Re: 6HS6 Price and Availability
Very interesting Jerry!? The bay area (probably like the rest of the country) was an electronic wonderland. My dad used to take us to SF Market St.? So much fun looking at all the junk electronics. On the Electronics Plus web site it says it came from SF, I don't remember that.? It says it moved in 1970 but I am pretty sure it was there before that, maybe it was called something else. There was also a good surplus place by the Oakland airport... and later when I went to UC Davis there was one by the Sacrament Executive airport.? Spent lots of hours at all those old places! Now we have to order from china and wait.? Sometimes I forget why I ordered it in the first place.
73, Gary WB6OGD (since 1965 also as WN6OGD) in Tiburon, CA
On 2025-01-09 14:55, Gary WB6OGD via wrote:
>> I believe that Electronics Plus is still in San Rafael now 55+ years
>> later than since we were in our high school amateur radio club?
>>
*** Back in the Day, Electronics Plus was known as "Marty's Super
Surplus Mart".
It was on Market street in San Francisco, in an area that I called
"Radio Row".
Next door was "Standard Surplus".? Down the street was San Francisco
Radio ( basically,
a TV repair supply store ) and further down, Zack Electronics - which
catered to the professional/engineering level.? Leave Market street
toward SoMa there was Lafayette
Electronics, and in that same area a block or so over - Olson
Electronics.
I used to go down there on Saturday.? First, I'd hit the main branch of
the SF library.? Back in the stacks, they had bound volumes of
electonics and amateur radio magazines.? I'd sit there with a big
notebook and copy down schematics.? They did have a zerox machine, that
made reverse-color prints that smelled like alcohol.? But it was alas
beyond my means at ten cents a page.
? ?Then I'd head out to Radio Row to browse for parts for the schematics
I'd copied.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? - Jerry, KF6VB ( back then, WN6EPS then WA6EPS )
|
I wonder if something in the VOX circuit malfunctioned, allowing the transmit relay to pull in?
I too never leave old stuff powered up.? Glad that seems to be the worst of it.
John K5MO
On the other hand, this happened while the rig was just sitting
overnight.
And assumably not transmitting.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? - Jerry, KF6VB
On 2025-01-09 10:25, Jeff AC0C wrote:
> That is a good point Jerry.? I should look at the coax switch that
> this rig feeds into to see if it's open or shorted when not selected.?
> Did not think of that but it certainly makes sense as a possibility.?
> Especially since I have a T4C as well as the TR4C and the note on the
> switch is not very clear.
>
> I've found myself selecting the wrong rig among these two a couple of
> times.? Maybe I won the lottery the last time and had the pleasure of
> the arc event as my reward for not paying attention to details.? And
> not taking time to properly label the switch positions.? Just the sort
> of thing Murphy loves to do here as well.
>
> 73/jeff/ac0c
> alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
>
>
> On 1/9/2025 12:16 PM, jerry wrote:
>> I once had a tube transmitter arc across the tune cap when the output
>> SO-239 was shorted to ground.
>> Apparently, the output PI network converted the short to an open at
>> the
>> tube end.
>>
>> ??????????????????? - Jerry, KF6VB
>
>
>
|
Re: 6HS6 Price and Availability
On 2025-01-09 14:55, Gary WB6OGD via groups.io wrote: I believe that Electronics Plus is still in San Rafael now 55+ years
later than since we were in our high school amateur radio club?
*** Back in the Day, Electronics Plus was known as "Marty's Super Surplus Mart". It was on Market street in San Francisco, in an area that I called "Radio Row". Next door was "Standard Surplus". Down the street was San Francisco Radio ( basically, a TV repair supply store ) and further down, Zack Electronics - which catered to the professional/engineering level. Leave Market street toward SoMa there was Lafayette Electronics, and in that same area a block or so over - Olson Electronics. I used to go down there on Saturday. First, I'd hit the main branch of the SF library. Back in the stacks, they had bound volumes of electonics and amateur radio magazines. I'd sit there with a big notebook and copy down schematics. They did have a zerox machine, that made reverse-color prints that smelled like alcohol. But it was alas beyond my means at ten cents a page. Then I'd head out to Radio Row to browse for parts for the schematics I'd copied. - Jerry, KF6VB ( back then, WN6EPS then WA6EPS )
|
Tom I opened up the L7 today and the 2.2 meg resistors 8 of them rather than reading 17.6 Megs are actually reading 16.66 Meg. or just less than 5% off. Not sure if that is the problem perhaps? R17 is the issue, R17 is 10K and adjustable any idea of where to get that little thing?
