However after a little bit of surfing on the Freecom Forum website I noticed other people have had the same problem http://www.freecomforum.com
However to fix the radio I found out it would cost £45 to be sent back to Freecom as mine was out of guarantee, therefore I decided a DIY fix would be easier and cheaper.
But How?
After a careful look at the radio and thanks to my other pair of hands (the diy fix is a two person job) and Bertradio from this post in the forums http://freecomforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=10624#p34458 I managed to get hold of a couple of spare rotary encoders and came up with a plan.
Disclaimer
A little message from Freecom
FREECOM SUPPORT:
Please be aware that if your drive is still in warranty, you can get the drive repaired by a normal RMA.
If you want to repair your Pal on your own, you will do so on your own risk.
We can not provide any support for this kind of repairs. - therefore if it is in guarantee then contact freecom
A little message from me
This guide only will show you how to replace the plastic knob in the existing rotary controller housing without any soldering. If the whole rotary encoder does not work it will be a case of taking it apart and re soldering a new controller on to the circuit board. Also if you bugger it up following this its not my fault as this is just a guide of how we managed to fix my musicpal. Therefore I am not liable for damage to your musicpal or you being a butter fingers or if your Musicpal blows up or you hurt yourself, aliens come out of the sky etc. Its your own fault. - right thats the disclaimer dealt with Lets Begin.
What to do.
Using a pair of fine tweezers pull out any debris left from the broken black knob in the hole of the rotary encoder.
Gently using the tweezers insert them into the hole and press down if you hear a faint click then you know the rotary encoder still works and its the black knob that needs replacing, if you don't then its a total re soldering job.
Order from this company Switch Channel a couple of RE12CT-V24A rotery encoders.
Tel: 323-225-8890 Fax: 323-227-8795 info@switchchannel.com
http://www.switchchannel.com/switches/encoder%20switches/re12/index.htm
Switch Channel only takes orders over the phone and is in the USA but they post internationally. I'm in the UK and they arrived really quickly. They accept visa and mastercard. However I advise you to buy more them what you need just encase you damage one or two in the mending process.
D.I.Y.
1 rotary encoder
Turn it upside down and locate the 4 metal tabs
Bend back the tabs carefully with a small screw driver. Be Careful do not slip and hurt yourself.
Pull it apart. It should separate pretty easily.
Put to one side the other parts and just have the control knob. This should still be the black housing.
Now this is the tricky part. You will need another set of hands for this. As the actual control knob is in the black housing and needs to be removed. But due to its design, it is held in place by a pair of clips.
The trick is to get some one to hold the control knob (not the housing) put your finger nails between the housing and the control knob gap and pull down on it, while someone pushes on the clips with a very small screw driver until you hear a pop.
This is a one handed example (as I had to take the photo) but two people are needed as a bit of force is required. - Be careful not to damage the clips as you need them to hold the control knob into the radio.
Hopefully if you haven't broken anything it should look like this
The knob section with the 3 pins is what you need.
What happens with the musicpal is that one of the pins breaks off and then the knob falls out, however leaving the rotary controller fully working. So therefore its just a case of replacing the actual knob - therefore no soldering is required.
And pop it in. Your should hear a little click noise as the clips go into place, then reattach dials.
Voila it works. make tea sit back looking smug...
