Re: [Drakelist] Sign on
Dave, At http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist it says Once a month, your password will be emailed to you as a reminder. Ask your friend to search his email for an email with this Subject: zerobeat.net mailing list memberships reminder The last one was sent on Sept 1, 2011 If your friend doesn't find an email like that, he can always sign up for the list again at the link above. 73, Tom, AG9X On Mon, Sep 12, 2011 at 7:17 PM, Dave Loewer wb2...@msn.com wrote: Hi Gang : I have a friend that wants to sign on and ask for help. Drakelist asked for his name and pass word and he can’t remember it. What can he do ? I don’t know what to tell him Thanks a lot Dave W2GBY ___ 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] FS: TR-3, now $90
Hi folks, I listed this abt 3 wks ago, not a lot of interest. Any now at a reduced price? $90 vs $125 b4 === I spent many hours resurrecting this dead on arrival TR-3 for a fellow who then ran into finance shortcomings. He said to sell it. It does not have a power supply. It's working reasonably well. It gets approx. 200w out on 3.8, 7.25, 14.25 mc, 100+ on 21.25, approx. 90 on 28.3. Receives well. I've demo'd it on 3.8. Chassis is fairly clean, it's bright plated, not copper like later rigs. Case could use a repaint. The following is a quick summary of what was done. TR-3 s/n 60001 1. AC switch is bad, replacements are very hard to find. It’s “ON”, so use a “power strip” 2. Replaced final cathode resistors with 15 ohm 1-watters, screen res. with 68 ohm 1-watters, all were out of spec. Plate dropping res. for the driver was high, 695 vs 470, now repl with a 3-watter. 3. C-135, -145, electrolytics, all had high ESR. Replaced with discrete components under the chassis, disconnected the original cans. 4. C-129, at the 9mc osc., broken. Replaced with a similar one, mounted above chassis (not “proper” but serves the purpose). 5. Re-calibrated the plate current meter, it was indicating about 2/3 of actual. 6. Someone had modified the neutralization ckt to make it close to what is used in later TR-4’s, but didn’t do one thing properly. Now have it working reasonably well. S-meter has quit to stay, coil is open. Neutralization is OK on low bands, poor on 15 10 meters, I advise not using those bands, or it can be adjusted to use those bands and not the lower ones. New finals might be OK. I will ship at actual Fedex cost, plus $5 for packing and my trip to the terminal. Pers. ck OK with short waiting period, USPS or bank M.O. no wait, if PayPal, add $5 to cover fees. IIRC about 25 lbs, from zip 28560, you can ck Fedex.com for est. 73, Al, W8UT New Bern, NC www.boatanchors.org www.hammarlund.info There is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats Ratty, to Mole ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
[Drakelist] FS-4
FWIW, I purchased an ebay FS-4 several years ago and love it. It has really made my R4-C shine. Rock solid. Enjoy. K0GFY R. Hunter Ellington 303-454-0543/720-560-8139 P.O. Box 44 Larkspur, CO 80118___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] FS-4
I have owned several FS-4s over the years but do not have any now. The FS-4 can be considered as stable as a crystal BUT it does not add anything to overall stability to the R4C, for example. Why? The main part that contributes to drift is the PTO so whether one uses and FS-4 or plug in crystal, the stability is basically unchanged. The FS-4 is handy for SWLing, WARC, etc. but at today's prices, only the rich can afford them... -Original Message- From: Hunter Ellington wb9...@yahoo.com To: Drakelist Drakelist@zerobeat.net Sent: Tue, Sep 13, 2011 9:05 am Subject: [Drakelist] FS-4 FWIW, I purchased an ebay FS-4 several years ago and love it. It has really made my R4-C shine. Rock solid. Enjoy. K0GFY R. Hunter Ellington 303-454-0543/720-560-8139 P.O. Box 44 Larkspur, CO 80118 ___ 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] Well, it looks like both PTO's DO have issues.
