Subject: glowbugs V1 #143
glowbugs Saturday, October 25 1997 Volume 01 : Number 143
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 06:40:32 -0400
From: "Brian Carling" <bry@mnsinc.com>
Subject: Re: Beacon On 3579R45?
Best bet is a complaint letter from several of us to the Canadian and
German authorities and copy this to the ARRL.
On 24 Oct 97 at 9:49, Jan wrote:
> owner-glowbugs@www.atl.org (not really, blame my server!) wrote:
> >
> > Ok, what's up? It's bad enough that I can't hear anybody tonight but now
> > there's a beacon on the freq!! Anybody hear this guy? Here's what I copy:
> >
> > VA2MD BEACON QTH QUEBEC CITY TX 1W 73
> >
> > It's running every 20 seconds. I've had it! Pulling the plug. See you guys
> > later.
> >
> > 73 Eric KA1YRV
>
> [I don't want to start a long thread on this one so let's make it short.]
>
> Oh, no! Not another one... Here in EU a German beacon is harassing the 3579R545
> QRG since long. The color burst QRG is useless in the evenings here thanks to
> this silly beacon.
>
> Sandy:
> > I can't imagine WHY anyone would want a beacon on 80 meters! Especially
> > on the burst frequency! This takes gross stupidity or ignorance.
>
> I agree. There are enough commercial stations on the band here which, while
> annoying, may serve as beacons for those who think they need it. I'm feeling
> sorry for you over there since you had the QRG established already. There
> is no GB QRG in EU yet, I have yet to find a peer here.
>
> By the way, are there any other European glowenbuggers on the list or am I
> still alone?
>
> Greetings,
> Jan, SM5GNN
>
>
****************************************************
*** 73 from Radio AF4K/G3XLQ Gaithersburg, MD USA *
** E-mail to: bry@mnsinc.com *
*** ICQ: 3910641 ***
** http://www.mnsinc.com/bry/ *
****************************************************
AM International #1024, TENTEN #13582. GRID FM19. Using a SWAN 250 on 6m,
Other rigs: Valiant, DX-60/HG-10, FT-840, TM-261, Ameco TX-62, Gonset Communicator III
HTX-202...TEN-TEN #13582, DXCC #17,763 Bicentennial WAS
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 07:30:13 -0400
From: "Forrest B. Snyder, Jr." <fbsnyder@mitre.org>
Subject: RE: panel finishing (kinda)
Frank wrote:
I have taken a dowel of 3/8" diameter, chucked into a drill press with a
slit in the bottom end. Pressed onto a piece of Steel wool and spun the
wool around the dowel fastening it with a piece of tape to the dowel. =20
<snip!>
When I was in the machine shop, we used to spin coarse pencil erasers -- =
the redish brown Eberhards that are heavily impregnated with abrasive -- =
in a drill press to accomplish the same thing. Gives remarkably uniform =
circles. Works even better if you use a vertical milling machine to =
position the work piece.
Of course, if you're into cheap, and the piece is not too large, you can =
get a real nice finish by rubbing the work piece back and forth on a =
piece of emory cloth or paper taped to the workbench. Rub parallel to =
the grain of the natural finish. If you end up with 800 grit wet & dry =
paper lubricated with a bit of kerosene or varsol you can make aluminum =
shine almost like it's been chrome plated.
Good luck!
Forrest B. Snyder, Jr.
fbsnyder@mitre.org
N4UTY
"Sure, it's 1936 technology. But it's GOOD 1936 technology."
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 14:12:18 +0200
From: Jan Axing <janax@pctest.fujitsu.se>
Subject: New tube in production
Hi, all.
Svetlana is manufacturing a new tube called SV83. It is similar
to the famous EL84/6BQ5 but with lower screen volts and the
supressor grid is NOT internally connected to the cathode. This
tube with 12W plate dissipation maybe is a fine candidate for
ECO glowbugs like the Barracks Bag VFO, or why not a Hartley?
Data available at http://svetlana.com/SV83.html
(not connected to the company, just enjoying their work)
Jan, SM5GNN
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 08:37:19 EDT
From: EWoodman <EWoodman@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Beacon On 3579R45?
I don't want to take up a lot of space complaining about this but it really
got me *%&^*@ off last night when I heard it the first time. Up here in NH
I'm not that far from Quebec so I can really get hammered by that 1 watt if
propagation is only half way decent. Last night I was expecting a nice
relaxing evening of playing radio and that really tipped me over the edge.
(Just ask my wife!!)
Well, I'm done complaining. Anyone who runs a beacon like that probably won't
listen to anyone anyway.