If you think I'm wrong on the dropping resistors and the effect they would have on the proper voltage reading let me know please.
Thanks 73 Tim
WB8UHZ
On Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 11:19:24 AM EST, amfone via groups.io <amfone20000@...> wrote:
Thank you Thomas yes these are carbon style resistors that Drake used back in the day and over time they age, take in moisture etc. and change in value I'm hoping that is the issue as I purchased new resistors from Mouser.
Thank you
Tim
On Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 09:43:20 AM EST, Thomas W9TAB via groups.io <electron@...> wrote:
Tim,
Carbon composition resistors typically increase in value over time due to absorbing moisture.?
That is the reason the voltage divider network resistance has increased causing the voltage to read low.?
Military spec publications identified this a long time ago and Allen Bradley recommended taking the resistors and putting them in an oven at 150F for 5 days to return them to spec.?
Naturally in your case it makes more sense to just replace them if you cannot adjust it with the potentiometer, after all, that¡¯s why it¡¯s there. ?
On Jan 7, 2025, at 10:47?PM, amfone via groups.io <amfone20000@...> wrote:
?
OK sorry for the mistake I used the term in reference to the meter not reading correctly.
73 Tim
WB8UHZ
On Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 10:55:56 PM EST, Jim Shorney via groups.io <jimnu0c@...> wrote:
OK but please stop calling them shunts. They are series voltage dropping resistors. The only shunt is the pot. A shunt is a resistance across the meter terminals to increase the current value needed for a full scale reading.
On Wed, 8 Jan 2025 03:38:34 +0000 (UTC)
"amfone via groups.io" <amfone20000@...> wrote:
>? Jim thanks for your help regarding the location and the voltage requirements of the shunts.
--
73
-Jim
NU0C
|
Re: 6HS6 Price and Availability
Well what do you know about that?! And they have the elusive 6HS6.. of course at $44.50 each I won't be buying many from them... hi hi. 73, Gary WB6OGD
I believe that Electronics Plus is still in San Rafael now 55+ years later than since we were in our high school amateur radio club?
?
73 - Dino KL?S (formerly WB6FZN)
|
Which reinforces the bromide that one should never leave vintage equipment powered up and unattended.?
I try to avoid this situation, even with rigs that I have reconditioned.?
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
On Thu, Jan 9, 2025 at 13:46, jerry-KF6VB < jerry@...> wrote: On the other hand, this happened while the rig was just sitting
overnight.
And assumably not transmitting.
- Jerry, KF6VB
On 2025-01-09 10:25, Jeff AC0C wrote:
> That is a good point Jerry.? I should look at the coax switch that
> this rig feeds into to see if it's open or shorted when not selected.?
> Did not think of that but it certainly makes sense as a possibility.?
> Especially since I have a T4C as well as the TR4C and the note on the
> switch is not very clear.
>
> I've found myself selecting the wrong rig among these two a couple of
> times.? Maybe I won the lottery the last time and had the pleasure of
> the arc event as my reward for not paying attention to details.? And
> not taking time to properly label the switch positions.? Just the sort
> of thing Murphy loves to do here as well.
>
> 73/jeff/ac0c
> alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
> www.ac0c.com
>
> On 1/9/2025 12:16 PM, jerry wrote:
>> I once had a tube transmitter arc across the tune cap when the output
>> SO-239 was shorted to ground.
>> Apparently, the output PI network converted the short to an open at
>> the
>> tube end.
>>
>> ??????????????????? - Jerry, KF6VB
>
>
>
|
Bob Heil (SK) did a Youtube video about when you might get better copy in noisy conditions by lowering the RF gain and making some other adjustments.? On Youtube, look for Ham Nation episode 130.
Art Delibert, KB3FJO
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
A while back a ham published an article discussing what he called the "free 3 dB". I can't find the article, but it essentially discusses when using the RF gain control is advantageous.
Bill N0CU
Hello Earl. Thank you for clarifying that! I agree with your observation that above 10M, RF gain is far less important! In fact not really needed much.
For FM mode... zero.
