Date: Thu, 24 Mar 94 04:30:36 PST From: Ham-Homebrew Mailing List and Newsgroup Errors-To: Ham-Homebrew-Errors@UCSD.Edu Reply-To: Ham-Homebrew@UCSD.Edu Precedence: Bulk Subject: Ham-Homebrew Digest V94 #71 To: Ham-Homebrew Ham-Homebrew Digest Thu, 24 Mar 94 Volume 94 : Issue 71 Today's Topics: Help with trap dipole Info wanted: ICOM IC2A 2m HT Kenwood (TS-850) Computer Interface Info Wanted list Parts sources and where to find HF coils/coil forms QSK (2 msgs) What is third order intercept ? (2 msgs) Send Replies or notes for publication to: Send subscription requests to: Problems you can't solve otherwise to brian@ucsd.edu. Archives of past issues of the Ham-Homebrew Digest are available (by FTP only) from UCSD.Edu in directory "mailarchives/ham-homebrew". We trust that readers are intelligent enough to realize that all text herein consists of personal comments and does not represent the official policies or positions of any party. Your mileage may vary. So there. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 22 Mar 94 21:34:00 -0400 From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!emory!news-feed-2.peachnet.edu!concert!hearst.acc.Virginia.EDU!pplace!ed.lang@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Help with trap dipole To: ham-homebrew@ucsd.edu I would like to build a trap dipole for 160M, 75M, 40M. Can you help me with the traps? Maybe suggest a construction article you have seen. Thanks --- SLMR 2.1a KC4YLX DX-CLUSTER & WA4TFZ PBBS ed.lang@pplace.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Mar 1994 15:40:29 GMT From: yale.edu!noc.near.net!das-news.harvard.edu!cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!dolphin!ed@yale.arpa Subject: Info wanted: ICOM IC2A 2m HT To: ham-homebrew@ucsd.edu I recently Purchased an ICOM IC2A 2meter Handi Talkey at a hamfest. The orig synthesized HT with the thumbwheels on top for freq selection. I Have heard that these were built like tanks, very rugged and easily fixable if they break. I am interested in general info: Output power, current drain, details of external speaker & mike jacks, Schematic / service manual, power requirements, do's & dont's to do with the rig... The unit has a 120v base charger for nicad packs. I got 1 small Nicad pack that works in the base charger and has a coaxial plug at the top of it to accept vehicle power to power radio & recharge nicads (I have tried this) I got 2 extra battery packs for nicads/alkaline AA batts but they will only charge in the base charger. They have no provision for external power to charge / override the batts. Is there a circuit that can replace the batts and provide external power directly to the rig. Will this unit work better at 12.5v than it does at 8.5v? Will it smoke at 13.8v? Any and all info would be appreciated. Thanks. Ed Bathgate Send replys to Ed@fore.com ------------------------------ Date: 23 Mar 1994 20:02:50 -0500 From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!galaxy.ucr.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!eff!news.kei.com!ddsw1!panix!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Kenwood (TS-850) Computer Interface Info Wanted To: ham-homebrew@ucsd.edu A friend is interested in getting details about the computer interface "box" used with the Kenwood TS-850. Has anybody built one for themselves (rather than buying Kenwood's)? Does anybody have schematics? I'm sure that recommendations of commercially available software and other hints and kinks would be appreciated as well. Email to me (adam@panix.com) and I'll forward your replies. -Thanx -Adam (N2DHH) ------------------------------ Date: 23 Mar 94 21:14:19 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: list To: ham-homebrew@ucsd.edu subscribe Evert Halbach ------------------------------ Date: 22 Mar 94 17:12:01 GMT From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!portal.austin.ibm.com!awdprime.austin.ibm.com!mike@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: Parts sources and where to find HF coils/coil forms To: ham-homebrew@ucsd.edu Hi all I think that the subject says it all.....anybody put together a good list of parts/surplus sources (w/ phone nums)? Also I am looking for a source for HF coils (air wound) and coil forms. I've called Barker & Williamson and they do sell them but I'm afraid that they will cost mega$$$. They are sending me a catalog. Any ideas? Thanks Mike Condon WB9MMR "...more music radio..." Austin, TX -- ======================================================================= Mike Condon 8-8245 mike@d7310 CONDON@AUSVM6 WB9MMR ------------------------------ Date: 23 Mar 1994 15:20:27 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!cs.utexas.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!news.acns.nwu.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!rdewan@network.ucsd.edu Subject: QSK To: ham-homebrew@ucsd.edu In article <9403221804.aa02374@COR5.PICA.ARMY.MIL>, wrote: > >P.S. If you are interested I know of a source for RJ1A relays at a reasonable >cost. Email me directly and I'll give you the poop. > Last year at Dayton I bought a bunch for $22 each. The guy who sells it is a Dayton regular. I do not have his card, but he has an unmatched selection of tubes, sockets, chimneys, doorknobs, relays, fiberglass parts etc. Although, I do not have his name/call with me, you will know you have reached the right person when you see his flea market stand. CU in Dayton. Regards, Rajiv aa9ch r-dewan@nwu.edu ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Mar 1994 15:16:25 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!cyber2.cyberstore.ca!nwnexus!jhgrud!eskimo!wrt@network.ucsd.edu Subject: QSK To: ham-homebrew@ucsd.edu In article <9403221804.aa02374@cor5.pica.army.mil>, wrote: > >>Hi all, I hv a Heath SB1000 (Ameritron AL80A), that I wud like to add QSK to. >>ALl the QSK kits are a bit expensive for my taste, but I was wondering. Is it >>just