From lee.stanford@eclipsys.com Tue Apr 22 19:23:02 1997 Received: by csres2.cropsci.ncsu.edu (5.61-AIX-1.2/1.0) from [192.41.32.161] with SMTP id AA117827 (for rdkeys, from lee.stanford@eclipsys.com/lee.stanford@eclipsys.com); Tue, 22 Apr 97 19:23:02 GMT Received: from smtp.eclipsnet.com ([199.250.158.26]) by eclipsys.com (8.8.5) id NAA18177; Tue, 22 Apr 1997 13:23:49 -0600 (MDT) From: lee.stanford@eclipsys.com X-Authentication-Warning: eclipsys.com: Host [199.250.158.26] claimed to be smtp.eclipsnet.com Received: from ccMail by smtp.eclipsnet.com (ccMail Link to SMTP R6.00.01) id AA861740781; Tue, 22 Apr 97 15:26:41 -0500 Message-Id: <9704228617.AA861740781@smtp.eclipsnet.com> X-Mailer: ccMail Link to SMTP R6.00.01 Date: Tue, 22 Apr 97 12:23:59 -0500 To: Subject: glowbug digests 6 - 10 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="simple boundary" Status: O --simple boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Attached files glowbug digests 6 through 10 --simple boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; name="GLO-POR0.006" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="GLO-POR0.006" GLOWBUGS Digest 6 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) FS tubes and valves by dmedley@indirect.com (David Medley) 2) Globugs:Tube help by hrsil@flinet.com (Henry Silvia) 3) Re: watch on 80M by rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu 4) subscribe by "Cal J. Eustaquio" 5) Tube info needed by "Conard Murray" 6) Re: watch on 80M by rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu 7) FS/WTB Lists by KE8NEfix@aol.com 8) Re: FS/WTB Lists by af852@rgfn.epcc.Edu (William R Colbert) 9) GB Re: Doerle 30-30 regen by mjsilva@ix.netcom.com (michael silva) 10) FS Vacuum Capacitor by dmedley@indirect.com (David Medley) 11) Odd Voltage tubes by KE8NEfix@aol.com 12) Parts Source by "Tony Stalls (K4KYO)" 13) Re: Globugs:Tube help by Jeffrey Herman 14) HC type xtals with tubes by dsnowden@ccd.harris.com (Doug Snowden) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 2 Nov 1995 00:19:44 -0700 >From: dmedley@indirect.com (David Medley) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: FS tubes and valves Message-ID: <199511020719.AAA06276@bob.indirect.com> This is my first posting to this list and I hope I am doing it correctly. If not somebody will let me know I am sure. There are two items: 1. A metal khaki colored box marked "Wireless Set No 19 Set of spare Valves" It really does contain a set of valves. There is one missing, a VR132 and I am not sure what this is. $25.00 plus shipping. 2. A carton containing the following tubes: 6K8G,6A8G(7),6C8G,6F8G(2),6J7GT(3),6J8G,6K7G(8),6U7G(2),6Q7G(6),6R7G(3), 6SK7GT(3),6SL7GT,6SA7GT,6SN7GT,6SQ7GT,6SJ7GT,6V7GT(3),6F8G,5452 47 tubes @$0.75 = $35.00 plus shipping OBO dmedley@indirect.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Nov 1995 06:17:14 -0500 >From: hrsil@flinet.com (Henry Silvia) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Globugs:Tube help Message-ID: <199511021117.GAA28415@ns1.flinet.com> Hi all this is my first posting to the list I finally figured it out. (didnt I?) Just have an interest in tubes so joined up here to learn the ropes a bit, all the information is quite interesting but lacks any visual reinforcement. Is there any www, ftp or just recomended text that anyone could point me to so I can get the picture? Any help appreciated.... Henry Ke4wbw FL. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Nov 1995 10:54:47 -0500 (EST) >From: rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu To: cfm@tntech.edu Cc: rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu (), glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Re: watch on 80M Message-ID: <9511021554.AA100258@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu> > Hi Bob.... > CU on 3535/3523 at 0400/0430/0500 Z. > Conard Conard and Tom...... A' Hartleying Herewith..... I did not hear much or Tom. What rig was he running? You were 579 mostly between static crashes. The big rig I was running was the RMCA ET-8019A in idle mode at 25 watts output from the pair of 813's. The Hartley was running about 2.5 watts input and maybe 1 watt output if it does not sneeze at the same time.....(:+}}.... Hey that worked out OK, suprisingly. Between the sked at 0400 and 0500 I worked a w2 up the east coast. For some reason, propagation was better up that way. The rainstorms made things kindof ruff here. Some lightning was about, and the regen receiver was a bit on the zapped side when that happened (regenerators just can't handle fundamental lightning overload very well). So, the ol' Hartley was pretty stable.... (:+}}..... Yes, they can be when properly fiddled. It is an awful mess to look at, tho. The chassis on that particular one is made up of 3/8 inch clear acrylic about 1 foot square mounted on rubber stoppers. A similar panel makes the front panel. All the parts and the panels and the rubber feet are superglued in place. The dynamotor power supply and keying relay is on a second similar chassis connected with coiled pigtails to reduce vibration. The LV power supply is a 1 dollar 10 amp 5vdc regulator supply in which I nuked the regulator section to get just exactly 12 vdc output from it. That is used to run the filaments of the 801 through a dropping resistor and the dynamotor (12vdc input 180vdc 200ma output) directly. The power supply only has 4 mfd of filtering because it is keying in the B- lead. It actually chirps so fast that you don't notice it. That way I can successfully key the critter at 35wpm with no lagging. It only drifts about 50 hz keydown for a minute or two. That is due to loading down of the dynamotor. You can hear the dynamotor loading slightly and the RPM's drop a couple of hundred on keying the rig. On battery B+ it is stable as a rock, but I prefer the dynamotor. (I.e., stable until my hand gets near the front panel.....(:+}}.....) I will be on tonight and tomorrow night from 10 to midnight with it on the same QRG of about 3535. If you or any of the the other glowbuggers are about, with whatever rig is handy, do join in. 73/ZUT/BAF/GBF etc DE NA4G/Bob ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Nov 1995 07:37:25 -0800 (PST) >From: "Cal J. Eustaquio" To: Glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: subscribe Message-ID: I would like to subscribe to this group. Tnx. Cal, N6KYR. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Nov 1995 10:23:18 +0000 >From: "Conard Murray" To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Tube info needed Message-ID: <01HX5XEQPVAAQTA9MB@tntech.edu> Greeting glowbuggers/glowpluggers! (you know who you are) Bob and I are looking for some specifications on some peanut tubes in my possession. I have at least 35 of each type and most of them will be up for grabs as soon as we figure out if they are anything useful. They are all Raytheon types. CK 633 CK 634 CK 635 CK 636 CK 637 CK 5702 These should make really neat qrp rigs. A couple appear to be power pentodes and one looks like a dual triode. Thanks in advance... 73 de Conard WS4S ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Nov 1995 12:04:21 -0500 (EST) >From: rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu To: cfm@tntech.edu Cc: rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu (), glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Re: watch on 80M Message-ID: <9511021704.AA100443@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu> > > Ooooh...a dynamotor! Wow...I will have to drag out the ARC-5 rcvr > motor to run my rig. I can smell the ozone now. The ARC-5 RX dynamotor may not have enuf poop for Hartley use on anything but the smallest tubes, with any sort of regulation. But, if you are running some loading on it to pull about 15-20 ma continuously, then it might work, but the reserve is only another 40-50 ma or so --- not much for a rig, but enuf for some teensie weensie tubes tho. I had to search around for a dynamotor out of a SCR-506 receiver. It put out about 200 volts at 200ma. That works quite well. You could use a TCS receiver dynamotor 225v/150ma or even a TCS transmitter dynamotor 400v/400ma, or even a motorola or old ham 6 volt mg set (pioneer genemotor, etc.). Grapple a loose 5 vdc regulated power supply at 25 amps or so and unregulate it and it should proved good poop to run the dynamotor through a 25a bridge rectifier and maybe a couple thousand mf of filter. Even regulated and only putting out 5vdc, the power supply would run a 6 volt dynamotor at enuff poop to make a Hartley or TPGT or TNT play well. On the output of the dynamotor don't use more than about 4mfd for filtering or it will chirp. Also, use a proper key thump filter to lag the makes and breaks. I usually use a 1 henry choke and a few mfd and that seems to work fairly well. Best results are obtained in B- keying. > I heard you work the > W2....he was blasting in 589 or so. My G5RV runs east-west, so if it > has a pattern at all on 80 meters at all it won't favor you. I am > halfway 'twixt Nashville and Knoxville so we are pretty close too. My guess is that the skip was long and we were just going over each other. I sometimes run the route on 40 and might pass by your place over the xmas holidays. Mebbee we can eyeball. What QTH? > I am leaning toward the TPTG design that I have in a December, 1929 QST > that Grammer drew up. It is also found in my '31 handbook. TPTG is a good design, but take good care of the capacitors for stable operation. Overdesign them if possible. I will have to look at that QST and see what it is. If I remember rightly, the grid tank is usually underdesigned and since it plays a big part in the frequency control, it needs to be overdone somewhat. If I remember rightly, the one at W1AW on 80 meters before the flood was using gigantic aluminum plates built like a battleship for the capacitors, much larger than standard capacitors of the time. As always, use good coils wound tight or of heavy copper tubing construction. The Hartley I was using uses AlSiMag coil forms and was wound with no. 10 wire. The padding capacitor is a huge tub mica broadcast beast and the tuning capacitors are 250watt size variables. The word is overkill and overdesign for best effect on self-excited oscillator rigs. I was thinking of building the TPTG using the 204A that was covered somewhere about that time. I have a spare 849 I have been hanging onto for several years looking for the right project for it. I still don't have a socket for it, but may have a lead on one. > I was transmitting with the Viking II at full bore 120 watts output > and inhaling with the National RAS and a pair of mil headphones with > a pair of diodes across the plug for noise limiting. On a good night without the QRN, that should do fine. Ahhh, you use the ol' dualdiode trick too.....