Mr. Carlson Restores a BC-348 -- But 40 Meters Sounds Very Weak. Why?

Mr. Carlson mentions that he is a ham radio AMer.  He is also on SSB, but AM is, he says, his preferred mode.  FB. 

I got a real chuckle about the MVC switch position on the front panel.  "Manual Volume Control"  like "Manual Gain Control."  I thought I had invented this term.  You know, "real hams control their gain manually."  This is why Farhan never put AGC in the BITX20. But it seems the Army Air Corps was way ahead of me with the BC-348.    

Mr. Carlson makes it sound (!) like the Dynamotors are a thing of the past.  Not true.  Every Saturday morning I listen to the Old Miltary Radio Net and hear a number of Dynamoters spinning in the background.  One belongs to Buzz W3EMB who uses a BC-348.  Buzz has an SDR attached to the IF of his BC-348, which I think is an admirable mix of the old and the new.  Those BC-348s are, after all, quite old.  WWII old -- like 85 years old.  And still working.  

Paul has a good discussion of the importance of short lead length, and of mounting shielded capacitors properly, and of the usefullness of a good groundplane under the capacitor.  Go Manhattan boards!  Paul's presentation on how to identify the outside foil of a capacitor was very good, but I was wondering if you could also find out by using a file to remove some of the yellow insulation, then test with a DMM to see which terminal is connected to the foil. 

"Lots of times you have to add solder to remove solder."  Indeed. 

The importance of testing for BOTH capacitance and leakage.  Yes. 

But why bother with "period correct" internal wiring harnesses, when you have already put a bunch of modern caps in there?   I mean, I'm in favor of the re-capping, but this seems inconsistent with the need for "period correct" internal wiring harnesses. 

When Paul first fired up the receiver, I was hoping he would disconnect the antenna to see how much band noise was getting through. 

When Paul got to the IF alignment, he spoke of the dangers of working on energized high-voltage gear.  I had been thinking about getting a BC-348 myelf, but Paul's comments reminded me of why this is probably not a good idea for me.  Paul's comments about "knowing where your hands are" is on target.  "One hand behind the back, " is a good rule for this kind of energized testing -- this will help prevent current from a mishap from flowing through your chest.  

I may have more comments later.  Off to the beach now.  

Back from the beach:   

"Contrary to popular belief, the simpler the receiver, the better they hear."  Amen Mr. C. 

Paul's heroic cleaning of the 915 kc crystal made me feel like a wimp for not having tried to do this with some "bad" 455 kc rocks I was given while trying to build the Mate for the Mighty Midget receiver.  I may go back to those crystals and try to clean them as Mr. C did. 

The grand finale of this 2.5 hour video was, as expected, a demonstration of how good it sounds.  But unfortunately it did not sound good.  Paul tuned through the 40 meter band and I heard NO CW signals.  I didn't even hear FT8.   There were a few anemic SSB signals and, as he reached the upper portion of the band some very weak AM broadcast signals.  I didn't even hear CHU Canada's time signal.  Huh?  Why?   Our very simple homebrew Direct Conversion receiver sounds a LOT better than that.  I mean look at the sweep of 40 meters that I did using only a simple dipole:  https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/12/an-evening-bandscan-on-40-meters-using.html  Why is there such a big difference in performance? 

Could it be the antenna that Paul was using?   He was on what he calls the 369 antenna.   Could there be a problem in the receiver?  Could it be band conditions?   

Mike WU2D's Video on the SimpleX Super Receiver -- Part II

 Another FB video from Mike WU2D.   

But you know,  I too find myself kind of opposed to front panel on-off switches.  I power my rigs with small DC supplies.  I just turn on the supply when I want to use one of the rigs.  I don't have or need a switch on the front panel of the rig.  

I especially liked Mike's use of the gate dip meter and, of course, the Q meter.  FB OM. 

I must say I have a preference for the first version, but only because I dislike the regenerative circuit in the second version.  I do like the newer-style coils -- I have one in the BFO of the Mate for the Mighty Midget receiver.   

Thanks Mike for the sideband inversion factoid in Part 1!   The Hallas Rule -- words to live by. 

One word of caution.  I used 6U8s on my Mate for the Mighty Midget receiver.  I had good results, but WA9WFA had a lot of trouble.  We eventually concluded that the 6U8s didn't age well.  And they were quite long in the tooth.  We found (from the tube guys) that 6EA8s aged better and were a good and easy sub for the venerable (perhaps TOO venerable) 6U8s.  I switched tubes in my rig and it did seem to work better.  BTW, this is the receiver that I use to listen to the Old Military Radio Net on Saturday mornings.  

Here is the story of our switch from 6U8s to 6EA8s: 

https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2022/02/6ea8s-in-mate-for-mighty-midget-and.html

Radio Items Picked-up at VWS Winterfest 2024 Hamfest

As always, click on image for a better view

Above you can see what I picked up at the Vienna Wireless Society's 2024 Winterfest Hamfest. 