the speed of the internal relay that keeps this thing from being QSK? >>Afterre >>ading Richard Measure's (SP?) article in QST, if I just replace the internal >>relay with a high speed vacum relay (Jennings) will I be able to run it in QSK >>or are there other restraints. Tnks for any help you can give. >> >>DE KA3PLS > >You are referring to the article by Rick Measures, AG6K, in January 1994 QST, >titled "The Nearly Perfect Amplifier." > >I just finished implementing Measure's QSK, electronic bias switching, and >variable bias voltage circuits into my home brew amplifier. The results are >outstanding. It was relatively easy to do, it can be outboarded to an existing >amp, as mine is, and it works flawlessly. This guy sure knows his amplifiers! > >I built the unit using his exact values for the timing circuits and was amazed >at the results - quiet and smooth operation and absolutely NO hot switching. >I tested the unit using a multiple channel, 4 trace, scope. I used the key >closure as the primary trigger and viewed the timing of the exciter and output >relays. Here are the results. > >I found that with his *optional* make delay circuit, 1k-ohm resistor & 1ufd cap >across the exciter reed relay (Kenwood replacement) closed about 0.8 ms >(800 usecs.) after the RJ1A Vacuum relay did. When going from transmit to >receive the vacuum relay stayed closed for about 1.2ms (1200 usecs) after the >exciter relay opened. > >The one thing I did differently was, to use a readily available 42VDC power source >for the relays instead of the 80-120VDC source he calls for. The use of a >higher than normal relay voltage (with current limiting) is a common relay >"speed-up" technique. Instead of seeing 80ma of current being drawn by the >relays upon closure I see somewhere around 70ma - no big whoop. > >As for the opto-electronic bias switching, it too is smooth and on the air >reports confirm that it sounds very clean, unlike common commercial EBS circuits. > >The bias voltage selection is done with an 11 position switch which I found in the >proverbial junk box. Instead of using silicon diodes, as called for in the >article, I had a bunch of 3.3V, 5 watt, zeners I put into service. I have 12 in >series which provides about 40V of bias at the maximum voltage I run on my >amplifier. The tubes are 4-400s (3 in GG) and with 4KV resting voltage on the >plates the idling current is about 80 ma. When I run the amp at reduced power >and drop the operating voltage to 2.5KV, I can readily adjust the idling current >back to a nominal 80-100 ma. by adjusting the bias switch. > >All in all, Mr. Measure's recommendations and earlier articles have been of >great value and inspiration to me in my amp building projects. > > 73 & Happy building, > > Walt Kornienko - K2WK > waltk@pica.army.mil > >P.S. If you are interested I know of a source for RJ1A relays at a reasonable >cost. Email me directly and I'll give you the poop. > Excellent advice from Walt... I also have an SB-1000 (non-QSK) and would like to dispel the rumor that you can't use a non-QSK amp on Amtor or Pactor. I've been using it for over a year with perfect results. Granted, the relay klunking takes some getting used to. Almost had heart failure the first time I used it, but it survived and so did I. The SB-1000 leaves the HV on all the time, so you're only switching the bias on and off, and the antenna, of course. CW is a different matter. There you do need real QSK. 73 es gl Bill Turner, W7LZP wrt@eskimo.com ------------------------------ Date: 22 Mar 94 20:50:06 GMT From: agate!etch-eshop.Berkeley.EDU!ron@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: What is third order intercept ? To: ham-homebrew@ucsd.edu Hi, I keep hearing the term " third order intercept " when speaking of frontend intermod problems. I assume that it has something to do with how the input is biased, be it a FET or GAsFet or whatever. Would some kind sole care to explain this ? thanks and 73's Ron Viegelahn ron@etcheshop.Berkeley.EDU 8 weeks and still waiting 8-( ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Mar 1994 14:49:36 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!pacbell.com!sgiblab!wetware!spunky.RedBrick.COM!psinntp!psinntp!arrl.org!zlau@network.ucsd.edu Subject: What is third order intercept ? To: ham-homebrew@ucsd.edu Ronald Viegelahn (ron@etch-eshop.Berkeley.EDU) wrote: : Hi, : I keep hearing the term " third order intercept " when speaking : of frontend intermod problems. Real amplifiers produce distortion products. The easiest to measure in the frequency domain are those at the frequencies 2f1-f2 or 2f2-f1. (though 2nd order products are sometimes easier if there aren't filters to complicate the measurement) By linearly extrapolating the line relating the level of distortion with the input signals, one can find the point where this line *intercepts* the level of the desired outputs. Basically, the higher the input intercept, the higher the level of signals needed to cause problems. But, this fails to factor in the sensitivity of the receiver--what good is a crunch proof receiver that is deaf? Dynamic range attempts to factor this in, though it neglects the actual enviroment the receiver is subjected to. : I assume that it has something to do with how the input is biased, : be it a FET or GAsFet or whatever. Device biasing does play a part--in general, the higher the biasing for a given device type the higher the intercept. Thus, the input stage of a high dynamic range receiver sometimes uses more power than the entire receiver of a handheld transceiver. There are also design techniques, such as lossless feedback techniques and combining devices which will improve the input intercept. -- Zack Lau KH6CP/1 2 way QRP WAS 8 States on 10 GHz Internet: zlau@arrl.org 10 grids on 2304 MHz ------------------------------ End of Ham-Homebrew Digest V94 #71 ****************************** ******************************