[AMRadio] Collins Collectors Association First Wed. AM Night Jan 5th!
Happy AM New Year! FIRST WEDNESDAY AM NIGHT!!! Sponsored by the Collins Collectors Association. Wednesday January 5th on 3880 kcs at 7:30PM local East Coast time marks the start of the latest chapter of First Wednesday AM Night, drawing hundreds of vintage stations from across the country. The event is anchored by a tall ship AM station in each time zone. The East Coast will run for 90 minutes in response to the tremendous participation in the Eastern Time zone. The remaining time zones will be an hour. We encourage stations to check-in on AM using Collins and other transmitters, new and old. It's an opportunity to revel in this nostalgic mode, enjoy giving vintage equipment a run, and sharing some storytelling about classic vacuum tube homebrew and commercial designs. Typically more than a hundred stations take part in the evening's coast-to-coast AM event; by the time it concludes at 10P, PDT (1A EDT). In months past, anchor stations have included those running the beautiful Collins 300-G, pictured below, as well as those running the amateur KW-1, and other noted models. http://www.amwindow.org/pix/jpg/300g.jpg LISTEN for the following anchors and stop by to say hello, won't you? You don't have to be running Collins or vintage gear to be welcomed into the group. 7:30P-9P East Coast Anchor: Bob W0YVA 8P-9P Central Anchor: Jim W0NKL 8P-9P Rocky Mountain Anchor: Jim WA0LSB 8P-9P West Coast Anchor: Bill N6PY comments please to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [AMRadio] WTB: Millen 90801 Exciter
Gentlemen: I'm looking for a Millen 90801 HF Exciter in reasonable condition. I would prefer one that is in operating condition, however I would consider offers on units in any shape. Also, if anyone has detailed technical drawings or high-quality digital photos of the 90801, I would appreciate the information. Since these units are so rare, I'm thinking of attempting to duplicate the unit as closely as possible, but I would need the above technical data to do so. This unit was supposedly described in the December 1952 issue of QST, however I cannot find it in that issue. Google is our friend. http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclientie=UTF-8rls=GGLC,GGLC:1969-53,GGLC:enq=Millen+90801+HF+Exciter If it wrapped, just go to http://www.google.com and type in millen 90801 HF Exciter (with quotes) I'm also interested in the following units as well: Millen 90831 40W Modulator Millen 90281 HV Power Supply See above. Happy New Year 73 = Best Regards, -Geoff/W5OMR
Re: [AMRadio] WTB: Millen 90801 Exciter
Hello Alan The pictures of the trnsmitter brought back many memories. I built one just like it in about 1955 or 1956 from a Handbook article. There waqs a companion modulator with 807's, also using the economy power supply. I still have a spot on my finger where I hit the plate choke while changing coils in the final when I forgot to turn off the B+. There was also a tubeless VFO that plugged into the 5763 that kind of drifted around the band. A Heath VFO was put in place to address that problem. Big project for a 16 or 17 year old than. Byron, W3WKR
[AMRadio] FS: Tubes
For Sale: Tubes Four good, used 807's. Tested by me and guaranteed to be good. $12/all Three good used 5881s. Tested by me and guaranteed to be good. $20/all One good used 7581A. Tested by me and guaranteed to be good. $16 Two used 5933. Untested. As-is. $7/both Three used 6AS7G or GA. Untested. As-is. $7/all One RCA Radiotron 876 as used in the RAK and RAL receiver power supplies. Used but good. $20. I also have the corect ceramic socket for this tube if someone needs one. One Raytheon JAN CRP-72. This is some sort of 4-pin gas rectifier. Used. Untested. As-is. $5 Two GE and National 6011/710 high current 4-pin gas rectifiers. Used. Untested. As-is. $6/both One used 815. Untested. As-is. $7 One 226. Globe shaped and covered with dirt. Paper tag says Sonatron. Untested. As-is. $2 One 811 (not A). Used. Tested by me and guaranteed to be good. $7 Four used 4X150D metal/glass tubes. Jan, Eimac, etc. Untested. As-is. $18/all One used RCA 8122. Rattles when shaken. Presumed not good. $5 Thanks for looking. 73, Don Merz, N3RHT The information contained in this e-mail may be confidential and is intended solely for the use of the named addressee. Access, copying or re-use of the e-mail or any information contained therein by any other person is not authorized. If you are not the intended recipient please notify us immediately by returning the e-mail to the originator.(A)
Re: [AMRadio] time mag blasts hams
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I am not embarrased but otherwise, I resemble that remark. If the shoe fits! K0NG . Much too much has been made of the unkind comments by Time magazine. A media in decline evidently feels that 'Jerry Springer' tactics will ease its slide to oblivion. I am surprized at the amount of displeasure voiced by all over the unkind remarks. Over-reaction to such remarks makes others wonder if the accusations may have credibility. It makes some of us appear as though we are unnecessarily uncomfortable in the practice of our hobby. K0NG. Now there is a call that has some unique possibilities for clever QSL card design. I propose the following with the utmost of respect. Picture a beam mounted on a tower, the tower mounted on top the Empire State building. A large gorilla is perched at the base of the tower with mike in one hand and J-38 key in the other. Lightning bolts coming off the beam. Talk about a memorable card. I guarantee that the call K0NG would be long remembered. Regards, Frank Kamp K5DKZ