I finally got a chance to take a look at Steve's PTO. As I suspected the frequency jumping is caused by the large (main) tubular cap. I don't know of anything special about that cap, it's marked as an NP0, so I just stuck a Dur-Mica in it's place. I'm sure Drake had a reason for using that type of cap, but darned if I can figure out what it was. Maybe purchasing got a good buy on a box of them! :-)I measured the cap I removed as 92.2 pF, the schematic specifies 82 pF, and the color code reads 93 pF, so who knows I selected the Dur-Mica from a bunch of 90 pF ones, and got a 92.3 to replace the original, so hopefully it won't destroy the linearity. Considering that Drake later went to a pair of 45 pF caps and then a 45 and 35 pF pair, the 'good buy' idea gains credence!! I haven't made any checks of linearity yet, and I assume the select at test caps in parallel are used to 'fine tune' for the particular coil. A steady 2.2 V p-p output into a 1M counter input. Anyway, it's been sitting on the bench in a Pana-Vise all afternoon and has stayed within 100 Hz, UNTIL the A/C kicks on and blows cool air at it! It's right in the stream of cold air, and so I consider that as STABLE. Of course I don't have a Rubidium standard oscillator to calibrate my counter against, so it could really be anywhere!! :-) The next step is to fashion some sort of reference pointer so I can do at least a rough check of linearity 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 Steve Wedge wrote: I am with Garey, though, in that I'm still finding it hard to believe that there are problems with both. That would be like getting struck by lightning twice. I'm still having a hard time thinking it's the supply, as that 0B2 should regulate its output at - what is it? - 108V? That gets dropped through the big WW resistor and ends up as approximately 10 - 12V, which gets dropped by the Zener inside the PTO. To my thinking, even if the 108V were to sag a little, as long as the voltage is above the Zener point, it shouldn't matter as long as there's sufficient current. Both PTO assemblies - when in the R-4A - seem to be very touchy. W1ES -Original Message- From: Bill Frost Sent: Aug 25, 2011 10:06 AM To: Steve Wedge Cc: Garey Barrell Subject: Re: [Drakelist] Well, it looks like both PTO's DO have issues. Hello Steve, OK, Great, it will be interesting to see what Garey finds. 73, Bill *From:* Steve Wedge w1es1...@earthlink.net *To:* Bill Frost wd8...@yahoo.com *Cc:* Garey Barrell k4...@mindspring.com *Sent:* Thursday, August 25, 2011 9:55 AM *Subject:* Re: [Drakelist] Well, it looks like both PTO's DO have issues. Cover was on each during the tests. Tried running it with cover off to try and poke at components to provoke them ;-) Of course, I'd have to rig up some way of holding the yoke down. I'm actually going to send the older one to Garey tomorrow to get a fresh set of eyes (and a better-stocked parts bin) on it. 73 W1ES -Original Message- From: Bill Frost Sent: Aug 25, 2011 8:21 AM To: Steve Wedge Cc: Garey Barrell Subject: Re: [Drakelist] Well, it looks like both PTO's DO have issues. Hello Steve, If you preformed the tests with the PTO cover removed, not a good test, you must have the PTO yoke spring pulled and clipped to the back of the coil form or ??? Allowing the yoke/slider bar to ride free is not a good test as the PTO will always chirp or drift around without tension on the yoke/slider bar. It's best to leave the cover on and spring engaged during any test of the PTO assembly. 73, Bill *From:* Steve Wedge w1es1...@earthlink.net *To:* drakelist@zerobeat.net *Sent:* Wednesday, August 24, 2011 9:16 PM *Subject:* [Drakelist] Well, it looks like both PTO's DO have issues. UUT #1: PTO from T-4XB, mounted in R-4A. R-4A when using its own PTO gets chirpy/unstable signals after warm-up. UUT #2: Original PTO from R-4A, out of the rig. Power: Internal receiver power Station power supply (30A linear), turned down to 11.1V monitor: Elecraft K3 tuned to 4917 kHz (approx) with series 10 dB pad and x10 scope probe. Test setup #1: UUT #1 connected to power buss from 0B2 and normal chassis ground. Signal output open except for test equipment. Connected to monitor. Warmed up approximately 25 minutes, signal became unstable. Turned R-4A OFF and immediately connected
Re: [Drakelist] Well, it looks like both PTO's DO have issues.