(:+}}.... I use that on the regen to work QSK without blowing the tin cans off the ol' braincase. It works just fine. That was a takeoff on James Lamb's noise silencer circuit, if I remember rightly, wasn't it? > CUL de COnard ws4s 73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Nov 1995 11:48:59 -0500 >From: KE8NEfix@aol.com To: Glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: FS/WTB Lists Message-ID: <951102114858_96069586@emout04.mail.aol.com> Hi To all, I will be posting to sell here from now on. I may, if the mood strikes, post a referal at boatanchors to the list for items. I would like to know is any of you are interested in using odd voltage heater tubes in homebrewing equipment for radio use. Many good sweep tubes are available, as well as others, to build transmitters, VFO's and the like. If there is enough interest, I can make up a list of what I have available, at a very reasonable cost [20 to 30 cents a tube]. It would seem that it would be feasable to do this since most can be combined to get to 117 VAC for the heater string or another thought is to use a higher voltage transformer [24 or 28 VAC for example]. to do the same thing. many good tubes are being ignored because of the heater voltage problem and they lend themselves well to homebrew because of cost and availability. What you think? KIM ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Nov 95 10:12:55 MST >From: af852@rgfn.epcc.Edu (William R Colbert) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Re: FS/WTB Lists Message-ID: <9511021712.AA12087@rgfn.epcc.Edu> Kim, make up the list - I think most of us would be interested in what types of tubes are available and we can decide from there. Thanks. Ray, W5XE\V31XE El Paso af852@rgfn.epcc.edu ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Nov 1995 10:01:27 -0800 >From: mjsilva@ix.netcom.com (michael silva) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: GB Re: Doerle 30-30 regen Message-ID: <199511021801.KAA02238@ix4.ix.netcom.com> > My "curiousity" is that the audio amp doesn't seem to have a source of grid > bias - no C battery, no cathode resistor. I'm guessing it uses the voltage > drop across filament as the bias. Seems kinda iffy to me. Just how *does* > this thing work? There was an interesting discussion on "zero-bias" amplifiers a while back on rec.antiques.radio+phono. Specifically, the first audio stage (usually 12SQ7 or 12AV6) in a 5-tube AC-DC receiver (aka All-American 5). In this case the triode operates at around 50 volts on the plate, with a plate current of 100-200 uA and a very large grid resistor (5-15 Meg). The cathode is grounded, so there is no apparent bias. What's happening, as I remember, is refered to as contact bias, whereby those few electrons that actually strike the grid cause it to build up a slight negative bias (around 1/2 volt) across the large grid resistor. This scheme is inherently self-regulating: more negative bias on the grid allows fewer electrons to strike it, so the bias will hover around an equilibrium point. If the circuit you're refering to has high resistance in the grid circuit than this may be the source of bias. If it's just a transformer secondary then it sounds like you really are operating at 0 bias. In that case for small signals it should work fine -- larger signals will be distorted both because the transfer curve at 0 bias is very "curved", and because grid current drawn on positive cycles will load down that half of the input signal. 73, Mike, KK6GM ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Nov 1995 11:53:30 -0700 >From: dmedley@indirect.com (David Medley) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: FS Vacuum Capacitor Message-ID: <199511021853.LAA10616@ns2.indirect.com> Still finding useful things here. This is a vacuum capacitor marked 150-500pf. The only other marking on it is 1151.5 which I assume is the serial number. Looks bright and shiny inside and maybe unused. $25.00 plus shipping OBO dave@indirect.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Nov 1995 13:55:14 -0500 >From: KE8NEfix@aol.com To: Glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Odd Voltage tubes Message-ID: <951102135513_10821217@mail04.mail.aol.com> Hi fellow Fireflies!! That seemed appropos owing to the nature that we are all attracted to things that glow in the dark [tubes]. I have had a number of people that have urged me on to make a list and clean out the garage [there Jack, take that!!] of all my odd voltage tubes. I have an approximate inventory of these kinds of tubes that numbers upwards of 20,000 [that's not a typo folks]. I have over the past 2 years bought several inventories of tubes from distributors and TV repair shops that were going out of business. If you have an old tube manual you will see that many 6 and 12 volt heater tubes were built for odd voltage use but are the same basic tube and even have the same spec's Two examples come to mind 8BQ5's for you audio amp nuts and 17JE6. and 24JE6's for you low power RF fab nuts. There are many that canbe used in existing designs by playing some games with the heater voltages [be creative here] Look at what you want to do and drop me a note. It's going to take a while to put together a list as I have almost every conceiveable type and number of tube that was made by RCA, Sylavnia, GE, et al for TV use. I even have a bunch [read lots] of 4 digit industrial tubes that are looking for a home. I'm not looking to get rich here, just clean out. If you buy enough I can probably even ship for free. Tubves don't weigh much and I want to see the stuff used, or at least go to another place so I can get the truck inside for the winter. Thanx, KIM ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Nov 1995 14:40:15 -0500 (EST) >From: "Tony Stalls (K4KYO)" To: GLOWBUGS Subject: Parts Source Message-ID: Greetings! Al Yascavage, W3UGD, also known as "Surplus Al", one of those "living legends" is a very good source for manuals and vintage and NOS parts. Not until I needed a standard FT-243 type crystal socket for a transmitter from the 1941 ARRL Handbook did I find out how really scarce those jewels are, but Al has plenty of them at fifty cents each. In fact, he told me that if I need FT-243 crystals, he has thousands. Surplus Al can be found at most East Coast hamfests, but if you can't wait that long or are too far away, drop him a note at P.O. Box 215, Hunlock Creek, PA 18621 with your needs. A SASE might be helpful. 73, Tony K4KYO ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Nov 1995 09:58:13 -1000 >From: Jeffrey Herman To: Henry Silvia Subject: Re: Globugs:Tube help Message-ID: On Thu, 2 Nov 1995, Henry Silvia wrote: > a bit, all the information is quite interesting but lacks any visual > reinforcement. Is there any www, ftp or just recomended text that anyone > could point me to so I can get the picture? --- plate ----- grid |-----| cathode ^ filament heehee... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Nov 1995 17:10:35 -0500 >From: dsnowden@ccd.harris.com (Doug Snowden) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: HC type xtals with tubes Message-ID: <9511022210.AA68682@rs2.ccd.harris.com> Since the ole FT243, etc type crystals are a bit rare nowadays, are there any tricks out there (like capacitance dividers, etc) to limit the bloodpressure on a little HC-6 type crystal? I've got a couple I could use but don;t want to fracture them thru experimentation. Doug N4IJ dsnowden@ccd.harris.com ------------------------------ End of GLOWBUGS Digest 6 ************************  --simple boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; name="GLO-POR0.007" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="GLO-POR0.007" GLOWBUGS Digest 7 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) GB - Doerle regen by Duncan Cadd 2) FS Subminiature Tubes by Chris Sieg 3) FS More Tubes by dmedley@indirect.com (David Medley) 4) Re: Gertie's Debut by rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu 5) Russian 6L6's ? by Steven Wilson 6) Re: Russian 6L6's ? by 817roberts2@wmich.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 3 Nov 1995 10:32:47 +0100 (MET) >From: Duncan Cadd To: glowbugs@theporch.com Cc: dcadd@luc.ac.be Subject: GB - Doerle regen Message-ID: <9511030932.AA19634@alpha.luc.ac.be> Greetings, Glowbuggers (?!) from a dull but dry Diepenbeek in N.E. Belgium! I've noticed that the 1.4V filament tubes such as 1L4, 1U5 etc are listed in my old 1953 Brimar manual as using 0V on the grid (listed as such under standard operating conditions!) with grid return via a high value (1M+) resistor to filament minus. It may be that 'contact potential' is one answer to this curious state of affairs. Contact potential arises when two dissimilar metals touch one another and is the same principle used in thermocouples i.e. it has a temperature dependance. Possibly there is a contact potential of maybe a couple of hundred millivolts between the valve pin material and the grid wire due to this cause. Here it would be useful, but I recall seeing in the same manual a note under several valve types to the effect that a grid resistor used with valve X has an upper limit of Y megohms because of contact potential, and assume here that it's an undesirable feature, perhaps because it induces a variable grid bias with those tubes. One tube's meat is another tube's poison! Just speculating! 73, Duncan ON9CHU / G0UTY G-QRP 8117 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Nov 95 09:20:26 PST >From: Chris Sieg To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: FS Subminiature Tubes Message-ID: Hi Folks, I have acquired a bunch of subminiature (peanut, ie wire leads) tubes. The tube s are: 1AD4 Sharp-Cutoff RF/AF Pentode Filament 1.25VDC @ 100mA Typical Plate V = 45VDC 5784 Dual-Controle RF Pentode Filament 6.3 @ 200mA Typical Plate V = 120V DC The 1AD4 was used in portable (luggable!!) VHF FM gear made by motorola ect. It w as used in various stages of the receiver as well as the low power sections of the xmitter. I still remenber those poor souls ( I was one of them) hauling those portable 2m rigs around hamfests because we were to poor to buy the cool HT-200's. Anyway, I also recall that the 1AD4 was used in some 50's and 60's style military gear. I'm not sure where the 5784 was used. I built a 80 meter QRP rig with a pair of t hem last week and it puts out about .5 watts. I must confess I cranked the B+ up to 250V and got about 1.25 wat t out of it, non destructive but I didn't press my luck for long! The dual control aspect is kind of interseti ng. The spec sheet shows with 0 Volts on the suppressor grid, the Gm is 3200. If you apply -3 volts on the supp ressor the Gm goes down to 1850. One of the great things about these tubes is you can prototype them on those whit e plug-in solderless breadboards. No Tube sockets to punch holes in a chassis for. Then to fininsh you r project, the ugly technique works great with the wire leads. The tubes are new old military stock in the original factory (Raytheon) cartons. I'm asking $2.00 each or three for $5.00 plus whatever the shipping costs. Let me know if you are interres ted by E-Mail. Thanks -Chris ------------------------------------- Name: Chris Sieg E-mail: c_sieg@mail.conknet.com (Chris Sieg) Date: 11/03/95 Time: 09:20:26 ------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Nov 1995 09:48:49 -0700 >From: dmedley@indirect.com (David Medley) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: FS More Tubes Message-ID: <199511031648.JAA14825@ns1.indirect.com> Here is the next box of tubes: 1B3GT,6AX4GTB,6G5(6),6E5,6F7(6),2E26,6SN7GTB,51,2C52,VT137,84/6Z4(3), 262B(WE)(2),1629,1633(2),2051,5691,5692,7193 There are 32 tubes here $0.75 = $24.00 plus S&H $6.00 OBO Check for $30.00 will get them to you. dmedley@indirect.