

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Note

This is the alignment for the RCI 2950/2970/2990 type radios including the Galaxy Saturn Turbo and Eagle 5000.

• 2970/Turbo/5000 power settings will be marked parentheses

PLL

• VCO & OSC:SETTINGS
• Frequency: 28.0000 MHz
• MIC Gain: Fully counter-clockwise
• RF Power. Fully clockwise
• RF Gain: Fully clockwise
• Clarifier: 12 o’clock
• Vol : Comfortable level
• Squelch: Fully counter-clockwise
• Mode selector - AM

Settings	Connection	Adjust	Adjust For
VCO & OSC	Disconnect shorting board from test points TP1, TP2 and TP3 Connect Freq. Counter to L61	VC1	Adjust for reading of 10.240MHz ± 10Hz.
VCO & OSC	Connect Oscilloscope to L61	L4	Adjust for Max.
VCO & OSC	Connect a Freq. Counter to L65	VC2	Adjust for 17.305MHz ±10Hz.
VCO & OSC	Connect a Freq. Counter to L65	VR21	Key Transmitter and adjust for 17.305MHz ±10Hz.
VCO & OSC	Connect Voltmeter to IC7 Pin3	L21	Adjust for 1.2VDC ±.1VDC.
VCO & OSC	Connect Voltmeter to J13	L17	Adjust for 2.0VDC ±.1VDC.
VCO & OSC	Connect Oscilloscope to L65	L19	Adjust for Max.
VCO & OSC	Connect Freq. Counter to IC13 pin8	L23	Very carefully adjust for 11.350MHz ±10Hz.
VCO & OSC	Connect Oscilloscope to IC17 pin13	L24 L25	Very carefully adjust and for best waveform
AM TX OSC same as above	Connect a frequency counter to cathode of D45	L27	Key transmitter and adjust for 10.6950 MHz ±10Hz.
USB TX OSC, Adjust VR7 fully clockwise, put mode selector on USB	Leave frequency counter connected to D45	L29	Key transmitter and adjust for 10.6925 MHz ±10Hz.
LSB TX OSC: Put mode selector in LSB. After adjustment return VR7 to approximate middle of rotation.	Leave frequency counter connected to D45	L28	Key transmitter and adjust for 10.6975 MHz ±10Hz.

• Replace TP1, TP2, TP3 Jumper PCB.

RX Alignment

Settings	Connection	Adjust	Adjust For
AM/FM RF & IF SENSITIVITY: Put mode selector on FM, RF gain fully clockwise, Clarifier at 12 o’clock, frequency at 28.0300 MHz.	Connect an FM signal generator to the antenna connector. Set modulation for ±3 kHz, output level at 0.5uV.	L8	Adjust for best SINAD reading and least distorted waveform on scope. Do not try tuning this coil for maximum, as this will result in degraded receiver performance.
AM/FM RF & IF SENSITIVITY: Put mode selector on FM, RF gain fully clockwise, Clarifier at 12 o’clock, frequency at 28.0300 MHz.	Connect a SINAD meter to the external speaker jack, volume control at about 10 o’clock.	L9 L11 L12 L13 L14 L3 L5 L6	Adjust for maximum on scope. Reduce generator level if necessary, so as not to exceed vertical height on scope.
AM/FM RF & IF SENSITIVITY: Put mode selector on FM, RF gain fully clockwise, Clarifier at 12 o’clock, frequency at 28.0300 MHz.	Connect an oscilloscope with a X10 probe to the Cathode of D12. Set sweep selector for 1uS per division and vertical input selector for 10mV per division.	L5 L6	Adjust for best SINAD
FM DETECTOR: Mode FM. Set FM RF Generator to 26.965 MHz 0.5uV deviated 3 KHz with 1KHz audio tone. Reduce VOLUME as required.		L7	Adjust for maximum audio output.
SSB IF SENSITIVITY: Put mode selector on LSB.	Signal generator to 28.0290 MHz, modulation off, output level at .5uV. Adjust Clarifier for best SINAD reading. Connect oscilloscope same as above.	L15 L16	Adjust for maximum on scope.
SSB S-METER: Set mode to USB. Increase RF Generator output to 26.966 MHz100uV (-67 dBm) unmodulated. Set Squelch fully counterclockwise.	RF Generator to ANT Jack	VR2	Adjust for “S-9” meter reading.
AM/FM S-METER: Set mode to AM. RF Generator output to 100uV unmodulated. Set Squelch fully counterclockwise.	Same as above	VR1	Adjust for “S-9” meter reading.
AM/FM SQUELCH RANGE: Increase RF Generator output to 10mV. Set Squelch Control fully clockwise.	Same as above	VR3	Adjust to the squelch just closes.
SSB SQUELCH RANGE: Set mode to USB.	Same as above	VR4	Adjust to the squelch just closes.
NOISE BLANKER: Set radio to 26.975MHz Set mode to AM. Set RF generator output to 26.965MHz at 1000uV unmodulated. Set NOISE BLANKER switch to “ON”.	Connect DC Voltmeter to TP1 (Cathode of D2)	L1 L2	Adjust for maximum DC voltage.

