Hi Garey, Yes, the CW out of the T-4X is DEFINITELY of grade A quality. A buddy of mine in London & I had a sked awhile back, & for fun I fired-up the T-4X (it was behaving itself back then!). He went out of his way to remark how very good my signal sounded---a compliment that was completely unsolicited, too, BTW...
Well, the tubular cap in mine is connected to the board just ahead of where the 3000-pfd. S.M. cap is---then its other lead extends near-horizontally to the vertical phenolic board of the PTO assembly. And yes, it's obvious that CW really is little more than an after-thought in the minds of many of to-day's engineers of imported transceivers: I regularly hear VERY "clicky" rigs on 160-meters, & truncated first characters in CW strings. Not so with the T-4X, though! I don't know if it was a different appreciation for the mode at the time, or just superior "made in the USA" design---but I like it! ~73!~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ************************************************************************************************************************* On 2011-08-17, at 4:16 PM, Garey Barrell wrote: > Eddy - > > OK. Well, best guess is that is a 33 pF @ 10%. Not many of the 'select at > test' caps are that large, although some are. Where is this one connected? > > Yes, the T-4X(any) transmitters were always a 'cut above' it's > contemporaries. There were more than a few who claimed that they could > 'tell' a T-4X easily. I was one of them. Occurred to me after I found that > about 90% of the CQs that I answered by picking out a good signal were > running the T-4X! They just have a solid, almost 'heavy' sound. The > diode/cap (D7/C134) does it's job of 'yanking in' the VOX and TR relay to > capture ALL of that first 'dit'!! > > 73, Garey - K4OAH > Glen Allen, VA > > Drake 2-B, 2-C/2-NT, 4-A, 4-B, C-Line > and TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs > <www.k4oah.com> > > > Eddy Swynar wrote: >> */Hi Garey,/* >> >> Many thanks for that insight... >> >> Well, I just took another look at the cap, & all I can see is just the >> /orange - orange - black /paint dabs, with the first orange dot starting at >> the middle of the cap. I'll do some digging here myself to see what I might >> be able to find in some of my older ARRL */HANDBOOKs/*... >> >> BTW, I checked & /RE/-checked the signal from my T-4X since correcting that >> solder joint on that cap---and it /STILL/sounds good. In fact, the CW note >> from that old T-4X---w/hen it's working properly, that is!-/--is sheer >> /MUSIC/to one's ears. The note is clean & clear, but >> /NOT/harsh-sounding...absolutely delightful! No clicks or truncated >> characters either like you get with some modern-day "rice rockets". >> >> Now I know why I /REFUSE/to give-up on this thing... >> >> */~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ/* >> >> >> ************************************************************************************************************************ >> >> >> On 2011-08-17, at 3:15 PM, Garey Barrell wrote: >> >>> Eddy - >>> >>> Yep, solder is the #2 problem in PTOs. >>> >>> The white tubular caps (glass or ceramic tube w/ wire wrapped around each >>> end) are almost all selected. I have seen some where the 90 pF 'base' cap >>> is also of that type, just considerably larger. >>> >>> If there is Black paint on the end 'outboard' of the wire, it's an NP0. If >>> another color outside the wires, it's a T/C type. >>> >>> Unfortunately there are several coding systems so it's a kinda 'guess' or >>> 'most likely' process. >>> >>> IS there a paint daub on one end?? >>> >>> 73, Garey - K4OAH >>> Glen Allen, VA >>> >>> Drake 2-B, 2-C/2-NT, 4-A, 4-B, C-Line >>> and TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs >>> <www.k4oah.com <http://www.k4oah.com>> >>> >>> >>> Eddy Swynar wrote: >>>> Hi Guys, >>>> >>>> Well, the PTO went back to its nasty old habit of "...wobbulating" in very >>>> short order after I *thought* that I'd remedied it (per note below)---and >>>> so I carted the T-4X upstairs to our kitchen table (yes-yes, right AFTER >>>> the XYL left to do some shopping this afternoon!)... >>>> >>>> AMAZING the effect of some good ol' natural sunlight upon things: I could >>>> plainly see that the solder joint of the white tubular capacitor was SO >>>> bad, that I extricated the thing from the pc board after just two >>>> "wiggles" with my finger!!! (and this AFTER my supposed "repair >>>> downstairs!). I immediately applied heat AND fresh solder after affixing >>>> the lead to a small section of wire that was still protruding(!) past the >>>> board... >>>> >>>> I then fired-up the rig, listening to its signal on a nearby Heathkit >>>> SB-301---and so far, SO GOOD... >>>> >>>> Naturally I'm going to leave everything atop the table for as long as the >>>> XYL is off doing errands, & will re-visit it for periodic tests in the >>>> next coupla hours. I hesitate to express any "EUREKA!" cries for the >>>> moment, because I've been "fooled" so very many times before (as have a >>>> LOT of folks with the same issue!). >>>> >>>> Still, in all, I think that one lesson that this has all DEFINITELY taught >>>> me is this: SUSPECT ANY & ALL SOLDER JOINTS ON THAT PTO PC FIRST!!! It >>>> seems that "...less than stellar" connections from the factory have a >>>> lifespan of some 40 years, or so, & then "...anything goes". >>>> >>>> BTW, the small white tubular cap, which I am *assuming* is one of those >>>> "installed at point of assembly" components, has a hollow body with three >>>> dots of paint across its length, i.e.---starting at the middle---orange - >>>> orange - black. I'll have to check one of my older HANDBOOKS to de-cypher >>>> its actual value, but I'm wondering if it might be the same as those in >>>> others...? >>>> >>>> ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ >>> >> _______________________________________________ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