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Nov 1995 12:26:58 -0500 (EST) >From: rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu To: TOM.A.ADAMS@mail.admin.wisc.edu Cc: rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu (), glowbugs@theporch.com, cfm@tntech.edu Subject: Re: Gertie's Debut Message-ID: <9511031726.AA101167@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu> > Hello Bob. > > I won't be on tonight; I'm at work now, doing the signoff trick. However, > I begin my days off cycle tomorrow. I should be around Tues - Fri, and go > back duty Saturday night. Hello Tom, and all GlowBuggers..... Conard says he has worked you, but all I have done is barely hear something out there in the ether. Your signal is reported to be..... legendary. Galloping Gertie is afoot on the ether, as well as Unstable Mable. I put another Hartley together using the proverbial dual triode wired as one 6SN7GB, and got it cranked up to 5 watts input or so before the limit of my regulated power supply was reached (250vdc 20ma). So, IF I can do it in an evening, then all hands on deck and swab yerselves together a Hartley...... News at 11..... schematics are available on the BA archives and elsewhere, and if you can't get it that way, let me know or send me an SASE 9x12 mailing envelope with 4 units of postage thereupon and I will pass it along the hard way via the pony express. Regarding the currently running battle/duel between the Hartleys, I have worked Conard at 11pm and midnight quite well this week. Surprisingly, a number of other stations have been worked after the usual mud goes to bed and the ol' CW farts come out to play. Have you heard my Hartley in the raucious QRN? I have had good luck up east to CT, MA, PA, etc., but only marginally so out west or northwest. I will be on again tonight from 10 till midnight or midnight-30 or so (I gotta get up at 6 for a local fest 30 miles down the road in the morning). Conard, our fearless listleader, is wanting to put together some sort of GlowBug qso party. That would be great! If interested fill his email box up (Conard please post the incoming email address for this event so's weuns can fills up yer email box with queries and hurrahs!). I hartley (heartily) concur that it would be a great thing for all the glowbuggers to get something fired up at 5 watts or less input, and hopefully in the self-excited oscillator or related category. At the least, fire up a Hartley, Dow, TNT or TPTG circuit with some little glowbottle therein, for some fun in the wee small hours. The QRG is the usual 3535, although maybe we should opt for another QRG somewhere out of the way, but under the magic 3650 that will keep our second harmonics in-band on 40 meters. I am not too worried about 3rd or 4th harmonics on a 2.5 or 5 watt input rig. If you can get on with a standard rig to help get the qso established, I am sure that we can make it a comfortable 3 way or qso party. So ATTENTION ALL GLOWBUGGERS!!!!! The Hartleys are ON tonight at the usual QRG of 3535khz from 0300Z to 0500Z on the hour. Call WS4S or NA4G to get things rolling or use a generic call..... CQ GLOWBUGS CQ GLOWBUGS CQ GLOWBUGS DE yourcall yourcall yourcall K Join in whether or not you have a real glowbugger rig or boatanchor or a modern riceum boxeum. Let's get that spirit going, and all hands on deck! Hartleys are afloat in the ether! 73/ZUT/BAF/GBF DE NA4G/Bob ************************************************************************** * 73 TU SU VA DE NA4G ``Boat Anchor Bob'', an ol' CW fart. * ************************************************************************** * Morse has been in the family for over 100 years. * * Morse radiotelegraphy (Spark/CW) has been in the family since 1914. * ************************************************************************** * May you have fair winds and following seas on your watch at the key. * ************************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Nov 1995 12:25:58 -0800 (PST) >From: Steven Wilson To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Russian 6L6's ? Message-ID: Has anyone tried using the Russian 6L6's in a transmitter. I would like to know how they worked. Power in - Power Out, etc. I heard the audio buffs did not like them so they are cheap ? Anyone with real first hand information on the list ? thanks ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 03 Nov 1995 16:31:04 -0500 (EST) >From: 817roberts2@wmich.edu To: Steven Wilson Cc: Multiple recipients of list Subject: Re: Russian 6L6's ? Message-ID: On Fri, 3 Nov 1995, Steven Wilson wrote: > Has anyone tried using the Russian 6L6's in a transmitter. > > I would like to know how they worked. Power in - Power Out, etc. > > I heard the audio buffs did not like them so they are cheap ? Howdy Steve & group, Glad to report that I've been using Sovtek 5881/6L6WGCs in my Ranger I for a year and they're great tubes. A bit more gassy than American NOS, but they are *rugged*. They can take at least 500V on the plates--actually more. Consider them an all-purpose sub for 6L6 on up...I've heard they sub well with 7027/A too for all 'ya Ranger II lucky dogs. Check the bias, though. A friend had a set in a old stereo amp. The bias supply croaked and the plates went cherry red for ten minutes b'for he noticed. Tube tester said OK, and the same tubes have been happy ever since :) Plus they're cheap as anything around! AES has 'em, but you can get for less than $6 a pop through New Sensor (I'll post the number later when I'm with my 'materials') if you can convince 'em you're a dealer, lab, etc... 73, Chris KA8WFC ------------------------------ End of GLOWBUGS Digest 7 ************************  --simple boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; name="GLO-POR0.008" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="GLO-POR0.008" GLOWBUGS Digest 8 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) GB: Hambrew Magazine by Jeffrey Herman 2) Well? by David Stinson <72227.1640@compuserve.com> 3) Transformer re-winding? by mjsilva@ix.netcom.com (michael silva) 4) Re: Well? by Dave Hockaday 5) Re: Well? by Jeffrey Herman 6) Re: Transformer re-winding? by Jeffrey Herman 7) Re: Transformer re-winding? by "Tony Stalls (K4KYO)" 8) GB:Traffic by joe@westonia.com (Joseph Cooper) 9) Free Tubes by Chris Sieg 10) Re: Free Tubes by "Tony Stalls (K4KYO)" 11) Re: Transformer re-winding? by af852@rgfn.epcc.Edu (William R Colbert) 12) Re: Transformer re-winding? by Jeffrey Herman 13) 6F6 tubes by dmedley@indirect.com (David Medley) 14) NOS? by BOB.LIESENFELD@hamlink.mn.org (BOB LIESENFELD) 15) Re: NOS? by "Tony Stalls (K4KYO)" 16) Results of free tube offer by Chris Sieg 17) Re: Transformer re-winding (and a WTB) by mjsilva@ix.netcom.com (michael silva) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 3 Nov 1995 15:22:33 -1000 >From: Jeffrey Herman To: Glowbugs List Subject: GB: Hambrew Magazine Message-ID: Gang: I received the following - maybe some of you would like to forward to them your favorite design. Remember, publish or perish. Jeff NH6IL ------------------------------------------------------------------ >From hambrew@qadas.comFri Nov 3 15:19:18 1995 Date: Wed, 1 Nov 1995 18:51:29 -1000 >From: George De Grazio To: Jeffrey Herman Subject: Glowbugs Hi, Jeffrey- I was intrigued and very interested in the glowbugs concept. I've been looking for some good tube projects (especially recently for receivers), and you wouldn't believe (or maybe you would) how difficult it has been. Would you or any of the subscribers to this list be interested in writing even a very brief article for our mag regarding this or other home brewing subjects? We'd also be glad to plug the list in the mag. Would like to hear from you. 73, George De Grazio, WF0K Hambrew Mag. ------------------------------ Date: 03 Nov 95 23:46:36 EST >From: David Stinson <72227.1640@compuserve.com> To: mailing list Subject: Well? Message-ID: <951104044636_72227.1640_EHM123-4@CompuServe.COM> Well, have I got any friends left over here? Don't worry. I've spoken my mind and have no intention of bringing that mess over here. I'd just as soon stop the public stuff on BA. The insults have been answered and it should die right there. I hope it will, and this is my last public word on the subject. So what are we talking about?? Dave ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Nov 1995 21:44:41 -0800 >From: mjsilva@ix.netcom.com (michael silva) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Transformer re-winding? Message-ID: <199511040544.VAA20846@ix12.ix.netcom.com> Hi all, I had a sudden inspiration (??) last night, but now I'm not so sure. My thought was to take a regular 12.6vct transformer (Radio Shack provided a convenient specimen), open it up, unwind half the secondary (leaving a 6.3v winding), and add a (moderately) HV winding. Just in the spirit of homebrewing, you understand -- after all, we've all read about transformer rewinding, right? Well, I've taken a couple of oddball transformers apart for the wire, but it gets stickier if I want to put it back together. I've got the covering off it now, and the question is: will I be able to remove the laminations to get to the secondary bobbin and then after I rewind it be able to put the laminations back together so everything fits again? I would stay within the original VA ratings, and use the right size wire for the current desired. Looks like a lot of work for not much reward. Still, it would be nice to be able to custom-rewind an easy-to-obtain transformer. Any thoughts? 73, Mike, KK6GM ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Nov 95 01:46:52 EST >From: Dave Hockaday To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Re: Well? Message-ID: <9511040646.AA25512@merlin.nando.net> >So what are we talking about?? >Dave Thermo-ionic emission devices and homebrewing with same :-)... Hi Dave! Dave, WB4IUY ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Nov 1995 21:34:10 -1000 >From: Jeffrey Herman To: David Stinson <72227.1640@compuserve.com> Subject: Re: Well? Message-ID: Well, the list is still in its infancy - traffic is still a bit low but as the word gets out we'll grow. The major ongoing topic is the beautifully clean signal some Homebrew Hartley Oscillators are emitting. But I'm sure they sound like a pure DC note compared to some of the sigs I used to hear on 500kc CW. I could swear one of the Chinese shore stations was modulating their signal with a hacksaw. Jeff NH6IL ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Nov 1995 21:39:17 -1000 >From: Jeffrey Herman To: michael silva Subject: Re: Transformer re-winding? Message-ID: Didn't the older ARRL Handbooks contain a section on xfmr rewinding? Or maybe it was their Understanding Amateur Radio manual. I'll be back in California next month - I can check my collection of old books stored there. Jeff NH6IL ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Nov 1995 08:33:25 -0500 (EST) >From: "Tony Stalls (K4KYO)" To: Jeffrey Herman Subject: Re: Transformer re-winding? Message-ID: On Sat, 4 Nov 1995, Jeffrey Herman wrote: > Didn't the older ARRL Handbooks contain a section on xfmr rewinding? > Or maybe it was their Understanding Amateur Radio manual. I'll be > back in California next month - I can check my collection of old > books stored there. Hi Jeff, The two oldest ARRL Handbooks I have the are the 1941 and 1945 and neither of them have anything like that. It's very similar to what you find on transformers in all succeeding editions. 