It's got me beat ...

[Lee]

Arfa Daily wrote:

"George Vest" <g_vest@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1231608375.5331.0@proxy01.news.clara.net...
"Arfa Daily" <arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
newsZJ9l.61438$iW1.57557@newsfe23.ams2...
Genus Type R portable DAB radio. Nice elegant looking unit. Nice simple
(I think) problem, but how the F#@! does it come to bits ????

35 years daily experience of finding hidden screws and clips and twisty
pressure points, but nearly an hour of probing and testing cracks and
gaps with knife blades, I'm still no nearer.

So does anyone actually know ? Not really looking for suggestions, as
I've probably tried them all anyway. Just if anyone knows for sure the
trick of it, please share ... !!

Arfa

Try this method......

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zbs1GRAnVto

George.


Yep ! That'd work. Perhaps I should refer the owner to that clip, and ask
him if it's ok to proceed in that manner ... d;~}

Arfa


Arfa..... have you sent an email to the manufacturer?

http://www.pure.com/

Regards
Lee

 

[1D10T]

"Arfa Daily" <arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:YKQ9l.36490$dD1.24945@newsfe11.ams2...

The back panel is covered with a glued on leatherette type plastic. Running
a finger over its entire surface, reveals not the slightest sign of there
being anything other than a flat metal plate under it.

This is very common in cameras. Some of them have 'fillers' in the screw
holes over the screw heads to prevent 'dimples' from showing in the
leatherette.

 

[isw]

In article <DZJ9l.61438$iW1.57557@newsfe23.ams2>,
"Arfa Daily" <arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote:

Genus Type R portable DAB radio. Nice elegant looking unit. Nice simple (I
think) problem, but how the F#@! does it come to bits ????

35 years daily experience of finding hidden screws and clips and twisty
pressure points, but nearly an hour of probing and testing cracks and gaps
with knife blades, I'm still no nearer.

So does anyone actually know ? Not really looking for suggestions, as I've
probably tried them all anyway. Just if anyone knows for sure the trick of
it, please share ... !!

I've had success with hot air -- from a heat gun or even from a
high-powered hair drier. A lot of adhesives get a lot less "grabby" when
they're warm. If you use a real hot air gun, be careful you don't crispy
critter it, though.

Isaac

 

[N_Cook]

1D10T <Joe@digital.net> wrote in message
news7dal.2332$e13.1905@bignews5.bellsouth.net...

"Arfa Daily" <arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:YKQ9l.36490$dD1.24945@newsfe11.ams2...
The back panel is covered with a glued on leatherette type plastic.
Running
a finger over its entire surface, reveals not the slightest sign of there
being anything other than a flat metal plate under it.

This is very common in cameras. Some of them have 'fillers' in the screw
holes over the screw heads to prevent 'dimples' from showing in the
leatherette.

Agreed, I would run hot air over that leatherette until it will peel off.
Even if no screws found it gives a place for hacking in with hot blade, or
burr etc and then use the leatherette to cover over the damage after
patching up.


--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/

 

[William Sommerwerck]

I know it sounds perverse... But has anyone considered that the unit simply
can't be opened? That the manufacturer intended it to be thrown away if
failed (within or without the warranty period)?

 

[Arfa Daily]

"Lee" <glog@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:gkbi3g$ms0$1@news.motzarella.org...

Arfa Daily wrote:
"George Vest" <g_vest@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1231608375.5331.0@proxy01.news.clara.net...
"Arfa Daily" <arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
newsZJ9l.61438$iW1.57557@newsfe23.ams2...
Genus Type R portable DAB radio. Nice elegant looking unit. Nice simple
(I think) problem, but how the F#@! does it come to bits ????

35 years daily experience of finding hidden screws and clips and twisty
pressure points, but nearly an hour of probing and testing cracks and
gaps with knife blades, I'm still no nearer.

So does anyone actually know ? Not really looking for suggestions, as
I've probably tried them all anyway. Just if anyone knows for sure the
trick of it, please share ... !!

