Subject: glowbugs V1 #146
glowbugs Wednesday, October 29 1997 Volume 01 : Number 146
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 09:41:40 -0500 (EST)
From: rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu
Subject: GB Play QRGs of Consensus.....
> > Wouldn't it be better to leave this QRG to the experimenters and choose a
> > quieter one ? Just a thought ...
>
> YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> Ken W7EKB
I am game, but where? In the past we tried various QRG's but all tended
to require a vfo, or special order rocks. Since I tend to run vfo gear,
such as Hartleys, that does not particularly bother me. To keep 2nd
harmonic radiation nil outside the ham bands, the frequency needs to be
7300/2 = 3650 kcs or lower. The Antique Wireless Association boys tend
to run around the territory up from W1AW, or around 3585 to 3600. I kindof
like 3535, myself. I will go with the flow. What is the consensus?
73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob UP
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 10:00:49 -0500 (EST)
From: rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu
Subject: Grandma Hartley funzies.....
I was on last night off and on, and heard nary a peep except from N4UTY
up in VA, with a 599 report. Alas, my 1/4 wave sloper fell down in the
strong winds, so I threw around 125 feet of whateverwireicouldfind up
into the trees. Grandma would not load it very well, with her series
coil/cap/2-turn-link, so I had to add 100pf to ground from the high
antenna side of the output series tuning coil, to effect a sort of
L-almost-hi-z tuner. Now she purrs fine, and I was quite surprised at
that 599 report. The receiver was a classic 1929 regenerator using
a '32 and a'30 combo. The band was awfully quiet last night, though,
with few stations on after 10pm EST, but the W1AW code practice and
bulletins could be heard across the room from the tin cans just laying
on the table - QSA5. I did a test mod on Grandma Hartley to give her
just a tad more of a ``modern'' harummpf! T9 note, rather than her
charactistic T8.999 note, I increased her mg set output filter cap
from 1 ufd to 10 ufd. She almost sounds too sweet for a Hartley.....
oh, well...... Hope the bands are better tonight.
73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob UP
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 09:10:51 -0600
From: Conard Murray <cfm5723@tntech.edu>
Subject: Re: GB Play QRGs of Consensus.....
We (NA4G and myself) started using 3579 kc/s because of the cheap rocks, but
that QRG is not etched into stone (well, it is too, but we can change!) for
GB work.
I am sure we can get new rocks from CW Xtals for whatever frequency we want
if we can make our minds up what we want to do. This question has come up
before and nothing has been done.
I will open the list for nominations for a new QRG until Friday morning
after I get my cup of java. I will then post the nominated QRG's and take a
vote from the readership. You can nominate QRG's for any or all bands. If
you have a special reason for suggesting a particular QRG, please mention
it.
Let's see what happens.....
73 and ZUT!
de Conard WS4S
- -----Original Message-----
From: rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu <rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu>
To: Ken Gordon <keng@uidaho.edu>
Cc: glowbugs@www.atl.org <glowbugs@www.atl.org>
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 1997 8:36 AM
Subject: GB Play QRGs of Consensus.....
>> > Wouldn't it be better to leave this QRG to the experimenters and choose
a
>> > quieter one ? Just a thought ...
>>
>> YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!
>>
>> Ken W7EKB
>
>I am game, but where? In the past we tried various QRG's but all tended
>to require a vfo, or special order rocks. Since I tend to run vfo gear,
>such as Hartleys, that does not particularly bother me. To keep 2nd
>harmonic radiation nil outside the ham bands, the frequency needs to be
>7300/2 = 3650 kcs or lower. The Antique Wireless Association boys tend
>to run around the territory up from W1AW, or around 3585 to 3600. I kindof
>like 3535, myself. I will go with the flow. What is the consensus?
>
>73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob UP
>
>
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 10:42:06 -0500 (EST)
From: EWoodman@aol.com
Subject: Re: Grandma Hartley funzies.....and Glowbug/BA Freq
Bob,
Thought you might be interested in knowing that I could hear you very faintly
last night up here in NH. Not good enough for usable copy but got enough to
get the callsign. Thought about making a call in case you might have Big
Bertha waiting in the wings on standby but I was in the middle of major
surgery on the 80M Hartley and had nothing warmed up ready to go. Guess I'll
have to keep something on standby while I'm working. Hopefully propagation
conditions will improve shortly.
