HOW TO FIT A MID BLOCK (SIMPLIFIED)

If this is your first time at fitting a mid block chip i suggest you try it out on
a cheap second rig rather than practising on your pristine Rotel 240.
First of all you need a PLL IC 7132 chip (average cost £7) and possibly some ribbon cable (coloured is easier and best).but
normal wire can be used, it just makes it a touch harder. A point to note is that the radio you are "mid" blocking must have a
positive display. The Rotel RVC 220 and 230 have a negative display. The way round this if you are handy with a soldering iron
and have a de-soldering pump (you should have one of these anyway, they are invaluable and cheap) is to remove the LED
display and change it for a Positive type. Then change the neg/pos wires around (yellow/black) to the channel selector board
and proceed as follows..
HERE WE GO..

1/ Cut track to isolate pin 14 of the PLL 7136/7 (LD)

2/ Cut track to isolate pin 15 of the PLL 7136/7 (PD)
3/ Run some wire from track side of pin 15 to the middle connector of a 2 pole switch (this is the PLL common wire) then solder another
piece of wire the same length from pin 15 of the PLL to one end of the same switch.

4/ Take the PLL IC 7132 and prepair it as in the diagram to the right.
PLEASE NOTE that the PLL IC is viewed from the Underside with
the indent towards the top.
5/ Solder the ribbon cable 1 to 8 on to the 7132 leaving about a 5"
length flying.
6/ Wire link as shown onto 7132
7/ Solder a piece of wire approx. 8" long to the point marked * on
the 7132 diagram to the right. The PLL is now ready to be soldered
to the main PCB.

8/ Solder pins 12, 13, 18, 19, 20 of the 7132 to the corresponding
pins on the 7136/7 or in the spare holes next to the 7136/7
9/ Solder the other end of the * wire to the remaining position on
the "Mid/UK" switch.
10/ Solder the flying ends of the ribbon cable (Or whatever you used)
to the positions marked 1 to 8 on the channel selector PCB as shown
in the diagram below taking care not to accidentally short any connections.
The MID block is now fitted and will need tuning in

Tuning In
Switch the CB on and put it on MID block channel 1. On a close by rig transmit a dead carrier on the same channel. Does the midded rig
pick it up? if yes so far so good, if no then adjust VCO very slightly using a plastic trimmer tool while stil transmitting on the other rig. You
will hear a "motorboating" type noise getting slower the closer it gets to being tuned in until it picks up the other rig. Now turn both rigs to
channel 40 UK and make sure "Midded" rig still receives on it. If it doesnt then re-adjust VCO slightly again and re-check mid 1
afterwards. If it wont tune in at both ends you need to "broadband" the VCO by changing the 33pf cap (behind VCO in wax) for a 22pf
cap and try the above again.
TX
Now put both rigs on channel 1 MID and transmit from "midded" rig. If not on channel slightly adjust the little red trimmer (CT1) to bring it
on the correct channel. Likewise check channel 40 UK the same way. Once satisfied you need to check the balance of power over the
two bands. This needs to be done with a 50 ohm dummy load as with an antenna it might give an innacurate reading according to the
SWR. The balance of power can be attained by adjusting T4, T3 and T2. NB. you will probably have to re-set RV5 for LOW power.
RX
Decide on a channel, say 30 mid. Put the antenna back into the "midded" radio and either listen for a signal or get a friend to throw a
dead carrier who is a few miles away. While watching the signal meter slightly adjust T7, T8, T9, T10 and T11 to get the best "Peak" on
the meter. Now TX on your other rig on the same channel and adjust the RV (silver horseshoe) behind the signal meter so it sets toward
the end of the 30plus on the meter.

Frequency
Now you have a choice. Many people just trim channel 20 UK to 27.7900 by adjusting the other red trimmer (CT2) which puts the
frequency a little low on UK and a little high on Mid (hardly noticeable) or drop a 22pf cap across the x-tal and earth switchable by the
mid/UK switch using the other pole. 22pf switched on with MID. Please see pic for positioning of this cap and the wiring of it on the
switch diagram. The frequency on both blocks can be set near perfect with this. There are other ways but thats how i do it.

NO UK40 after adaption? If this happens you will need to seperate the two pin 19's on the 7132/7137 with a small value capacitor, say
a 10uf or similar.
UK OK BUT ONLY ON CH19 ON MID after adaption? Could be because the display is a negative bias one (Like the Rotel 220/230's)
See first note at top of page.