Bel V985 no sound, speaker ok

[wildbill59]

Hi, I'm new to the forum but have used detectors since I started driving. I've had all types of detectors from Fuzzbuster's, Uniden's, Cobra's, PNI's and currently my favorite Beltronics. My all time favorite is the Vector 985 because of all the features and sensitivity. I just purchased an additional 985 off ebay that looks brand new and came with all the accessories, aluminum storage box, and original box. The guy selling said the speaker stopped working and he did not want to fool with it. I got it for $20 and had a speaker to install when it came in. I installed the new speaker and powered up and still no sound. I checked the original speaker and it is working. Bel does not service this unit anymore so does anyone have an idea of what is wrong. I cannot get the case completely apart and don't want to pry on it without knowing what I am doing. I would really like to fix this unit.

[frankw]

I recently sent an email to bel cs and they told me they still service the 985s at a cost of $79. That was in jan of this year. If you really want to keep it just give them a call to make sure.

[kpatz]

Does the v985 have an audio jack on the side of it like the RX65? Try plugging something like a set of earphones into that jack and see if you get audio then. It could be as simple as a dirty contact in the jack. If it isn't that, check the board for bad solder joints around the speaker connections and the audio jack connections. If it's not that, it's probably the audio amplifier IC or whatever they use.

[wildbill59]

No the 985 does not have an external audio jack. I would like to take the case apart to look at solder connections but i am afraid I will damage the case trying to pry it apart. Since frankw said that Bel told him they still dervice this unit I will send Bel an email and see what they say. I really like the funtions of this unit especially the clicking of the automute instead of just a decrease of the alarm volume with the newer units. I have an old Bel Vector STI (Bel made an STI in the 90's) that still works great just not as sensitive and programmable as the 985.

[kpatz]

I have an old Bel Vector STI (Bel made an STI in the 90's) that still works great just not as sensitive and programmable as the 985.

I used to have one of those STis. It was really sensitive but it falsed like it was going out of style. I think something was wrong with it because it would do full-scale I/O falses in the middle of nowhere. After 3 years it got so bad I replaced it with my first V1.

[wildbill59]

I have an old Bel Vector STI (Bel made an STI in the 90's) that still works great just not as sensitive and programmable as the 985.

I used to have one of those STis. It was really sensitive but it falsed like it was going out of style. I think something was wrong with it because it would do full-scale I/O falses in the middle of nowhere. After 3 years it got so bad I replaced it with my first V1.

Yes my Bel Vector STI will sometimes max out on Ka in the middle of nowhere. Other than that it was my favorite detector until I got the 985. Is the 995 or Rx65 that much of an upgrade over my 985. Do they have better range and sensitivity. I know my 985 has great range and sensitivity.

[frankw]

The newer bels use the m4 horn. Alot of people prefer the older s7 that your 985 uses because it has better off axis detection and is much better on k band.

[Ray]

When I went from the 980 to the RX65, I didn't see any noticeble difference in performence. The RX65 just had more features. I want to get my 980 serviced too, if they still service the 985, they should still service the 980. I need to call them.

[wildbill59]

Well I decided to contact Bel on repairing my 985. I talked to a very helpful guy at Bel who said they would service the unit and ship back for $79. He said they would completely refurb and upgrade the unit to the latest software. He also said that this was one of the better units they had produced and that a lot of people preferred this unit for the s7 over the m4. I will keep everyone posted on how things turn out.

[KaPro]

Keep us posted! The 985 was one of the best ever made and well worth fixing!