As far as 3579 as the Glowbug/BA freq: Changing would put 3 of my best
commercial BA rigs and 2 of my homebrew rigs out of commision for lack of
crystals. ( I have some on order but don't remember what freqs I got) I do
have 1 commercial BA rig and 1 homebrew with vfo's as well as a Hartley. I
live in a sort of rural area so tv noise isn't as bad as it could be but I
sympathize with those who have interference that makes the freq nearly
unusable. I'd like to keep the freq but will certainly go with the will of
the majority with no complaints, particularly if it means the difference of
operating or not to some folks.
73 Eric KA1YRV
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 11:15:29 -0500 (EST)
From: EWoodman@aol.com
Subject: Re: GB Play QRGs of Consensus.....
Conard,
I have an order in to CW Crystals for seven 80M rocks (Two of those are for
AM). I dug out my letter and see that I ordered 3550, 3555, 3560, 3565, and
3570. I had to sort of scrape the bottom of the money barrel to make the
order so obviously would like to use one of those freqs. If we change to
something that I don't have and we can convince John to grind up a bunch (as
long as we could guarantee him a certain number of orders) for a single freq
so I could order just one, then I guess that would be ok too. Whatever works
for everyone else.
73 Eric KA1YRV
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 11:37:35 -0500
From: john <johnmb@mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: GB Play QRGs of Consensus.....
The nice thing about 3579 is the BAD thing about 3579...
namely, there's always a signal there, from a TV set. I'd suggest
that whatever frequency is chosen, it be close to that, as it makes
an excellent marker frequency to zero in receivers.
Personally I'd vote to keep it where it is now... but I too
will go with the flow. There will always be 3579 traffic if for no
other reason than there are lots of free xtals out there to be
used, and not many people will go out to buy additional
rocks for any new frequency chosen... it's just human nature.
best 73
/John
+------------------------------------------------------
| John Brewer- WB5OAU/4
| AMI #24 Vintage Radio Website
| http://www.mindspring.com/~johnmb/
+------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 11:50:06 -0500 (EST)
From: rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu
Subject: Re: Grandma Hartley funzies.....
> I was just reading your post where you mention your classic 1929
> regenerator using a 32 and 30 combo. I have been interested in doing a
> regen receiver project to go along with my Ameco AC-1 transmitter and use
> it on 40 and 80. It sounds like your regen works great, (plus I can
> almost hear W1AW on your regen radio after reading your description).
If you are building an AC-1 style transmitter from the 50's, you might
look into the Radio Handbooks by Editors and Engineers, around the
10th through the 12th editions. There is a very nice aluminum chassied
detector and one step using a 6J7 and a 6C5 that is quite a good recever.
It would match the AC-1 quite well.
> Could you share details with me about it? Did you build it in an old
> style cabinet like the National SW-3?
Nothing that fancy. Most of the regens I build are open chassis things.
The basic pattern is after Porter Quinby's 1928, QST article, except I
tend to use two stages rather than three, since two are sufficient mostly.
The classic regenerator that I use started off life as a pair of '01A's
swappable with a pair of '30's. It is built to look like a late 20's
standard amateur radio regen set. It is about 30 inches wide, 8 inches
deep (using a standard shelf from the hardware store with a wood grain
texture), and 8 inches high (using a piece of 1/4 x 8 x 30 inch black
acrylic plastic as the panel). If you want to see it, point a webscraper
to the url:
http://www.mindspring.com/~johnmb/na4g1.htm
where John Brewer has put up photos of some of my stuff. There are several
regens and Hartleys there. In particular na4g9.htm shows the front, top,
and side views of the set.
The coils are wound on standard plug-in transmitting forms (2.5 inch) and
the photos show how the tuning capacitor is mounted on an H shaped girder
of 1/4 inch black acrylic, for strength, rigidity, and proper spacing behind
the panel (5 inches or so).
The circuit is a standard throttle condenser controlled tickler feedback
circuit, with a transformer coupled audio stage (alas, the transformer is
a WWII or 50's vintage thing that was all I had at the time.
The input is by a 1/2 inch square coupling cap (a pair of angle brackets)
or a 2 turn link around the coil tube base.
I found several surplus spectrophotometer tubes from surplus, that happened
to be '32's, so I thought I would try one, and it worked pretty well.
Straight tetrode tickler circuit with the screen at the bottom of the
audio coupling choke.
Plate voltage is 36 volts from three small 12 volt sealed lead acids, and
the filament voltage is taken from a pair of surplus wet nicads about 10
ah in size.
A plain SPDT relay swtiches the antenna between Grandma Hartley and
the regenerator.
