[Drakelist] ECL counter IC source?
Good Morning: I'm looking for a couple of ECL Bi Quinary Counter IC in Dip package..used on the DR7 board. MC10138 Anyone have a source for these where I might buy just 2? Thanks Curt ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] MC10138 ECL counter IC source?
Curt, I had the same issue a few years back and the only place that resonded to my email inquiry only offered the MC10138FN surface mount style of package. Most of the emails I sent out to parts venders either went unanswered or the cost was rediculous. I soldered on small leads and mounted the IC above the board. Here is the company that I bought them from. I paid $56 for seven of them... Rochester Electronics c/o Wendi Sabatino 10 Malcom Hoyt Drive Newburyport, MA 01950 978 462-9332 X309 73, Gary ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
[Drakelist] RF Signal Generator
I would like to have a rf signal generator for my use. Any suggestions as what to look for? Thanks in advance for your help ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] ECL counter IC source?
Curt - They ain't cheap! The ceramic DIP package is available from American Microsemiconductor http://store.americanmicrosemiconductor.com/mc10138l.html No minimum and $5.99 shipping. Only eight (8) pieces left. I've dealt with these guys before, and they are good to deal with. 73, Garey - K4OAH Glen Allen, VA Drake 2-B, 4-B, C-Line TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs www.k4oah.com Curt Nixon wrote: Good Morning: I'm looking for a couple of ECL Bi Quinary Counter IC in Dip package..used on the DR7 board. MC10138 Anyone have a source for these where I might buy just 2? Thanks Curt ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] SPR-4 Labels
Does anyone know if there are any reproduction (or original) SPR4 crystal labels available. I just picked up a nice SPR4, but most of the labels are faded. 73, Mike WB0SND___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] RF Signal Generator
James - great question! Think first you need to determine exactly what you'll use it for so you can set some parameters for what the generator will do and maybe more importantly how much it will cost. If you're simply looking for something to troubleshoot your Drake gear with you can probably get by pretty cheapif you're looking for that and other applications the following may be a start as you think about what to get. So you may want to ask yourself some of the following: How high does the generator have to go in frequency? (usually a good idea to at least double your first answer for the future!) How small/large does that signal have to be? How accurate does the output level need to be? Do I need small incremental changes (tenths of a .dB) or is the 10/20 dB switch sufficient? Do you need different modes of operation, i.e. AM, FM, I/Q, etc. In general there are probably five what I see to be different levels of generator available, with cost marking the major breakpoints. (1) For the lack of a better term, the ...couple hundred bucks range. At the low end you'll find the typical Heathkit, Eico, BK, Tenma models that generate almost up to 100 MHz and have sufficient harmonic output to work up into the 440 band (maybe). Great for general troubleshooting where accuracy and stability are not the driving factors. Probably have the ability to modulate the signal ala AM. (2) The more than a couple of hundred bucks range - now you're getting into either used HP generators, abundant over on ePay where it may be a real crapshoot but there are some gems to be had. If your bench is big enough the HP 8640B series is a good choice but they are VERY long in the toothhaving said that they're probably a mainstay of many ham workbenches. All depends on your comfort buying used test gear (and potentially your ability to troubleshoot and repair it). AM/FM modulation abounds. (3) The small kilobuck range - again mostly used equipment, higher frequency ranges up above 1 GHz and higher; more accuracy on output levels. Output attenuators tend to get fried and are then hard to repair/replace. Now you're starting into the boxes that you can tie to a cesium, rubidium, GPS standard (10 MHz for the most part) that will really ensure the output accuracy of your test signal. (4) The major kilobuck range - new instruments by Hameg and others. Ramsey used to have a nice model that would go almost up to 1296 MHz and was a good performer but now discontinuedused units may be around somewhere. (5) The maxi kilobuck range - new instruments by Rohde Shwarz, Agilent, Textronix and used units. I've had good luck here by going direct to the manufacturer's sales department to see if they had any demo units availablethey can be had if you luck into one for significant discounts. Ok, enough ramblingam sure we'll get plenty of other advice here shortly. Hope this was more helpful than a hindrance to your effort! 'Course I may be all wet herewhat do you other guys think? 73 -- Dino KL0S On 9Feb2010, at 12:55 PM, James Bridgers wrote: I would like to have a rf signal generator for my use. Any suggestions as what to look for? Thanks in advance for your help ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Cleaned the TR-4
Richard - The ZERO adjust should not affect the PLATE meter, only the S-Meter. There is some _mechanical_ interaction between the two movements, but in transmit the plate meter should read cathode current of the Final only, and the S-Meter should indicate ALC action. In receive, the S-Meter should indicate signal strength and the PLATE meter will _slightly_ react to movement of the S-Meter. So the correct setting of the ZERO pot is as described below and in the manual. The only adjustment for the PLATE meter is by selecting R13, which was selected at final test. The only reason to change it is if R45 has changed value with age or overload, or has been replaced. It's best to calibrate the meter to read 0.1A correctly, since that is critical to proper operation of the Final stage, and the meter is NOT a high quality item and is somewhat inaccurate over it's entire range. 