Daily GLOWBUGS
Digest: V1 #127
via AB4EL Web Digests @ SunSITE
Purpose: building and operating vacuum tube-based QRP rigs
Subject: glowbugs V1 #127
glowbugs Friday, October 3 1997 Volume 01 : Number 127
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 18:47:34 -0600 (MDT)
From: Terry Dobler KJ7F <kj7f@micron.net>
Subject: October Regen project
Gang,
I too have been working (slowly) on my October regen project.
It is up a running but still needs lots of work (like a front
panel maybe?). I have put up a web page with the diagram
for those who would like to see what I'm working on. More
details as time permits, but frankly I'd rather spend my time
fiddling with it than writing about it, hi.
Check it out at... http://netnow.micron.net/~kj7f and follow
the glowbug link.
Terry KJ7F
kj7f@micron.net (Boise, Idaho) http://netnow.micron.net/~kj7f
Date: Fri, 03 Oct 1997 11:20:18 +0200
From: Jan Axing <janax@li.icl.se>
Subject: Re: Glowbugs Chat
Brian Carling wrote:
>
> I finally got on the Glowbugs CHAT server that N6EV and SM5GNN
> have set up. It works!
>
> Sadly, there was no one else on there.
>
> What about a group "SKED" for say, 1200 UTC tomorrow?
Suits me fine! I'll take a coffee break an hour earlier...
1200UTC is 1400 LT here, still on daylight saving.
Paul's client is at http://www.barepower.net/~carreiro/GBchat.html
and if it's down, mirror at http://www.algonet.se/~janax/gbchat.htm
Jan, SM5GNN
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 09:34:07 -0400 (EDT)
From: rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu
Subject: Re: Variable Antenna Coupling and Electrostatic Shielding
>
> > > Reading through the manual for the SE1420 receiver which Bob Keys put
> > > out for our perusal,
>
> Darn, I must've missed this! Do you know what he's referring to, where it
> might be found, and so forth?
>
> --Jim WB5UDE
All of the manual reprints and QST article reprints are on the glowbugs
archive site: ftp://piobaire.mines.uidaho.edu/pub/glowbugs
All the stuff I write is in postscript, so you will need to find a
postscript printer to dump it to, or use ghostscript or something like
that.
If memory serves me correctly, the SE143, SE1220, SE1420, IP501A, SCR54A,
and LM-6 manuals are there, as are the GG32 Grammer Hartley article and
the Barracks Bag VFO article. A calibration program for the LM/BC-221
freq meters is there, as is a morse code player with some historical
transcripts that it plays. A few other things are there, too, but I
have not been there in a few months so I can say for sure what is new
there.
If anyone has anything to add to the glowbugs archives, put it in the
incoming directory and I will check it down the road and move it to
a final directory.
Good LUck
73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob UP
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 09:12:43 -0400
From: DISC4 SYSARCH <SYSARCH@hqda.army.mil>
Subject: RE: October Regen project
Terry and members of the list.
TNX for posting the schematic. It looks a lot like the design I want to
build, except for the tube type.
In keeping with the junque box nature of the project, I intend to use
the dual triode from my (original owner) Heath QF-1 Q multiplier
(non-invasive recycling) and scrounge the other parts from a couple of
junker chassis where I can. The goal is zero cash outlay, with the
possible exception of power supply parts or batteries.
The Audio chokes are the big question mark -- I'd like to use them, but
can just as easily go to resistance coupling.
Anybody in list land have a feel for how much effort would be required
to wind an acceptable alternative to a commercial choke? Maybe use an
iron core like a large stove bolt with a couple of washers to contain
the windings, and enough length to allow me to bolt the completed units
to whatever board I end up using as a chassis. Should I plan on
shielding them with (maybe) a tomato paste can?
What says the list?
Forrest B. Snyder, Jr.
N4UTY
fbsnyder@mitre.org
"Sure, it's 1936 technology. But it's GOOD 1936 technology!"
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Terry Dobler KJ7F [SMTP:kj7f@micron.net]
>Sent: Thursday, October 02, 1997 8:48 PM
>To: glowbugs@www.atl.org
>Subject: October Regen project
>
>Gang,
>
> I too have been working (slowly) on my October regen project.
>It is up a running but still needs lots of work (like a front
>panel maybe?). I have put up a web page with the diagram
>for those who would like to see what I'm working on. More
>details as time permits, but frankly I'd rather spend my time
>fiddling with it than writing about it, hi.
>
>Check it out at... http://netnow.micron.net/~kj7f and follow
>the glowbug link.