73, Tony K4KYO ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Nov 95 09:24 EST >From: joe@westonia.com (Joseph Cooper) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: GB:Traffic Message-ID: Frankly I'm glad that the traffic is a little low at this time. It used to be when I was subscribing to both QRP-L and Boatanchors I would get 200+ emails per day. Now it is a more reasonable number. This is not to say that I hope it stays this way. I'm working on some contributions of my own at this point. The story so far: During the Summer I picked up a large supply of tubes from various sources in order to start a little stock pile. You know, once you start looking there are a lot of them out there. In general I have found that I can buy in volume at about $1.00 to $.75 a tube Canadian. I have started to collect tubes for their own value. Many are wonderful examples of industrial craft, and I identified fully with the fellow who got the Articus (I don't know if I spelt that right) blue tube. We human's are funny creatures. Simple things like the colour of a tube or the old 'Magic Eye' tuner glowing in the dark while the radio plays can be so important. I plan to make a nice wood box for the one tube xmiter I'm building, and I will be using real 1920's radio parts for the hardware. I want to make it a work of art, with a nice design and finish. The S-38 is going a bit slow. I notice that some one else has tried to get it to work before me. It may need a complete re-build. I've been going though a lot of old magazines looking for projects, and came accross a great article on designing LC curcuits with tubes. I will do up a summary as it talks about how to build in the proper resistance for the grid curcuit. I would like to be able to make a simple RF amp front end for the S-38. 73's for now. =================================================================== * Joseph Cooper-VE3FMQ QTH-East York-near Toronto Ontario Canada * * Interests are:-Lowfer/VLF/BCB Radio-Woodworking-Steam Railroads * * -Nikola Tesla-Antique Radios-Crystal Radios-Travel-Burmese Cats * * FAX (416) 423-7782 9:00pm to 5:00pm EDST Monday To Friday Only * =================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Nov 95 10:01:39 PST >From: Chris Sieg To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Free Tubes Message-ID: Glowbugs??? The other day I sent a message to the list about some subminiature tubes I have : > I have acquired a bunch of subminiature (peanut, ie wire leads) tubes. The tub es are: > > 1AD4 Sharp-Cutoff RF/AF Pentode Filament 1.25VDC @ 100mA Typical Plate V >= 45VDC > > 5784 Dual-Controle RF Pentode Filament 6.3 @ 200mA Typical Plate V = >120V DC The message returned to me so I guess others received it also. NO RESPONSE... Hum mm well here are the possibilities: 1. Nobody is at this 'Party' (I think that is what the other lists GOD called his domain). 2. The only folks here are the sour grapes who left the GOD's party and since there wasn't any bucks in it for them, no response. 3. The attendees here don't know how to or want to build any thing with fire b ottles of the subminiature kind. Maybe the only true fire bottles are the 6L6 vari ety?? 4. $2.00 is to much to pay for a new tube. 5. There is some unwritten rules about glowbug posts, or ascendancy to the poi nt of receiving a polite responce requires paying some type of unspecified dues? Anyway, since I'm an engineer at heart, I'm going to try an experiment via the fo llowing offer: Free to the first 10 folks who respond to this posting with some E-Mail, plus the UPS fee to their area from New Hampshire, 5 NOS 5784 tubes. Anyone there??? -Chris ------------------------------------- Name: Chris Sieg E-mail: c_sieg@mail.conknet.com (Chris Sieg) Date: 11/04/95 Time: 10:01:39 ------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Nov 1995 09:52:57 -0500 (EST) >From: "Tony Stalls (K4KYO)" To: Chris Sieg Subject: Re: Free Tubes Message-ID: Hi Chris, The first thing I did when I saw your post for the tiny tubes was look to see what I had left over from my old Motorola lunch box from the late 1960's and then pulled out my tube manual, only to find no information on the types you listed. Then I looked at my project list and saw that if I were to ask for some, I they would probably end up in my estate sale (hopefully) sometime decades in the future, so I decided to pass and let someone else go for them. Don't be discouraged. For one thing, this list is very new and I doubt that there are very many who saw your post. Thanks for the offer. 73, Tony K4KYO ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Nov 95 08:56:04 MST >From: af852@rgfn.epcc.Edu (William R Colbert) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Re: Transformer re-winding? Message-ID: <9511041556.AA06500@rgfn.epcc.Edu> The ARRL HB (1947) I checked didn't have much in it either, but there are two fair references in E&E Radio Handbooks 1. 10th ed page 335 - 343, power s upply section, Transformer design, 2. 13 ed pages 573 - 580, power supply section, Transformer design, includes filter chokes and wire guage size. Perhaps this will help until you can locate more in-depth writings on transformer winding. Oh, did not find any reference to transformer winding in my RSGB HB, 1960 ed. 73, Ray, W5XE, El Paso ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Nov 1995 06:23:22 -1000 >From: Jeffrey Herman To: William R Colbert Subject: Re: Transformer re-winding? Message-ID: Okay, now I remember - there is a section on xfmr rewinding in the ARRL's manual UNDERSTANDING AMATEUR RADIO - my copy is about 1964 (it's 2500 miles from me right now). That book was a homebrewers delight! Jeff NH6IL ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Nov 1995 12:46:42 -0700 >From: dmedley@indirect.com (David Medley) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: 6F6 tubes Message-ID: <199511041946.MAA06522@bob.indirect.com> Some weeks ago someone asked me for 4 6F6 tubes. I have them packed here and waiting for shipping instructions. I seem to have lost track of the correspondence so if you still want them please E-Mail me. Thanks Dave ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 03 Nov 1995 21:29:35 -0100 >From: BOB.LIESENFELD@hamlink.mn.org (BOB LIESENFELD) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: NOS? Message-ID: <815497244.AA04120@hamlink.mn.org> Hi gang, Can someone tell me what the abbreviation "NOS" means when talking about tubes? Next: I got a very nice note from Ray K4DHC, regarding the drift corrector in his rig as related in the last issue of QRPp. AHHHHHH...! now I see how this critter works. Amazingly simple and VERY useful. I will be posting a note later, that describes in detail just how it works if anyone is interested. BTW, I can answer my own question now, an RDD104 is an CD4060! CU 72 Bob WB0POQ Technology is OUT of control..... P.S. Thanks Ray! ---NoSnail v1.17 ******************************************************************* HAM>link< RBBS - Serving the Amateur Radio Community Since 1983 - 612/HAM-0000 v.34 Ham Radio Spoken Here!! - 612/HAM-1010 v.32b Reply to sender @ hamlink.mn.org ******************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Nov 1995 17:00:20 -0500 (EST) >From: "Tony Stalls (K4KYO)" To: BOB LIESENFELD Subject: Re: NOS? Message-ID: On Sat, 4 Nov 1995, BOB LIESENFELD wrote: > Can someone tell me what the abbreviation "NOS" means when talking > about tubes? Whether it's tubes or whatever, "NOS" means the part is "New Old Stock", or in other words, it's unused and from days gone by. 73, Tony K4KYO ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Nov 95 17:55:03 PST >From: Chris Sieg To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Results of free tube offer Message-ID: Hi Everyone, Thought you would like to know the results of the free 5784 tube giveaway offer I made this morning. I received about 15 responses, all but one were encouraging. There were a couple of folks that just said hello, and I appreciate the welcome. I have set aside about 12 sets of the tubes to ship to people who said they wanted them, it looks like this list does indeed attract folks who like to home brew circuits. I will send a copy of the circuit for the two tube transmitter that I built to all that requested the tubes. If anyone else is interrested in a copy of the circuit send me a SASE. I still have a LOT of both the 5784s and the 1AD4s and my original offer to sell them for $2.00 each or three for $5.00 plus shipping stands. Thanks for all the words of welcome. -Chris Chris Sieg c/o PIEXX Co 13 Main St. PO BOX 123 Hillsboro, NH 03244 ------------------------------------- Name: Chris Sieg WA3LDI E-mail: c_sieg@mail.conknet.com (Chris Sieg) Date: 11/04/95 Time: 17:55:03 ------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Nov 1995 15:05:06 -0800 >From: mjsilva@ix.netcom.com (michael silva) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Re: Transformer re-winding (and a WTB) Message-ID: <199511042305.PAA08650@ix9.ix.netcom.com> Ray, W5XE, wrote: >are two fair references in E&E Radio Handbooks 1. 10th ed page 335 - 343, power supply section, >Transformer design, 2. 13 ed pages 573 - 580, power supply section, Thanks, Ray. The E&E Handbooks are great reading. My question is probably more prosaic: how to get the $^*@ thing apart! My two choices seem to be 1) remove the laminations until I can get the bobbin out, or 2) try to wind a secondary with the bobbin in place. The second seems like way too much work, and the first seems impossible, what with that shellac-goop that holds everything together. I thought I had a clever little idea here, but I think it may be a non-starter. Speaking of the E&E Radio Handbooks, does anybody have an 11th edition they'd like to sell me? I need a companion to go with my 12th edition, which is really just a supplement to the 11th. Thanks. 73, Mike, KK6GM ------------------------------ End of GLOWBUGS Digest 8 ************************  --simple boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; name="GLO-POR0.009" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="GLO-POR0.009" GLOWBUGS Digest 9 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) GB: Jammed tunning slug by joe@westonia.com (Joseph Cooper) 2) Russian 6L6's ? by ralph.hartwell@emachine.com (Ralph Hartwell) 3) Re: NOS? by Bill Turner 4) Re: GB: Jammed tunning slug by Bill Turner 5) Re: Russian 6L6's ? by "Tony Stalls (K4KYO)" 6) Schematics by The2X4@aol.com 7) 6T9 xmtr by Jeffrey Herman 8) On the air with Gertie (fwd) by Jeffrey Herman 9) Re: 6T9 xmtr by Dave Hockaday 10) Looking for 6GB8 by Mr Chi Kui Sandroff Ma 11) RE: Schematics by Chris Sieg 12) Re: HC type xtals with tubes by "Tony Stalls (K4KYO)" 13) Re: 6T9 xmtr by mjsilva@ix.netcom.com (michael silva) 14) glowbugs schematics, tube offers and young'uns by "Bruce G. Robertson" 15) 10 AM by MIKE SANDERS 16) WE 215-A tube by dmedley@indirect.com (David Medley) 17) Re: glowbugs schematics, tube offers and young'uns by Bill Turner 18) Re: glowbugs schematics, tube offers and young'uns by tbowman@leba.net 19) Schematics Posting by hrsil@flinet.com (Henry Silvia) 20) TUBES by BOB.LIESENFELD@hamlink.mn.org (BOB LIESENFELD) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 4 Nov 95 19:06 EST >From: joe@westonia.com (Joseph Cooper) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: GB: Jammed tunning slug Message-ID: I've got a real problem that's thrown my Yaesu 101B out of whack. (Yes I know its not QRP but it uses a 12BY7A as the oscillator and two 6Js^C's as PA's - It will run at 1 watt or even less). Anyway, one of the IF type tuning coils has gone and jammed the tunning slug, and as a result I've lost 80 Meters. