Re: [AMRadio] R-388

[Rick Brashear]

Thanks Peter.  I really appreciate the info.  I am not able to calibrate 
all of the frequencies, so I guess I'll need to investigate it further.  
Thanks for the name and link.

Rick

Peter Wittenberg wrote:


Rick, it sounds like the PTO is no longer tracking as it should. These are
very old radios and...
 

Re: [AMRadio] CRTs Going, Going...

[W4AWM]

Sony recently announced that it is going out of the plasma business and will 
concentrate future production to LCD screens.

73,

John,  W4AWM

RE: [AMRadio] R-388

[Ed Sieb]

End point calibration problem. Very easy to fix. Either refer to the manual,
or  Hollow State News articles.

http://www.hollowstatenews.com/


73,

Ed, VA3ES




From:  Rick Brashear

Before I dive into this R-388 head first I better find out if there is a
problem or it's just an idiosyncrasy of the receiver.

RE: [AMRadio] R-388

[Peter Wittenberg]

Rick, it sounds like the PTO is no longer tracking as it should. These are
very old radios and that is often a problem. There is an adjustment but you
will have to remove the PTO to do the adjustment. Often the adjustment
cannot adjust the total offset since these radios are so old.  If you can
calibrate the unit at all frequencies then just live with it. 

You could take the PTO out and send it to Howard Mills W3HM. He does these
every day. But keep in mind that it may work or may only get part of the
way. You could ship the entire radio to Howard as well. He does great
restorations of these radios.

Howard's email is: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone is 304-876-6483 
-73- Peter K2LRC

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rick Brashear
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 10:03 PM
To: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [AMRadio] R-388

I apologize to those on more than one list for this repetition.

Before I dive into this R-388 head first I better find out if there is a 
problem or it's just an idiosyncrasy of the receiver.  On all band 
settings, .5kc thru 30mc,  the dial is very close to center turning the 
"Calibrate" only a little.  However, when I move to the right of center 
the calibration gets worse to he high side and the opposite happens when 
I go left of center.  It is more than just a tad.  If I go close to the 
edge of the dial (especially the high side) I am no longer able to move 
the "Calibrate" enough to line it up with the dial.  The receiver seems 
to be very sharp, hears great, everything functions properly and in 
general has no problems.  Since this is my first 388 I didn't know if 
this behavior is normal or if I have a problem I need to correct.  The 
dial and tuning mechanism seem to have very little if any slack and move 
very smoothly.  There is a little bump on each revolution I am guessing 
is normal.

I hope I have described this right.  Any ideas or advice?

Thanks,
Rick/K5IZ
   


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AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami, Paul Courson/wa3vjb

[AMRadio] CRTs Going, Going...

[Don Merz]

The reign of the CRT may be over before we know it.
73, Don M.


Picture Tubes Are Fading Into the Past
By ERIC A. TAUB
Published: August 7, 2006

The bulky, squarish, heavy picture tube, the standard television technology
for more than 60 years, is heading for the dustbin of history much faster
than anyone expected.

This year, the number of TV models in the United States that use glass
cathode-ray tubes to produce an image has been reduced sharply. By next
year, even fewer C.R.T. televisions will be made, and fewer retailers will
sell them.

“After the holidays, the days of picture-tube TV’s are gone,” said Geoff
Shavey, the TV buyer for Costco. “One year from now, we will not sell
picture-tube TV’s.”

Costco, a discount warehouse chain, , has already cut its picture-tube
offerings to three models this year, from 10 in 2005.

Instead, Costco and other retailers are selling growing numbers of
wide-screen plasma and liquid-crystal display flat-panel TV’s, which are
more expensive than traditional TV’s. But prices for both types continue to
drop: 42-inch plasma TV’s can be bought for less than $2,000, and the
smallest flat-panel sets will soon be fairly close in price to their tube
counterparts.

Mr. Shavey said that a 32-inch wide-screen L.C.D. television was available
for $700 at his stores, within striking distance of a tube set of similar
size. But he added, “The demand for picture-tube TV’s is far off from what
it was one year ago.”