73 Eric
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 06:11:46 -0700 (MST)
From: Jack Meadows <jackmead@getnet.com>
Subject: re:Re: Wednesday Night Activity
Hi Mark,
Thanks for the report. I am running a Allied Knight Kit T-150a at 100
watts to an elevated vertical. I've been doing some work on the
vertical...guess it works. Hope to make contact with you sometime.
I haven't been hearing much activity on 3579 out here in the
Southwest...maybe I'm getting on too early.
Best regards,
Jack W7QQQ
On Thu,
23 Oct 1997, Mark Dittmar wrote:
>
> Heard Jack W7QQQ calling CQ a few times last night around 3580;
> was using my twin 30 regen and shortwire. Didn't have my transmitter on
> though. Good signal there Jack- what were you running ?
>
> 73,
>
> Mark D, AB0CW
> Westminster, CO
>
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 09:11:30 -0500 (CDT)
From: Bob Roehrig <broehrig@admin.aurora.edu>
Subject: finishing panels
Many thanks to all for all the ideas on panel finishing. There were
certainly a lot of different ideas. For now, I opted to take the easy
way out and used a wire brush (wheel type) in the drill and it turned
out pretty well. I'll post to Glowbugs on the results of the Hartley
rig after some testing this weekend.
UFO's are real! (It's the Air Force that does not exist)
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, 24 Oct 1997 11:19:38 -0400 (EDT)
From: rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu
Subject: Re: Hartleys again
> You may have answered some of this in other posts, which I haven't had
> time to read yet. (I am trying to put together a book just on Hartley
> info for my archives).
Gee, neat. I have been writing the cannonical book of hartleys for the
past five years....... if only I had time to finish it. It is hitting
300 pages now, and probably getting too big. It should be finished in
another year or so, if luck is with me, then the regenerator book is next.
> 1) Do you use any form of fixed bias on any of your Hartleys?
Some of the early form Hartleys use no biasing at all (works fine
too). The Turner 1925 set uses no biasing at all, for example.
Most use only a grid leak bias. It may be possible to bias them
separately from an external source. I have never tried that, though
(too complicated for a simple set). If no biasing is used, then the
tube must be operated within its ratings, and care must be taken to
position the tap properly (usually midpoint). The earliest Hartleys
did not use a grid leak or a grid cap at all, but began to use them
in the mid 20's. I have not run across any single tube Hartley sets
using triodes that were externally biased. Only when you get to the
MOPA sets were the grid block biasing methods used, from everything
I can find out. Even Dow's electron coupled circuits used cathode
keying via rf chokes, with grid leak biasing.
> 2) Have you used grid block keying on any of them?
The usual forms of Hartley keying are cathode and B- keying.
The Turner 1925 set used cathode keying.
The Grammer 1932 set used a cathode to B- keying with the B-
presumably grounded --- open = no cathode current, closed = cathode
current.
The Dow sets used cathode keying.
If you were to take the key line on the Grammer 1932 set and short
it with a jumper then key by opening and closing the B- line, then
that would be ordinary B- keying.
Grid block keying should be usable if you are sure the bias is
cutting off the oscillations so a backwave is not emitted.
I have never tried grid block keying. If you look at the keying
on the BC-191 and BC-375 transmitters it uses a form of grid block
keying that pulls the bias off the B- line to ground. I think the
BC-223 also uses that same sort of keying. That should probably
work, too. They depend upon a reference ground point to which the
B- line from a large resistor picks up the bias to feed the grid.
I would expect that you could do the same on a straight Hartley circuit.
Usually, Hartleys are floating with the B- as the reference ground point.
I often use the cathode as the ground point and key the B- to there.
I have never gone to so much trouble on a Hartley, as to require or
want to put on a fixed external bias supply. If you do, report back
to the group..... you may hit upon a ``new'' form Hartley! Publish it
in QST (right....(:+}}....).
73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob UP
(The Turner and Grammer circuits are in the Glowbugs Archives. Eventually
the Dow circuits will be too.)
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 11:47:59 -0400
From: bgriff@develcon.com (Bill Griffith)
Subject: Re: Beacon On 3579R45?
Hello all,
First, let me say how much I enjoy this group! I've been very motivated to
complete my 12AU7 regen, and perhaps tackle a Hartley.
Second, I sent a msg via email to Mr. Dussault (VA2CMD/VA2MD), explaining
politely that his beacon (if it really is his!) is interfering with our
enjoyment on the colour-burst frequency. Be aware that in downtown QC he can
probably only hear the million or so colour TVs in his neighbourhood, and
would never imagine that it was useful for anything but a beacon !
So, please be understanding, and cut your fellow ham a little slack. The use
of 3579545kcs for low-power homebrew operating is not (yet) common knowledge
in the ham community.
I will post his response, if any.