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to un-jam it ? I've tried as much 'brute force' as I can trust. Thanks in advance. =================================================================== * Joseph Cooper-VE3FMQ QTH-East York-near Toronto Ontario Canada * * Interests are:-Lowfer/VLF/BCB Radio-Woodworking-Steam Railroads * * -Nikola Tesla-Antique Radios-Crystal Radios-Travel-Burmese Cats * * FAX (416) 423-7782 9:00pm to 5:00pm EDST Monday To Friday Only * =================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Nov 1995 17:34:00 GMT >From: ralph.hartwell@emachine.com (Ralph Hartwell) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Russian 6L6's ? Message-ID: <9511041642213432@emachine.com> SW>Has anyone tried using the Russian 6L6's in a transmitter. I can't say for the 6L6's, but the bigger bottles such as the 813 and 810 work quite well in the old Gates AM broadcast transmitter I maintain. I get quite a bit longer life from them then from the Chinese tubes. Ralph W5JGV --- * QMPro 1.53 * Toddler: An indoor Tornado... ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 04 Nov 1995 17:17:11 -0800 >From: Bill Turner To: BOB.LIESENFELD@hamlink.mn.org, Subject: Re: NOS? Message-ID: <199511050117.RAA06942@mail.eskimo.com> At 03:01 PM 11/4/95 -0600, you wrote: > Hi gang, > Can someone tell me what the abbreviation "NOS" means when talking >about tubes? -------------------------------------------------- The same abbreviation is used among car collectors, and it means "new old stock", which indicates the item is unused, but old. 73, Bill W7LZP wrt@eskimo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 04 Nov 1995 17:31:18 -0800 >From: Bill Turner To: joe@westonia.com, Multiple recipients of list Subject: Re: GB: Jammed tunning slug Message-ID: <199511050131.RAA10505@mail.eskimo.com> At 06:08 PM 11/4/95 -0600, Joseph Cooper wrote: >I've got a real problem that's thrown my Yaesu 101B out of whack. (Yes I >know its not QRP but it uses a 12BY7A as the oscillator and two 6Js^C's as >PA's - It will run at 1 watt or even less). > >Anyway, one of the IF type tuning coils has gone and jammed the tunning >slug, and as a result I've lost 80 Meters. Does anyone have any suggestions >on how to un-jam it ? I've tried as much 'brute force' as I can trust. > >Thanks in advance. ---------------------------------------------------------------- If that's one of the small coils with a hex-shaped hole in the core, the problem when they jam is almost always that the core cracked radially and the broken edges are preventing it from turning. I used to run across this once in a while when I did TV repair some years ago. The only way to fix it is to continue the process, and break the core into as many little pieces as you can and then get them out. If you are very careful, you might be able to use a variable speed drill and drill it out. However you do it, it's no fun. Good luck. 73, Bill W7LZP wrt@eskimo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Nov 1995 23:28:20 -0500 (EST) >From: "Tony Stalls (K4KYO)" To: Ralph Hartwell Subject: Re: Russian 6L6's ? Message-ID: On Sat, 4 Nov 1995, Ralph Hartwell wrote: > > SW>Has anyone tried using the Russian 6L6's in a transmitter. > > I can't say for the 6L6's, but the bigger bottles such as the 813 and > 810 work quite well in the old Gates AM broadcast transmitter I > maintain. I get quite a bit longer life from them then from the Chinese > tubes. My provider has been upgrading this weekend and e-mail is arriveing sporadically, so I don't know who the original poster is on this but... I put a Russian 6L6 in a Gonset Communicator and it seemed to work just fine, but that being said, that was before the days of my TU-7D/U, so I don't know how it may have checked. 73, Tony K4KYO ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Nov 1995 01:30:43 -0500 >From: The2X4@aol.com To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Schematics Message-ID: <951105013042_13166152@emout05.mail.aol.com> I have noticed referreal to schematics on the list. Does this group use any certain drawing program to send schematic to each other? If not I suggest a public domain freeware program called EASYTRAX. It would serve the purpose quite well and of course no legality to consider. It does require VGA. I'd be glad to furnish a copy. Carl ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Nov 1995 22:52:51 -1000 >From: Jeffrey Herman To: Glowbugs List Subject: 6T9 xmtr Message-ID: My 1972 Handbook has a one-tube xmtr using, I believe, a 6T9 (the book is on your folk's side of the Pacific Ocean). Did anyone of you ever build that rig? 73 from Hawaii, Jeff NH6IL ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Nov 1995 23:13:37 -1000 (HST) >From: Jeffrey Herman To: Glowbugs List Subject: On the air with Gertie (fwd) Message-ID: Here's a progress report on Tom's Hartley xmtr. // Jeff NH6IL -------------------Forwarded Message-------------------- Date: Sat, 4 Nov 1995 17:08:28 -0600 (CST) >From: TOM.A.ADAMS@mail.admin.wisc.edu To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: On the air with Gertie Greetings, Hartley afficionados! Well, Gallopin' Gertie has been on the air. When you last tuned in to the soap opera, Gertie had developed a nasty note as soon as she was connected to an antenna. Addition of filiment bypass caps, and a .01 mica plate bypass, cured that. Wednesday night, while fooling around with the rig on about 3530 KHz, I let up on the key and was startled to hear "..K9T? K9T? de AA9OA HOW COPY.. K". A quick 1 X 1 netted Gertie's first QSO. She got a 579C in Champaign, Illinois. Input was all of 4.5 watts, with perhaps 3 watts going to the 160 Windom, and part of THAT was lighting the flashlight bulb tuning indicator. The next evening (Thursday) I was out hunting with the rig. After a CQ call I heard "... K9TA IS IN THERE. HOW COPY? AR NA4G DE WS4S". I got Conard about 579 and Bob about 569. Conard and I were able to exchange signal reports, but several attempts to raise Bob were unsuccessful. We had kinda interesting QRN levels, and the QRM was pretty heavy, so I'm not too surprised that Gertie wasn't being copied; frankly I was surprised that she was being copied at all! I took a fast pass at the band on Friday, but wasn't able to stay; my second operator, Bozo the Wonder Dog, was at a dog show last week, and caught kennel cough. The poor pooch was pretty miserable and had to be cared for. [Dog Show paragraph deleted] Anyway... I learned a couple of things in the design and construction of Gertie. Even tho the note is reasonably pure after the addition of bypass caps, it is STILL unstable; I'd say that if an Official Observer station hears it, the odds are about 50/50 that s/he'll write me a card. The problem seems to be with my redesign of the basic Hartley oscillator circuit. I made a couple of changes to make the rig safer, and to simultaneously limit tuning range (ie, trying to keep the sucker in the band!) and increase L/C ratio of the tank. One of the changes made was the inclusion of a 250 pf mica cap across the tank circuit. I think this thing is changing value from RF current flow, causing the entire L/C tank to change frequency! In addition, the plate, grid, and filiment taps on the coil ALL have blocking caps, added to keep the DC potential of the tuning variable at or near ground. It appears that any or all of these caps, heating from RF current, can and will cause the rig to drift somewhat. In short, I used too many capacitors in the rig! In doing so, I've undermined her stability. Like innumerable Hartley rigs of the past, Gertie is gonna get revamped... again. Each rebuilding makes her a little bit better. Maybe this will be the LAST rebuild... and if you believe THAT one, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell! 73's, Tom, K9TA ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Nov 95 04:48:36 EST >From: Dave Hockaday To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Re: 6T9 xmtr Message-ID: <9511050948.AA01873@merlin.nando.net> At 02:54 AM 11/5/95 -0600, you wrote: >My 1972 Handbook has a one-tube xmtr using, I believe, a 6T9 >(the book is on your folk's side of the Pacific Ocean). Did >anyone of you ever build that rig? > >73 from Hawaii, >Jeff NH6IL YES!! Wow...did you ever bring back memories...I had forgotten that thing. I think that tube had 3 tube sections didn't it?? It was the second homebrew project I ever did. Sweet little tx, too. I was about 15 at the time, and built it from the handbook (don't remember the vintage now), but was one proud kid when it came up and worked the first time...no smoke or nuthin! I ran that with an old lambda HV supply my 9th grade electronics teacher gave me, and used it (rock bound) with a Hallicrafters SX-42 rx. My antenna tuner was homebrew to, and also built from the handbook with a handwound tapped inductor. I ordered the tube through the local TV shop, and I remember the guy asking a lot of questions when it came in (what ya building, be careful with the HV, etc). 73 de Dave WB4IUY ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Nov 1995 18:00:34 +0800 (HKT) >From: Mr Chi Kui Sandroff Ma To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Looking for 6GB8 Message-ID: Hello, I am looking for four 6GB8 for my Denon 1000b. If anyone have access or know the source for any please let me know. I was told 6GB8 is a Japanese tube number. My current set is made by Toshiba. I will take them NOS or used provided they are tested to be strong. I also appreciate any advice as to substitutes. Sandroff ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Nov 95 08:43:48 PST >From: Chris Sieg To: The2X4@aol.com, glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: RE: Schematics Message-ID: Hi Carl, You were reading my mind. I have a couple of circuits that I've been playing with that I would like to share but the SASE route is the only way I know to disseminate the schematic. I routinely use ORCAD to draw schematics at work but that is far from shareware and it requires kind of large library files, some supplied some user generated. There is also the paint brush method, but that seems clumsy. I know that there are some screen capture programs... maybe I could bring up the ORCAD drawing and then capture it to a GIF file. Hopefully someone else has a better way. Can you elaborate on the EASYTRAX program? -Chris ------------------------------------- Name: Chris Sieg WA3LDI E-mail: c_sieg@mail.conknet.com (Chris Sieg) Date: 11/05/95 Time: 08:43:48 ------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Nov 1995 10:20:55 -0500 (EST) >From: "Tony Stalls (K4KYO)" To: Doug Snowden Subject: Re: HC type xtals with tubes Message-ID: On Thu, 2 Nov 1995, Doug Snowden wrote: > Since the ole FT243, etc type crystals are a bit rare nowadays, are > there any tricks out there (like capacitance dividers, etc) to limit > the bloodpressure on a little HC-6 type crystal? I've got a couple > I could use but don;t want to fracture them thru experimentation. Hi Doug, I've never taken any such precautions using HC-6/U crystals, although you have me wondering now. I'll certainly be watching for what folks have to say about this. As for FT-243, I was talking to "Surplus Al" (Al Yascavage, W3UGD) about FT-243's and he told me that he has "tens of thousands" of FT-243's. Drop him a note at PO Box 215, Hunlock Creek, PA 18621, with your needs. 