One reason is that flat-panel TV’s make a strong design statement, prompting
women to want to swap their old sets for sleeker ones, said Mike Vitelli, a
senior vice president at Best Buy.

“For the first time in history, women care about the TV that comes in the
house,” Mr. Vitelli said. “Men are not just getting permission to buy a
flat-screen TV — they’re getting directed to do so.” Soon, he said, Best Buy
will sell picture-tube TV’s only under its Insignia house label.

Consumer electronics companies also want out of the tube TV business, in
part because profit margins have become so thin. The government has mandated
that all TV’s eventually include a built-in digital tuner to receive
over-the-air digital broadcasts, and while even picture-tube sets are being
made compliant, manufacturers would rather switch to selling thin-panel TV’
s, which can generate bigger profits.

“The end of picture-tube TV’s is accelerating faster than a lot of us
expected,” said Randy Waynick, a senior vice president for Sony Electronics.
The company, which offered 10 tube models two years ago, will pare that
number to two next year, both of them wide screens. “Picture-tube TV sales
reductions were far greater than forecast,” Mr. Waynick said.

Even if the profit margins were healthy, picture-tube TV’s would be
ill-suited for a market that wants ever-larger screens. Picture-tube TV’s
were once made as large as 40 inches corner to corner, but the units were
the size of baby elephants, sometimes weighing hundreds of pounds and
protruding several feet from the wall.

Panasonic is getting out of the picture-tube business altogether. A year
ago, the company offered 30 picture-tube models in the United States; now it
sells one, a 20-inch analog set. “This year will be the last year for
Panasonic picture-tube TV’s,” said Andrew Nelkin, a Panasonic vice
president.

Toshiba has cut its picture-tube models to 13 — from 35 last year — and
expects the number in 2007 to be “significantly reduced,” said Scott
Ramirez, a vice president of marketing. “Beyond 2007, the picture-tube
business is very questionable for any company,” he said.

Picture-tube TV’s represented 78 percent of the market in 2004 but will
account for only 54 percent this year, according to the Consumer Electronics
Association, a trade group. In the same period, sales of flat-panel units
have jumped from 12 percent of all TV’s sold to an expected 37 percent this
year. Front- and rear-projection TV’s will account for about 9 percent of
sales in 2006, according to the group.

“C.R.T. as a technology is fading out of the market,” said Sean Wargo,
director of industry analysis for the association.

The ascendance of flat-panel TV’s signals another sea change for the TV
industry: the switch from somewhat square screens to wide rectangular ones.
The vast majority of flat-panel TV’s are built in a wide-screen shape that
allows movies to fill all or most of the screen. More television series are
being produced for this format, and consumers are growing more accustomed to
viewing programs this way, electronics executives say. “A wide screen gives
a much more impressive picture,” Mr. Shavey said.

New technologies seldom replace their predecessors entirely, and
picture-tube TV’s will still be available for those who prefer them. But
they will increasingly be available only in discount stores, where they will
be sold under house brand names and by less prominent manufacturers like
Funai, which owns the Symphonic, Sylvania and Emerson brands.

“We thi

[AMRadio] R-388

[Rick Brashear]

I apologize to those on more than one list for this repetition.

Before I dive into this R-388 head first I better find out if there is a 
problem or it's just an idiosyncrasy of the receiver.  On all band 
settings, .5kc thru 30mc,  the dial is very close to center turning the 
"Calibrate" only a little.  However, when I move to the right of center 
the calibration gets worse to he high side and the opposite happens when 
I go left of center.  It is more than just a tad.  If I go close to the 
edge of the dial (especially the high side) I am no longer able to move 
the "Calibrate" enough to line it up with the dial.  The receiver seems 
to be very sharp, hears great, everything functions properly and in 
general has no problems.  Since this is my first 388 I didn't know if 
this behavior is normal or if I have a problem I need to correct.  The 
dial and tuning mechanism seem to have very little if any slack and move 
very smoothly.  There is a little bump on each revolution I am guessing 
is normal.


I hope I have described this right.  Any ideas or advice?