-- On the left in the blue box is an MXM Industries SuperRX/TX 40 transceiver. It is a kit from a Texas company.   Superhet receiver with IF at 455 kHz.  Crystal controlled CW transmitter on 7040 kHz.  The oscillator works, but so far no receive signals.  I will have to troubleshoot.  Does anyone have a schematic? 

-- Behind the MXM there is a nice box marked "Diode Detector" I opened it up and there is just a solid state diode and a 50 ohm resistor to ground.   Box may be useful. 

-- I got a couple of books: "Weekend Projects" 1979 from ARRL, and "A History of QST -- Volume 1 Amateur Radio Technology 1915 - 2013" 2013 from ARRL. 

-- On top of the Weekend Projects book you see a "Crystal Holder" from Gross Radio of New York City.  W1UJR has some good history on this company:  https://w1ujr.com/written-word/gross-radio-company-circa-1931/  This device seem to be intended to hold in place a raw piece of quartz!  Cool. 

-- To the right of the books there is a serious-looking VFO.  One dollar!  Deal!  It is a CB VFO, but the markings say it puts out 5.44 to 5.99 MHz.  So it should be useful.  The dual speed dial is very nice.  

-- Above the VFO is a nice step attenuator from the "Arrow Antenna" company of Loveland Colorado. 

-- Further to the right are some Electric Radio and Antique Wireless Association magazines that Armand WA1UQO gave me.  Really nice.  The AWA mags have a very thoughtful piece (warts and all) on Jean Shepherd.  And the ER pile has an article by Scott WA9WFA that mentions my work on the Mate for the Mighty Midget receiver.  Thanks again Armand! 

-- I also got some ADE6+ surface mount mixers.  The price was right! 

Thanks to VWS for putting on this great hamfest! 

Nate KA1MUQ's Amazing Thermatron Receiver

https://natesbasement123.blogspot.com/2024/02/thank-you-bill-dean-grayson-pete-and.html

Wow, some really wonderful work is taking place in Nate KA1MUQ's basement in California. 

-- I really like the pill bottle coil forms.  I wonder if Nate faced suspicion (and possible arrest) in the pharmacy when he asked for the pill bottles.  (I got some suspicious looks when I went I asked for empty pill bottles while building my thermatron Mate for the Mighty Midget receiver back in 1998.) 

-- The variable capacitors are also quite cool, as is the big rotary switch.   Is that for band switching? 

-- Oh  man, all on a plywood board.  Frank Jones would approve!  

-- Indeed Nate, that beautiful receiver NEEDS an analog VFO.  And we need to hear it inhaling phone sigs, not that FT8 stuff. 

-- Please keep us posted on your progress.  And of course, one hand behind your back OM.  Lots of high voltage on those thermatrons.  

Thanks Nate!  

SolderSmoke Podcast #238 -- SolderSmoke Shack South, Cycle 25, Chiquita Banana Radio, RCA, HQ-100, Mate Mighty Midget, Sony SWL RX , Mailbag

SolderSmoke Podcast #238 is available:  http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke238.mp3

TRAVELOGUE:  

Cathartic decluttering:  Bill preparing for future winter travel to Dominican Republic.  Will build SolderSmoke Shack South.  Dividing everything up:  Rigs, parts, tools, supplies, antennas, test gear.  Everything.  

OUR SPONSOR:  Parts Candy.  

https://www.ebay.com/usr/partscandy  Premium quality test leads! Hand cut, hand crimped, hand soldered, these will become your new favorite test leads GUARANTEED!

PETE'S BENCH:

-- Cycle 25 better? – Out here on the left coast – it is not evident

-- Chiquita Banana and the US Navy in early ‘wireless” operations.  Why RCA was created by the US Navy in 1919.

-- Update on the MAX2870 –someone has written the code to make it work with the Raspberry Pi and the QUISK SDR software

-- Field Day prep

SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION:

 

Bill needs your help:  

-- Please watch his YouTube videos.  The longer the better!  Success based on hours watched. Great to have on while you are working in the shack. Just go to YouTube and search for the SolderSmoke channel. Or:  SolderSmoke - YouTube

-- Please put links to the SolderSmoke blog on your websites and blogs. 

-- How to USE the SolderSmoke Blog: Propagation, shopping, other sites... 

-- Please put comments under the articles on the SolderSmoke blog.  We like comments and dialogue. 

BILL'S BENCH:

-- Repair of the Sony ICF SW1 shortwave receiver.  Bad electrolytics.  Number Station receiving device? 

-- HQ-100   Q-Multiplier. BFO Switch. AVC.  Noise Limiter limitations.  Dave K8WPE: Old Radio Lessons.

-- MMMRX: Detector circuit. Alignment. Muting. On the air (40 AM with DX-100) 

MAILBAG: 

-- Bob Crane W8SX -- Great interviews at FDIM. On the SolderSmoke Blog. Thanks Bob! 

-- Dave Bamford W2DAB -- Stickers on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.  FB Dave! 

-- Farhan VU2ESE:  LADPAC software now available through W7ZOI' site.  

-- Lex PH2LB: Stickers in a Netherlands pub.  

-- Dave K8WPE Michigan Mighty Mite links.  Old Smoke idea. On the SolderSmoke blog. 