Arfa

Try this method......

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zbs1GRAnVto

George.


Yep ! That'd work. Perhaps I should refer the owner to that clip, and ask
him if it's ok to proceed in that manner ... d;~}

Arfa
Arfa..... have you sent an email to the manufacturer?

http://www.pure.com/

Regards
Lee

Interesting. I didn't realise it was a Pure product. All of the searching I
did on "Genus" only seemed to turn up dead sites. When I also saw that
Amazon "did not know when they would have more" I assumed that this pointed
to a defunct company. There is no mention of Pure on the radio anywhere.
Just out of interest, where did you turn up this info. Thanks Lee.

Arfa

 

[N_Cook]

Arfa Daily <arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:nTlal.44293$Oq2.22746@newsfe21.ams2...

"Lee" <glog@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:gkbi3g$ms0$1@news.motzarella.org...
Arfa Daily wrote:


Interesting. I didn't realise it was a Pure product. All of the searching
I
did on "Genus" only seemed to turn up dead sites. When I also saw that
Amazon "did not know when they would have more" I assumed that this
pointed
to a defunct company. There is no mention of Pure on the radio anywhere.
Just out of interest, where did you turn up this info. Thanks Lee.

Arfa

This is how to get into a flavour of Pure Evoke
Remove rear screws, internal front pair and remove the
silly plastic reflex tube.
Desolder the aerial wires, ground wire, speaker wires, mark
the connectors before removing.
Some screws hiding under flopped over electros and one under the daughter
board that has to be released to get to that one.


--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/

 

[Arfa Daily]

"N_Cook" <diverse@tcp.co.uk> wrote in message
news:gkcug3$chd$1@news.motzarella.org...

Arfa Daily <arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:nTlal.44293$Oq2.22746@newsfe21.ams2...

"Lee" <glog@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:gkbi3g$ms0$1@news.motzarella.org...
Arfa Daily wrote:


Interesting. I didn't realise it was a Pure product. All of the searching
I
did on "Genus" only seemed to turn up dead sites. When I also saw that
Amazon "did not know when they would have more" I assumed that this
pointed
to a defunct company. There is no mention of Pure on the radio anywhere.
Just out of interest, where did you turn up this info. Thanks Lee.

Arfa




This is how to get into a flavour of Pure Evoke
Remove rear screws, internal front pair and remove the
silly plastic reflex tube.
Desolder the aerial wires, ground wire, speaker wires, mark
the connectors before removing.
Some screws hiding under flopped over electros and one under the daughter
board that has to be released to get to that one.


--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/

I took a look on the Pure website, where all of their products are listed
and shown. Many DAB radios with which I am familiar, but not even a mention
of anything of theirs masquerading as "Genus". The word does not appear to
be mentioned anywhere on the site, nor if you follow the links back to the
semiconductor technology company which is responsible for creating the
"Pure" brand as a vehicle for showcasing their semiconductor technology. I
have used the search facility on each individual site in the suite, but the
word never appears anywhere. Likewise "Type R".

The plot thickens ... I'm not at this point convinced of its "Pure" pedigree
....

To be honest, I'm in business to make money, and I don't need time-wasting
nonsense like this. Unless I have a definitive answer from someone who
actually *knows* how to get it apart by perhaps Wednesday, then it will be
returned to its owner unrepaired, along with a bill for the workshop time
spent on it. Apparently, he said to the lad that was booking it in,
something along the lines of "Good luck with getting it apart, because I
could not see how you get into it ", so with that in mind, I feel justified
in not rinsing more valuable bench time, knowing that he's half expecting it
to not get repaired anyway. Shame as it's a straightforward problem that it
has, but times is 'ard, as they say, and my time is better spent on stuff
that's easily fixable.

Arfa

 

[Smitty Two]

In article <rNral.81674$iW1.61755@newsfe23.ams2>,
"Arfa Daily" <arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote:

"N_Cook" <diverse@tcp.co.uk> wrote in message
news:gkcug3$chd$1@news.motzarella.org...
Arfa Daily <arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:nTlal.44293$Oq2.22746@newsfe21.ams2...