73, Tony K4KYO ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Nov 1995 10:22:43 -0800 >From: mjsilva@ix.netcom.com (michael silva) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Re: 6T9 xmtr Message-ID: <199511051822.KAA28204@ix.ix.netcom.com> Jeff wrote: > >My 1972 Handbook has a one-tube xmtr using, I believe, a 6T9 >(the book is on your folk's side of the Pacific Ocean). Did >anyone of you ever build that rig? I haven't tried it, but I noticed that the price of 6T9s went *down* in this year's AES catalog, to $2.30. Not a bad deal. (For those who are curious, the 6T9 is a triode/pentode combo, with the pentode side having a dissipation of 12 watts. Alas, it's a 12-pin compactron -- anybody have some sockets?) Speaking of AES (Antique Electronic Supply), their catalog is a must-have for thermionic types. Phone number is 602-820-5411. 73, Mike, KK6GM ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 05 Nov 1995 15:16:01 -0400 >From: "Bruce G. Robertson" To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: glowbugs schematics, tube offers and young'uns Message-ID: <309D0D71.522D@epas.utoronto.ca> A while back, someone asked if there were any on the list who didn't get seduced by tubes as a young ham. Well, I can remember going to the tube tester at the drug store to fix the tv with my dad when I was about 8, and my first rig was an SB 101, given by my folks when I was 13. But I never thought much of tubes, and was glad to see the last of them until the last few years when my brother-in-law, Pete, has shared some of his interest in them with me. I've a fair bit of homebrew in solid-state devices, but I've never built something with tubes, and this forum seems a great place to get the hand-holding I need to start. One problem I have is telling what a given tube might be used for. Is there a good standard reference (for dummies) on the alphanumerical designators? This brings me to the om who kindly offered the cheap tubes for people to play with: I'd have snatched up some of them, I didn't because I had no idea what kind of circuit to put them into. If one has a surplus of a type and would like to get rid of them and help us beginners, how about writing up a brief schematic to go with it? Just a thought. Such schematics, I believe, should be stored in *.GIF form. This is cross-platform, and can be added into web pages well. I offer my glowbugs bibliography as a site for such submissions: I hope soon to add a cross-indexed list of tubes to this so that the neophyte like me can go looking through bins of old tubes knowing that s(he) can dig up the project that goes with it. Now for a couple of questions: 1) what good does an isolation transformer do? It seems to me that the potential across the secondary of one would be exactly the same as across the primary. How does such a device reduce the risk of shock? 2) I'm looking into a 6L6 xtal rig like the classic Sutter articles of QST 1938-40. (I'll have the references for those soon. They are great reading!) I'm wondering what the minimum practical requirements for filtering are. (I have a 400v xformer waiting to go...) He plays fast and loose. The re-write by Bryce in 73 makes the oscillator into a Colpitts with cap. divider and a 100k resistor in parallel with the xtal. I take it this is easier on the xtal and allows the smaller modern ones to be used? 73, VE3UWL Bruce G. Robertson, Dept. of classics U. of T. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 05 Nov 1995 15:16:06 -0600 >From: MIKE SANDERS To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: 10 AM Message-ID: <199511052012.OAA05629@basic.net> Greetings, Just worked Jack KH6CC on 29.0 a short time ago on AM. Jack says as always he is monitoring 29.0 everyday. Openings are sparce but they are there and the chance to exercise those bottles is now! Good Luck. 73 de KS0F ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Nov 1995 13:46:49 -0700 >From: dmedley@indirect.com (David Medley) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: WE 215-A tube Message-ID: <199511052046.NAA13500@bob.indirect.com> I have a WE 215-A tube in a box with the original wrapping. Does anyone know what this tube is or where it was used? Is it worth anything? Does anybody want it? The box is sadly deteriorated but the tube and wrapping look new. 73 de Dave KI6QE ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 05 Nov 1995 13:04:27 -0800 >From: Bill Turner To: brucerob@epas.utoronto.ca, Subject: Re: glowbugs schematics, tube offers and young'uns Message-ID: <199511052104.NAA15846@mail.eskimo.com> At 02:16 PM 11/5/95 -0600, Bruce G. Robertson wrote: -snip- Now for a couple of questions: 1) what good does an isolation transformer do? It seems to me that the potential across the secondary of one would be exactly the same as across the primary. How does such a device reduce the risk of shock? -snip- ------------------------------------------------------------------- There are two shock hazards: the voltage between the two conductors, and the voltage between either of them and earth ground. Normally, one of them is connected to earth ground anyway, so the other one presents the full voltage present to someone who is standing in a puddle of water and grabs it. The isolation transformer eliminates this possibility, but not the other. One must still be careful of that. 73, Bill W7LZP wrt@eskimo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Nov 1995 18:08:01 -0500 (EST) >From: tbowman@leba.net To: brucerob@epas.utoronto.ca, Subject: Re: glowbugs schematics, tube offers and young'uns Message-ID: <199511052308.SAA29105@fig.leba.net> <---- Begin Included Message ----> Now for a couple of questions: 1) what good does an isolation transformer do? It seems to me that the potential across the secondary of one would be exactly the same as across the primary. How does such a device reduce the risk of shock? --Some power supply circuits for rcvrs or xmtrs, to save cost, were built without transformers. As I see it, without a polarized power plug, the hot side of the AC line has a 50:50 chance of ending up grounded to the chassis IF the circuit designer used the chassis as both an electrical ground and RF ground. If the plug is placed in the AC wall socket "wrong", the chassis is hot. Someone touching a grounded surface and the "hot" chassis at the same time would receive a shock of 110 VAC. There were AC-DC rcvrs like my first rig, a Hallicrafters S-38E, circa 1960. That receiver had a polarized plug - one prong was wider than the other - so the plug could only be inserted in the wall one way. And Hallicrafters's engineers never returned the ground side of my S-38E circuits directly to the chassis. Instead they tied them to something known as a RETMA ground, which if memory serves, was a tie point used as a common circuit ground. That tie point was connected to the chassis through a capacitor and resistor in parallel. The only problem would be if that darned capacitor- called a condenser back then- shorted out....(BTW, anyone have an S-38E they'd like to part with, please e-mail me). Now along comes the isolation transformer. I remember Lafayette Radio sold them as did others. The isolation transformer did not step up or step down AC voltages but took 110 VAC out of the wall socket and provided 110 VAC on the secondary winding to rigs like my S-38E. With the isolation transformer in place, threat of shock was minimized. The radio was "isolated" from the power line with its possibly dangerous ground and hot side. BTW, you can make an isolation transformer with two filament transformers. Pick two with the same secondary voltage, like 6.3 VAC or 12.6 VAC, then connect secondary to secondary. If these transformers are good for a couple of amps, they can provide 110 VAC out to an AC-DC rcvr. One last thing: Isolation transformers only prevented shock when someone came in contact with the chassis or cabinet of the rig and ground. They didn't protect anyone from high voltages present in the rig itself.... Tom, WA3REY ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Nov 1995 18:33:27 -0500 >From: hrsil@flinet.com (Henry Silvia) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Schematics Posting Message-ID: <199511052333.SAA29744@ns1.flinet.com> In regard to schematic posting on the net. Maybe Orcad files would be acceptable, there are shareware programs such as Circad which perform conversions quite well and its available online. Besides this prog. there must be others which will serve the same purpose, I'll keep my eyes open. Yes, by the way as if you couldnt tell I'm chomping at the bit to start on some tube projects, but finding info. is very difficult at this stage of my interest. I have been to the Web page maintained by a member of this group and now have the formidible task of getting info. from the library. I'm currently running a boatanchor ts520s which I've managed to bring back from the dead on many occasions, Have thouroghly enjoyed reading all of your postings over the last month and look forward to meeting gertie and all others on the air with one of my own soon. 73 ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 05 Nov 1995 13:23:38 -0100 >From: BOB.LIESENFELD@hamlink.mn.org (BOB LIESENFELD) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: TUBES Message-ID: <815583638.AA04138@hamlink.mn.org> Hi, Sorry to say that my mail server ate the post with the address for the free (for shipping) little tiny tubes. Please send me again and I will respond! Thanks 72 Bob WB0POQ Technology is OUT of control..... ---NoSnail v1.17 ******************************************************************* HAM>link< RBBS - Serving the Amateur Radio Community Since 1983 - 612/HAM-0000 v.34 Ham Radio Spoken Here!! - 612/HAM-1010 v.32b Reply to sender @ hamlink.mn.org ******************************************************************** ------------------------------ End of GLOWBUGS Digest 9 ************************ --simple boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; name="GLO-POR0.010" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="GLO-POR0.010" GLOWBUGS Digest 10 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Goodies For Grabs III by David Stinson <72227.1640@compuserve.com> 2) Re: HC type xtals with tubes by Bob Roehrig 3) Re: glowbugs schematics, tube offers and young'uns by Jeffrey Herman 4) GB - FS B&W Swing Link P/P Tank by lbbarley@southwind.net (Bruce Barley) 5) glowbugs schematics, tube offers and young'uns by ralph.hartwell@emachine.com (Ralph Hartwell) 6) 807 / 6BG6G by Duncan Cadd 7) 5933S - 807 equivalent? by dmbrown@iinet.com.au (David Brown) 8) Re: glowbugs schematics, tube offers and young'uns by "Tony Stalls (K4KYO)" 9) RE: WE 215-A tube by "Gorman, Ken" 10) Re: 5933S - 807 equivalent? by "Tony Stalls (K4KYO)" 11) RE: WE 215-A tube by KC5IJD@aol.com 12) RS Transformers - Rewinding by "Barry L. Ornitz" 13) Easytrax program by The2X4@aol.com 14) Re: Easytrax program by steve@hi.com (Steve Byan) 15) Getting serious by MIKE SANDERS 16) GB tube numbering system (was Re: glowbugs schematics...) by mjsilva@ix.netcom.com (michael