73, Garey - K4OAH Glen Allen, VA Drake 2-B, 4-B, C-Line TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs www.k4oah.com Richard Palmer wrote: Gary, Since I cleaned it I knew where it was. I noticed that the zero adjust affected the meter's reading of the bias also ... so I wanted to get it set correctly. Thanks for your help, Richard Palmer Garey Barrell wrote: Richard - The S-Meter is Zero'd with the cleverly disguised ZERO control on the right side of the chassis.!! :-) Disconnect antenna, detune RF TUNE control, and adjust ZERO control for S1 on the meter. There is no S0 on Drake meters! 73, Garey - K4OAH Glen Allen, VA Drake 2-B, 4-B, C-Line TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs www.k4oah.com Richard Palmer wrote: There is on thing that is not spelled out. Zeroing the meter. I cleaned all the pots and when I went to zero the meter I found nothing to help me determine the proper setting. So any help there is appreciated. ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] RF Signal Generator
I would add to Dino's suggestions the URM-25/26 series of military generators. Plan to spend at least $100 for one, because your going to want to get one that is known to be working and fairly well calibrated (you can pick these up at flea markets and the dwindling surplus outlets for well under $100, but you don't want to have to repair or calibrate one of these). 73 Lee WB6SSW ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] RF Signal Generator
I went through that a few years back. I'd recommend something with a digital frequency readout, a meter for reading the signal output level, and a calibrated attenuator on the output so you can accurately adjust the output level. When I was looking, that narrowed the field down to a Boonton or HP. I was lucky in finding a Boonton 103F that had just been calibrated and worked perfectly. A few years later, someone gave me a working HP-8640B and I sold the Boonton. Now I wish I had the Boonton back. Note that these are both rather old technology, but the Boontons seem to hold up a bit better than the HPs. The HPs have nylon gears that often fail and are very difficult to find replacements for. The only problem I ever had with the Boonton was a failed power supply filter cap. Both of those generators have an upper frequency limit that's adequate for working on any Drake gear you're likely to have. 73, Floyd - K8AC - Original Message - From: James Bridgers n4...@coastalnet.com To: Drakelist@zerobeat.net Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 12:55 PM Subject: [Drakelist] RF Signal Generator I would like to have a rf signal generator for my use. Any suggestions as what to look for? Thanks in advance for your help ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] RF Signal Generator
A URM25/26B were great signal generators but actually with all the digital requirements of Public Safety Radio now days, you can pick up a really nice service monitor that can accurately generate signals from DC up to a GHz that measure RF output of the generator, display generated modulation levels, read frequency, some have spectrum monitoring for around $500.00 dollars. In fact recently I saw a guy selling Agelent monitors that have tracking generators for $600.00 dollars on Craigslist, there a little larger than IFR's or Motorola but do a wonderful job accurately for not a lot of money. 73's, John, WA6HYQ ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] RF Signal Generator
James, I also suggest the URM-25 series of signal generators. They are plentyfull and can be purchased for around $200. They are not all the same and were made by different manufactures I am told so do your homework. I have owned a URM-25F ( 10kHz to 50 mHz ) for several years and the only real drawback is they do drift and can be very difficult to tune especially at low frequencies. You will want to use a frequency counter if you plan to use one for servicing your Drake receivers and need 50 khz for instance to be accurate. I retired mine and now use a Singer CSM-1 that is rock solid. www.kiss-electronics.com/ 73, Gary W8PU http://home.roadrunner.com/~w8pu ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] RF Signal Generator
James - Depending upon what you intend to do with it, the price can vary from next to nothing, to infinity. That said, if you are interested in using on Drake gear, the most useful generator (aside from the Calibrator built into most receivers) is one of the XG generators from Elecraft. The XG-2 is a 'tri-band (80 / 40 / 20) calibrated source with 1 uV and 50 uV outputs. These are the two most-needed levels, 1 uV for Noise Figure or MDS testing, and 50 uV for calibrating S-Meters to S-9. This is the generator that I use most often, if for no other reason than it is about the size of two thumb drives and runs off a coin cell. For general coverage, a Heathkit IG-42 or similar will give you a decent 50 kHz to 30 MHz generator. An external attenuator, commercial or homebrew can convert it to a calibrated source. About $40 My favorite is an HP 606A/B which covers 50 kHz to 65 MHz, is stable, has a beautiful attenuator and is well calibrated. It's BIG, 10 high, 19 wide rack panel with cabinet to match. Typically sells for $100 and up. The HP 8640B is a good generator, goes to 512 MHz I think, 1024 with an optional doubler. It's only 5.5 rack panel, but weighs about as much as the 606! It does have a weak point in the internal gearing, (plastic,) that is happening often now. So watch EBay type sales. There have been talks about making a replacement gear, but Beyond this you are getting into newer stuff, from the cheap stuff from China that's not as good as the Heathkit, up to the megabuck units current with HP. There are a couple of HP units that sell in the $200-300 range that are smaller and lighter and show up on EBay, etc. 73, Garey - K4OAH Glen Allen, VA Drake 2-B, 4-B, C-Line TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs www.k4oah.com James Bridgers wrote: I would like to have a rf signal generator for my use. Any suggestions as what to look for? Thanks in advance for your help ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] ECL counter IC source?