>
>Terry KJ7F
>
>
>kj7f@micron.net (Boise, Idaho) http://netnow.micron.net/~kj7f
>
>
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 10:43:37 -0400 (EDT)
From: rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu
Subject: Re: October Regen project --- audio chokes
> The Audio chokes are the big question mark -- I'd like to use them, but
> can just as easily go to resistance coupling.
>
> Anybody in list land have a feel for how much effort would be required
> to wind an acceptable alternative to a commercial choke? Maybe use an
> iron core like a large stove bolt with a couple of washers to contain
> the windings, and enough length to allow me to bolt the completed units
> to whatever board I end up using as a chassis. Should I plan on
> shielding them with (maybe) a tomato paste can?
An audio coupling choke can be anything from 1 henry to 1000 henries.
It is entirely uncritical in regen operations. Obviously, the more
the merrier, usually..... BUT, in my hands I find any old junk box
choke from power supply use, old tv sets (forget which choke it is
offhand but it was common in older tube tv sets), almost anything
in surplus with about half a pound of heft or more. Less iron that
that will work, but may be problematic unless it is wound as one of
the audio coupling transformers common in Korean--`Nam era surplus.
Filament power transformers usually won't work very well, although
I did get a 110-220 step down transformer to work one time, on low
plate voltages.
Hint.... if it has half a pound of heft or more, ohm its windings and
use the highest ohm winding as the choke. If you can properly phase
the windings, add them all up in series. That works too.
I regularly use a 10 henry power choke as the coupling choke with good
success. Even an audio output transformer can be used if you leave the
secondary 8 ohm output floating and use the primary as the choke.
YMMV etc., but it usually always works fine for me. HINT --- Try it!
73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob UP
Date: Sat, 04 Oct 1997 00:41:54 +1000
From: Murray Kelly <mkelly@powerup.com.au>
Subject: Re: October Regen project
How would a fluorescent lamp starter ballast go as a choke?
DISC4 SYSARCH wrote:
> The Audio chokes are the big question mark -- I'd like to use them, but
> can just as easily go to resistance coupling.
>
******************************************************************
* Murray Kelly vk4aok mkelly@powerup.com.au *
* 29 Molonga Ter. / Graceville/ QLD. 4075/ Australia *
* ph/fax Intl+ 61 7 3379 3307 *
******************************************************************
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 11:56:14 -0400 (EDT)
From: EWoodman@aol.com
Subject: Re: October Regen project --- audio chokes
Bob Keys Wrote:
>An audio coupling choke can be anything from 1 henry to 1000 henries.
>t is entirely uncritical in regen operations. Obviously, the more
>the merrier, usually..... BUT, in my hands I find any old junk box
>choke from power supply use, old tv sets (forget which choke it is
>offhand but it was common in older tube tv sets), almost anything
>in surplus with about half a pound of heft or more.
Well, that answer really helps me out. I've got a bunch of chokes which I
liberated from various tv's and other equipment over the years. Not knowing
their values I've just sort of collected them. But from what I read here
some, if not all, could find new lives as audio coupling chokes! I see
values of 10 - 30H or more on the schematics but guess I didn't realize the
value was somewhat non-critical. Maybe people just listed on the schematic
what was on hand and they ended up using.
73 Eric KA1YRV
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 12:57:51 -0400 (EDT)
From: EWoodman@aol.com
Subject: Hartley Weirdness
Bob,
I finally did give up trying to use an 811A in a Hartley but just thought I'd
pass this along as it has me stumped. Using an 811 in a basic shunt-fed
Hartley circuit I couldn't get it to reliably start oscillating every time on
key-down. However, by accident, I found that if I keyed it and moved my hand
around about 6 inches over the top of the rig it would suddenly kick into
oscillation and keep going even when I removed my hand. All it took was a
wave to get it going. Monkeying around with the grid cap and resistor values
and types didn't seem to help. With a 250pf cap and 15 to 27K for a resistor
it would oscillate but only when started with the "magic wave". Maybe I've
developed a new method of keying?
73 Eric KA1YRV
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 12:13:01 -0500
From: "Claton Cadmus" <aplitech@spacestar.net>
Subject: Re: Hartley Weirdness
With a 250pf cap and 15 to 27K for a resistor
it would oscillate but only when started with the "magic wave". Maybe I've
developed a new method of keying?
Only if you can get it to stop too!!
73 de KA0GKC Cla
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 12:12:41 -0500 (CDT)
From: Bob Roehrig <broehrig@admin.aurora.edu>
Subject: Re: Hartley Weirdness
On Fri, 3 Oct 1997 EWoodman@aol.com wrote:
> However, by accident, I found that if I keyed it and moved my hand
> around about 6 inches over the top of the rig it would suddenly kick into
> oscillation and keep going even when I removed my hand.
