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Re: VE3EFJ third mixer mod for the R4C
My AMP-4 feedback loop was designed for about a 3 dB roll-off at 3 kHz. Personal choice. Rob, NC0B
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On Jan 1, 2025, at 10:10?AM, Jim Shorney via groups.io <jimNU0C@...> wrote: |
Re: TR7 next problem
Jim maybe this will help. I touched up several solder joints although they didn¡¯t look good but not cracked. I switched the input to the counter and it is reading 17 to 18 mhz Jim VE1RB On Wed, Jan 1, 2025 at 12:52?PM Jim Harris via <radiove1rb=[email protected]> wrote:
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Re: Speaker?
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýAll the talk about the audio amplifier on an R-4C intrigues me to ask the question, ¡°What are you doing about the speaker?¡± ?With a 50 year old speaker in some cases, what are you replacing it with, without doing any mechanical work?¡± ?? ? ? ?Frank Krozel ? ? ? ? ? ?KG9H Life Member, ARRL ? ? (630) 924-1600 kg9hfrank@... |
Re: AF AMP VE3EFJ third mixer mod for the R4C
Joseph K7CBR
Gary!!! Bravo! I too used a device like that for mine( TDA7377)... I removed the original jensen speaker, used a lower efficiency driver, yet one with better listening specs. My MS-4 has been modified into a more practical speaker enclosure also. I tossed the cardboard speaker escutcheon and made a proper one out of hardwood ply. Lots of other things to make the box have more decent response also... Those TDA modules are great! I get about 10-11 watts from mine. 2.5 watts does not cut it when guys are now hell bent on 2.8kHz bandwidth or more. Doing all this and using one of Franks 2.8 filters was very liberating. I thought about using in bridged mode, yet 10-11 watts is flat enough.
On Wednesday, January 1, 2025 at 11:33:55 AM EST, Gary WB6OGD via groups.io <winbladgary@...> wrote:
It's a waste of time and money to design an AF amp for the Drake.
I used a (now) 75cent complete TDA2030 module from china.
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Like this one:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/314750105717?_skw=TDa2030+amplifier+module&itmmeta=01JGHB55413WV2745A8XBJYQBN&hash=item4948917875:g:upwAAOSwiFZky38Y&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKl9LzhQlEV7hr7qISFGACsJ4nRv905MP85TlwPdXY5R6c3VMsAxJIQKAv5Wui8d0Yi5pi9YIYuzUCSjP5ml2suXZumYP9VjoXxEuLgFUi%2FbDTCLNL%2Bfzq1996uV4tf62yNmyWpQMXYoXUZz8Vv9amSvPAB9B%2B0dDCc1DrezcMlCO9tR6%2FQCZNyVOKUH0VaPBtchCvaYlnLrPBcthdKwTS0tsusftmUTkrWDt3q1FPcmtYKvA7qfjd%2FramvBIYhkHsdzm2t9cFMXaqQoBKG16X7Bgfc83okBCT8p2OAuM1pXVw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR57SlKuEZQ
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See my Folder in the Files section:
? ? "Drake R4A or R4B solid state AF Amp"
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73,
Gary
WB6OGD
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Re: VE3EFJ third mixer mod for the R4C
Yeah, that works. The TDA chips are rock stable and practically bulletproof when implemented properly. I have one of the Velleman TDA2002 modules that I acquired some years back for my R4C, I just have not got a round tuit yet. One thing that I did do was to alter the capacitance in the feedback network to roll the audio off around 4KHz.
On Wed, 01 Jan 2025 08:33:53 -0800 "Gary WB6OGD via groups.io" <winbladgary@...> wrote: It's a waste of time and money to design an AF amp for the Drake.-- 73 -Jim NU0C |
Re: VE3EFJ third mixer mod for the R4C
On Wed, Jan 1, 2025 at 08:33 AM, Gary WB6OGD wrote:
The TDA series and LM380 are fine although I wanted lower noise with no detectable hiss at any setting of the AF control when using studio-grade headphones.? ?
The image below shows a discrete class AB amp layout meant specifically for the Drake R4 series.? It has on-board V regulation, PS decoupling, and two isolated analog ground planes that meet together at the at the V reg ground pin.? Loudspeaker current can't modulate the ground reference of the high-gain, low-noise front-end stage.?