Thanks and regards,
Bill Griffith
VE3WGX
>I don't want to take up a lot of space complaining about this but it really
>got me *%&^*@ off last night when I heard it the first time. Up here in NH
>I'm not that far from Quebec so I can really get hammered by that 1 watt if
>propagation is only half way decent. Last night I was expecting a nice
>relaxing evening of playing radio and that really tipped me over the edge.
>(Just ask my wife!!)
>
>Well, I'm done complaining. Anyone who runs a beacon like that probably won't
>listen to anyone anyway.
>
>73 Eric
>
>
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 14:47:41 -0400 (EDT)
From: rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu
Subject: Re: Rattle & Bang...
> Aey dere Bobbie...
>
> You be up fer sum rattlen en bangen on ye ole ba qrg
> tonite? Ima gonna be dere wid da bug en maybe a large
> KW version of the DX40 seen what I can flush out outa
> the ether...ZUT AD4YH
Ahoys dere mateys! Battens ye down yer antennae etc., cuz by da thunder
me willst be aboard de ol' shack, this fine weekend fer a long and faire
watch amongst yon ethereal waves.
Tryes ye on the appointed houres, zero thru five bye the radio clocke,
at the aforementioned QRG 3759R545 less a little tad fer clearances
upon the tv hash. Days they be Saturday/Sunday/Monday, they be, radiodays
that is.
I willst haves me fine ol' ladye Grandma Hartley dancin' da dit dah
ditty wid a fine pair o' thirtys glowin' orange bye the fires fer receptin'
them thar ethereal waves.
All hands aboard!
73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob UP
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 15:23:23 -0400 (EDT)
From: EWoodman@aol.com
Subject: Loose Couplers
I came across some pictures today of "loose couplers". The pictures were
quite small so it was difficult to see much detail. They appeared to be two
cylindrical coils mounted on a wooden base with wooden end supports. One coil
was larger than the other. The small coil looked like it was supported on two
small diameter rods and slid on the rods.
Can someone tell me what these were? I presume they are the antenna and
secondary coils for a receiver, either crystal or maybe grid leak? Is this
actually the entire receiver with the detector in it somewhere or was it used
in conjunction with a separate detector? Any info would be appreciated.
73 Eric KA1YRV
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 21:09:49 +0000
From: Sandy W5TVW <ebjr@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: Loose Couplers
At 07:23 PM 10/24/97 +0000, you wrote:
>I came across some pictures today of "loose couplers". The pictures were
>quite small so it was difficult to see much detail. They appeared to be two
>cylindrical coils mounted on a wooden base with wooden end supports. One coil
>was larger than the other. The small coil looked like it was supported on two
>small diameter rods and slid on the rods.
>
>Can someone tell me what these were? I presume they are the antenna and
>secondary coils for a receiver, either crystal or maybe grid leak? Is this
>actually the entire receiver with the detector in it somewhere or was it used
>in conjunction with a separate detector? Any info would be appreciated.
>
>73 Eric KA1YRV
>
The "loose coupler" is in reality, nothing more than an adjustable
RF transformer. Many were provided with switches on both ends to
adjust the inductance of the primary and secondary. In others the
outer coil was provided with one or two "sliders" to adjust inductance.
They were used in crystal receivers, regenerative receivers and for
low power spark transmitters.
73,
E. V. Sandy Blaize, W5TVW
"Boat Anchors collected, restored, repaired, traded and used!"
417 Ridgewood Drive
Metairie, LA., 70001
**860 Hartley 'ECO' under construction****
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 14:20:22 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ken Gordon <keng@uidaho.edu>
Subject: Re: Thursday Night Activity
Heard nothing until after 0500. then heard W7RKF taking to someone who was
down in the mud. They were about 500 cycles lower in frequency.
Ken
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 18:19:40 -0400
From: bgriff@develcon.com (Bill Griffith)
Subject: Re: 80 meter beacon
Cher Mr Dussalt,
Thank you very much. I and I'm sure the rest of the "glowbuggies" very
much appreciate your understanding in this matter, especially considering
that you have as much right to operate on that frequency as any of us.
For your information, your 1W beacon was heard by Mike VE3FGU in Keswick,
Ontario, and by Eric KA1YRV in New Hampshire. When propogation conditions
co-operate, one watt can be heard pretty far, as many QRP operators will attest.
The colour-burst frequency is very popular among low-power and homebrew
operators for the very same reason that you chose it - you can't find
another 80m crystal at a cheaper price anywhere!
If you are at all interested in the fine arcane art of home-brewing
"hollow-state" (vacuum tube) gear simply for the fun of it, please consider
subscribing to our newsgroup. It's free, and there are some very
knowledgeable people willing to share the art of building regenerative
receivers, Hartley transmitters, and other old-time gear. If you are
interested, send an email msg to - majordomo@www.atl.org - with the single
line of text - subscribe glowbugs (your email address) - in the body of the
message.
