old radios equals old caps, and old caps leak, blow up and dry out...a blown 
cap, or several, or shorted resisters can cause any number of problems, 
related and unrelated.
As we told you time and time again, you need to make sure you have a good 
SWR on your antenna using a tuner, or cut for resonance...which ever, 
doesn't matter, as long as the radio sees a decent SWR.
there are used tw1's availible, and noise bridges, and guys who'll build 
audible tuning aids...and all sorts of ways to make sure you have a good 
SWR...including auto tuners.
The lesson learned here is to pay attension to the advice you are getting 
weather you like the tone of the message or not, the information is still 
valid.
As you learned the hard way, ignoring valuable advice and recommendations 
can cost.
I wouldn't even get the 120 fixed.  By the time you pay for shipping both 
ways, and the cost of repares, it'll be more than the radio is worth...at 
least, more than the replacement value of another TS120 from ebay or where 
ever.
Instead of dumping a bunch of money into an old radio that will probably 
have many more issues before long, take that same money and buy yourself a 
noise bridge, or an LDG  TW1 talking swr meter, so that you can tune your 
antenna, and use your new shiny TS480.   You'd be a fool to dump money into 
fixing that old ts120 when you've got a brand new rig there, and a number of 
options to utilize your manual tuner that you insist upon using.
I'm not you, and it's your money and your life, but it comes down to common 
sence and logic here.
Just don't ignore everyones good advice this time, and maybe you'll be able 
to stay on the air trouble free.

so there's my advice, for what it's worth.

73
Colin, V A6BKX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Howard Kaufman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 8:59 PM
Subject: Re: what next? my rig is gone!


> Relax, take a zanyx and think.  Since you have the 480 HX, buy a noise
> bridge, put it in line and tune your tuner for the null which will match a
> 1/1 SWR.  Here is another reason to buy the 480 SAT, like we all advized.
> The internal tuner will match anything under 6/1, so if you get a match
> operate the radio.  If you don't get a match don't.  As far as a tuning 
> aid,
> stop being a victim, look around for a schematic, and start placing adds 
> and
> contacting handy hams to see if anybody would be willing to build it for
> you.  With around 100,000 hams in the country maybe somebody would enjoy a
> small project if you provided the diagram and parts.  You'd have to send
> them your 949 so that the jack could be installed.
>
> Remember, you said how none of the local hams would help,
>
> Well if one person says you are a jerk, they are probably wrong.  If two
> people say you are a jerk, its worth considering.  If three people say you
> are a jerk, they are probably right!!!
>
> Are you really sure nobody connected with handyhams would build you a 
> tuning
> aid if you came up with the parts and tuner.
>
> I think the noise bridge is probably the best solution, but I don't know 
> if
> they make ones that don't have to be taken out of line before transmitting
> RF through them.
>
> The 949 has a dummy load in it I think.  Is your audio awful on the dummy
> load?  That might help diagnose the problem.