"Lee" <glog@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:gkbi3g$ms0$1@news.motzarella.org...
Arfa Daily wrote:


Interesting. I didn't realise it was a Pure product. All of the searching
I
did on "Genus" only seemed to turn up dead sites. When I also saw that
Amazon "did not know when they would have more" I assumed that this
pointed
to a defunct company. There is no mention of Pure on the radio anywhere.
Just out of interest, where did you turn up this info. Thanks Lee.

Arfa




This is how to get into a flavour of Pure Evoke
Remove rear screws, internal front pair and remove the
silly plastic reflex tube.
Desolder the aerial wires, ground wire, speaker wires, mark
the connectors before removing.
Some screws hiding under flopped over electros and one under the daughter
board that has to be released to get to that one.


--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/



I took a look on the Pure website, where all of their products are listed
and shown. Many DAB radios with which I am familiar, but not even a mention
of anything of theirs masquerading as "Genus". The word does not appear to
be mentioned anywhere on the site, nor if you follow the links back to the
semiconductor technology company which is responsible for creating the
"Pure" brand as a vehicle for showcasing their semiconductor technology. I
have used the search facility on each individual site in the suite, but the
word never appears anywhere. Likewise "Type R".

The plot thickens ... I'm not at this point convinced of its "Pure" pedigree
...

To be honest, I'm in business to make money, and I don't need time-wasting
nonsense like this. Unless I have a definitive answer from someone who
actually *knows* how to get it apart by perhaps Wednesday, then it will be
returned to its owner unrepaired, along with a bill for the workshop time
spent on it. Apparently, he said to the lad that was booking it in,
something along the lines of "Good luck with getting it apart, because I
could not see how you get into it ", so with that in mind, I feel justified
in not rinsing more valuable bench time, knowing that he's half expecting it
to not get repaired anyway. Shame as it's a straightforward problem that it
has, but times is 'ard, as they say, and my time is better spent on stuff
that's easily fixable.

Arfa

Tell him to keep an eye on ebay, and when another broken unit comes up,
buy it and bring them both to you. Then you'll have a sacrificial unit.

 

[PeterD]

On Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:30:28 -0000, "Arfa Daily"
<arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote:

... then it will be
returned to its owner unrepaired, along with a bill for the workshop time
spent on it.

Nothing beats billing the customer when the repair person doesn't have
the skills to complete the repair...

 

[Rich Webb]

On Fri, 9 Jan 2009 23:00:12 -0000, "Arfa Daily"
<arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote:

The back panel is covered with
a glued on leatherette type plastic. Running a finger over its entire
surface, reveals not the slightest sign of there being anything other than a
flat metal plate under it.

Are you confident that you could detect countersunk screw heads with
small (#0) Phillips slots underneath that plastic covering if the heads
were fair flush with the face? If you're comfortable being able to
re-glue that back panel, it might be worth exploring what's underneath.

--
Rich Webb Norfolk, VA

 

[Boris Mohar]

On Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:19:26 -0000, "Arfa Daily" <arfa.daily@ntlworld.com>
wrote:

"Lee" <glog@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:gk8okd$9ha$1@news.motzarella.org...
Arfa Daily wrote:
Genus Type R portable DAB radio. Nice elegant looking unit. Nice simple
(I think) problem, but how the F#@! does it come to bits ????

35 years daily experience of finding hidden screws and clips and twisty
pressure points, but nearly an hour of probing and testing cracks and
gaps with knife blades, I'm still no nearer.

So does anyone actually know ? Not really looking for suggestions, as
I've probably tried them all anyway. Just if anyone knows for sure the
trick of it, please share ... !!

Arfa
Arfa..... years ago I saw a very similar looking radio by Braun. I
noticed that the pins in the handle rotated with the handle.
Pulled out on the handle at the pivot point.
Afer handle off, the guts slid out of the frame.