[AMRadio] Low Power AM nets
I was wondering if there are any nets, or just parts of the 75 or 40 meter bands where I could find anyone on low power AM, preferably controlled-carrier, screen-grid modulation. I recently got a DX-40 / HQ-100 AM Station on the air, for nostalgic purposes, but it seems like the only AM stations I usually hear are ones with high-power, high-quality plate modulated AM, and I don't want my puny signal to be just lost in the crowd or ridiculed. (Not that that would necessarily happen, but it seems like a possibility). I haven't listened at all hours of the day or anything, but I haven't found what I'm looking for. I would appreciate any info on this subject. Al, NE2D
[AMRadio] Safe Metering for Blind Operators
K4KYV wrote: In my homebrew rigs with triode finals, I place the plate meters between the common point for grid leak/bias supply and PA filament, and ground. The Gates BC1-T does it the same way, with no HV on the meter. I've been reading the discussion of safe metering with great interest, as perhaps explained by my subject line and signature. I would love to find a good plate modulated transmitter in the power class of a DX100 or Valiant, in which the plate meter would not have the full plate voltage across its terminals. Is anyone aware of a commercial or surplus transmitter with this design feature? I could easily and safely tune such a transmitter by connecting an audible meter-reading device across the meter terminals. I still have the circuit which I used successfully with a DX60, and very cautiously with a Viking Ranger from 1969 - 1974. I learned quickly that the ranger meter is at full plate potential. The good news is that I lived to tell about the experience. I also recall reading somewhere of using a voltage divider in order to obtain a safe potential level in the external audible reader. If anyone on this list has ever encountered a transmitter which was modified in this way, I'd like to know more about how it was done, since I'd love to put a Ranger on the air in order to re-create my first station. The point can be made that the easiest route is to put a rice box and linear combination on the air. Yes, that would be the easiest thing for anyone, but, not nearly as much fun! Mike Duke, K5XU American Council of Blind Radio Amateurs -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.298 / Virus Database: 265.6.7 - Release Date: 12/30/2004
Re: [AMRadio] Low Power AM nets
Al, Don't tell anyone you are using low power and you will get good reports. The difference between a DX-40 and a KW is maybe at most 3 S-units on your rcvr. bob...w2ami - Original Message - From: Schichler, Alfred [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 9:59 AM Subject: [AMRadio] Low Power AM nets I was wondering if there are any nets, or just parts of the 75 or 40 meter bands where I could find anyone on low power AM, preferably controlled-carrier, screen-grid modulation. I recently got a DX-40 / HQ-100 AM Station on the air, for nostalgic purposes, but it seems like the only AM stations I usually hear are ones with high-power, high-quality plate modulated AM, and I don't want my puny signal to be just lost in the crowd or ridiculed. (Not that that would necessarily happen, but it seems like a possibility). I haven't listened at all hours of the day or anything, but I haven't found what I'm looking for. I would appreciate any info on this subject. Al, NE2D __ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net
Re: [AMRadio] Low Power AM nets
RJ Mattson wrote: Al, Don't tell anyone you are using low power and you will get good reports. The difference between a DX-40 and a KW is maybe at most 3 S-units on your rcvr. bob...w2ami On 40m (7.160) yesterday afternoon, Darrell/WA5VGO broke in right after I did, it sounded like he had modified the audio on his KW-1, it sounded so good. You could have knocked me over with a feather when he said he was running around 35w from a homebrewed rig, running a single 807, modulated by a pair of 6L6's. From Houston to San Antonio, 35w should -not- be 25db/S-9 :-) Great Job, Darrell! 73 = Best Regards, -Geoff/W5OMR
[AMRadio] Ham Embarrasment