Thanks,
Rick/K5IZ
  

RE: [AMRadio] Antenna Idea and lightning precautions

[Gary Schafer]

Hi Mike,

While the sharp pointed rods are ok at the top of the towers to try and make
them the place where lightning strikes first, the insulated down lead is not
a good idea.
It is better to connect the lightning rod directly to the tower. The tower
will have much less inductance than the down lead that is supposed to carry
the strike current. The chances of an arc over from the down lead to the
tower are great because of the high inductance of the lead. Voltages can
become very high on it.

Also the down lead will induce current into the tower and coax lines running
down the tower anyway. So there is nothing to be gained by the insulated
down lead except higher cost and the invitation to an arc somewhere you
don't want it. 
This is why it is recommended for all cables on the tower to be bonded at
several intervals along the length of the tower, to prevent voltage
differences between cables and tower.

A ball or rounded end type lightning rod does not bleed off energy but
prevents corona so that early streamers do not form as they do from pointed
rods.

A "real strike" is survivable with no damage if things are properly
protected and grounded. It happens many times on many many installations.
There is always the possibility for damage to occur but it is rare on good
installations.

73
Gary  K4FMX


> -Original Message-
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:amradio-
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Dorworth, K4XM
> Sent: Saturday, August 05, 2006 2:59 PM
> To: Discussion of AM Radio
> Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Antenna Idea and lightning precautions
> 
> I can see this is the beginning of a long thread since everyone has their
> own ideas. In commercial work a sharpened spike above the thing to be
> protected is to DRAW the lightning to a well insulated and very well
> grounded ground system. This is to protect the equipment below it. To
> dissipate,  the ball should be rounded like a car radio antenna to gently
> discharge the corona.  We put up a series of 150 foot towers at work with
> a
> 21 foot stainless sharpened lightning spike above the tower top to draw
> the
> lightning. All of our ( 92 each) microwave towers had a 3 or four inch
> diameter sharpened brass rod 2 feet above the tip top of  the tower. It's
> ground cable was insulated from the tower all the way down. Of course the
> tower and all the guys were also grounded to the common ground. A dipole
> can
> easily discharge static build up with a 100 k ohm resistor of at least 1
> fourth watt. This keeps the system equalized. Lightning usually hit the
> HIGHEST ( though noy always) spot, so if there are taller trees they would
> get it first. I like insulated wire instead of bare since the damp wind
> will
> not build up thousands of volts when it blows over..just before a storm.
> For
> fun take the antenna connector and put in a mason jar and place near
> ground
> and watch the 4 inch long blue firs just before a storm on a hilltop. A
> Johnson Matchbox sounds like a fourth of July celebration if left
> connected.
> I guess, in the end a direct strike is bad news in every case. Most of us
> are really talking about big static discharges I think. A real strike will
> blow every receptacle in the house out and the wire on on side of every
> power cord will vaporize and the fuse box will be blown off the wall. Let
> the tall trees take that!.. 73 Mike
> - Original Message -
> From: "Jim candela" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: "Discussion of AM Radio" 
> Sent: Saturday, August 05, 2006 2:36 PM
> Subject: [AMRadio] Antenna Idea and lightning precautions
> 
> 
> >
> >
> > Hi All,
> >
> >I am contemplating putting up an inverted Vee antenna where the
> center
> > point is above my house suspended with a 30' Lowes push up mast attached
> to
> > my roof with a tripod mast base made for roof mounting. This would make
> the
> > apex at almost 50', and with the trees around my home, the ends at about
> > 30'. Other locations that I might have the antenna apex at will be
> densely
> > surrounded by trees, and I am trying to avoid that.
> >
> >My question is about lighting concerns with this approach. I would
> have
> > multiple 12 awg ground straps from the mast base to earth ground via
> copper
> > ground stakes at least 5' long. This would act as a counterpoise for the
> > antenna, and provide a DC ground reference for the 30' mast. My fear is
> that
> > the antenna would attract a lightning hit (direct) and that would cause
> my
> > home to burn up in a flaming fireball.
> >
> >Then I was thinking about how lightning rods work, and when done
> > properly, don't lightning rods work by having a sharp point at the tip,
> > where they bleed the static (a corona discharge) to prevent a lightning
> > strike? If so, why can't I take a 1/8" stainless 8' whip with a point on
> > top, mounted above the inverted Vee apex, and use that as a lightning
> rod?
> I
> > guess I'd need to beef up my ground wiring scheme just in case of a
> direct