Regards
Lee

Yes Lee. I too have seen all manner of similar arrangements. Unfortunately,
that doesn't seem to be the trick to this one. I really honestly have tried
everything that many many years of service work at the sharp end has taught
me about getting into stuff, but this one is a total mystery. I even took it
back to the shop that took in the repair, today, and let their two lads have
a go, but neither of them could get into it either. I'm sure if we ever find
out, it will be something really simple, but for the moment, simple or not,
it's all a bit Penn and Teller ... >:-\

Arfa

Have you tried counter rotating the side panels?
--

Boris Mohar

 

[Arfa Daily]

"Rich Webb" <bbew.ar@mapson.nozirev.ten> wrote in message
news:943lm45d587qc27394mhe5atn2r4g58ua9@4ax.com...

On Fri, 9 Jan 2009 23:00:12 -0000, "Arfa Daily"
arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote:

The back panel is covered with
a glued on leatherette type plastic. Running a finger over its entire
surface, reveals not the slightest sign of there being anything other than
a
flat metal plate under it.

Are you confident that you could detect countersunk screw heads with
small (#0) Phillips slots underneath that plastic covering if the heads
were fair flush with the face? If you're comfortable being able to
re-glue that back panel, it might be worth exploring what's underneath.

--
Rich Webb Norfolk, VA

Fairly, yes, but not totally confident. However, if you have got to start
arsing around removing a plastic cloth covering that is glued on, then as
far as I am concerned, it is not intended to be servicable in any
practical - that is profitable - way, and the owner can take it up with the
manufacturers, if he can track them down, that is ...

Arfa

 

[Arfa Daily]

"Boris Mohar" <borism_void_@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:ab7lm41php8pkppkr0kiaf9m4afjjvdsos@4ax.com...

On Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:19:26 -0000, "Arfa Daily" <arfa.daily@ntlworld.com
wrote:


"Lee" <glog@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:gk8okd$9ha$1@news.motzarella.org...
Arfa Daily wrote:
Genus Type R portable DAB radio. Nice elegant looking unit. Nice simple
(I think) problem, but how the F#@! does it come to bits ????

35 years daily experience of finding hidden screws and clips and twisty
pressure points, but nearly an hour of probing and testing cracks and
gaps with knife blades, I'm still no nearer.

So does anyone actually know ? Not really looking for suggestions, as
I've probably tried them all anyway. Just if anyone knows for sure the
trick of it, please share ... !!

Arfa
Arfa..... years ago I saw a very similar looking radio by Braun. I
noticed that the pins in the handle rotated with the handle.
Pulled out on the handle at the pivot point.
Afer handle off, the guts slid out of the frame.

Regards
Lee

Yes Lee. I too have seen all manner of similar arrangements.
Unfortunately,
that doesn't seem to be the trick to this one. I really honestly have
tried
everything that many many years of service work at the sharp end has
taught
me about getting into stuff, but this one is a total mystery. I even took
it
back to the shop that took in the repair, today, and let their two lads
have
a go, but neither of them could get into it either. I'm sure if we ever
find
out, it will be something really simple, but for the moment, simple or
not,
it's all a bit Penn and Teller ... >:-\

Arfa


Have you tried counter rotating the side panels?
--

Boris Mohar

Yes. Not the slightest feel of 'give' in any direction, that I could detect
by feel or sight.

Arfa

 

[Arfa Daily]

"Smitty Two" <prestwhich@earthlink.net> wrote in message
newsrestwhich-176299.12431111012009@news.west.cox.net...

In article <rNral.81674$iW1.61755@newsfe23.ams2>,
"Arfa Daily" <arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote:

"N_Cook" <diverse@tcp.co.uk> wrote in message
news:gkcug3$chd$1@news.motzarella.org...
Arfa Daily <arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:nTlal.44293$Oq2.22746@newsfe21.ams2...

"Lee" <glog@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:gkbi3g$ms0$1@news.motzarella.org...
Arfa Daily wrote:


Interesting. I didn't realise it was a Pure product. All of the
searching
I
did on "Genus" only seemed to turn up dead sites. When I also saw that
Amazon "did not know when they would have more" I assumed that this
pointed
to a defunct company. There is no mention of Pure on the radio
anywhere.
Just out of interest, where did you turn up this info. Thanks Lee.