Transmitter

• Remove TP1, TP2, TP3 Jumper PCB.

Settings	Connection	Adjust	Adjust For
DRIVER BIAS: Set mode to LSB Mic Gain to minimum	Connect DC Ammeter between TP3 and TP2.	VR11	In TX adjust for 50 to 60mA.
FINAL BIAS: Set mode to LSB Mic Gain to minimum	Connect DC Ammeter between TP3 and TP1.		In TX check for 100-120mA.

• DO NOT ADJUST VC3 AS THIS IS PART OF 54 MHz TRAP
• Replace TP1, TP2, TP3 Jumper PCB.

Settings	Connection	Adjust	Adjust For
Mode LSB Frequency to 28.000MHz Adjust VR14 fully counterclockwise. Adjust VR12 fully counterclockwise. Set generator for 30mV RMS, 1KHz sinewave.	Connect an audio generator to (pin 2) and ground (pin 1) of Mic connector. Connect a wattmeter and 50ohm dummy load to the antenna connector.	Mic Gain	Key the transmitter and slowly increase Mic Gain until you obtain about 10 Watts.
Mode LSB Frequency to 28.000MHz Adjust VR14 fully counterclockwise. Adjust VR12 fully counterclockwise. Set generator for 30mV RMS, 1KHz sinewave.	Connect an audio generator to (pin 2) and ground (pin 1) of Mic connector. Connect a wattmeter and 50ohm dummy load to the antenna connector.	L19 L48 L47 L46 L43	Adjust for maximum reading on wattmeter. Reduce RF gain if necessary to maintain about 10 to 15 Watts on wattmeter.
Increase Mic gain to maximum (fully clockwise).	Same as above.	L34	Adjust for maximum output power
SSB CARRIER BALANCE: Set mode to USB MIKE GAIN to minimum.	Same as above.	VR7	Key TX; adjust for minimum carrier on scope or wattmeter. If necessary readjust for best balance of sideband suppression between LSB & USB
SSB HIGH PWR: With Mic gain still a maximum on LSB Set RF PWR control on radio to minimum.	Same as above.	VR12	Key the transmitter and adjust for 25 Watts. (100 watts)
SSB LOW PWR: With Mic gain still a maximum on LSB Set RF PWR control on radio to minimum.	Same as above.	VR16	Key the transmitter and adjust for 10 Watts.
AM POWER HIGH: Set RF PWR control on radio to maximum Put mode selector on AM. Mic Gain to minimum	Connect a wattmeter and 50ohm dummy load to the antenna connector.	VR13	Key transmitter with no modulation applied and adjust for 10 Watts.(25 watts)
AM POWER LOW: Set RF PWR control on radio to minimum. Mic Gain to minimum	Connect a wattmeter and 50ohm dummy load to the antenna connector	VR15	Key transmitter with no modulation applied and adjust for 2W.
RF METER: Set RF PWR control on radio to maximum. Mic Gain to minimum.	Connect a wattmeter and 50ohm dummy load to the antenna connector	VR8	Adjust so panel meter agrees with Wattmeter.
AMC: Mode to AM Set generator for 30mV RMS, 1KHz sinewave. With Mic gain at maximum	Same as above.	VR14	Adjust for 100% modulation. Use modulation meter or oscilloscope with RF sampler.
FM DEVIATION: Put mode selector on FM	Key transmitter and check for 4kHz deviation ± 0.5 kHz. Use deviation meter or service monitor.		Simply check for sufficient transmit audio. There is no deviation adjustment provided in this radio.

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Last update on: November 6, 2025