I get mail from Keith LaMonica, because I'm interested in the remote HF radio operation. He's got a mailing list, dedicated to just that. This was in that list. 73 = Best Regards, -Geoff/W5OMR --- To TIME recipients: An article in your TIME magazine by Lev Grossman has been forwarded to my office. http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1009913,00.html I do believe that Mr. Grossman has grossly been mis- informed and for such a prestigious magazine such as yours, one would think this type of gross error would have been avoided. Amateur Radio has been a magnificent hobby since the early 1920's for electronic experimenters that work tirelessly in their home labs and stations to break barriers and bring new technologies to the consumer world, not to mention the many uses the amateur radio operator achieved from these advances. If Mr. Grossman would do his homework, he would have discovered that what he refers to the 'embarassing' hobby was the platform for many of the devices he relies upon today. Amateur radio was many of the early engineers college education. Amateur radio operators, turned professional electronic engineers brought the world, most of the early technologies that brought us the radio receiver, the technology of television, the VCR - audio and video, high powered transmitters for AM, FM radio and TV stations, the complicated antenna systems used to transmit those signals, high powered audio amplifiers used in high fidelity and live concert stages and the list goes on. It was Art Collins W0CXX that brought Single Sideband technology to radio communications that carry vital communications world wide - from Air Force One, to virtually every transmission made by our government embassies around the world and every major commercial airliner in the sky. The late Arthur Godfrey, General Curtis Lemay, NBC space correspondent Roy Neal, Walter Kronkite, several of our US senators, many entertainers such as Joe Walsh of the Eagles, Patti Lovelace, Dave Bell, Hollywood movie Producer, Ronnie Milsap, baseball great Joe Rudi all the way to the late King Hussein, JY1 are just a 'few' of the many amateur operators that lives have been enriched AND, have enriched each and every person on the globe, including Mr. Grossman by Amateur Radio. NONE of this would have been accomplished as quickly and as economically if it were not for these early pioneers that spend countless late night hours in their home labs and stations. Embarrassing? You make the decision. I think this opens the door for the decision makers at TIME Magazine to do a feature article on the high level of technical expertise the great hobby of amateur radio brings to the world and I have not even touched upon the amazing amount of volunteer work that the 'hams' of the world brings to disasters. If it were NOT for ham radio operators volunteering their time and equipment in the heart of hurricanes, storms, disasters of all kinds many more lives would have been lost AND life line communications were established immediately in these areasand this continues today. Does Mr. Grossman call saving and affecting thousands of lives embarrassing? Obviously he does. I think it is time for TIME Magazine to rethink his horrible and erroneous statement and bring the REAL truth along with an apology to it's readers and the several million amateur radio operators world wide. I remain at your service to help you provide the truth about Amateur Radio. Best Regards, BOB HEIL, K9EID
Re: [AMRadio] Ham Embarrasment
g Bob -- Original Message --- From: Geoff [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: amradio@mailman.qth.net amradio@mailman.qth.net Sent: Mon, 03 Jan 2005 17:20:05 -0600 Subject: [AMRadio] Ham Embarrasment I get mail from Keith LaMonica, because I'm interested in the remote HF radio operation. He's got a mailing list, dedicated to just that. This was in that list. 73 = Best Regards, -Geoff/W5OMR --- To TIME recipients: An article in your TIME magazine by Lev Grossman has been forwarded to my office. http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1009913,00.html I do believe that Mr. Grossman has grossly been mis- informed and for such a prestigious magazine such as yours, one would think this type of gross error would have been avoided. Amateur Radio has been a magnificent hobby since the early 1920's for electronic experimenters that work tirelessly in their home labs and stations to break barriers and bring new technologies to the consumer world, not to mention the many uses the amateur radio operator achieved from these advances. If Mr. Grossman would do his homework, he would have discovered that what he refers to the 'embarassing' hobby was the platform for many of the devices he relies upon today. Amateur radio was many of the early engineers college education. Amateur radio operators, turned professional electronic engineers brought the world, most of the early technologies that brought us the radio receiver, the technology of television, the VCR - audio and video, high powered transmitters for AM, FM radio and TV stations, the complicated antenna systems used to transmit those signals, high powered audio amplifiers used in high fidelity and live concert stages and the list goes on. It was Art Collins W0CXX that brought Single Sideband technology to radio communications that carry vital communications world wide - from Air Force One, to virtually every transmission made by our government embassies around the world and every major commercial airliner in the sky. The late Arthur Godfrey, General Curtis Lemay, NBC space correspondent Roy Neal, Walter Kronkite, several of our US senators, many entertainers such as Joe Walsh of the Eagles, Patti Lovelace, Dave Bell, Hollywood movie Producer, Ronnie Milsap, baseball great Joe Rudi all the way to the late King Hussein, JY1 are just a 'few' of the many amateur operators that lives have been enriched AND, have enriched