Amplifier Problem
Jastaples at aol.com
Jastaples at aol.com
Sat Jun 15 11:56:20 EDT 1996
While operating the All Asia contest today I noticed that when I use the
SB-220 amplifier the received signal drops by 20 db or more.
While I seldom use this amplifier, it may remain off for months on end, it
has always been a reliable perfomer with no quirks or "strange things"
occuring. But now it wants to act as a receive attentuator when switched on.
(It works fine as an amp... 1 KW or more out with modest drive and grid
current).
I can visualize things like bandswitch contacts, tube plate cap and socket
pins, etc, needing to be polished up, or maybe even a solder joint gone bad.
But perhaps someone has either had the same experience or has a neat
suggestion for a fix.
Please reply direct...
Thanks, Joe, W5ASP
>From txt at canit.se (Torgny) Sat Jun 15 16:11:30 1996
From: txt at canit.se (Torgny) (Torgny)
Date: Sat, 15 Jun 1996 17:11:30 +0200
Subject: Why vanity calls on contest reflector?
Message-ID: <199606151511.RAA08320 at uno.canit.se>
>For instance, CA held the record once for the greatest number of Club calls
>issued to 4 individuals ( 17 ). Unfortunately, it only held for a few weeks
when
>it was replaced by a TX family of 4 who now hold 24 different club calls. I
Why am I not surprised? Only in america... :-)
/Torgny - SM0TXT
>From ki3v at rnodx.org (Richard Hallman) Fri Jun 14 16:42:49 1996
From: ki3v at rnodx.org (Richard Hallman) (Richard Hallman)
Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 08:42:49 pdt
Subject: Callsigns
Message-ID: <31C1887D-00000001 at rnodx.org>
What concerns me is that we currently should ONLY have ONE callsign for
our personal use. I have noted MANY abuses to the so called " CLUB
CALLSIGN group". A perfect example was during the CW Sprint when many
elected to use THEIR Club callsign (2X3) for the contest. Several had
already commented on the status and members of those clubs.
My wife is also a ham and I COULD have requested a PERSONAL Club
callsign, But I elected not to. After all the gates are finished, lets
see how many actual CALLSIGNS some of us have. One for CW Sprint, one for
SS and one for on the repeaters....ect.
If you want a NEW call.....Give up the one you NOW have!!! Dont hold a
handful of them for your OWN use!!
I think we should have ONE callsign...Period!! Not two or more.....
So, before you start throwing rocks in someone elses back yard for being
callsign HOGS.....You better look back in your own!!
Maybe somebody should provide a list here of all the 2 person Clubs that
was formed by the "Elite" contesters and lets see how many calls they end
up with.....I sure dont see the fairness of this practice.
Rich KI3V
**********************************************************
Richard Hallman ki3v at rnodx.org
11870 Heartpine St
Reno Nv 89506 ki3v at w7ta.#nonev.nv
**********************************************************
>From aa8u at voyager.net (AA8U) Sat Jun 15 17:47:33 1996
From: aa8u at voyager.net (AA8U) (AA8U)
Date: Sat, 15 Jun 1996 12:47:33 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: "Ugly-as-L" DXpedition Antenna
Message-ID: <199606151647.MAA22509 at vixa.voyager.net>
I have been building an antenna to take on a DXpedition in July to the South
Cook Islands. I have received many requests for dimensions and construction
details since this design was first mentioned on the reflector.
This design evolved from a simple 160M inverted-L to its present four-band
form, as I realized we would likely have some restrictions placed on the
number of antennas we could erect at the Rarotongan Resort Hotel.
The first 160M version was a straight forward 234/f length antenna with 60'
vertical and the rest horizontal. It only had 5 ground radials, each 133'
spread out and laying on the ground. It was fed with a 28:50 ohm Un-Un
(W2FMI design).
As I added traps to get additional bands, the overall length decreased. I
think the single band antenna would probably perform slightly better than
the final version.
Bandwidth is adequate on the final version, but not generous, except for the
narrow 30M band.
Ground losses for this design haven't been measured.
The feed point resistances and SWR figures below were obtained at the feed
point using an MFJ-259 Antenna Analyzer. A real nifty piece of test
equipment!!! It has a calibration error on the bands tested as indicated in
the notes below. It does give reliable indications when this factor is taken
into account.
On the air comparisons have been made between this antenna on 160M and my
full size insulated base 25G vertical with 30K' of radials under it. The
DXpedition model seems to get within about 6 to 10 dB (here to the east
coast regulars on 1850) of the full size counterpart. Separation between
these two antennas is about 1000'.
I present the final dimensions here that others might save themselves a
couple of saturday mornings for GOLF or some other activity. Building this
one and getting it to work should be a snap. If I had known how easy and
simple it was to do this, I would have done it many years ago.
Dimensions To Trap Centers Fo SWR Feedpoint R
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feed point to KW-30 = 21' 4" 10.12 mHz. 1.10:1 50
KW-30 to KW-40 = 7' 8" 7.05 mHz. 1.15:1 44
KW-40 to KW-80CW = 23' 3.61 mHz. 1.20:1 36
KW-80 to end insulator = 39' 1" 1.83 mHz. 1.60:1/(1.0:1 w/28-50 unun) 28
MFJ-259 resistance calibration: 50 ohms = approx. 42 ohms actual @ 1.0:1 SWR.