Re: [AMRadio] Antenna Idea and lightning precautions

[Mike Dorworth, K4XM]

Motorola says the simple measure of placing a piece of pipe over the coax
where it enters the house and bending the coax sharply where it stops it's
downward run and enters the house is good. I KNOW that lightning goes in
straight lines and the few thousand amps on the coax would see the pipe as a
transformer with a single shorted turn that can handler thousands of amps
for long enough delay time for the juice to jump to ground . To help it
along. commercial installations strip the jacket off and wrap a copper strap
around the coax at the bend ( JUST BEFORE) AND CONTINUE ON DOWN WITH A
NUMBER 6 OR NUMBER 2 GROUND WIRE. The scrap of pipe, perhaps a foot long
need not be grounded it is merely a transformer turn that can " take it" a
very cheap insurance policy regardless of all the other really good advice
and opinion to be found on the sublect!  73 Mike

RE: [AMRadio] Antenna Idea and lightning precautions

[Gary Schafer]

A square plate buried in the ground makes a poor ground for lightning.
Lightning is dissipated in a sphere around a ground rod. The longer the rod
the larger the sphere of dissipation. Length is what is important, not
surface area.

On the other hand too long a rod does little good either. As length
increases so does inductance. Going down 20 feet with a ground rod will do
nothing more than an 8 foot rod will do unless the soil is very dry and non
conductive.
It is much better to use several 8 foot or so rods spaced by the sum of
their lengths. (16 foot spacing for two 8 foot rods). This is because the
sphere of dissipation around the rods will overlap and not be as effective
if placed closer.


73
Gary  K4FMX

> -Original Message-
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:amradio-
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jim candela
> Sent: Saturday, August 05, 2006 5:15 PM
> To: Mike Dorworth, K4XM; Discussion of AM Radio
> Subject: RE: [AMRadio] Antenna Idea and lightning precautions
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Mike,
> 
>Thanks for the comments on this topic. At this point I am trying to get
> an idea on what to do, and how to calm the XYL about lightning.  I still
> think erring on safety is the way to go, and mount my antenna elsewhere
> away
> from the house. That way I can disconnect the coax, and move the ends
> apart
> 20' or so.
> Still, the tower on the roof idea has technical merit. Heck millions of
> folks had TV antenna's on their roofs before cable or satellite TV was
> popular. It was a rare installation that was properly grounded, and yet
> even
> rarer when there was a lightning strike to the antenna.
> 
>I was 'googling' around on the topic, and I ran into this neat sight:
> 
> http://www.lightningrod.com/
> 
> This is for DIY lightning protection systems for the home, and they
> provide
> the parts, and guidelines on what you need. I see some Ham radio uses for
> these parts, like the 2 square foot copper ground plate instead of a
> ground
> rod. I notice that their 15/32" diameter copper wire is un-insulated.
> 
> 
> Now If I cut down that tree in the back that provides late afternoon shade
> for my neighbor (not for me), and also rains dead leaves into my pool, and
> replace it with a tower and an antennamy neighbor's wife will lynch
> me!!! She had a fit last year when I trimmed that same tree (on my
> property), and trimmed a few branches of her tree that hanged over my
> property.  Both trees ar 40' plus Live Oak's. That was after I told her
> husband the day before what I was going to do. Apparently he isn't the one
> wearing pants in that household! :-)
> 
> Jim
> JKO
> 
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Mike Dorworth, K4XM
> Sent: Saturday, August 05, 2006 2:59 PM
> To: Discussion of AM Radio
> Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Antenna Idea and lightning precautions
> 
> 
> I can see this is the beginning of a long thread since everyone has their
> own ideas. In commercial work a sharpened spike above the thing to be
> protected is to DRAW the lightning to a well insulated and very well
> grounded ground system. This is to protect the equipment below it. To
> dissipate,  the ball should be rounded like a car radio antenna to gently
> discharge the corona.  We put up a series of 150 foot towers at work with
> a
> 21 foot stainless sharpened lightning spike above the tower top to draw
> the
> lightning. All of our ( 92 each) microwave towers had a 3 or four inch
> diameter sharpened brass rod 2 feet above the tip top of  the tower. It's
> ground cable was insulated from the tower all the way down. Of course the
> tower and all the guys were also grounded to the common ground. A dipole
> can
> easily discharge static build up with a 100 k ohm resistor of at least 1
> fourth watt. This keeps the system equalized. Lightning usually hit the
> HIGHEST ( though noy always) spot, so if there are taller trees they would
> get it first. I like insulated wire instead of bare since the damp wind
> will
> not build up thousands of volts when it blows over..just before a storm.
> For
> fun take the antenna connector and put in a mason jar and place near
> ground
> and watch the 4 inch long blue firs just before a storm on a hilltop. A
> Johnson Matchbox sounds like a fourth of July celebration if left
> connected.
> I guess, in the end a direct strike is bad news in every case. Most of us
> are really talking about big static discharges I think. A real strike will
> blow every receptacle in the house out and the wire on on side of every
> power cord will vaporize and the fuse box will be blown off the wall. Let
> the tall trees take that!.. 73 Mike
> - Original Message -
> From: "Jim candela" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: "Discussion of AM Radio" 
> Sent: Saturday, August 05, 2006 2:36 PM
> Subject: [AMRadio] Antenna Idea and lightning precautions
> 
> 
> >
> >
> > Hi All,
> >
> >I am contemplating putting up an inverted Vee antenna where the
> 