each and every person on the globe, including Mr. Grossman by Amateur Radio. NONE of this would have been accomplished as quickly and as economically if it were not for these early pioneers that spend countless late night hours in their home labs and stations. Embarrassing? You make the decision. I think this opens the door for the decision makers at TIME Magazine to do a feature article on the high level of technical expertise the great hobby of amateur radio brings to the world and I have not even touched upon the amazing amount of volunteer work that the 'hams' of the world brings to disasters. If it were NOT for ham radio operators volunteering their time and equipment in the heart of hurricanes, storms, disasters of all kinds many more lives would have been lost AND life line communications were established immediately in these areasand this continues today. Does Mr. Grossman call saving and affecting thousands of lives embarrassing? Obviously he does. I think it is time for TIME Magazine to rethink his horrible and erroneous statement and bring the REAL truth along with an apology to it's readers and the several million amateur radio operators world wide. I remain at your service to help you provide the truth about Amateur Radio. Best Regards, BOB HEIL, K9EID __ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net --- End of Original Message ---
Re: [AMRadio] Low Power AM nets
Alfred, I am notorious for running my DX-60 on 40m. I get GREAT results! On a few VERY rare instances, I run it into a pair of 3-500Zs. I get beautiful reports! As has been said, band conditions are ALL. I worked on mine performing the WC3K (SK), mods. Bill was REALLY into improving screen modulation. He even came up with a PTT circuit, a modulation indicator circuit, AND putting the power/modulation control on the front panel - unobtrusively! I believe almost all of his mods, save perhaps the PTT, made it into ER Magazine. Bob N0DGN P.S. That is 40m AM in the AM! Schichler, Alfred wrote: I was wondering if there are any nets, or just parts of the 75 or 40 meter bands where I could find anyone on low power AM, preferably controlled-carrier, screen-grid modulation. I recently got a DX-40 / HQ-100 AM Station on the air, for nostalgic purposes, but it seems like the only AM stations I usually hear are ones with high-power, high-quality plate modulated AM, and I don't want my puny signal to be just lost in the crowd or ridiculed. (Not that that would necessarily happen, but it seems like a possibility). I haven't listened at all hours of the day or anything, but I haven't found what I'm looking for. I would appreciate any info on this subject. Al, NE2D Bob Bethman - N0DGN +---+--+ | N0DGN AMRadio Manassas, VA|REAL Tube Radio and AM| +---+--+ | Manassas Radio - Home of Homemade Kielbasa Pirogi| +---+--+ | Bob Bethman\\\|/// The absence of a danger | | rbethman(at)comcast.net \\ ~ ~ // signal does *NOT* mean | | (/ @ @ /) that everything is OK | +-oOOo-(_)-oOOo+ | http://home.comcast.net/~rbethman| | 1 BC-610I w/BC-614I,1 T-213/GRC-26 w/BC614I 1 '51 Collins R-390A | | SP-600/NR Type 159, Heath DX-60, Apache, Mohawk, SX-101, HT-32A | +--+ | Amateur Astronomer - Celestron Nexstar 8 | | 12 f5 Dob coming soon! Being built | | Meade ETX-60| | 38 Deg 46'48.62' N - 77 Deg 28'26.89 W | +--+ | Opinions expressed are that of my own and do not necessarily | | coincide with or represent those of ANYONE else | +--+ |ALL E-mail received and sent scanned by AVG Norton System Works | +--+
Re: [AMRadio] Safe Metering for Blind Operators
Hello, The Johnson Viking II also uses negative return shunts for both the final and the modulator current takeoff point. A word of warning tho. If the ground or B minus side of the shunt lifts in this type of connection the meter will most likely be pulled up to the B+ voltage relative to chassis. My VK II with it's small loops of Ni Chrome for shunts did exactly that when whatever treatment that was given the unsolderable NiChrome let loose. I have often seen panel meters offered on E-Bay and at HamFests that had at least one adjustable setpoint pointer that activated a contact closure when reached.The difficulty would be in finding the right meter resistance for the application. Bill Courtright KB3DKS/1
Re: [AMRadio] Ham Embarrasment
Geoff, How do you get on the mailing list for remote operation? Thanks Gary K4FMX Geoff wrote: I get mail from Keith LaMonica, because I'm interested in the remote HF radio operation. He's got a mailing list, dedicated to just that. This was in that list. 73 = Best Regards, -Geoff/W5OMR --- To TIME recipients: An article in your TIME magazine by Lev Grossman has been forwarded to my office. http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1009913,00.html I do believe that Mr. Grossman has grossly been mis- informed and for such a prestigious magazine such as yours, one would think this type of gross error would have been avoided. Amateur Radio has been a magnificent hobby since the early 1920's for electronic experimenters that work tirelessly in their home labs and stations to break barriers and bring new technologies to the consumer world, not to mention the many uses the amateur radio operator achieved from these advances. If Mr. Grossman would