Steve - OK. I fashioned a 'sorta' fiducial out of a piece of wire and an alligator clip to the gearbox. Allowing for parallax, lighting, reflections, 'reading' glasses, and just plain poor close-up vision, it looks to be within a few hundred Hz at each 100 kHz marker, and about 1.5 kHz from end to end. Well within original specs. Of course, with no Rubidium standard I don't 'really' know where it is, but I think it's 'CEAPP' or 'Close Enough for All Practical Purposes'.! I'm sure the tubular cap had some 'secret' specification that we'll never know, but the little Dur-Mica seems to be holding up just fine. Nothing else has been changed, and aside from about a 115 Hz swing from A/C breeze soak to room temp soak doesn't seem excessive to me. I suspect nicely bolted down to a chassis inside a nice warm receiver or transmitter it will be just fine. 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 Steve Wedge wrote: I am with Garey, though, in that I'm still finding it hard to believe that there are problems with both. That would be like getting struck by lightning twice. I'm still having a hard time thinking it's the supply, as that 0B2 should regulate its output at - what is it? - 108V? That gets dropped through the big WW resistor and ends up as approximately 10 - 12V, which gets dropped by the Zener inside the PTO. To my thinking, even if the 108V were to sag a little, as long as the voltage is above the Zener point, it shouldn't matter as long as there's sufficient current. Both PTO assemblies - when in the R-4A - seem to be very touchy. W1ES -Original Message- From: Bill Frost Sent: Aug 25, 2011 10:06 AM To: Steve Wedge Cc: Garey Barrell Subject: Re: [Drakelist] Well, it looks like both PTO's DO have issues. Hello Steve, OK, Great, it will be interesting to see what Garey finds. 73, Bill *From:* Steve Wedge w1es1...@earthlink.net *To:* Bill Frost wd8...@yahoo.com *Cc:* Garey Barrell k4...@mindspring.com *Sent:* Thursday, August 25, 2011 9:55 AM *Subject:* Re: [Drakelist] Well, it looks like both PTO's DO have issues. Cover was on each during the tests. Tried running it with cover off to try and poke at components to provoke them ;-) Of course, I'd have to rig up some way of holding the yoke down. I'm actually going to send the older one to Garey tomorrow to get a fresh set of eyes (and a better-stocked parts bin) on it. 73 W1ES -Original Message- From: Bill Frost Sent: Aug 25, 2011 8:21 AM To: Steve Wedge Cc: Garey Barrell Subject: Re: [Drakelist] Well, it looks like both PTO's DO have issues. Hello Steve, If you preformed the tests with the PTO cover removed, not a good test, you must have the PTO yoke spring pulled and clipped to the back of the coil form or ??? Allowing the yoke/slider bar to ride free is not a good test as the PTO will always chirp or drift around without tension on the yoke/slider bar. It's best to leave the cover on and spring engaged during any test of the PTO assembly. 73, Bill *From:* Steve Wedge w1es1...@earthlink.net *To:* drakelist@zerobeat.net *Sent:* Wednesday, August 24, 2011 9:16 PM *Subject:* [Drakelist] Well, it looks like both PTO's DO have issues. UUT #1: PTO from T-4XB, mounted in R-4A. R-4A when using its own PTO gets chirpy/unstable signals after warm-up. UUT #2: Original PTO from R-4A, out of the rig. Power: Internal receiver power Station power supply (30A linear), turned down to 11.1V monitor: Elecraft K3 tuned to 4917 kHz (approx) with series 10 dB pad and x10 scope probe. Test setup #1: UUT #1 connected to power buss from 0B2 and normal chassis ground. Signal output open except for test equipment. Connected to monitor. Warmed up approximately 25 minutes, signal became unstable. Turned R-4A OFF and immediately connected station supply. Instability would not immediately resume. Long-term, frequency would jump and occasionally chirp. Disconnected remainder of the 11V buss in the receiver from the PTO so that station supply was powering only PTO. After a period of time, instability returned. receiver was off. Conclusion: UUT#1 (the T-4XB FET PTO) is the source of the unstable signals. Test setup #2: UUT #2 connected to station power supply and monitor same as #1. After about 30 minutes, signal was shifting but not as bad as #1.
Re: [Drakelist] FS-4
I seem to remember a QST article about using an Elecraft K2 as a VFO for a Drake, but I can't find it by searching the ARRL site. Or maybe I dreamed it! Kurt, W7QHD From: n...@comcast.net To: k9...@aol.com; wb9...@yahoo.com; Drakelist@zerobeat.net Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:52:15 -0400 Subject: Re: [Drakelist] FS-4 The handiest thing for that remains the ‘Huff and Puff’ stabilizer which can lock down most PTO/VFOs. http://www.holmea.demon.co.uk/Stab/Stab.htm http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=145530 http://www.cumbriadesigns.co.uk/x-lock.htm I have the Xlock 2.0 VFO Stabiliser from Cumbria Designs mentioned just above-which I plan to add to my SN XXX3 Drake R7 (it was the 3rd production-prototype. Ed Tanton website: http://www.n4xy.com All emails IN OUT checked by Norton AntiVirus with AutoProtect -- Wag more / Bark less -- From: drakelist-boun...@zerobeat.net [mailto:drakelist-boun...@zerobeat.net] On Behalf Of K9sqg Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 2:00 PM To: wb9...@yahoo.com; Drakelist@zerobeat.net Subject: Re: [Drakelist] FS-4 I have owned several FS-4s over the years but do not have any now. The FS-4 can be considered as stable as a crystal BUT it does not add anything to overall stability to the R4C, for example. Why? The main part that contributes to drift is the PTO so whether one uses and FS-4 or plug in crystal, the stability is basically unchanged. The FS-4 is handy for SWLing, WARC, etc. but at today's prices, only the rich can afford them... ///snip ___ 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] Well, it looks like both PTO's DO have issues.