Arfa




This is how to get into a flavour of Pure Evoke
Remove rear screws, internal front pair and remove the
silly plastic reflex tube.
Desolder the aerial wires, ground wire, speaker wires, mark
the connectors before removing.
Some screws hiding under flopped over electros and one under the
daughter
board that has to be released to get to that one.


--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/



I took a look on the Pure website, where all of their products are listed
and shown. Many DAB radios with which I am familiar, but not even a
mention
of anything of theirs masquerading as "Genus". The word does not appear
to
be mentioned anywhere on the site, nor if you follow the links back to
the
semiconductor technology company which is responsible for creating the
"Pure" brand as a vehicle for showcasing their semiconductor technology.
I
have used the search facility on each individual site in the suite, but
the
word never appears anywhere. Likewise "Type R".

The plot thickens ... I'm not at this point convinced of its "Pure"
pedigree
...

To be honest, I'm in business to make money, and I don't need
time-wasting
nonsense like this. Unless I have a definitive answer from someone who
actually *knows* how to get it apart by perhaps Wednesday, then it will
be
returned to its owner unrepaired, along with a bill for the workshop time
spent on it. Apparently, he said to the lad that was booking it in,
something along the lines of "Good luck with getting it apart, because I
could not see how you get into it ", so with that in mind, I feel
justified
in not rinsing more valuable bench time, knowing that he's half expecting
it
to not get repaired anyway. Shame as it's a straightforward problem that
it
has, but times is 'ard, as they say, and my time is better spent on stuff
that's easily fixable.

Arfa

Tell him to keep an eye on ebay, and when another broken unit comes up,
buy it and bring them both to you. Then you'll have a sacrificial unit.

Hi Smitty. Good to hear from you again. Happy new year.

Yes, good thought. If it goes back unrepaired, I will tell him to do this.

Arfa

 

[Arfa Daily]

"PeterD" <peter2@hipson.net> wrote in message
news:iavkm4p1ruu2r57hspsmb3jtvhdcf3bpbp@4ax.com...

On Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:30:28 -0000, "Arfa Daily"
arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote:
... then it will be
returned to its owner unrepaired, along with a bill for the workshop time
spent on it.

Nothing beats billing the customer when the repair person doesn't have
the skills to complete the repair...

Thank you friend. Most helpful. Clearly you have no concept of the
practicalities of running a repair business. If you have nothing
constructive to add, please refrain from bothering to comment.

Arfa

 

[Fleetie]

Thank you friend. Most helpful. Clearly you have no concept of the practicalities of running a repair business. If you have
nothing constructive to add, please refrain from bothering to comment.

Arfa

Hi Arfa. Been a while!

I do agree that the grandparent's comment was not phrased very nicely,
and I've always enjoyed our interactions on Usenet, but I have to say,
if someone tried that on me, and tried to bill me for providing (from my
point of view) no service, I'd leave the afflicted unit with them, and
walk off forever.

I understand that you expended time and effort attempting to fix it,
but from the customer's point of view, there's been zero benefit.
Why would they pay?

I'm NOT having a go at you; I hope you don't think I am. Is this a
situation that has occurred before with you? If so, what percentage
of the people paid up? I think maybe if you waived the charge,
at least they might come back in future, or at least speak kindly of
you to their acquaintances. Now it sounds like I'm trying to tell you
how to run your business! Sorry; of course I'm not.

Hope you're ok, anyway!


Martin
--
M.A.Poyser Tel.: 07967 110890
Manchester, U.K. http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=fleetie

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Fri, 9 Jan 2009 15:23:14 -0000, "Arfa Daily"
<arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote:

Genus Type R portable DAB radio. Nice elegant looking unit. Nice simple (I
think) problem, but how the F#@! does it come to bits ????

Dunno. Some of the stuff I fix arrives partially disassembled after
the customer has tried to repair it.