Nothing out of the ordinary with her, but I can hear anything that is
above the noise, quite well, and the selectivity is sufficient that I
get no interference from W1AW on 3575.545. That is good enough for me
on an OT regen set.
73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob UP
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 10:46:15 -0600
From: Karl Heimbach <heimbach@concentric.net>
Subject: Hallicrafters HT-44 - Dead VFO
Hello gang,
I picked up a nice SX-117/HT-44 combo last weekend at a local hamfest.
The receiver plays well, but the transmitter has a dead VFO.
In the slave or transceive mode, when the SX-117 VFO is utilized, the
transmitter works properly.
I've done the following to troubleshoot the dead HT-44 VFO, but have
made no progress.
1) Checked all tubes - all show okay.
2) Substituted V10, VFO oscillator tube, a 6EA8 - no improvement.
3) Checked resistances at each tube pin of V10 - all look within
tolerance.
4) Checked voltages at pins of all tubes. The only suspicious reading
is at pin 2 of the VFO tube, V10. With the VFO selector switch in the
transmit position, the manual states that a -3 V reading is normal; I
get -.4 V. (I'm not sure if there may be a typo in the manual, perhaps
- -.3 V?)
5) Tested the majority of components in the vicinity of V10 for failure
- - have found none shorted.
6) Checked the VFO selector switch to make sure that the SX-117 VFO
output is grounded when the switch is in the "Transmit" position; it is.
7) Checked continuity between the VFO selector switch and pin 7 of V6,
first mixer.
8) Tweaked both coils in the VFO circuit to see if I could get it to
oscillate - no luck.
Can anyone give me a suggestion of what to look at next?
Thanks,
Karl - W5QJ
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 12:10:57 -0500 (EST)
From: rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu
Subject: Re: Grandma Hartley funzies..... typeos today oh well
It would help if ol' BA BOB could type worth his salt, today.....(:+}}...
> I found several surplus spectrophotometer tubes from surplus, that happened
> to be '32's, so I thought I would try one, and it worked pretty well.
> Straight tetrode tickler circuit with the screen at the bottom of the
> audio coupling choke.
^^^^^
transformer of course.
That puts 36 volts on both the screen and the plate, but it seems to work
just fine. If I wanted to be really picky, I might put 12 or 24 or 36
volts on the screen, depending upon which battery tap I chose --- but, that
is not really needed at low battery voltages like 48 volts and below.
The grid cap is 25pf and the grid leak is 10 megs. A 2.5 mh rf choke
is between the throttle condenser and the audio transformer, to keep
throttle control smooth.
For periodicity, I was kindly given a pair of Benjamin spring sockets,
but those are not really needed. It is advisable to mount the tube socket
of the detector on some sort of cushiony support to reduce table vibration
that gets transmitted to the detector grid wiring. It cuts down tube
noise due to tunining condenser or throttle condenser vibrations to some
extent. Professional commercial sets of the regen era often did this.
Later WWII era commercial regen sets did not. The microphonics can get
a tad bothersome unless the sets are either very firmly mounted or have
some sort of vibration dampening. This is where smooth tuning and throttle
condenser bearings and good dial mechanisms pay dividends. I use a smooth
velvet vernier and a long connecting shaft with good flex couplings on
the main tuning dial.
> Nothing out of the ordinary with her, but I can hear anything that is
> above the noise, quite well, and the selectivity is sufficient that I
> get no interference from W1AW on 3575.545. That is good enough for me
> on an OT regen set. ^^^^^^^^
3579.545 of course.
This set is not quite what I would consider the cream of the signal slicer
selectivity crop, but it is sufficient to cut the audio bandwidth down on
W1AW as you tune it in to around 500 cycles, and you can hear the audio
passband narrowing as the regeneration is set on the ragged edge. That is
entirely sufficient for anything but rabid contesting, and significantly
better than many BA receivers of WWII/50's commercial manufacture that are
typical of the lesser BA's.
73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob UP
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 19:08:31 +0100
From: Jan Axing <janax@algonet.se>
Subject: Re: GB Play QRGs of Consensus.....
Many of you wrote about:
... suggestions for a new QRG on 80 meter.
I have the following QRG's: 3505, 3510, 3515, 3520, 3525, 3535,
3550, 3555, 3560, 3565, 3570 and 3579R545 so I have several
choices. Of them all, 3535 and 3555 works best over here in EU
(at least northern EU).
Just in case of very long skips some night, who knows...