silva) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 05 Nov 95 19:11:07 EST >From: David Stinson <72227.1640@compuserve.com> To: mailing list Cc: mailing list Subject: Goodies For Grabs III Message-ID: <951106001106_72227.1640_EHM169-1@CompuServe.COM> Well, another Vegas swapmeet has come and gone and the pile of small parts from the bottom of the dusty old boxes I've bought is getting large again. You know I can't abide packratting, so it's time to have another Goodies for Grabs. As always, the items are free to whomever needs them. I do ask for postage to be returned. If more then one person wants an item, Stephanie will draw a name. If you will, let me know what you're working on. It's nice to hear about it. Please send email to me and not the list. Address at the end of the goodies listing. Collins Tube Shields Collins make and marked "COL" (military Collins-make ID). I believe they are pulls from a 51S1. One seven pin and two nine pin shields. Collins power knob. >From a 51S1 or KWM-2, I believe. Have one. Collins or Heathkit power or Acc. connectors. One each 9 pin and 11 pin "octal-like" male plugs. Two each 9 pin and 11 pin chassis mount female plugs. Drake AC-4 connectors. The female Cinch-Jones plugs from the AC-4 power supply. I have three available. Tubes, NIB: (2) 866A, (5) 6AK5, (4) 6DK6, (1) 43 Bird 43 Wattmeter Slug. 100-250 Mhz, 10 Watts. Have one available. NOS Replacement Axial-Lead 450VDC Electrolytics. Never used. Corneil Doubleer (sp?) blue "Beaver" type. The kind used in thousands of BA power supplies. I'm certain they will need to be reformed. NOS but not checked and some storage scuffs. (4) 20 mfd 450 VDC (9) 8 mfd 450 VDC (1) 25mfd 50 VDC (cathode bypass) and: (1) Can-type two-section 8 mfd 450VDC, NOS no mfg mark. (2) known good 10 mfd 600 VDC mylars in metal cans, about an inch square by two long. Great caps for an 807-6146 power supply. Drake W4 Wattmeter manual. With warrenty card and plastic SWR chart card intact. Astatic Model 331 Hand Mike, good cord no plug. Looks good. Type used in 50s-60s AM mobiles like the Gonsets. Black case, chrome top, nice red emblem. Switch good. Nice mike but I don't collect them. Didn't cost me anything so I'll pass along the favor. Twenty FT-243 crystals. Non-hamband. Mostly 6 MHZ. For people wanting the holders. You can put little modern xtals inside when rebuilding your novice rig to look 1965 or so. You'll also get about 200 other sealed metal xtals, non-ham. Consider it a favor to me...heh heh. DM-64 Dynamotor with base. For ground vehicular radios. 12VDC input. Will take about $5 to ship it. Dynamotor/Keying unit for ABA-1 pre-WWII Navy IFF set. Very nice shape. Will take about $10 to ship it. One thing I need: I'm building a 500VDC 250 mill supply and need a good filter choke for the cap-input filter. Thanks. That's it for this time. If you need any of these goodies, please send email to 72227.1640@compuserve.com TNX ES 73 DE Dave AB5S/7 ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Nov 1995 19:11:48 -0600 (CST) >From: Bob Roehrig To: "Tony Stalls (K4KYO)" Cc: Multiple recipients of list Subject: Re: HC type xtals with tubes Message-ID: On Sun, 5 Nov 1995, Tony Stalls (K4KYO) wrote: > On Thu, 2 Nov 1995, Doug Snowden wrote: > > > Since the ole FT243, etc type crystals are a bit rare nowadays, are > > there any tricks out there (like capacitance dividers, etc) to limit > > the bloodpressure on a little HC-6 type crystal? I've got a couple > > I could use but don;t want to fracture them thru experimentation. > > Hi Doug, > > I've never taken any such precautions using HC-6/U crystals, although you > have me wondering now. I'll certainly be watching for what folks have to > say about this. > > As for FT-243, I was talking to "Surplus Al" (Al Yascavage, W3UGD) about > FT-243's and he told me that he has "tens of thousands" of FT-243's. Drop > him a note at PO Box 215, Hunlock Creek, PA 18621, with your needs. > I remember seeing xtal osc circuits that used pilot lamps in series with xtals to act as current limiters. With today's HC-6 type xtals, enough current to light a lamp IS TOO MUCH CURRENT! I would always use a small tube for an osc rather than try a one tube "rock crusher" like a 6L6, then drive the larger tube with the smaller osc. Xtal specs usually list drive levels in milliwatts. I have not thought about general purpose (transmitting) xtal osc circuits for a while - I have been playing more with frequency standards. There, you want to keep the drive as low as possible, yet retain oscillation. One way to limit xtal current is by limiting (or clipping) the waveform. This can sometimes be easily done by a pair of paralleled diodes, connected anode to cathode and cap couple them across the circuit somewhere. This limits the level to about 1.2 volts P-P. The other way is to add AGC to the circuit. Rectify the output and feed the DC back to the input to control the gain by changing the tube bias. A simple way might be to add just enough resistance in series with the xtal to barely maintain oscillation. 73 de Bob, K9EUI ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Nov 1995 21:48:47 -1000 >From: Jeffrey Herman To: tbowman@leba.net Subject: Re: glowbugs schematics, tube offers and young'uns Message-ID: One xmtr circuit I've got uses off-the-wall AC but includes a neon light to warn the op that the wallplug is upside down. Jeff ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Nov 1995 02:30:35 -0600 >From: lbbarley@southwind.net (Bruce Barley) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: GB - FS B&W Swing Link P/P Tank Message-ID: <199511060830.CAA28149@onyx.southwind.net> Well, Gang - I had grand and glorious plans to build a REAL footwarmer using a pair of NEW 75TH's I had found in an estate sale. But now, since the moving company's insurance carrier has purchased the remaining shards of glass and flattened metal, I guess I won't be needing the output tank coil that I already had to go with it. It survived and is up to trade / sell. This tank coil is a commercial unit and is somewhat unusual in it's construction. It is a B&W type 80 THL plug in (4 pins on a ceramic bar) push/pull tank circuit with a SWINGING LINK output coupling. It is complete with metal/ceramic mounting base and socket assembly. However, be advised that the tank coils {airdux type} will need some tender loving attention. The plastic strips which run the length of the coils are deteriorating from old age/storage/etc. I don't know from what equipment this tank coil was removed from, but the wire coils themselves are OK. Not smashed, or bent. For those of you that know the 75TH, you know that those firebottles would certainly be a pretty pair in operation. For those on the list that don't know the 75TH, Aahhh. These bottles were made by Western Electric many moons ago, and are roughly rated at 75 watts each. They were pretty just to look at, even at room temperature! But that was then. FYI, AES in their 1994 catalog lists the 75TH's at $75/each - used. I guess I'll go on to other things. I've kinda lost interest in the large projects. Plus, I just don't have space for it, now. So, I'll trade, or sell the tank coil unit. Certainly someone of you can find a home for it. I'm interseted now, in constructing a small breadboard regen or TRF receiver or a small one or two tube CW xmtr. I would be interested in trading for some FT243 crystals in the 80/40 mtr ham bands, maybe an antenna 1:1 or 1:4 balun for low power, or some plug in coil forms/sockets suitable for such breadboard use. Or what have you I can use? I certainly don't need that B&W tank coil now. Dig in your junque boxes, find something I can't do without. I'm easy. Best wishes, and make sure your movers have insurance! Hi! Bruce - KB0PZD lbbarley@southwind.net ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Nov 1995 23:48:00 GMT >From: ralph.hartwell@emachine.com (Ralph Hartwell) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: glowbugs schematics, tube offers and young'uns Message-ID: <9511052041173474@emachine.com> >I've a fair bit of homebrew in solid-state devices, but I've never built >something with tubes, and this forum seems a great place to get the >hand-holding I need to start. One problem I have is telling what a given >tube might be used for. Is there a good standard reference (for dummies) >on the alphanumerical designators? Well, one of the nice things about tubes (also known as hot emitter FET's to the solid state guys) is that as long as you stay within the operating limits of the firebottle, you can use them for almost anything! What you want to do is obtain an old copy of one of the RCA transmitting tube manuals from the 50's and a receiving tube manual from the same era. They give you all sorts of useful data, such as the absolute maximum limits on the tube (which most hams happily disregard or use as a lower operating point) and the typical operating voltages and currents for the device. Both of these manuals also have pretty good explanations of the various operating classes (A, B, AB1, C, etc.) as well as typical circuit diagrams. All in all, they are a veritable gold mine for the homebrewer using tubes. Once you have a firm understanding of what a tube does and how it does it, your mind runs wild designing all sorts of neat circuits, such as a 4 tube DSB transmitter for 6 meters that used a pair of 12AX7's and a pair of 6AQ5's. It was built on a 3 X 2 X 5 inch MiniBox (with an external power supply, of course) and would put out about 50 watts PEP. >This brings me to the om who kindly offered the cheap tubes for people to >play with: I'd have snatched up some of them, I didn't because I had no >idea what kind of circuit to put them into. If one has a surplus of a Grab a few tubes - you will have fun figuring out what to do with them. >Such schematics, I believe, should be stored in *.GIF form. This is >cross-platform, and can be added into web pages well. I offer my glowbugs Hmm.. may I suggest JPG format - tighter compression, and avoids possible Compuserve legal problems. >Now for a couple of questions: 1) what good does an isolation transformer >do? It seems to me that the potential across the secondary of one would >be exactly the same as across the primary. How does such a device reduce >the risk of shock? It is, but since neither side is connected to earth ground, you can (theoretically) touch either side of the transformers output and ground at the same time and not get zapped. Ralph W5JGV --- * QMPro 1.53 * * <- Tribble. + <- Tribble with Mange. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Nov 1995 13:01:02 +0100 (MET) >From: Duncan Cadd To: glowbugs@theporch.com Cc: dcadd@luc.ac.be Subject: 807 / 6BG6G Message-ID: <9511061201.AA15521@alpha.luc.ac.be> Greetings, Folks, from a crisp and bright Diepenbeek in N.E. Belgium! > I also thought that the 6BG6 looked VERY MUCH like an 807. I'll have to > see if I still have any around, or at least compare the specs in the > tube manual or on my tube tester. > 73 de Bob, K9EUI I checked the characteristic curves in the old manuals I've got, and whilst they're not *identical* I'd say they were close enough within the experimental error of the curve tracer! (2 different manuals by different publishers!) 