do his homework, he would have discovered that what he refers to the 'embarassing' hobby was the platform for many of the devices he relies upon today. Amateur radio was many of the early engineers college education. Amateur radio operators, turned professional electronic engineers brought the world, most of the early technologies that brought us the radio receiver, the technology of television, the VCR - audio and video, high powered transmitters for AM, FM radio and TV stations, the complicated antenna systems used to transmit those signals, high powered audio amplifiers used in high fidelity and live concert stages and the list goes on. It was Art Collins W0CXX that brought Single Sideband technology to radio communications that carry vital communications world wide - from Air Force One, to virtually every transmission made by our government embassies around the world and every major commercial airliner in the sky. The late Arthur Godfrey, General Curtis Lemay, NBC space correspondent Roy Neal, Walter Kronkite, several of our US senators, many entertainers such as Joe Walsh of the Eagles, Patti Lovelace, Dave Bell, Hollywood movie Producer, Ronnie Milsap, baseball great Joe Rudi all the way to the late King Hussein, JY1 are just a 'few' of the many amateur operators that lives have been enriched AND, have enriched each and every person on the globe, including Mr. Grossman by Amateur Radio. NONE of this would have been accomplished as quickly and as economically if it were not for these early pioneers that spend countless late night hours in their home labs and stations. Embarrassing? You make the decision. I think this opens the door for the decision makers at TIME Magazine to do a feature article on the high level of technical expertise the great hobby of amateur radio brings to the world and I have not even touched upon the amazing amount of volunteer work that the 'hams' of the world brings to disasters. If it were NOT for ham radio operators volunteering their time and equipment in the heart of hurricanes, storms, disasters of all kinds many more lives would have been lost AND life line communications were established immediately in these areasand this continues today. Does Mr. Grossman call saving and affecting thousands of lives embarrassing? Obviously he does. I think it is time for TIME Magazine to rethink his horrible and erroneous statement and bring the REAL truth along with an apology to it's readers and the several million amateur radio operators world wide. I remain at your service to help you provide the truth about Amateur Radio. Best Regards, BOB HEIL, K9EID __ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net
RE: [AMRadio] WTB: Millen 90801 Exciter
Yes, I did finally figure that out last night. It's truly a classic design. That's why I would like to duplicate it - but in a form factor as physically close to the Millen 90801 as possible. I love the heavy metal rack-mount gear. Thanks, 73 de, WD5JWY Dennis Pharr Oklahoma City -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Alan Cohen Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 4:17 AM To: Discussion of AM Radio Subject: Re: [AMRadio] WTB: Millen 90801 Exciter Actually, I believe that the circuit for the Millen 90801 exciter is, in fact, in the December, 1952 issue of QST. The reason that you didn't find it, is because the the circuit is used in a complete novice transmitter project by George Grammer called, 75 Watts with an Economy Power Supply. This transmitter is one of the earliest applications of the then brand new RCA 6146 to appear in QST. It features plug-in coils with a link coupled output and inductive neutralization. In the Millen exciter they use a band switching arrangement but the circuit is electrically the same. Perhaps someone else on the list can confirm that. About five years ago I was fortunate enough to acquire a very well executed version of the transmitter described in the QST article. I built a web page describing it here: http://home.comcast.net/~acohen788/ Interestingly, I have since added a couple of other George Grammer designs to my collection. When I have the time I'll snap some pictures and add them to the page. Alan WA2DZL On Jan 2, 2005, at 7:36 PM, WD5JWY wrote: Gentlemen: I'm looking for a Millen 90801 HF Exciter in reasonable condition. I would prefer one that is in operating condition, however I would consider offers on units in any shape. Also, if anyone has detailed technical drawings or high-quality digital photos of the 90801, I would appreciate the information. Since these units are so rare, I'm thinking of attempting to duplicate the unit as closely as possible, but I would need the above technical data to do so. This unit was supposedly described in the December 1952 issue of QST, however I cannot find it in that issue. I'm also interested in the following units as well: Millen 90831 40W Modulator Millen 90281 HV Power Supply 73 de, WD5JWY Dennis Pharr Oklahoma City __ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net __ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net
Re: [AMRadio] Low Power AM nets
Good Luck finding a low power net or frequency Al. I think many of us would like to participate in everyday lower power contacts. 73, K0ng