-- Rich WB4TLM was in the electronics class of CF Rockey W9SCH. FB. 

-- Dean KK4DAS Working on  his dad's HQ-170A. VWS maker group on mixers. 

-- Grayson KJ7UM -- Mixology article in ER. 

-- Pete Eaton -- Farhan's new analog rig: Daylight again!  Standby for more info from Farhan. 

-- Will KI4POV New HB Al Fresco single conversion superhet.  FB. 

-- Alvin N5VZH. Shep's "I Libertine."  Yes.  I laughed, I cried,  It changed me. 

-- Chuck KF8TI.  Mr. Wizard!  

-- Steve N8NM on the mend after some routine maintenance. 

-- Ben AB4EN is listening and likes the podcast -- Thanks Ben. 

May 1939 QST

Putting the "Mate for the Mighty Midget" Back to Work -- With a DX-100 on 40 Meter AM

After working on it for a while I got so fond of my old Hammarlund HQ-100 that I moved it from the AM/Boatanchors operating position over to a more convenient spot right next to my computer.  This left a big gap on the receive side of the AM station.  

I briefly put my HRO-ish solid state receiver above the DX-100, but I'm afraid that receiver needs some work.  More on that in due course. 

I thought about putting my SOLID STATE Lafayette HA-600A atop the thermatronic DX-100, but this just didn't seem right. The Radio Gods would NOT approve. 

So I turned my attention to the Mate for the Mighty Midget that I built in 1998 and have been poking at and "improving" ever since. 

This receiver worked, but not quite right. It received SSB stations well enough, but when I turned off the BFO I could no longer hear the band noise. I wasn't sure how well the RF amp's grid and plate tuned circuits tracked.  And I had serious doubts about the detector circuit that Lew McCoy put in there when he designed this thing back in 1966. 

As I started this latest round of MMMRX poking, I realized that I now have test gear that I didn't have in 1998:  I now have a decent oscilloscope.  I have an HP-8640B signal generator (thanks Steve Silverman and Dave Bamford).  I have an AADE LC meter. And I've learned a lot about building rigs. 

FRONT END TRACKING

The MMRX has a tuned circuit in the grid of the RF amplifier, and another in the plate circuit of the RF amplifier.  There is a ganged capacitor that tunes them both.  They need to cover both 80/75 and 40 meters. And they need to "track" fairly well:  over the fairly broad range of 3.5 to 7.3 MHz they both need to be resonant at the same frequency.  

McCoy's article just called for "ten turns on a pill bottle" for the coils in these parallel LC circuits.  The link coils were 5 turns.  No data on inductance was given.  Armed now with an LC meter, I pulled these coils off the chassis and measured the inductances of the coils.  I just needed to make sure they were close in value.  They were: 

L1 was .858uH L2 was 2.709         L3 was .930uH  L4 was 2.672

Next I checked the ganged variable capacitors.  At first I found that one cap had a lot more capacitance than they other.  How could that be?  Then I remembered that I had installed trimmer caps across each of the ganged capacitors. Adjusting these trimmers (and leaving the caps connected to the grid of V1a and V2A, I adjusted the trimmers to get the caps close in value.  I think I ended up with them fairly close: 

C1: 63.77-532 pF          C2 64.81 -- 525.1 pF

I put the coils back in and checked the tracking on 40 and on 80/75.  While not perfect, it was close enough to stop messing with it.  

DETECTOR CIRCUIT

I've had my doubts about the detector circuit that Lew McCoy had in the MMMRX.  In his 1966 QST article he claimed that the circuit he used was a voltage doubler, and that this would boost signal strength.  But I built the thing in LT Spice and didn't notice any doubling.  And consider the capacitors he had at the input and output of the detector:  100 pF.  At 455 kHz 100 pF is about 3500 ohms.  At audio (1 kHz) it is 1.5 MILLION ohms. Ouch.  No wonder years ago I put a .1 uF cap across that output cap just to get the receiver working. 

Scott WA9WFA told me that by the time the MMMRX appeared in the 1969 ARRL handbook, the second "voltage doubling" diode was gone, as were the 100 pF caps.  Now it was just a diode, a .01 uF cap and a 470,000 ohm resistor.  I switched to the 1969 Handbook circuit (but I have not yet changed the 1 meg grid resister to 470k -- I don't think this will make much difference).  Foiled again by a faulty QST article, again by one of the League's luminaries. 

6U8s out, 6EA8s in 

We learned that the 6U8 tubes originally called for by Lew McCoy are getting old and not aging well.  So I switched all three to more youthful 6EA8s.  This seemed to perk the receiver up a bit. 

MUTING from the DX-100

My K2ZA DX-100 has a T/R relay mounted in a box on the back of the transmitter.  When the Plate switch goes up, it switches the antenna from receiver to transmitter.  The box also has a one pole double throw switch available for receiver muting.  I put the common connection to ground, the normally connected (receive position) connect the ground terminal of the AF output transformer to ground -- it is disconnected from ground on transmit.  The other connection (normally open) is connected to the antenna jack -- on transmit this connection ground the receiver RF input connection.  These two steps mutes the receiver very nicely. 