73, Duncan ON9CHU / G0UTY G-QRP 8117 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Nov 1995 22:52:20 +0800 >From: dmbrown@iinet.com.au (David Brown) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: 5933S - 807 equivalent? Message-ID: <199511061452.WAA11597@classic.iinet.com.au> Anyone have information on the 5933S? Made in France by Thomson/CSF. I believe they may be an 807 equivalent. ______________________ ____________________________________ email Red Pepper WWW page dmbrown@iinet.com.au http://www.iinet.com.au/~dmbrown/ ______________________ ____________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Nov 1995 09:56:47 -0500 (EST) >From: "Tony Stalls (K4KYO)" To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: Re: glowbugs schematics, tube offers and young'uns Message-ID: Hi Ralph and Glowbuggers, On Mon, 6 Nov 1995, Ralph Hartwell wrote: > >Such schematics, I believe, should be stored in *.GIF form. This is > >cross-platform, and can be added into web pages well. I offer my glowbugs > > Hmm.. may I suggest JPG format - tighter compression, and avoids > possible Compuserve legal problems. This schematic thing has been a hot topic of discussion before and as far as I know, nothing was ever resolved, and probably because there was an incorrect assumption that scanner ownership and desktop publishing capability was widespread. I have neither and, for now anyway, have little need, so I therefore don't expect to drop a kilobuck anytime soon. I believe that's probably a fairly typical. The other thing is that I believe the overall level of Internet/PC expertise is lower than one might expect. I ran BBS's as far back as 1982 or so, and over that time, I was surprised to find that a majority of the users, who were otherwise technically competent, were using text-based bottom level equipment. I wouldn't be surprised to find that the same is true here. The other thing is that I doubt that very many would go to the trouble to download the schematics, but again, I believe that it's likely that relatively few even know (or care to know) how. Evidence the "for sale" list on the Boatanchors that was met with enthusiastic support, but then fell flat. Rather than being a naysayer, I'm just trying to be realistic. Think about it. How many schematics do you think you'll really actually use? Putting it in a personal perspective, I have a couple in my "I'm going to build this some day" file that have been there since the days I was KN4KYO. All that being said, If we're going to do this, it's probably best to assume that a significant number are Internet and graphics neophytes and go from there. I have a couple of suggestions. Those who have the capability and are willing to scan these things and put them in some easily readable format could provide their snail-mail addresses so that those of us who don't can send them to be processed and shared. The second is to fax the schematics to one another, or to someone who will act as a processing center and convert the fax files. 73, Tony K4KYO ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 06 Nov 95 09:59:00 MST >From: "Gorman, Ken" To: glowbugs Subject: RE: WE 215-A tube Message-ID: <309E2507@micro1.iac.honeywell.com> Is it worth anything? At an auction in July, a pair of WE 216A tubes sold for $77.50. Pretty expensive tubes. Ken ---------- >From: glowbugs To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: WE 215-A tube Date: Sunday, November 05, 1995 2:47PM I have a WE 215-A tube in a box with the original wrapping. Does anyone know what this tube is or where it was used? Is it worth anything? Does anybody want it? The box is sadly deteriorated but the tube and wrapping look new. 73 de Dave KI6QE ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Nov 1995 10:33:04 -0500 (EST) >From: "Tony Stalls (K4KYO)" To: David Brown Subject: Re: 5933S - 807 equivalent? Message-ID: On Mon, 6 Nov 1995, David Brown wrote: > Anyone have information on the 5933S? Made in France by Thomson/CSF. I > believe they may be an 807 equivalent. Hi David, My 1957 ARRL handbook says the 5933 and the 807 are the same, but the 5933 has the same base diagram as the 1625. The 1625 of course was a 12.6 volt filament 807 with a 7-pin base. I don't know about the "S" designation. 73, Tony K4KYO ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Nov 1995 11:22:54 -0500 >From: KC5IJD@aol.com To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: RE: WE 215-A tube Message-ID: <951106112253_99185549@emout04.mail.aol.com> >At an auction in July, a pair of WE 216A tubes sold for $77.50. Pretty >expensive tubes. True, But the 215A and 216A are quite different tubes. The 215A is far more common. More info can be found in the book 75 Years of Western Electric Tube Manufacturing. Joseph W Pinner Lafayette, LA KC5IJD EMail: kc5ijd@aol.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Nov 1995 12:00:42 -0500 (EST) >From: "Barry L. Ornitz" To: mjsilva@ix.netcom.com Cc: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: RS Transformers - Rewinding Message-ID: One big thing to watch out for is the fact that most of the newer Radio Shack transformers I have played with have excessive leakage inductance. Their voltage regulation is very poor. Try measuring the secondary voltage both with and without the correct load. If the voltage is reasonably stable, you might consider rewinding it. Otherwise, you are doomed to lots of problems from the start. 73, Barry WA4VZQ ornitz@eastman.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Nov 1995 14:15:36 -0500 >From: The2X4@aol.com To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Easytrax program Message-ID: <951106141536_81488619@mail04.mail.aol.com> Hi ya'll Those interested in the EASYTRAX program can download it from my system tonight and tomorrow night. These hours are easiest for me to be away from this thing. :-) The number is (615) 847-9704 At 11PM CST today 11/06/95 til 7AM 11/07/95 you can download the file. Try again the same time tomorrow. 11PM to 7AM CST 11/07/95. It is called 'EASYTRAX.ZIP'. Also download PKUNZIP.EXE to decompress the Easytrax file. I would think Pkunzip is already in your system but it may not be. After the unpacking is done read all the READ... files. Go from there. I will make a library of symbols for several tube diagrams somewhat like those that appear in the back of the ARRL handbooks. You can make your own with Easytrax. It would be great if we all used the same library. Maybe someone on the list would have more time than I to make a complete electronic symbol library. You have no doubt seen other suggestions about drawing programs. I'd support something the majority can use whatever it was. But I don't think plain pictures like GIF JPEG TIFF PCX present the best way. They are just pictures. Drawing programs allow users to manipulate the drawn objects individually. There is another program to consider called DraftChoice. It is by far the easiest program there is to use. This is a Shareware program and you are expected to purchase the right to continue using it. I think $50. You can download the latest version of DraftChoice from their BBS at (508) 794-0762. I believe they are on Compuserve at 'GO TRIUS'. Tonight and tomorrow night the EASYTRAX program will be available for download thru my small host BBS. # is (615) 847-9704 Carl ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Nov 1995 14:56:32 -0400 >From: steve@hi.com (Steve Byan) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: Re: Easytrax program Message-ID: >You have no doubt seen other suggestions about drawing programs. I'd support >something the majority can use whatever it was. But I don't think plain >pictures like >GIF JPEG TIFF PCX present the best way. They are just pictures. Drawing >programs >allow users to manipulate the drawn objects individually. I'd support something that *everyone* can use. Easytrax doesn't run on my platform. However, I can generate GIFs, JPEG, postscript, etc. It is unfortunate that there doesn't seem to be a free or cheap cross-platform editable vector-graphics standard. Perhaps spice netlists would be the best way to present schematics in a way that we could usefully manipulate. Regards, -Steve Steve Byan internet: steve@hi.com Hitachi Computer Products (America), Inc. 1601 Trapelo Road phone: (617) 890-0444 Waltham, MA 02154 FAX: (617) 890-4998 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 06 Nov 1995 17:27:58 -0600 >From: MIKE SANDERS To: glowbugs@theporch.com Cc: Philw7xk@aol.com Subject: Getting serious Message-ID: <199511062224.QAA13992@basic.net> Greetings, Yes, this is getting serious. Worked Jack KH6CC again today on 10 meter AM. 29.000. Jack was calling CQ for about an hour and a half with only a few takers. Did it again with the rice rig. Now dust is off the Ranger and the HQ-110 and they are powered up and checked out. Next time Jack calls (tomorrow?) I will be ready with a real radio. Also heard W6TUV or TUN on same freq. QRM on 10 AM,,,,,how sweet it is! Again, Jack is listening 29.000 AM all day long however it appears that the openings have all occurred around 2000z. Todays was longer than yesterdays. Good Luck 73 de KS0F ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Nov 1995 15:29:30 -0800 >From: mjsilva@ix.netcom.com (michael silva) To: glowbugs@theporch.com Subject: GB tube numbering system (was Re: glowbugs schematics...) Message-ID: <199511062329.PAA27163@ix13.ix.netcom.com> Bruce wrote: >...One problem I have is telling what a given >tube might be used for. Is there a good standard reference (for >dummies) on the alphanumerical designators? The "standard" numbering system (others were used for older tubes, transmitting and industrial tubes, foreign tubes, etc) works as follows: a) 1-3 digits specifying the (approximate) filament or heater voltage. b) One or more letters designating the particular tube, with rectifiers going backwards from 'Z', others going forward from 'A'. c) A number indicating the number of separate tube structures brought out to pins. See below. d) A possible suffix indicating bulb type, heater characteristics, etc. Some designators are: G-glass bulb, ST shape, GT-glass bulb, tubular shape, A-controlled heater warmup time or other improvement, W-ruggedized. Some examples: 6SN7-GT is a 6 (actually 6.3) volt twin triode, with 7 structures brought out (2 cathodes, 2 grids, 2 plates, 1 heater), in a tubular glass envelope. 6L6 is a 6 volt beam-power tube. The elements brought out are 1 heater, 1 cathode/beam-electrode combination, 1 control grid, 1 screen grid, 1 plate, and 1 metal shell/shield (pin 1 for all metal octal-based tubes). Note that many octal metal tubes were also produced in glass, without the shield, but they retain their original numbering. Thus the 6L6-G and 6L6-GT have no shield brought out, but retain the original designation. Later tubes such as 7- and 9-pin minis didn't have this confusion about counting the (possibly non-existent) shield as a structure, and their numbering is more consistent. Thus the 6SA7-GT (octal) and the 6BE6 (7-pin mini) are both pentagrid converters with similar pinouts, but the 6SA7 started out as a metal tube, hence the -7 rather than the -6. AES publishes some reprints that are worth getting. They have a 1959 RCA receiving tube manual, a 1962 RCA transmitting tube manual, and a 1973 GE Essential Characteristics (quick reference) manual, listing many many tubes. 73, Mike, KK6GM ------------------------------ End of GLOWBUGS Digest 10 ************************* --simple boundary--