Pictures:
<http://www.retrothing.com/2006/08/beautiful_genus.html>
<http://www.radio-now.co.uk/genus_type_r_dab_radio.htm>
That is kinda nice looking and worth repairing.

What we do in the colonies when faced with a disassembly puzzle is
find the FCC ID number, and look at the inside photos on the FCC ID
web pile. Lots of clues as to where the screws, snaps, hooks, clips,
and glue are buried.

Lacking that, I have access to a fiber optic borescope (or something
like that), which allows me to look inside a box, if I can find a 3 mm
dia hole.

In this case, my guess(tm) is that the handle comes off, followed by
the wood side panels. Lacking external fasteners, I would think the
wood side panels were held in with blind harpoon fasteners fitted into
the aluminum extrusion top and front frame. As a general rule, the
cosmetic parts are attached last, which means the wood sides and back
are the likely entry method. It's also possible that the wood
cosmetic parts are attached with double sided tape or glue.

I don't think the manufactory will be much help as their domain
appears to be gone:
<http://www.genusdigital.com>

If all else fails, methinks finding a similar broken unit, and
performing some destructive disassembly may be the only way to see how
it's internally fastened.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

[Arfa Daily]

"Fleetie" <fleetie@fleetie.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news7KdnTLdxfrCO_fUnZ2dnUVZ8jCdnZ2d@bt.com...

Thank you friend. Most helpful. Clearly you have no concept of the
practicalities of running a repair business. If you have nothing
constructive to add, please refrain from bothering to comment.

Arfa

Hi Arfa. Been a while!

I do agree that the grandparent's comment was not phrased very nicely,
and I've always enjoyed our interactions on Usenet, but I have to say,
if someone tried that on me, and tried to bill me for providing (from my
point of view) no service, I'd leave the afflicted unit with them, and
walk off forever.

I understand that you expended time and effort attempting to fix it,
but from the customer's point of view, there's been zero benefit.
Why would they pay?

I'm NOT having a go at you; I hope you don't think I am. Is this a
situation that has occurred before with you? If so, what percentage
of the people paid up? I think maybe if you waived the charge,
at least they might come back in future, or at least speak kindly of
you to their acquaintances. Now it sounds like I'm trying to tell you
how to run your business! Sorry; of course I'm not.

Hope you're ok, anyway!


Martin
--
M.A.Poyser Tel.: 07967
110890
Manchester, U.K.
http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=fleetie

Hi Fleetie. No offence taken - from you at least ... ! Grandparent ?
Genuinely ?

What I did object to was that someone who knows nothing of me, my training,
my qualifications, my skill levels or my business, saw fit to make a
scathing comment on here about the way this job might ultimately get
handled.

It is very common in the domestic repair business, here in the UK at least,
for an advance deposit to be taken from the customer. If the repair goes
ahead, this amount is credited to the final bill. All of the shops that I
take work from, have this policy, and it is carefully explained to each and
every customer that books an item in, as well as being posted in written
form, behind the counter. I have been in these shops on many occasions when
items have been booked in, and I can't remember ever having heard anyone
object.

The thing is, there are many reasons these days, why repairs don't go ahead.
These include costs of spares which make a repair impractical - DVD lasers
for instance - lack of availability of parts, and the low cost of
replacement of the whole unit by something from the local supermarket or
Argos barn. Sometimes, even a lack of service information is enough to
prevent a practical repair.

So, on a bad week, maybe 20% of jobs might not be completed for one reason
or another. Should I just forfeit a day's earnings because of things out of
my control ? Customers even think that they are doing you a favour by
letting you keep their junk "for spares". I don't want endless pieces of
worthless rubbish stacking up in my workshop. If the repair doesn't go ahead
for whatever reason, either they take it back, or if they leave it with me,
it's going to be disposed of, which nowadays, costs money. You can't just
drop it off at the local tip for free any more, and the money is not going
to come out of my pocket, on top of getting nothing for the time that has
been spent evaluating the repair in the first place.