Replacing Reduction Drive

Over the years I have had several different reduction drives on the main tuning cap.  I had a kind of wonky Jackson brothers drive on there that needed to be replaced.  I put in a new one -- this smoothed out he tuning considerably. 

Ceramic Resonator

I never could get McCoy's 455 kc two crystal filter to work right.  So at first I made due with the two 455 kc IF cans.  This made for a very broad passband.  Then I put a CM filter in there.  This was more narrow, but with a lot of loss.  There may have been others.  But the filter spot is currently held by a 6 kHz wide ceramic filter.  This one is my favorite so far. 

Digital Readout

When I was running the DX-100 with the Hammarlund HQ-100 I built a little frequency readout box.  The box was from a Heath QF-1 Q multiplier (I am sorry about this).  The readouts are in Juliano Blue and come via e-bay from San Jian.  I now have it hooked up to the DX-100's oscillator.  I haven't tapped into the MMMRX's oscillator yet. 

VK2BLQ's Two-Tube Regen with a SolderSmoke Dial

 

Thanks to Peter Marks VK3TPM ("a bloke with too many hobbies") for alerting us to this magnificent homebrew receiver with the especially magnificent tuning dial.   

http://blog.marxy.org/2022/03/a-two-valve-regenerative-receiver-for.html 

We have used old CDs as dials for many years.  I have one on my Q-31 Quarantine SW receiver.  But never have we seen one with SolderSmoke emblazoned on it. FB OM. 

Stephen VK2BLQ should make sure that those 6U8s haven't gone old on him.  I recently replaced the 6U8s in my Mate for the Mighty Midget with 6EA8s.  This seemed to rejuvenate the receiver.  

Also, it is shame that Stephen doesn't keep that rig at 12 volts.  250 V?  Yikes.  As I often say, you CAN hurt yourself with 12 volts, but you really have to work at it.  Not so with 250 V.   One hand behind your back Stephen! 

Thanks to Peter and Stephen. 

6EA8s in the Mate for the Mighty Midget, and WA9WFA Re-Builds a Heath HW-12

I reported to Scott and Grayson that I had finally gotten around to changing the three aging 6U8 tubes in my Mate for the Mighty Midget receiver.  I replaced them with three more youthful 6EA8s.  This switch really seemed to perk up the old receiver.   I'm listening to 75 meters on it right now. 

Speaking of 75 meters, Scott sent me this picture of his latest effort:  re-building a Heathkit HW-12.  FB.  This is a way of experiencing (or re-experiencing) the construction of a Heathkit.  I did something similar, but much less complicated)  with a Heathkit VF-1.  Scott did a wonderful job taking this old rig apart.  That PC board looks great (see photo below). 

Scott's e-mail:  

Hi Bill and Grayson, I’m glad to hear of your good results with the 6EA8’s in your MMMrx! I had similar results when I finally got rid of the 6U8’s with their iffy performance and went with the 6EA8’s.  I did put a set of 6GH8A’s and tried it out, it worked, but I don’t have any data on performance improvements.  After completing the outboard power supply and audio amplifier, I’ve taken a break from my MMMRx and it’s sitting there on the bench. I’ll get back to it in a while.  

 

In the meantime I’ve started a new project where I’m re-kitting a Heathkit HW-12 eighty meter transceiver.  I have completed the disassembly process including the pcb.  I bought a Hakko vacuum desoldering iron for taking all (ALL) parts off of the pcb, and it’s bare now.   I’m planning to start rebuilding this coming week.  73 Scott WA9WFA  

A Great Morning on the Old Military Radio Net: AB9MQ's Central Electronics 20A, W3EMD's Dynamotor, WU2D

Just a portion of Masa's shack

I usually try to listen in on the Old Military Radio Net on Saturday mornings (3885 kc).  Lately I listen with my Mate for the Mighty Midget receiver.  

This morning's session was especially good.  For me the highlight was when Masa AB9MQ called in from Normal, Illinois using his Central Electronics 20A (see below).   That was one of the earliest SSB rigs.  A phasing rig, it also ran AM (which was what Masa was using this morning).  He had it paired up with a Central Electronics 458 VFO.  You folks really need to check out Masa's QRZ.com page: 

https://www.qrz.com/db/AB9MQ

Buzz W3EMD called in from Rhinebeck, NY.  I could hear his dynamotor in the background.  Buzz said hello to Masa in Japanese.   FB.

Always great to hear Mike WU2D. 

Mate for the Mighty Midget with 6 kHz Ceramic Filter

I built this receiver back in 1998, but I continue to have fun tinkering with it. I wrote an article about it for "Electric Radio" magazine (Number 115).   One of the major shortcomings was the crystal filter that Lew McCoy prescribed.  It was very difficult to get 455 kHz crystals to work well as filters.  At various times I've had all kinds of replacements in there in place of Lew's filter:  a 455 kHz IF can, a Toyo CM-5 hybrid ceramic filter, a fancy Millen high Q IF transformer. None of them really worked well. 