Jan, SM5GNN
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 13:35:55 -0500 (EST)
From: rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu
Subject: Tonight 0400-0600Z QRG 3579.000
I will make a special point to be on watch tonite at 0400-0600Z on 3579
less a hair, with Grandma Hartley and her companion regenerator. I will
send a couple ``CQ BA CQ BA DE NA4G NA4G BA K'' each quarter hour and see
if the anyone is there. 73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob UP
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 21:09:12 +0000
From: Sandy W5TVW <ebjr@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: GB Play QRGs of Consensus.....
At 04:37 PM 10/28/97 +0000, you wrote:
> The nice thing about 3579 is the BAD thing about 3579...
>namely, there's always a signal there, from a TV set. I'd suggest
>that whatever frequency is chosen, it be close to that, as it makes
>an excellent marker frequency to zero in receivers.
>
> Personally I'd vote to keep it where it is now... but I too
>will go with the flow. There will always be 3579 traffic if for no
>other reason than there are lots of free xtals out there to be
>used, and not many people will go out to buy additional
>rocks for any new frequency chosen... it's just human nature.
>
> best 73
> /John
>+------------------------------------------------------
>| John Brewer- WB5OAU/4
I try and err to the low side of the "Burst Frequency".
Usually from 3578.2-3579.2. This will usually allow one to
dodge the "TV QRM". Those of us with VFO control have no
problems, but those with "rock bound" transmitters have
a problem.
One trouble is that many of the hams that have gotten used
to "digital" transceivers won't "tune around" in the fashion that
used to be standard procedure in the 'boat anchor' era.
Back during the crystal controlled Novice days, one used to
"tune the Novice band" for replies (3700-3750 khz at that time).
It was not unusual to have a QSO going with the participants
at opposite ends of the sub-band!
My recommendation is the err on the 'low' side about .5 to 1 khz.
if you are VFO controlled. This, in most cases will dodge the
TV QRM machines out there. Changing the frequency will cause
confusion and irritate the people who only have a few crystals.
Our 40 meter experiance this summer proved that. When we
deviated from the 7050 QRG to others, the group sort of fell apart.
40 will be a continuing problem as Mexican and Canadian SSB
stations invade to CW segment, and the "digital" group drops lower and
lower in the band. The QRP group has the same problem with 7040 Khz.
That's my 0.02 worth. (Exit soapbox mode)
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: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 17:57:36 -0600 (CST)
From: Bob Roehrig <broehrig@admin.aurora.edu>
Subject: Re: Grandma Hartley funzies.....
Last nite I had the new Hartley on the antenna for some quick tests
with a buddy across town to have him monitor for signal quality
(key clicks, etc). I was not in a position to get into any QSO's
but I did hear W5FRS calling CQ BA. Was 599 here even though I had
the 30dB atten turned on on the TS-930 that I was using to monitor.
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: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 20:21:11 -0500
From: "Yves A. Feder W1UX" <y.a.feder@snet.net>
Subject: FS BA xmtg tubes
I've got a few tubes gathering dust that may be of interest for one BA rig
or another -
1. Pair of 4-125A's. One Eimac/new, the other RCA/some use but looks very
close to new.
Not in original boxes. Pair $40.00 postpaid.
2. A single 829B. Looks brand new but not in original box. $10.00 postpaid.
3. A single 5894 brand new in original British box! $20.00 postpaid.
4. SEVERAL 832's and 832A's. Some new, some look used. $1.00 each plus
postage!
Tnx for reading -
73 Al W1UX
Yves Albert (Al "Al") Feder
W1UX - ex W1EOX - K2CUI - K1TJP
On the Air since 1952 (Licensed in 1953)
Remember, Kids: Front to back may come from the antenna,
but Forward Gain comes from the Wall!
y.a.feder@snet.net
http://www.geocities.com/paris/1769/boatanchor01.html
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 19:21:40 -0600 (CST)
From: Bob Roehrig <broehrig@admin.aurora.edu>
Subject: Re: GB Play QRGs of Consensus.....
On Tue, 28 Oct 1997 rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu wrote:
> To keep 2nd
> harmonic radiation nil outside the ham bands, the frequency needs to be
> 7300/2 = 3650 kcs or lower.
In testing my new Hartley, the 2nd harmonic was -38dB. Almost the
required -40 but not quite. I added a simple series tuned trap
across the output and it dropped to -70dB! Simple fix.
