{"id":59492,"date":"2024-04-11T04:00:12","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T08:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=59492"},"modified":"2024-04-10T05:55:21","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T09:55:21","slug":"kostas-improves-the-contrast-on-his-frg-7-digital-display","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/04\/kostas-improves-the-contrast-on-his-frg-7-digital-display\/","title":{"rendered":"Kostas improves the contrast on his FRG-7 digital display"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post<\/em>\u00a0contributor, Kostas (SV3ORA), for sharing the following guest post which originally appeared\u00a0on his radio website:<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

FRG-7 digital display contrast improvement<\/h1>\n

by Kostas (SV3ORA)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The\u00a0FRG-7 digital<\/a>\u00a0by Marcel Jacobs PA8MA, is a very well thought modification KIT for the Yaesu FRG-7 receiver. It really adds to it one of the things it misses (and it misses a lot) to become a more “serious” receiver in the modern era, the digital frequency readout and S-meter. If you are like me and enjoy classic radio gear, but you do not want to compromise much the every-day usability, I recommend you this KIT. I have to say here that, the first thing you would want to do if you use the receiver for SSB, is to perform my\u00a0SSB-related mods<\/a>\u00a0as well.<\/p>\n

When I installed this KIT on my FRG-7 The first thing I did not like about it, was the very bright display which blasts your eyes with light especially at night on a low-lit shack. Not only that, but your eye will condinuously focus on the bright display and you loose the magic of the rest of the radio controls and displays. I wanted the digital display to be one of the parts of the radio and not the major thing that my eyes will look all the time. Marcel was smart enough to include 2 brightness levels in software. The low brightness setting does not actually change the backlight of the display, it just changes the graphics in more dim colors. As a result in either setting, the backlight color is very bright and this decreases contrast a lot. The background of the numbers in the display has a blue-ish color and not true black. Not only that, but the edges of the display, are visible too. I have solved all of these problems with a simple modification to the KIT.<\/p>\n

The picture above, shows the display after my modification. The picture is taken on a dim-lit shack using my phone, with no further image processing. What you see in this picture, is exactly what it looks in reality, after my modification. Notice how the background of the display, remains pure black and the numbers and graphics of the display do not blind you anymore and are of the same brightness as the rest of the original backlit graphics of the radio. This allows your eye to wander around to the rest of the nice radio backlit things, without focusing all the time on a bright display. This is very relaxing to the eye and the brain as you scan for stations. You actually only look at the digital display when you want more accuracy. Compare this nice display contrast with the one presented on Marcel’s manual and you will notice the difference.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The modification is really simple and it does not need a schematic. It is just a 22k potentiometer, connected as a variable resistor like shown in the picture. I just cut the second cable (from the left), of the ribbon and then soldered the variable resistor there. That’s it. Depended on the light conditions in which you operate the receiver and on your personal preference, you can set the brighness from full to very dim. In the software setting, set the brightness to maximum. Then use this variable resistor to decrease it to your desired level.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor, Kostas (SV3ORA), for sharing the following guest post which originally appeared\u00a0on his radio website: FRG-7 digital display contrast improvement by Kostas (SV3ORA) The\u00a0FRG-7 digital\u00a0by Marcel Jacobs PA8MA, is a very well thought modification KIT for the Yaesu FRG-7 receiver. It really adds to it one of the things it misses (and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3194,627,3,43,4796],"tags":[5466,8721,3139,8722],"class_list":["post-59492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guest-posts","category-how-to","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","category-vintage-radio","tag-frg-7","tag-kostas-sv3ora","tag-yaesu-frg-7","tag-yaesu-frg-7-mods"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-fty","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":44627,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/kostas-yaesu-frg-7-adjustment-that-improves-opposite-sideband-rejection\/","url_meta":{"origin":59492,"position":0},"title":"Kostas’ Yaesu FRG-7 adjustment that improves opposite sideband rejection","author":"Thomas","date":"August 4, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kostas (SV3ORA), who shares the following video and writes: In this 7.8Mb video (attached) is my solution for \"converting\" the Yaesu FRG-7 for single signal reception on SSB: https:\/\/vimeo.com\/444218932 Not a mod actually, no additional filters, no soldering of any kind. Just tune the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Yaesu-FRG-7.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Yaesu-FRG-7.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Yaesu-FRG-7.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Yaesu-FRG-7.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45844,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/how-to-install-a-mechanical-ssb-filter-on-the-yaesu-frg-7\/","url_meta":{"origin":59492,"position":1},"title":"How to install a mechanical SSB filter on the Yaesu FRG-7","author":"Thomas","date":"October 11, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor, Kostas (SV3ORA), for sharing the following guest post which originally appeared\u00a0on his radio website: How to install a mechanical SSB filter on the Yaesu FRG-7 by Kostas (SV3ORA) The Yaesu FRG-7 is a general coverage MW\/SW receiver that uses the Wadley Loop system for stabilizing the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/FRG-7-Internal-3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/FRG-7-Internal-3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/FRG-7-Internal-3.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/FRG-7-Internal-3.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16866,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/01\/ebay-find-pristine-sears-412-36380700-yaesu-frg-7-shortwave-communications-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":59492,"position":2},"title":"eBay find: Pristine Sears 412.36380700 (Yaesu FRG-7) Shortwave Communications Receiver","author":"Thomas","date":"January 16, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"This must be the day for eBay finds! This one will not be a deal (price-wise) unless you're on the market for a NOS (New Old Stock) classic receiver. Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN), who writes: On eBay is an auction that is worth watching, just\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sears-Yaesu-FRG-7","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sears-Yaesu-FRG-7-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sears-Yaesu-FRG-7-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sears-Yaesu-FRG-7-1024x683.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":50875,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/11\/radio-mods-unblocking-the-yaesu-frg-8800-frequency-coverage-limitations\/","url_meta":{"origin":59492,"position":3},"title":"Radio Mods: Unblocking the YAESU FRG-8800 Frequency Coverage Limitations","author":"Thomas","date":"November 15, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Paolo Viappiani (SWL I1-11437), who shares the following guest post. Note that, as with any radio modification, perform this operation at your own risk. This is a very simple mod, but if you feel it might be beyond your skill level, consider hiring a radio\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/figure-e-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/figure-e-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/figure-e-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/figure-e-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":50430,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/10\/ebay-find-new-in-sealed-box-yaesu-frg-100-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":59492,"position":4},"title":"eBay find: New in Sealed Box Yaesu FRG-100 Receiver","author":"Thomas","date":"October 4, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Zantow (N9EWO), who shares a link to this eBay Buy It Now auction for a new in sealed box Yaesu FRG-100. Dave notes, \"The seller does not disclose the serial number so no way of telling if this is a later B version\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/FRG-100-NIB-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/FRG-100-NIB-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/FRG-100-NIB-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/FRG-100-NIB-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/FRG-100-NIB-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":21294,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/mark-notices-a-yaesu-frg-8800-on-death-in-paradise\/","url_meta":{"origin":59492,"position":5},"title":"Mark notices a Yaesu FRG-8800 on “Death in Paradise”","author":"Thomas","date":"September 11, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Hirst, who writes: I noticed recently in an episode of the BBC series, \"Death in Paradise\", a Yaesu FRG-8800 sat on a book case. [The screenshot is]\u00a0from Season 4, Episode 1 \"Stab in the Dark\", with the radio off DS Camille Bordey's right\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"frg-8800","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/frg-8800-1024x640.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/frg-8800-1024x640.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/frg-8800-1024x640.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59492"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59492\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59493,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59492\/revisions\/59493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}