Recently I put a little +/- 3 kHz ceramic filter in there.  This is a 6 kHz wide filter at around 455 kHz.  I think it works really well.  Above you can see the receiver in action.  I use it with a little powered computer AF amplified speaker -- I just don't like headphones.  

The latest  filter mod with the 6 kHz ceramic filter  is shown above. 

Above you can see what the whole 455 kHz filter and transformer passband looks like. The input was through a 2k resistor placed between the .001 uF cap and the filter. The output was also through a 2k resistor placed at the top of the secondary of T1. (So don't pay any attention to the insertion loss.) 

The NanoVNA is displaying 2 kHz per division.   I put the BFO at 451 kHz.  This results is excellent opposite sideband rejection.  The filter is really too wide for SSB, but it is about perfect for AM, which I listen to quite often on both 75 and 40.  SSB and AM both sound quite good.  Check out the video above. 

It is kind of amazing what can be done with just three 6U8 tubes. 

There are many previous SolderSmoke blog posts about the Mate for the Mighty Midget Receiver here:

https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/search?q=Mighty+Midget   Be sure to keep selecting "earlier posts" so see more. 

Putting a Ceramic Filter in the "Mate for the Mighty Midget" Receiver

It is really simple.  I had one of the +/- 3kHz (6 kHz wide) 455HT filters on hand.  The spec sheets call for 2000 ohms at both ends, but looking at the schematic it appeared that I already had high impedance on both sides of the filter.  I put a .001 uF cap on the input side to keep the DC voltage off the filter (see above and below). This capacitor allows us to avoid the dreaded problem of electro-migration that is so nicely described by SV8YM here: 

http://sv8ym.blogspot.com/2010/07/mysterious-case-of-withering-filters.html. 

Tasos also provides a good description of the innards of those little black boxes that contain ceramic filters. 

Once you get the filter in your receiver, you have to carefully place the BFO signal in relation to the filter passband.  I have trouble properly sweeping 455 kHz filters -- my HP8640B will not go that low.  Nor will my Antuino (I need to modify the code -- someone help me please).  I know the NanoVNA will do the job, but I just couldn't seem to get it to work.  So I went "old-school" and manually swept the filter using my FeelTech sig gen and my Rigol scope.  This gave me a rough idea of where the passband was.  I put the BFO on the low end of the filter passband, at 451 kHz.

   

With this filter the MMM RX has become a real asset.   The 6 kHz bandwidth allows for nice reception of both SSB signals and AM sigs.   I may try to use one of the +/- 2 kHz filters  (4 KHz wide), but so far I have not been able to find a source for this part. 

WA9WFA's Mate for the Mighty Midget 1966 QST Receiver

Scott WA9WFA and I have been exchanging e-mails about his Mate for the Mighty Midget receiver project.  This morning I finally took a look at Scott's we page on this effort.  There was a lot there that resonated.  For example: 

"I remember the moment very clearly.  June 1966 I was sitting in a lawn chair reading a stack of QST's that I had brought along to the summer cabin.  The February 1966 issue the Beginner and Novice section introduced the "Mighty Midget Transmitter", a 10 watt crystal controlled transmitter.  The April 1966 issue Beginner and Novice section introduced the "Mate for the Mighty Midget" which was a three tube super-heterodyne Novice type receiver.  Over the course of that summer I read and re-read those articles a jillion times.  Being 13 years old, I didn't have the electrical or mechanical skills to pull off such a project so I could only dream about it.  In 1970 I bought a handful of the parts.  In 1976 I bought more parts.  In 2021 I decided to build it while I still had the ability to do it.  This project is only my second homebrew radio project so I am still learning things every second of the way...

 

While I am not expecting to much in performance, the 13 year old in me is ever hopeful that this 1966 Novice receiver will be the most wonderful radio ever made.   73, Scott WA9WFA"

Scott's MMM RX page: 

https://www.qsl.net/wa9wfa/MateForTheMightyMidget.htm

Scott and I are now both updating the MMM RX by substituting 455 kHz ceramic filters for Lew McCoy's FT-241 crystal filter.   I have my filter wired in now, and it is working well.  Scott plans on soldering his in today.  I will post on this mod soon. 

On his QRZ.com page, Scott notes the need to fight the temptation to further soup-up this simple receiver:  "I did have to resist the temptation to add another audio stage, a mechanical filter, AGC, 2nd IF amplifer stage, etc..."

Exactly right Scott.  Resist the temptation.   Simplicity is a virtue.  I do use an outboard, powered computer speaker, but I justify this by telling myself that I just don't want to use headphones.  But I could use headphones, so this is OK.  OK?  

Scott's QRZ.com page: 

https://www.qrz.com/db/wa9wfa

I must add that I think the yearning of Scott's inner 13 year-old can be fulfilled by the MMM RX.  I think it is pretty wonderful.  It is -- in my view  -- not as good as a Drake 2-B, but it is FAR better than an S-38E, and it is better than a Lafayette HA-600A (wjm).  