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: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 19:24:42 -0600 (CST)
From: Kevin Pease <hamradio@mm1001.theporch.com>
Subject: Re: Grandma Hartley rides again!
On Mon, 27 Oct 1997 rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu wrote:
> Well, I got home from the gristmill last nite, about 0200Z, and fired up
> ol' Grandma Hartley, ta dittle a round on the ol BA QRG, but I could only
> work Mike/VE3FGU, up in Canada. I did hear a few others, but they were
> all quite weak in the mud. Better times are coming, I am sure as winter
> socks us in. Mebbie tonite!
>
> 73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob UP
>
Bob I heard you here on the NC-173 by my bed but I didn't here any one
calling you. I was not able to fire up the TX and call you. I really need
to build a TX into the empty Rack Panel above the RX on my nite stand so
That I can work people late at night. Your Hartly sounded gud here.
Maybe I need to use one of the 6DQ6's in a classic 40 watt single tube
xmitter or maybee a 6ag7 osc as driver and load up the 40 meter dipole as
a tophat from my bedroom so that I can join in the late night fun.
My CW can definately use the practice.
Kevin Pease
WB0JZG
Mount Juliet, TN.
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 21:26:47 -0800 (PST)
From: Ken Gordon <keng@uidaho.edu>
Subject: Re: Tonight on BOTH QRGs...
First, on 7050, worked W9IX/0 in Minnesota about 0250. Obviously the band
was changing since he went from 589 to below the noise in 10 minutes.
Switched to 3579R545 and lo and behold, there was KD6B, Ken, calling CQ
BA!! I about fell off my perch. He was running an ART-13 from batteries
and sounded great. 599 both ways, until he had to quit about 0330 for the
Vintage SSB net on 3870.
Then I called NA4G several times, but heard nothing. Called CQ BA and was
immediately answered by KJ7F, Terry, in Boise, Idaho, about 350 miles
south of me. We were about 579 until I had to leave about 0350 or so.
It was like old home week. The first stations I have worked on the 80
meter QRG since I heard Jack, W7QQQ a few weeks ago.
Maybe we should stay on 3579R545 and 7050. Seems like they work OK when
signals are strong.
40 has been pretty weird lately though.
Ken W7EKB
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 1997 10:09:54 -0500 (EST)
From: rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu
Subject: Re: GB Play QRGs of Consensus.....
> I try and err to the low side of the "Burst Frequency".
> Usually from 3578.2-3579.2. This will usually allow one to
> dodge the "TV QRM". Those of us with VFO control have no
> problems, but those with "rock bound" transmitters have
> a problem.
A possible fix is below......
> One trouble is that many of the hams that have gotten used
> to "digital" transceivers won't "tune around" in the fashion that
> used to be standard procedure in the 'boat anchor' era.
Ah, yes..... dittle the dial across the working QRG to make sure you
pick up all comers.
I usually set the regen about 2.5 khz low with the throttle opened up
some, and then tweak it down and tighten up the throttle when someone
comes back. With the throttle opened up, the response is about 3 kcs
as opposed to 1 khz when tightened up.
> Back during the crystal controlled Novice days, one used to
> "tune the Novice band" for replies (3700-3750 khz at that time).
> It was not unusual to have a QSO going with the participants
> at opposite ends of the sub-band!
I don't remember being that spread out, but I do remember being an easy
5-10 khz off and twiddling the dials to suit, and hoping you did not lose
the station in the mud or the slip of the dial.
> My recommendation is the err on the 'low' side about .5 to 1 khz.
> if you are VFO controlled.
And rockbound, too, maybe.....
Here is a thought for the 3579R545 exactly crew..... rubber yer rock down
a hair with some parallel capacitance. Small tv rock xtals might go down
a kc or so without too much trouble.
Back when I was a jeep novice, and did not know any better, I used to
grind my own rocks from surplus rocks just below the bands, and spot
them about every 5 khz. Then I would take a variable cap across the
xtal socket and twiddle it as required. Crude, but I remember that it
did work relatively well within narrow limits. If folks are content
to rubber the rock down 1 khz, that should be fine. It worked on old
FT-243's. Dunno about sealed tv rocks, but in theory it should work.
On a breadboard set it should be a piece of cake. I remember it being
relatively easy on a DX-60, but I don't offhand remember how far I could
get the rocks to rubber without souring the note. There is a point beyond
which it does not work very well.
It might be worth trying, with a 25pf or so trimmer cap across the rock.
Bob/NA4G
End of glowbugs V1 #146
***********************