73 and thanks again for your understanding.
Bill VE3WGX
>Hi Bill,
>
>I understand Bill and since it was asked so politly I will turn the
>beacon off this weekend.
>You must also understand that this projet was a projet a Ham projet and
>the choice of frequency is taht this crystal frequency is sold for about
>$0.50 hi hi.
>
>73 Bill
>
>
>Marc in Quebec city
>
>
>Bill Griffith wrote:
>
>> Bonjour Mr. Dussault,
>>
>> I am a subscriber to the "glowbugs" newsgroup, and from the mail that
>> I
>> received this morning, it appears that your 80m beacon which repeats
>> every 20 secs on 3579.45(?) is causing interference on the
>> "colour-burst" frequency (3579.545MHz) most often used for
>> communications by hams using low-power homebrew rigs.
>>
>> While I'm not opposed to 80m beacons, please understand that your
>> choice
>> of frequency, and it's frequency of repetition, is causing some
>> distress
>> among a number of hams who derive a great deal of enjoyment from their
>>
>> mode of operating, and I felt it appropriate to let you know in case
>> you
>> weren't aware.
>>
>> Regards and 73,
>>
>> Bill Griffith VE3WGX
>
>
>
>
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 21:52:30 -0500 (EST)
From: "Roberta J. Barmore" <rbarmore@indy.net>
Subject: Re: 80 meter beacon
Hi, Gang!
Three cheers for Mr. Dussault! (I'd say that in French if I
could--please take the intent for the deed). He's being very nice about
this.
I wonder how far a colourburst rock will shift with a trimcap across
it? There just might be a way to keep everyone involved on the air, and a
*nearby* beacon could be handy.
I'll be trying to get the ol' Jones 6L6 rig to perc on 3.58 Sat or Sun
(local time). It's been a little unhappy with the antenna the last couple
of tries but not everything's been tried yet. :)
73,
--Bobbi
KB9GKX
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 23:29:08 -0500 (CDT)
From: Bob Roehrig <broehrig@admin.aurora.edu>
Subject: Re: Hartleys again
I thought I would report to the group as a whole since this seems to be
a popular subject these days.
I started my Hartley osc project last weekend and have the transmitter
itself pretty well finished. I am in the testing stage using a variable
but unregulated plate supply that does 350V at 100ma load. (500V no
load).
Anyway, I am getting 8 watts out for 17 watts input. Ep=340V, Ip=50ma,
Ig=15ma. The really great thing is that the drift from key-down to
several minutes later is less than 20 Hz, and it stays there forever.
I won't really be able to check for chirp & key clicks til I get a
decent plate supply, but it sounds pretty clean as is.
The circuit uses a pair of 3C24's in parallel. The tank is 11 turns of
1/4 inch copper tubing, 3 inches ID. (This is almost the entire length
of a 10 foot roll from Ace Hdwe). This is bolted directly to the
main tuning cap - an E.F. Johnson 350pf job. Fine tuning is a 7 plate
cap from a scrapped BC-375 tuning unit (as are most of the bypass caps).
Tuning range is 3600-3650KC with the small cap. But the coil turns
at present are spaced about 3/16 so I can probably lower it by
squeezing them together a bit. The small tuning cap is not across
the entire coil, but across the plate end of the coil to GRD.
Grid and plate coupling caps are the Centralab xmitting doorknobs (500pf
at 5KV). Best output is obtained with a 3 turn link spaced 1 inch from the
grid end of the coil. The optimum grid resistor seems to be about 4K. The
cathode (GRD) tap of the coil is 3 1/2 turns from the grid end, for best
results.
I realize that some of these things may change with a better (higher
voltage) supply but it is running about 50% efficiency.
I will be set up for both B- and grid-block keying and will report
on results there, once the supply is built. It is interesting to
hear the somewhat buzzy signal due to the supply ripple.
Thanks to BA-Bob for tips and encouragement along the way.
UFO's are real! (It's the Air Force that does not exist)
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: Sat, 25 Oct 1997 12:12:34 -0500 (CDT)
From: Bob Roehrig <broehrig@admin.aurora.edu>
Subject: relay ID help!
I need the specs on a C.P. Clare mercury relay number HG-1026.
Coil voltage, contact ratings especially.
TIA
UFO's are real! (It's the Air Force that does not exist)
E-mail broehrig@admin.aurora.edu 73 de Bob, K9EUI
CIS: Data / Telecom Aurora University, Aurora, IL
630-844-4898 Fax 630-844-5530
End of glowbugs V1 #143
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