Better be careful - Bose has a patent on the "Wave Radio" :-)
E-mail broehrig@admin.aurora.edu 73 de Bob, K9EUI
CIS: Data / Telecom Aurora University, Aurora, IL
630-844-4898 Fax 630-844-5530
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 13:54:37 -0400 (EDT)
From: rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu
Subject: Re: Hartley Weirdness
>
> Bob,
> I finally did give up trying to use an 811A in a Hartley but just thought I'd
> pass this along as it has me stumped. Using an 811 in a basic shunt-fed
> Hartley circuit I couldn't get it to reliably start oscillating every time on
> key-down. However, by accident, I found that if I keyed it and moved my hand
> around about 6 inches over the top of the rig it would suddenly kick into
> oscillation and keep going even when I removed my hand. All it took was a
> wave to get it going. Monkeying around with the grid cap and resistor values
> and types didn't seem to help. With a 250pf cap and 15 to 27K for a resistor
> it would oscillate but only when started with the "magic wave". Maybe I've
> developed a new method of keying?
>
> 73 Eric KA1YRV
>
The 811's that I have tried were about the same. They seem to have just
too low a grid-plate capacity to start oscillations reliably. That is
GREAT for amplifiers, but less than optimal for Hartleying.
For fun, you might try adding about 10pf of HV cap across the grid and
plate leads and see if that helps any. You might also try adjusting
the cathode tap up or down to alter the feedback. If the added capacity
kicks it off, then the grid-plate capacity is too low to be a good
Hartley oscillator. If you have an 812, you might try that. It has
a little higher grid-plate capacity if memory serves me correctly.
Wave keying..... backshunt..... backwave..... bose (nah....).
73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob UP
Date: Fri, 03 Oct 1997 20:26:49 +0200
From: Jan Axing <janax@li.icl.se>
Subject: Glowbug Chat Room QSO party!
Hello, all.
The Glowbugs chat room was hot today. I joined at 1200UTC
as promised and found VK4AOK, Murray there at once. During
a couple of hours KA1YRV, KA0GRC, K1LKY and KE4OOO also
joined, one after another. Bry, where were you?
Finally, much later, I found the chat room owner himself,
Paul, N6EV.
At most, 3 were on at the same time. The room works quite
well with almost real time response. Sometimes the comments
are out of sync but that is to be expected. With 3 on, it
was sometimes quite messy <g>. It takes a little time to get
used to it.
This was real fun and a totally unexpected response, I only
expected Bry to show up...
I see the room as a valuable tool, there are many uses for it.
I will check the room weekdays at 1200UTC, 1300UTC and 1600UTC.
Don't forget to keep 'em glowing!
Jan, SM5GNN
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 14:50:53 -0500 (CDT)
From: Spencer Petri <spetri@e-tex.com>
Subject: 24G Hartley?
Has anyone used the 24G in a Hartly TX? Looks like it would make a good one.
73 de Pete WA5JCI EM21 "the future will be better tomorrow"
.................................................................
6 Mtr -- WAS #490, WAC CW, DXCC/91 Countries, VUCC #361/624 Grids
.................................................................
2 Mtr -- 36 States -- VUCC #346/183 Grids
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 19:10:03 -0500
From: w5hvv@aeneas.net (Rod Fitz-Randolph)
Subject: Hartley Using an 813
Hi, folk! I have found, in my junk box, what appears to be a pristine
813, in the box! I read on one of the Glowbug e-mail messages
something about using an 813 as a Hartley oscillator. Is it feasible?
Is it practical? What sort of voltages should I use? Do I need to
tie the screen and plate together so that it will be a de facto triode?
Please clue me in. All the chatter about a Hartley has me really curious
to build one and use it on the air!
Thanks,
Rod, N5HV
w5hvv@aeneas.net
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 18:31:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Tom R. Rice" <tomrice@netcom.com>
Subject: Re: Hartley Theremin?
>
> > However, by accident, I found that if I keyed it and moved my hand
> > around about 6 inches over the top of the rig it would suddenly kick into
> > oscillation and keep going even when I removed my hand.
You just might have re-discovered the Theremin, although
an RF version is unusual. Learn to play it well
and make your fortune!
73 de WB6BYH
- --
"Start off every day with a smile and get it over with." --W.C.Fields
Tom R. Rice
tomrice@netcom.com
End of glowbugs V1 #127
***********************
Created by Steve Modena, AB4EL
Comments and suggestions to modena@SunSITE.unc.edu