I asked if you were using "electricity" in a lighthearted way 100%. I monitor VHF/UHF quite a lot and I too NEVER need to touch the RF gain!
For low band SWL, 120 meters - 13 meters I do use it as needed depending on the time of year and conditions/mode. S/N on the SWL bands is
often a struggle, and fiddling with receive antenna's, RF gain, is key especially on 120m-41m. Yeah, there is life outside the "honey baked ham bands".
J
On Wed, Jan 8, 2025 at 03:13 AM, Joseph K7CBR wrote:
Are you still using electricity?
On Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 05:19:40 PM EST, N3 EG <n3eg@...> wrote:
The RF Gain control has always been the most useless thing to put on a radio.? It's like a high/low switch on a vacuum cleaner, which should be called "Clean/Less Clean."? In the case of HF radios, it should be called the Ignore Weak Signal Stations And
Screw Up Your S-Meter Reading Control.?
?
I've never found a good reason to use it in at least 52 years of HF listening, and it's totally useless on 10 meters and up.
|
Problem found. I can receive without PBT being engaged, and it looks like transmit is working too. The solution was kind of a combination of everyone's advice on this thread. Even though the solution was simple, the readings and measurements sent me on a wild goose chase for a week.?
?
The PBT switch was leaking 200 ohms to ground and offering a low impedance path to ground for all of the passband voltages set on the small PS board. Made it look like the PS board was faulty at first, then it looked like the PBT board was bad. This leakage threw off the Transmit PBT signal which is set on those pots and is why I got a very low signal on TX as it was outside the passband now. When was the last time that you saw a pushbutton switch leaking across sections? (the other section of the PBT switch runs the PBT lamp) I have never seen that before.?
?
A big blast of DeOxit into the switch and the demons were exorcised.?
?
Thanks Jim and Gary.?
--
Craig/W8CS
Greenville, SC
|
Re: 6HS6 Price and Availability
I believe that Electronics Plus is still in San Rafael now 55+ years later than since we were in our high school amateur radio club?
?
73 - Dino KL?S (formerly WB6FZN)
|
I restored a 2B not too long ago.? The main shaft was bent.. as most probably.
?
They have a weak spot where the dial string goes, a narrow spot not unlike an electrical fuse.
I was able to straighten and save it pretty easily.
I forget the technique but it involved a vise and small taps with a hammer I think.
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
|
On the other hand, this happened while the rig was just sitting overnight.
And assumably not transmitting.
- Jerry, KF6VB
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 2025-01-09 10:25, Jeff AC0C wrote: That is a good point Jerry.? I should look at the coax switch that
this rig feeds into to see if it's open or shorted when not selected.?
Did not think of that but it certainly makes sense as a possibility.?
Especially since I have a T4C as well as the TR4C and the note on the
switch is not very clear.
I've found myself selecting the wrong rig among these two a couple of
times.? Maybe I won the lottery the last time and had the pleasure of
the arc event as my reward for not paying attention to details.? And
not taking time to properly label the switch positions.? Just the sort
of thing Murphy loves to do here as well.
73/jeff/ac0c
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
www.ac0c.com
On 1/9/2025 12:16 PM, jerry wrote:
I once had a tube transmitter arc across the tune cap when the output SO-239 was shorted to ground.
Apparently, the output PI network converted the short to an open at the
tube end.
??????????????????? - Jerry, KF6VB
|
Re: 6HS6 Price and Availability
Jerry,
Yes, just plug it in.. and re-align.? Oh, that reminds me it still needs work, it won't align on 10meters.
I don't use the Drakes on 10m.
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
?
|
That is a good point Jerry.? I should look at the coax switch that this rig feeds into to see if it's open or shorted when not selected.? Did not think of that but it certainly makes sense as a possibility.? Especially since I have a T4C as well as the TR4C and the note on the switch is not very clear.
I've found myself selecting the wrong rig among these two a couple of times.? Maybe I won the lottery the last time and had the pleasure of the arc event as my reward for not paying attention to details.? And not taking time to properly label the switch positions.? Just the sort of thing Murphy loves to do here as well.
73/jeff/ac0c
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
www.ac0c.com
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 1/9/2025 12:16 PM, jerry wrote: I once had a tube transmitter arc across the tune cap when the output SO-239 was shorted to ground.
Apparently, the output PI network converted the short to an open at the
tube end.