Not suggesting you re-engineer it, but my memory is ECL is quite old technology. It was fast, but power hungry. I believe it fell out of favor by '90 or so. That's probably why it's so expensive. Chuck, K1OM On Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 9:04 AM, Curt Nixon cptc...@flash.net wrote: Good Morning: I'm looking for a couple of ECL Bi Quinary Counter IC in Dip package..used on the DR7 board. MC10138 Anyone have a source for these where I might buy just 2? Thanks Curt ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Cleaned the TR-4
Thanks Gary, Next month (2 weeks) I need to get a half dozen tubes. Should the 12AX7A's be matched? I only need one. Garey Barrell wrote: Richard - The ZERO adjust should not affect the PLATE meter, only the S-Meter. There is some _mechanical_ interaction between the two movements, but in transmit the plate meter should read cathode current of the Final only, and the S-Meter should indicate ALC action. In receive, the S-Meter should indicate signal strength and the PLATE meter will _slightly_ react to movement of the S-Meter. So the correct setting of the ZERO pot is as described below and in the manual. The only adjustment for the PLATE meter is by selecting R13, which was selected at final test. The only reason to change it is if R45 has changed value with age or overload, or has been replaced. It's best to calibrate the meter to read 0.1A correctly, since that is critical to proper operation of the Final stage, and the meter is NOT a high quality item and is somewhat inaccurate over it's entire range. 73, Garey - K4OAH Glen Allen, VA Drake 2-B, 4-B, C-Line TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs www.k4oah.com Richard Palmer wrote: Gary, Since I cleaned it I knew where it was. I noticed that the zero adjust affected the meter's reading of the bias also ... so I wanted to get it set correctly. Thanks for your help, Richard Palmer Garey Barrell wrote: Richard - The S-Meter is Zero'd with the cleverly disguised ZERO control on the right side of the chassis.!! :-) Disconnect antenna, detune RF TUNE control, and adjust ZERO control for S1 on the meter. There is no S0 on Drake meters! 73, Garey - K4OAH Glen Allen, VA Drake 2-B, 4-B, C-Line TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs www.k4oah.com Richard Palmer wrote: There is on thing that is not spelled out. Zeroing the meter. I cleaned all the pots and when I went to zero the meter I found nothing to help me determine the proper setting. So any help there is appreciated. ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist -- The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread. - Anatole France ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
[Drakelist] TR7 speaker not muting immediately with VOX
Evening. My TR7 has developed an abnormality. The speaker can be heard echoing my initial syllable or two as the VOX initially kicks in. Doesn't seem to hurt anything, but wonder if that and my frequency issues the other week might be related somewhere. TNX es 73, Ron WD8SBB ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] SPR-4 Labels
Mike, When I had my SPR-4 (which I STUPIDLY sold a few months ago), I replaced the labels for the optional crystals using my Brother P-Touch label maker with black-on-clear tape. One of the 5 text size settings was pretty close the original Drake lettering. The text style setting called vertical allowed me to print the Frequency, Preselector, and Range info on a single label that, when held vertically, closely matched the Drake labels. I think I needed only one space between the freq, pre, and range designations to make them look right. All I had to do then was trim the labels into the trapezoidal shape needed to place them on the dial. 73, Jim K5JG Michael C. Marx wrote: Does anyone know if there are any reproduction (or original) SPR4 crystal labels available. I just picked up a nice SPR4, but most of the labels are faded. 73, Mike WB0SND ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