Feed point 1' 6" above ground, mounted on short ground rod 2' in earth.
Radials: 5 @ 133'
5 @ 68'
10 @ 33'
Wire use for the radiator and radials is #14 MTW (600 V Insulation). Using
bare copper wire for the radiator will be require these dimensions to be
increased by about 2%.
################################################################################
# The "Ugly-as-L" 160/80/40/30M DXpedition Inverted-L Antenna #
# Designed and tested by AA8U
#
############################################################################
#### # Tall
Tall # # Tree HI-Q Insulator HI-Q Insulator
Tree #
# O----5/32" Dacron-----====..........39'1".........====------5/32"Dacron----O #
# [=] KW-80CW
#
# : #
# :
#
# : #
# : 23' #
# : #
# : #
# : #
# [=] KW-40
#
# : #
# : 7' 8" #
# : #
# [=] KW-30
#
# : #
# : #
# : 21' 4" #
# : #
# : #
# X feed point (w/28:50 Un-Un on 160M) #
# : 1' 6"
#
# _____________________radials________________________ #
# (on ground) #
################################################################################
If you build one, let me know how this design works in your environment.
73 to all,
Bruce (AA8Ugly ZK1AAU)
aa8u at voyager.net
President: Mad River Contest Club
>From jreid at aloha.net (Jim Reid) Sat Jun 15 18:27:53 1996
From: jreid at aloha.net (Jim Reid) (Jim Reid)
Date: Sat, 15 Jun 1996 07:27:53 -1000
Subject: Why vanity calls on contest reflector?
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19960615172753.0069df6c at aloha.net>
At 07:55 AM 6/15/96 -0400, you wrote:
>
>
>Why is this barrage of comments on vanity calls on the contest reflector?
Probably because a lot of the folks find it an interesting topic;
a lot of changed call signs by contesters will impact operating
strategy/tactics of the medium and big guns. They now recoginze
a lot of calls/fists/voices real fast in the heat of competition, but
with the calls a-changing......?
73, Jim, AH6NB
>From wb2nqt at usa.pipeline.com (Mark Sihlanick) Sat Jun 15 19:30:56 1996
From: wb2nqt at usa.pipeline.com (Mark Sihlanick) (Mark Sihlanick)
Date: Sat, 15 Jun 1996 18:30:56 GMT
Subject: Amplifier Problem
Message-ID: <199606151830.SAA08536 at pipe11.h1.usa.pipeline.com>
Take a look at the contacts on the antenna relay. Its an open frame type
and without any "wetting" current to flow through it has probably built up
some oxidation. I've usually used some typing paper to clean the contacts
and soaking with contact cleaner also helps some.
Good luck
Mark
>From jbmitch at vt.edu (John Mitchell) Sat Jun 15 19:21:36 1996
From: jbmitch at vt.edu (John Mitchell) (John Mitchell)
Date: Sat, 15 Jun 1996 14:21:36 -0400
Subject: Amplifier Problem
Message-ID: <199606151833.OAA22485 at sable.cc.vt.edu>
At 10:56 AM 6/15/96 -0400, Jastaples at aol.com wrote:
>While operating the All Asia contest today I noticed that when I use the
>SB-220 amplifier the received signal drops by 20 db or more.
>
Hi OM,
The only thing that I've had cause this is a stuck transmit/receive relay;
the receive signal going thru the final stage is down about 20 db on HF.
73 es GL
de WD4MUR
>From slazar19 at sgi.net (Spike Lazar) Sat Jun 15 19:40:24 1996
From: slazar19 at sgi.net (Spike Lazar) (Spike Lazar)
Date: Sat, 15 Jun 1996 14:40:24 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Callsigns
Message-ID: <199606151840.OAA17413 at orion.bv.sgi.net>
RE: KI3V, (snipe)
> What concerns me is that we currently should ONLY have ONE callsign for
>our personal use. I have noted MANY abuses to the so called " CLUB
>CALLSIGN group". A perfect example was during the CW Sprint when many
>elected to use THEIR Club callsign (2X3) for the contest. Several had
>already commented on the status and members of those clubs.
>
>If you want a NEW call.....Give up the one you NOW have!!! Dont hold a
>handful of them for your OWN use!!
>
>I think we should have ONE callsign...Period!! Not two or more.....
-----------------------end of Rich KI3V, remarks-------------------------
Dear Rich,
I really didn't give too much thought to your post, and I checked it
out for myself, I rounded up 10 of the usual suspects and your right,
7 of them had an additional call/calls (club) and one had two additional
calls.
There has been a lot of whining about this, I'm sure there must be a
good reason for these second and third calls. So before we judge, I'm
sure some of these folks will add to this thread, by coming forth with
the real scoop, maybe they will even convince us to join rank with them!
On the other hand, they have probably not opted for that new spiffy call
yet, and may just decide to keep that (club) "clunker" and give up their
old trade mark!
Now that is the guy I can really respect, he can now beat the shinola
out of me in contests with both his hands tied behind his back!
Sincerely your,
dr. Bafoofnik
p.s, I could see K3ZO opting for K3 "OZ", or K3EST opting for K3 "E S E"
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