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The high-gain stage uses low-noise Toshiba transistors. The output cap is 4500 uF.? An additional regulated output can feed the PTO.? ? Sure, it's only communications-grade audio but anyone wishing to listen at my QTH, you're welcome to stop by and hear the difference.
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Paul, W9AC
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Re: TR7 next problem
Good ideas Jim and I will get at doing that today. It is windy and raining here quite hard. A good job inside hi hi. I will let you know how it goes. Many thanks for the suggestions?and help. Jim VE1RB On Wed, Jan 1, 2025 at 12:24?PM Jim Shorney via <jimNU0C=[email protected]> wrote:
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Re: VE3EFJ third mixer mod for the R4C
It's a waste of time and money to design an AF amp for the Drake.
I used a (now) 75cent complete TDA2030 module from china.
?
Like this one:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/314750105717?_skw=TDa2030+amplifier+module&itmmeta=01JGHB55413WV2745A8XBJYQBN&hash=item4948917875:g:upwAAOSwiFZky38Y&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKl9LzhQlEV7hr7qISFGACsJ4nRv905MP85TlwPdXY5R6c3VMsAxJIQKAv5Wui8d0Yi5pi9YIYuzUCSjP5ml2suXZumYP9VjoXxEuLgFUi%2FbDTCLNL%2Bfzq1996uV4tf62yNmyWpQMXYoXUZz8Vv9amSvPAB9B%2B0dDCc1DrezcMlCO9tR6%2FQCZNyVOKUH0VaPBtchCvaYlnLrPBcthdKwTS0tsusftmUTkrWDt3q1FPcmtYKvA7qfjd%2FramvBIYhkHsdzm2t9cFMXaqQoBKG16X7Bgfc83okBCT8p2OAuM1pXVw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR57SlKuEZQ
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See my Folder in the Files section:
? ? "Drake R4A or R4B solid state AF Amp"
?
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
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Re: TR7 next problem
At this point I am suspicious of that 1.3 MHz reading. That may be a spurious reading. It seems to me that the VCO should not be able to run there. What is the level of the signal? The frequency determining components are L502 and the varactor diodes. Resist the temptation to try to adjust L502. As a long time tech told me back in the dim past, when you have a failure "it is never the alignment".
At this point I think I would inspect the solder connections in the high VCO circuit under magnification and good lighting. You could have a failed joint or via. Check the voltages on the three JFETs. C156 or C517 could be suspect. You have a working low VCO to compare voltage and resistance readings to. On Wed, 1 Jan 2025 07:41:18 -0400 "Jim Harris via groups.io" <radiove1rb@...> wrote: Yes Gary I did the ground on RFC505? when looking at the frequency on-- 73 -Jim NU0C |
Re: VE3EFJ third mixer mod for the R4C
FWIW the TR7 uses an LM380. It works pretty well.
On Wed, 1 Jan 2025 10:45:24 -0500 "Mike Bryce via groups.io" <prosolar@...> wrote: FYI¡ I designed an audio amp board for the R4C that used a LM380. Worked great and had plenty of humph to drive the MS4 speaker to room filling volume -- 73 -Jim NU0C |
Re: VE3EFJ third mixer mod for the R4C
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýRob,There¡¯s always the possibility of starting over, making the changes to the artwork as necessary to use newer parts and or different parts with different footprints. I have time to do a few¡ provided I have the physical dimensions for the board and of course schematics. FYI¡ I designed an audio amp board for the R4C that used a LM380. Worked great and had plenty of humph to drive the MS4 speaker to room filling volume
Mike, WB8VGE
SunLight Energy Systems The Heathkit Shop .com/ J e e p o|||||||o?