SolderSmoke Podcast #233: PIMP, Boatanchors, Novices, MMM, Heathkits, DC Receivers, Mailbag

SolderSmoke Podcast #233 is available. 

http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke233.mp3

Travelogue: Cape Cod. SST. Marconi Site.

The WFSRA:   The World Friendship Society of Radio Amateurs.

Pete's Bench:

The Pimp.
The NCX rig.
The Collins.
The many DC receivers built worldwide.
The parts shortages are real! Several key radios on hold. Si5351 sub.
Talk to G-QRP convention

Bill's Bench:

FT-8. Not for me. I tried it.
Novice Station Rebuild.
Globe V-10 VFO Deluxe.
Selenium rectifier removal CONTROVERSY?
Not crazy about my Novice station. Not crazy about CW. 
Mate for the Mighty Midget. Again. 
Mike W6MAB -- Detector problems LTSPICE Check
One more mod for MMM RX. Ceramic filter at 455.
Dropped screw inside tubular cap on Millen 61455 transformer. 
Talk to the Vienna Wireless Society
Thinking of a Moxon or a Hex beam.


BOOK REVIEW Chuck Penson WA7ZZE New Heathkit Book. http://wa7zze.com

Mailbag

-- New SPRAT is out! Hooray!
-- Todd K7TFC sent me copy of Shopcraft as Soulcraft. FB.
-- Dean KK4DAS building an EI9GQ 16 W amp. FB.
-- Jack NG2E Getting close on Pete's DC receiver.
-- JF1OZL's website is BACK!
-- Tony K3DY sent link to cool books. 
-- Sheldon VK2XZS thinking of building a phasing receiver.
-- Peter VK2EMU has joined the WFSRA. FB!
-- Ned KH7JJ from Honolulu spotted the Sideband Myth in the AWA video.
-- Chris M0LGX looking at the ET-2, asks about the variometer.
-- Pete Eaton Nov 64 anti HB rant in november 1964 QST. Wow.
-- Josh Lambert Hurley spreading FMLA stickers in the UK. FB
-- Stephen VE6STA getting ready to melt solder.
-- Got a great picture of Rogier PA1ZZ back on Bonaire.
-- Farhan reading the manual of Hans's new digital rig.
-- Paul G0OER wonders if FMLA getting ready to move on 5 meters.

Recent Homebrew Projects from Jan PA3GSV (of "Mate for the Mighty Midget" Fame)

 

Recent talk of the Mate for the Mighty Midget receiver and Pete's PIMP SSB transmitter brought me back in contact with the work of Jan, PA3GSV.  I took a look at his QRZ.com page and found that he has some projects that rival even his seemingly unbeatable MMM RX project. 

Check it out for some real homebrew eye candy: 

https://www.qrz.com/db/pa3GSV

Another M^3: The Michigan Micro Mote

Move over Michigan Mighty Mite and Mate for the Mighty Midget.   There's a new M^3 in town.  And it is SMALL. 

Hack-A-Day had an article on this today, and while it seems only tenuously connected to ham radio, I found it intriguing.  

Check it out.  Who knows, someday people may be operating in "dust mode":  

https://hackaday.com/2021/10/04/snails-sensors-and-smart-dust-the-michigan-micro-mote/#more-498450

Scott WA9WFA's Mate for the Mighty Midget Receiver is WORKING! (Video)

Wow, Scott got his Mate for the Mighty Midget receiver to work and he is obviously overjoyed with the result.  All of us who have struggled with a homebrew project know just what this feels like.  And it is very cool that Scott got some useful guidance from Charlie Morris in far-off New Zealand.   Congratulations Scott.  I'm really glad you stuck with it.  

Scott's success comes at a good time:  Pete N6QW is building W4IMP's three tube "IMP" SSB transmitter (also from the 1960s).   I accept responsibility for naming Pete's project:  It will be known as "Pete's IMP" or, memorably,  "The PIMP."  For a look at Pete's rig go here: 

http://n6qw.blogspot.com/2021/09/lets-build-something-with-vacuum-tubes_23.html

Scott had problems getting Lew McCoy's 455 kc crystal filter to work.  So did I.  It turns out that this is a very old problem, going back to World War II.  In Don Stoner's 1959 "New Sideband Handbook" on page 54 he writes of homebrew filters in the 400 to 500 kc range:  

"Inexpensive crystal filters constructed from war surplus FT-241 type low frequency crystals are very popular with the 'do it yourself' hams. These CT cut crystals have been plentiful and relatively cheap for a number of years and are in the hands of many Amateurs. The general run of war surplus crystals may or may not be good. Experience has shown that one out of four of these crystals are usually defective in one way or another." 

Stoner was writing just 14 years after the war.  Add another six decades to the age of these crystals -- often decades spent in musty basements -- and you can imagine the percentage of bad 455 kc FT-241  crystals increasing.  So I think Scott is wise to seek an alternative to McCoy's crystal filter. 

Scott's original build of the MMMRX receiver is just so nice.   In the video he says he plans to go back to it after he gets the expanded version fully functional.  He should definitely do that -- his  original version looks so good.  I think it is probably very close to working properly. 

Thanks Scott, and again, congratulations OM. 