RE: [AMRadio] Antenna Idea and lightning precautions

[Clarke, Tom VX-20 OPS]

   I am hoping for having more lightning protection with my antenna in
place over that of no antenna at all? Is this possible?

Regards,
Jim Candela
WD5JKO
tom sez---

Jim,  
Try visiting the PolyPhaser website and read their treatise on Lightning
protection.  Lots of great information and practical ideas.

Several locals here swear by the "brush" or "porcupine" type of device
for the top of your tower/mast.  These devices are rather controversial
in the professional side of lightning protection.  There have been
several discussions, some quite lively, on the repeater-builders and
tower groups.  Probably wouldn't hurt to use them and might help!
Google lightning protection and you will find lots of interesting
reading.  There is actually a lightning protection group out there.

I have no personal experience with them, other than the fact that the
condition of static wicks/points on an airplane lessen the damage from a
strike on the airframe.  Next time you are in a jet, take a look at the
trailing edge/wing tips and you will see some sharp pointed wicks to
drain the static charge from the airframe.

I think the conventional wisdom is to use at least #6 copper clad to
bond the tower/mast to the rod field.  #12 would probably vaporize with
a direct hit, as would #6 I suppose, but the heavier wire would conduct
a greater amount of the surge and offer more protection.  It sounds like
you are on the right trail!

Good luck on your adventure,
73 de Tom/W4OKW


Although not applicable to this current thread, here is a common error
seen in discussions:

Lightning = noun, the flashing of light produced by a discharge of
atmospheric electricity.
Lightening = verb, to illuminate or to make light or clear; to relieve
of a burden.

Re: [AMRadio] Fw: Grounding Resistance

[Jim Candela]

Pieter Gerlach, VE1PPG said,

"Being somewhat of a noephyte and fledgling subscriber to the AM Radio
Digest, i may be way off base or ignoring some of the pittfalls and dangers
involved with my proposal but what would be wrong with running a heavy
ground wire directly to an above or underground spring or aquafer?

 I realise that it would have to be done judiciously to obviate the
possibility of electrocuting those who have direct contact with the body of
water or homes which draw their water from it.

But, for those who live in rural areas removed from nearby neighbors would
it not be effective to run a ground wire into an active body of water which
has no direct connection with other homes or metal plumbing?