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Re: Drake mods
Using a doubler off the fil line has been done before.? ?We used a doubler (FWD) and used the 5.0 vac fil on the drake L4B fil xfmr sec winding....to obtain? 12.74 vdc (after V drop from? both diodes).? ?That was used to operate the primary? side of an opto isolator. Sec output side of the same opto was used to key a mess of sped up vac relays. IE: the opto was used for a soft key setup.? That was a cheap and easy way to obtain 12.74 vdc.? The opto required anything from 9-18 vdc ( nominal was 15 vdc).? On paper, it should work with a 6.3 vac fil......= 16.41vdc (including V drop from both diodes)? and your proposed LM380.? ?( LM380 requires? 10-22 vdc).? Suitable filtering may just require the? 2 x caps in the doubler.? Perhaps bigger value caps.? An extra? filter on the output would also work, like a simple C-R-C? added on....... provided the v drop across the R? was not too great.? ?A? C-L-C? also works good.? |
Re: TR7 next problem
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýYes Gary I did the ground on RFC505? when looking at the frequency on the counter and it does drop a lot. So I guess you are saying the High VCO is oscillating at 1.3 MHz . If that is the case there must be something wrong on that board unless the info it gets is wrong. Hope this helps. 73, Jim VE1RB On 2024-12-31 18:06, Gary Follett via
groups.io wrote:
I don¡¯t know how it can read 1.3 MHz if not oscillating¡ |
Re: MS-4 Accretion
Right now, just a power supply. I am considering letting go of my A Line (late s/n, the transmitter is essentially an T-4XB) and my L7 (has a Harbach board, graphite tubes and I reworked the power supply chassis to use all PEM fasteners).
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Steve Wedge, W1ES Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana. Sent with Proton Mail secure email. On Tuesday, December 31st, 2024 at 6:02 PM, Stan Gammons via groups.io <buttercup11421@...> wrote:
Hi Steve, |
Re: VE3EFJ third mixer mod for the R4C
After I found that Rob's Product Detector could help an R-4B, and heard that it was ok with him to make the kit ourselves, I re-designed
Rob's board except using SMD.? My board is therefore smaller that Rob's and used then currently available parts.? I batched up like a gillion
boards onto the cheap 4x4inch board specials in China.? For $6 I got a lifetime supply so I sent them out to anyone on this group that
wanted one or two.
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I could give the complete Kicad project or just the needed gerbers to someone who would do another batch.? The Product Detector Kicad
project could be easily modified by adding the J-309 buffer to make the Mix-4 board too.
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My R-4B install doc is in the Files area, somewhat easier install than Rob's since I cut one small trace and left all the Drake parts in place.
Easier if you ever want to go back to stock too.
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
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Re: MS-4 Accretion
With me, it's the AC-4's I have run a switch to the MS-4 to channel to the speaker whichever rig I'm using at the moment. They take up space. The AC-4's sit on the floor and don't complain much ;-)
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Speaking of which, I will have one AC-4 with the 120/240 switch option available. To folks on here, $175 + shipping and I will ship to Europe/Oz if you will put up with my b!tchings about the paperwork. I haven't touched this one other than run it as my backup bench supply, so it is working but not rebuilt. Let me know, as I am going to unleash a fairly good assortment of stuff onto the online auction site that shall remain unnamed... Steve Wedge, W1ES Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana. Sent with Proton Mail secure email. On Tuesday, December 31st, 2024 at 4:11 PM, Lyndon VE7TFX <lyndon@...> wrote:
VE7PS via groups.io writes:Besides...pretty sure there is one spare |
Re: Drake mods
Hi Stan,
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All that was ever installed for an R-4B here in the lab were a few PD-4 product detectors. The AMP-4 needs a good 12 to 14 volt supply at several hundred mA that doesn't exist in an R-4B. While the AGC attack distortion was much less with the PD-4, the audio distortion was still there with the audio output tube. The tube amp wasn't as distortion free as I expected. Let¡¯s see if the updated Gerber files make it to Colorado and go from there. There are some parts for all the kits that have become harder to source from new old stock. I would of course be more than happy to see someone run a new batch of boards. Attached is a PDF for installing a PD-4 in an R-4B. As to coming up with 12 volts, could a voltage doubler be used off the filament line? It might be worth considering use of a less power hungry LM-380 instead of my LM-383 circuit for the R-4C. 100 mW of power is pretty loud into an MS-4 or MS-7 speaker. Rob, NC0B -----Original Message-----
From: Stan Gammons [mailto:buttercup11421@...] Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2024 3:16 PM To: Rob Sherwood. Subject: Drake mods Hi Rob, I saw the thread on the Drake-radio group about mods you had for the R4C and gerber files for the boards. What mods did you offer for the Drake R4B?? Hopefully one to get rid of the really hot running audio tube.? If so, would you be willing to share that mod and possibly the gerber files to make the board? Happy New Year! 73 Stan KM4HQE |