Joe Galeski's 1960 "IMP" 3 -Tube Filter SSB Transmitter, and the Spirit of SSB Homebrew

Here is another important bit of SSB history.  In  May 1960, Joe Galeski W4IMP published an article in QST describing his super-simple SSB transmitter.  While Tony Vitale's "Cheap and Easy" rig was a phasing design, Joe came up with a filter rig.  He built USB filter at 5775 kc.  With it, he ran a VXO at around 8525 kc. This put him on 20 meter USB. 

Here is the QST article: http://marc.retronik.fr/AmateurRadio/SSB/A_3_tubes_filter_rig_%28SSB%29_%5BQST_1960_5p%5D.pdf 

In discussing how to put this rig on other bands, Joe got the sideband inversion question exactly right: 

Thank you Joe!  

Joe even provides an comment that seems to capture an important element of the homebrew SSB ethos.  Joe homebrewed his filter, but he mentioned the possibility of using a store-bought filter: 

That's the spirit Joe!  

Along the same lines, Jim Musgrove wrote in Electric Radio: 

Having built Lew McCoy's Mate for the Mighty Midget receiver (which also used just three tubes), I can't help thinking that an IMP-ish transmitter would be an excellent complement to the Mate for the Mighty Midget.  

Jim Musgrove K5BZH knew Joe Galeski and wrote about him in the January 1992 issue of Electric Radio.  Jim wrote that Joe was an optometrist by profession. When OE1FF wanted to know the cost of building an IMP, Joe Galeski boxed up the original and sent it to him.  FB Joe. 

In December 1961 Joe Galeski published a QST article describing a transistorized version of the IMP -- this rig ran on 15 meters.  K5BZH wrote that Joe later published an article about a small, solid-state transceiver,  appropriately called "The Shrimp." 

Michael Newton Hopkins, AB5L, Author of the FMLA series

Better than anyone else ever has, Michael Hopkins, in his fictional series about Frank Jones and the Five Meter Liberation Army, captures the spirit of homebrew radio.  There is just so much of us in those articles.  I read them some 20 years ago when they first came out; reading them again recently I appreciated them even more.  

Frank was a bit of a curmudgeon:  There are jabs at the appliance operators, Hiram Percy Maxim, hamfests, SSB, the Collins collectors, the QRP movement,  and even Electric Radio magazine.  Howard Armstrong makes an appearance, as do Carl and Jerry.  It all made me want to put a five pin SAW filter on my lapel.  

As I read, I thought about what a great writer Michael was.  When I Googled him, a few of the results led me back to  my own book.  I'd forgotten that Michael was in there, but he is.  On one page he advises me how to power my Mate for the Mighty Midget receiver without using a power transformer (a very Frank Jones approach).  On another page I note that Michael had sent me a kit for the Doug DeMaw "Barbados Receiver."  Wow, that was my first Superhet.  (I also have one that was built by Dale Parfitt.)  Most of the parts were put to use in other projects.  But I still have the board (see above).  Reminded that it came from Michael, I will now have to complete the construction.

Below is a nice article about Michael that appeared in the Flying Pigs newsletter. (Click on the images for an easier read.)   

The articles can be found here: 

http://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2021/07/summer-reading-for-homebrewers-frank.html

Michael's 2005 Obituary:

https://obits.dallasnews.com/us/obituaries/dallasmorningnews/name/michael-hopkins-obituary?pid=14406223

Thank you Michael.  VIVA EL FMLA! 

SolderSmoke Podcast #229 -- G2NJ Trophy, SDR, HDR, CW! Mailbag

Soldersmoke Podcast #229 is available: 

http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke229.mp3

--  G2NJ Trophy is awarded to Pete Juliano, N6QW. 

 -- Get your vaccine shot as soon as you can!  

-- More from "Conquering the Electron" by Derek Cheung. 

-- Bad fire in the chip factory.  Such a shame.  Sad!  I had NOTHING to do with it.  I was home that day.  I can prove it.

 -- Bezos is not such a bad guy.  Turns out he is a space-geek.  

 -- Perseverance was the big space news.  Very cool.  

 

Pete's bench:

Raspberry Pi vs. Microcontrollers

Treedix display

Conversion of the Dentron Scout

CW rigs?

6L6 on a wooden chassis

SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION-  

I NEED TO BUILD UP TIME VIEWERS VIEW MY VIDEOS: So please watch!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC20TcdWSSFliMhg3k2A1a5w

--  Our Patreon sponsors get an early look at our YouTube content.  So please, consider

becoming a Patreon sponsor.

--  Please continue to use the Amazon search engine on the blog page (upper right).   

Bill's bench: 

Hodgepodge:   

-- BITX40 Module.  

-- Ramseykit Amp. 

-- San Jian counter,  

-- CW using 750 Hz oscillator. 

-- RF-actuated piezo buzzer.  

-- SDR!  SDR using PC and tablet.  

-- Checking the output with SDR.  

-- Moving the carrier osc frequency.  

 Also, I put the Fish Soup 10 back on the air.  Nice contacts under 200 mw.