Can anyone point out the fallacy of my simplistic proposal. As a farmer, i
am out standing in my field ready to have the wrath of Thor descend upon me."

73,
Pieter Gerlach, VE1PPG


Reply from Jim, WD5JKO,


   Peter, you could go one step further and pour several dump truck loads of 
sodium bentonite into the pond over your ground wire. This stuff is non toxic, 
inexpensive, conductive, and usually used to reduce water loss from small ponds 
into the ground. Why not?

   I have a 25,000 gallon inground swimming pool in my yard (came with house 
:-( ), and it has a rebar reinforcement in the cement shell. That is supposed 
to be grounded somehow as per NEC code. Problem however here is I have no idea 
if, where, or how it is done.  If I could find the attachment point (if it 
exists), I'd not hesitate to use it. The kids should not be swimming anyway 
during a thunderstorm.

   One other thing to ponder for us hams, is that low ohmic ground resistance 
at DC or even 60 hz, does not mean low resistance at RF frequencies. At RF, say 
80 meters,  a tuned 1/4 wave piece of wire above ground might be a better 
counterpoise than a 64' deep ground rod. For lightning protection, and RF  use 
as well, maybe use both. 

REGARDS,
Jim
JKO

[AMRadio] FS: Isolation Transformer

[Brian Carling]

FOR SALE: 

1000 watt Isolation Transformer. for 120V AC.
by Northlake Engineering Co.
 
Has four IEC outlets and heavy duty industrial 
power cable. Heavy gauge, light gray metal case 
with rubber feet. Like new condition.
 
Has a nice breaker switch for power ON/OFF.
 
Available for $45.00 plus shipping

[AMRadio] 20V-3 FS In Montana

[crawfish]

W8QMD in Stevensville, MT has a 20V-3 for sale on QTH right now. No connection, 
just thought someone out there in that area might be interested.Too heavy to 
ship down here on my budget.Pickup only.
Joe W4AAB

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- Original Message -
From: Pieter Gerlach
To: amradio@mailman.qth.net
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 7:28 AM
Subject: Grounding Resistance


Date: Sun, 6 Aug 2006 23:09:02 -0500
From: "Jim candela" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: RE: [AMRadio] Antenna Idea and lightning precautions
To: "Discussion of AM Radio" 
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"



Here is something that I find very interesting on the topic of grounding.
Imagine a 1/4 wave 80m ground rod that goes 64' straight down, and
surrounded by a slurry mix of sodium bentonite. This is the same stuff used
in some brands of 'kitty litter' that expand in clumps when wet. The stuff
holds water, and is conductive. Here is the link below:

http://www.groundperfect.com/DeepEarthPaper.htm#Contents

Jim
JKO


Being somewhat of a noephyte and fledgling subscriber to the AM Radio
Digest, i may be way off base or ignoring some of the pittfalls and dangers
involved with my proposal but what would be wrong with running a heavy
ground wire directly to an above or underground spring or aquafer?

 I realise that it would have to be done judiciously to obviate the
possibility of electrocuting those who have direct contact with the body of
water or homes which draw their water from it.

But, for those who live in rural areas removed from nearby neighbors would
it not be effective to run a ground wire into an active body of water which
has no direct connection with other homes or metal plumbing?

Can anyone point out the fallacy of my simplistic proposal. As a farmer, i
am out standing in my field ready to have the wrath of Thor descend upon me.

73,
Pieter Gerlach, VE1PPG

RE: [AMRadio] Antenna Idea and lightning precautions

[Jim candela]

Here is something that I find very interesting on the topic of grounding.
Imagine a 1/4 wave 80m ground rod that goes 64' straight down, and
surrounded by a slurry mix of sodium bentonite. This is the same stuff used
in some brands of 'kitty litter' that expand in clumps when wet. The stuff
holds water, and is conductive. Here is the link below:

http://www.groundperfect.com/DeepEarthPaper.htm#Contents

Jim
JKO
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.7/410 - Release Date: 8/5/2006