??????????????????? - Jerry, KF6VB
|
I once had a tube transmitter arc across the tune cap when the output SO-239 was shorted to ground.
Apparently, the output PI network converted the short to an open at the
tube end.
- Jerry, KF6VB
|
Re: 6HS6 Price and Availability
On 2025-01-09 09:40, Mark Davis via groups.io wrote: I tried to look up the Svetlana 6§¨5§±, on radiolamps.ru¡ my browser
says "You Are Not Connected to the Internet".
Now I think I'm on a government watchlist!
More likely you got a website that's trying to take over your computer. - Jerry, KF6VB
|
?
I'm looking for a Drake 2B parts radio that has the complete tuning knob shaft
that's not bent. If anyone has a 2B parts radio with that part, contact me off group at my
email address.
?
mikew5rkl at gmail dot com
?
Thanks
?
73
Mike W5RKL
?
|
Re: 6HS6 Price and Availability
I tried to look up the Svetlana 6§¨5§±, on radiolamps.ru¡ my browser says ¡°You Are Not Connected to the Internet¡±.
?
Now I think I¡¯m on a government watchlist!
?
Mark - AD7EF
|
Re: 6HS6 Price and Availability
So - the completed replacement runs off the normal B+?
- Jerry, KF6VB
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 2025-01-08 13:50, Gary WB6OGD via groups.io wrote: It is pretty easy to make a solid state mixer. Unlike amplifiers, that
need just a certain amount of amplification, extra AVC inputs, etc.,
mixers are
basically non-linear choppers. They just need enough gain to chop and
enough voltage tolerance for the circuit they are in.
My very first experiment was a J-310 FET(the only FET I had) plugged
into the R-4A Pre-mixer socket. I only had to disconnect the +150V
plate supply resistor and hook it to about 18VDC(?). Worked fine
though hooking it to the T-4X and selecting XMTR control might have
blown it.
I researched more (stole designs and modded) and now have a plug in
tube replacement. Works great.
Attached is what I think I am running now. I also attached a 6AU6
replacement from the Collins site.
Beats trying to buy expensive, possibly bad old tubes. YMMV.
My 6HS6 is now safe and part of my 401K IRA.. hi hi...
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
Links:
------
[1] /g/DRAKE-RADIO/message/81765
[2] /mt/110491919/243852
[3] /g/DRAKE-RADIO/post
[4] /g/DRAKE-RADIO/editsub/243852
[5] /g/DRAKE-RADIO/leave/12260778/243852/767576506/xyzzy
|
Re: 6HS6 Price and Availability
Continuing the 6AH6/6HS6 saga, I just ordered a sleeve of new Svetlana 6§¨5§±.
?
This purports to be the Russian equivalent of the 6AH6/6485. They are plentiful and less than $2 each in quantity shipped. I'll experiment with them as 6HS6 replacements and report back. I can't make sophisticated receiver performance measurements like Rob, but I can do direct comparison to the 6HS6 on air in my R-4x receivers.
?
Dave
|
A while back a ham published an article discussing what he called the "free 3 dB". I can't find the article, but it essentially discusses when using the RF gain control is advantageous. Bill N0CU
Hello Earl. Thank you for clarifying that! I agree with your observation that above 10M, RF gain is far less important! In fact not really needed much. For FM mode... zero.
I asked if you were using "electricity" in a lighthearted way 100%. I monitor VHF/UHF quite a lot and I too NEVER need to touch the RF gain! For low band SWL, 120 meters - 13 meters I do use it as needed depending on the time of year and conditions/mode. S/N on the SWL bands is
often a struggle, and fiddling with receive antenna's, RF gain, is key especially on 120m-41m. Yeah, there is life outside the "honey baked ham bands".
J
On Wed, Jan 8, 2025 at 03:13 AM, Joseph K7CBR wrote:
Are you still using electricity?
On Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 05:19:40 PM EST, N3 EG <n3eg@...> wrote:
The RF Gain control has always been the most useless thing to put on a radio.? It's like a high/low switch on a vacuum cleaner, which should be called "Clean/Less Clean."? In the case of HF radios, it should be called the Ignore Weak Signal Stations And Screw Up Your S-Meter Reading Control.?
?
I've never found a good reason to use it in at least 52 years of HF listening, and it's totally useless on 10 meters and up.
|
Gary WB6OGD
Craig W8CS
Mark Davis