- Original Message - From: Garey Barrell k4...@mindspring.com To: Steve Wedge w1es1...@earthlink.net Cc: drakelist Drakelist@zerobeat.net Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 2:39 PM Subject: Re: [Drakelist] Well, it looks like both PTO's DO have issues. Steve - OK. I fashioned a 'sorta' fiducial out of a piece of wire and an alligator clip to the gearbox. Allowing for parallax, lighting, reflections, 'reading' glasses, and just plain poor close-up vision, it looks to be within a few hundred Hz at each 100 kHz marker, and about 1.5 kHz from end to end. Well within original specs. Of course, with no Rubidium standard I don't 'really' know where it is, but I think it's 'CEAPP' or 'Close Enough for All Practical Purposes'.! I'm sure the tubular cap had some 'secret' specification that we'll never know, but the little Dur-Mica seems to be holding up just fine. Nothing else has been changed, and aside from about a 115 Hz swing from A/C breeze soak to room temp soak doesn't seem excessive to me. I suspect nicely bolted down to a chassis inside a nice warm receiver or transmitter it will be just fine. 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 I wonder if the NPO characteristic is the key. The TC of silver-mica caps varies but is around +50PPM. This is quite low but I think an NPO cap is still less. NP0 AKA C0G ceramic caps have very good dielectric properties but relatively low dielectric constant (K) which makes them physically large. Now, large is a relative term, while a C0G cap may be large compared to some other dielectric for surface mount purposes its small compared to an equivalent paper or plastic cap. I think the bad reputation that ceramic caps have in some circles is due to a confusion of the characteristics of high-K types with NP0/C0G caps. The high-K kind do have problems with stability, voltage coefficient of capacitance, etc., and are used because they can be very small and are quite suitable for some uses. For boatanchor stuff the C0G type is best if you can find the right values. Silvered mica caps have a well deserved reputation for performance and reliability, modern ones probably do not have some of the problems of older ones such as silver migration. BTW, I found a paper on this topic in the Bell System Technical Journal for sometime in the 1950! I will have to find it again. -- Richard Knoppow Los Angeles WB6KBL dickb...@ix.netcom.com ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
[Drakelist] PS-7, 12 Volt power supply disassembly ideas needed
Looking for ideas on how best to get the PCB on the back panel of the PS-7 off for access to the component side. The voltage switches are pop-riveted to the chassis and soldered to the board. The RCA jacks are not much better, but looks like I can unsolder then w/o a lot of hassle. Does anyone have a slick way to get the PCB loose? Since this was a fairly abused PS-7, I first thought the transformer primary had a high resistance short to the chassis. I still have excessive AC on the chassis even with the wires disconnected from the PCB. TNX es 73, Ron WD8SBB ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
[Drakelist] Drake tube txs
Drake tube receivers sound different from solid state but do voice and cw transmissions from tube transmitters sound different on the receiving side? ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Drake tube txs
A Drake tube transmitter will definitely sound warmer and less edgy on a tube receiver than if received on a solid state receiver..but a solid state transmitter will not sound warm on a Drake tube receiver but will have a real edge (maybe contest winning) if received on a solid state receiver. 73, Chris W7JPG OhhhOuch! How do you relieve a tongue cramp after being jammed in the cheek? -Original Message- From: drakelist-boun...@zerobeat.net [mailto:drakelist-boun...@zerobeat.net] On Behalf Of Neil M Califano Subject: [Drakelist] Drake tube txs Drake tube receivers sound different from solid state but do voice and cw transmissions from tube transmitters sound different on the receiving side? ___ ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Drake tube txs
The electrons know. They are happier flying through a vacuum than they are being forced to traverse a silicon crystal lattice. Wouldn't you be? 73 -Jim On Tue, 13 Sep 2011 20:39:49 -0700, Chris Kepus wrote: A Drake tube transmitter will definitely sound warmer and less edgy on a tube receiver than if received on a solid state receiver..but a solid state transmitter will not sound warm on a Drake tube receiver but will have a real edge (maybe contest winning) if received on a solid state receiver. 73, Chris W7JPG OhhhOuch! How do you relieve a tongue cramp after being jammed in the cheek? -Original Message- From: drakelist-boun...@zerobeat.net [mailto:drakelist-boun...@zerobeat.net] On Behalf Of Neil M Califano Subject: [Drakelist] Drake tube txs Drake tube receivers sound different from solid state but do voice and cw transmissions from tube transmitters sound different on the receiving side? ___ ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist -- Ham Radio NU0C Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.S.A. TR7/RV7/R7A/L7, TR6/RV6, T4XC/R4C/L4B, NCL2000, SB104A, R390A, GT550A/RV550A, HyGain 3750, IBM PS/2 - all vintage, all the time! Give a man a URL, and he will learn for an hour; teach him to Google, and he will learn for a lifetime. HyGain 3750 User's Group - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HyGain_3750/ http://incolor.inetnebr.com/jshorney http://www.nebraskaghosts.org ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