Up next:  A rig for 80/75 and 20 meters.  Single Conversion.  Using VFO from a Yaesu FT101 that runs 8.7 – 9.2 Mhz.   Quiz question:  What IF should I use?

MAILBAG

Mark Zelesky sent me wood tokens with power and Ohm's law formulae.  Thanks!

Scott WA9WFA Built a really nice Mate for Mighty Midget RX – getting it going!

Tryg EI7CLB found board of his George Dobbs Ladybird RX.  Rebuild it OM!

Tom WX2J – We talked about “No lids, no kids, no space cadets” nastiness.

Nick M0NTV about sideband inversion.  I like the simple rule about subtraction.

Jonathan M0JGH – Always listen to Pete.  Got married, has mixing product. Leo?

Mike AE0IH.  Dad used a BC-348 in the service. Looking for one.  FB.

Adam N0ZIB – “Silent Shep” site --- with some ham radio shows I had not seen.

Walter KA4KXX in Orlando has a similar subtraction problem with San Jian counter.

Bill N5ALO sent me a really nice KLH speaker.   I’m using it now.

Jason N2NLY – interested in building SSB transceiver.  One step at a time OM…

Trevor in Annapolis sent xcsd cartoon that really hit home. 

Farhan is doing OK in India, diligently protecting his family from the virus.  

Peter VK2EMU also doing well.

Dave AA7EE Casually killed a DC receiver in Hollywood, and disposed of the remains. 

Charlie ZL2CTM doing great things with simple SSB.  Blogpost.

Phil VK8MC in Darwin sends article on "Mend not End" battle against planned obsolescence.

Bob KY3R re my SDR adventures, asked if I’ve had a recent medical/psychiatric evaluation. 

Radio History Question: Why 455 kHz as the IF frequency?

My work on the S-38Es, on the HRO-dial receiver, on the Mate for the Mighty Midget,  and on various mechanical filters has caused me to think (once again) about why we ended up with 455 kHz as the  IF frequency for so many radios.  I've heard many explanations for this, but unfortunately I've forgotten the explanations and lost the sources.  I started digging into this again today.  I found the below e-mail from Al N3FRQ on the Boatanchors mailing list (2008). 

I contacted Al to find out if he had learned anything else on this topic.  He has not.  So if anyone out there has answers to Al's questions, or anyother info that would shed light on why they went with 455, please let us know. 

------------------------------- 

Every so often the question comes up: Why are all the IF’s 455 KHz? I’d 
like to get an article together that solves this riddle while the people 
who know are still with us. I know parts of the story, but I need help 
with a couple of issues.

There are two major consideration is the choice of the intermediate 
frequency used in a superheterodyne receiver. The lower the frequency, 
the easier it is to attain high selectivity. Also, in the early days, 
before tetrode and pentode tubes, it was easier to achieve a high degree 
of amplification at lower frequencies. Conversely, a higher IF frequency 
results in better image rejection.

Early superhets had the IF at 100KHz or lower in order to get adequate 
gain from the available triode tubes. They suffer severely from 
“two-spot tuning” (images). By the early 1930’s, broadcast set had 
settled in at 175KHz, and automobile receivers would later adopt 262KHz 
as a standard.

The advent of the short-wave craze, and multi-band broadcast receivers 
dictated a higher IF frequency to achieve adequate image suppression on 
the short-wave bands. The broadcast band occupied 550-1500KHz at this 
time, and the designer encounters sever problems if his radio tunes 
across it’s own IF. Some shortwave sets used 1600-1700KHz for better 
image rejection, but one couldn’t go higher if the 160-meter ham band 
(1800-2000KHZ) was to be covered. Most multi-band receiver settled in 
near 450KHz, a comfortable distance from the first broadcast channel at 
550KHz.

Questions:

Odd multiples of 5KHz, 455, 465, etc., were usually chosen so that the 
image of the carrier of a broadcast-band station could be zero-beat with 
the carrier of the station being tuned to achieve minimal interference. 
(This assumes 10KHz channel spacing. Did the Europeans (9KHz) do 
something else?)

The Radiotron Designers Handbook, Third Edition, p. 159, states “A 
frequency of 455 Kc/s is receiving universal acceptance as a standard 
frequency, and efforts are being made to maintain this frequency free 
from radio interference.”

(1) Do FCC and international frequency allocations reflect this?

(2) I’ve heard the term “Clear-Channel IF.” Can anyone cite references?

(3) At lease one news group posting claims that broadcast frequencies in 
a particular market are assigned to prevent strong inter-modulation 
products from falling near 455KHz. Is this factual? Need reference.”

(4) Was this (3) at least part of the reason for “Radio Moving Day” in 
1941? See: http://www.dcmemories.com/RadioMovingDay/032341WINXFreqChange.jpg

(5) Many National Radio sets used a 456KHz IF’s and I think I remember a 
437 somewhere. Why? Are there different considerations for short-wave CW 
operation?

Further input, corrections, and elaborations are greatly appreciated. 
Scolarly reference will be looked upon with great favor.

Regards,
Al

-- 
Al Klase - N3FRQ 
Flemington, NJ 
http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/