Of course, it is not a totally black and white situation. If a repair is not
completed because I believe that in some way, my ability to fix it is
lacking - and no matter who might tell you otherwise, it does sometimes
happen, and no matter how good you are at practical component level
fault-finding and repair, the odd one will never-the-less defeat you - then
I *will* waive my charge on it, and the shop that took it in will often
refund theirs as well. I and they, have not managed to continue in business
for 35 years, without understanding the principles of customer goodwill, but
by the same token, we also haven't managed to stay in business that long, by
being impractical in our billing regime.

So, where I have made every practical effort, including bench time,
telephone calls and internet time, to facilitate a fix on a piece of
equipment, but been defeated not by a lack of ability, but by the
manufacturer, due to their pricing or service assistance policies, or even
by them hiding away behind a name that doesn't seem to exist anywhere other
than on the front of their kit, as in this case, I will continue with my
current charging policy. My cable internet provider does not give me service
for free, neither does my phone company give me theirs. I don't give mine
for free either.

Just as a slight aside. A year or two back, I had a problem with my car. It
went into the garage four times, and each time it came back with a bill for
parts and labour, and each time, the problem persisted. I queried why I
should be expected to pay for parts that had been fitted, which had not
cured the problem. I was told that most faults on engines these days were
diagnosed by reference to the fault codes held in the EMU, and that once a
part that was pointed to in this way had been ordered and fitted, it could
not be taken back off again and returned, as the seal on the box had been
broken. I put it to them that if the diagnostics or the mechanic's
interpretation of them was wrong, then that wasn't my problem, and the part
should go on their shelf at their cost, for next time. I was told that it
was "just company policy mate", and was "in common with the way that most
garages work."

Now if I ordered a laser in for an item, and it didn't cure the fault, I
would see that as my fault as I had misdiagnosed the problem, and I would
put the owner's original back in. So there you have it. Am I doing anything
worse than them ? If anybody thinks so, then I actually don't really care.

And to Pete D. I'm sorry if my response to your comment offended but,
normally placid guy that I am, I do tend to get a bit spiky when someone who
knows nothing about me, calls my skills, integrity and business acumen, into
question. d;~}

Arfa



>

 

[Arfa Daily]

"Jeff Liebermann" <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote in message
news:m7blm45q0t83qlfjq95m12fsfegsb2e5mt@4ax.com...

On Fri, 9 Jan 2009 15:23:14 -0000, "Arfa Daily"
arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote:

Genus Type R portable DAB radio. Nice elegant looking unit. Nice simple (I
think) problem, but how the F#@! does it come to bits ????

Dunno. Some of the stuff I fix arrives partially disassembled after
the customer has tried to repair it.

Pictures:
http://www.retrothing.com/2006/08/beautiful_genus.html
http://www.radio-now.co.uk/genus_type_r_dab_radio.htm
That is kinda nice looking and worth repairing.

What we do in the colonies when faced with a disassembly puzzle is
find the FCC ID number, and look at the inside photos on the FCC ID
web pile. Lots of clues as to where the screws, snaps, hooks, clips,
and glue are buried.

Lacking that, I have access to a fiber optic borescope (or something
like that), which allows me to look inside a box, if I can find a 3 mm
dia hole.

In this case, my guess(tm) is that the handle comes off, followed by
the wood side panels. Lacking external fasteners, I would think the
wood side panels were held in with blind harpoon fasteners fitted into
the aluminum extrusion top and front frame. As a general rule, the
cosmetic parts are attached last, which means the wood sides and back
are the likely entry method. It's also possible that the wood
cosmetic parts are attached with double sided tape or glue.

I don't think the manufactory will be much help as their domain
appears to be gone:
http://www.genusdigital.com

If all else fails, methinks finding a similar broken unit, and
performing some destructive disassembly may be the only way to see how
it's internally fastened.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

That is about where I have arrived at now Jeff. This week, I will spend a
little more time on it just for my own interest, but if it is not giving up
its secrets in fairly short order, then the job will get knocked on the head
once and for all.

Arfa