Hello Sevim
I remember I end up with replacing both 15000 ?F filter capacitors.
Both with low ESR resistance.
And then the problem was solved.
I guess I just forgot to report back with the result.
But now it's done.
I also remember I replaced different components on the controlboard,
but the problem was the filter caps.
Hope this is of some help.
Br.
Bent
OZ5ZD
Bent, Jim,
I've followed this thread with interest, since I am currently troubleshooting what
may?be a similar event with my late model TR7A.
Guys: so what was the end result of this thread?? Cause of problem?
73 de Sevim, WB8BHN
|
I took it upon myself to see if I could pinpoint the deviation from actual frequency of my Coolertron 60 MHz generator. These are the Chinese-made ones that sell for around $85 on Amazon and can also do various types of waveforms and can also be used as frequency counters. It seems that it has gone out of tolerance over the 10+ years that I've owned it and 10.000000 MHz indicated is actually showing up about 130 Hz high on my Fluke counter.
Since I don't really have anything here that's traceable with a current cal sticker, I fired up "Das Biest", the Fluke and the Coolertron. I also zero beat a receiver onto WWV.
The Rohde & Schwarz is pretty much dead-on, with 10.000000 MHz showing as 9.999999 Mhz on the Fluke. It would be nice if I could figure out which one is correct but I'm not going to lose sleep over it.
Interestingly, the R&S has stickers on it that say "NO CALIBRATION REQUIRED". The generator and counter needed about 30 minutes of warm-up to be in agreement (well, to within 1 Hz, anyway).
Steve Wedge, W1ES/4
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with Proton Mail secure email.
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On Tuesday, May 14th, 2024 at 1:03 PM, jerry-KF6VB <jerry@...> wrote: On 2024-05-14 04:20, Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io wrote:
A large signal generator from the 80s.
*** A beast indeed. I have something smaller. A Wavetek 3000. It's a
synthesized 1-520MHz signal generator from the 70's. I actually
had one of these on my bench as a test equipment tech back then.
So when one appeared at the ham swap for $50, I grabbed it. It was
INOP.
The problem was simple - the entire instrument is supplied with +18V and
-18V,
which are piped to multiple RF cans plugging into the motherboard.
Every
RF can has tantalum bypass capacitors on those two voltages. And
several
of them were shorted out. Troubleshooting consisted of pulling out RF
cans
until the voltage came back. They were really tight inside, and in some
cases
I just clipped the bad caps and installed new ones on the motherboard
instead of
inside the can.
It's a nice generator. Has a real step attenuator and will do +10dBm
down
to -130. But it has no big knob to change the frequency, just a sliding
switch for each digit.
- Jerry, KF6VB
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On 2024-05-14 04:20, Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io wrote: A large signal generator from the 80s. *** A beast indeed. I have something smaller. A Wavetek 3000. It's a synthesized 1-520MHz signal generator from the 70's. I actually had one of these on my bench as a test equipment tech back then. So when one appeared at the ham swap for $50, I grabbed it. It was INOP. The problem was simple - the entire instrument is supplied with +18V and -18V, which are piped to multiple RF cans plugging into the motherboard. Every RF can has tantalum bypass capacitors on those two voltages. And several of them were shorted out. Troubleshooting consisted of pulling out RF cans until the voltage came back. They were really tight inside, and in some cases I just clipped the bad caps and installed new ones on the motherboard instead of inside the can. It's a nice generator. Has a real step attenuator and will do +10dBm down to -130. But it has no big knob to change the frequency, just a sliding switch for each digit. - Jerry, KF6VB
|
Bent, Jim,
I've followed this thread with interest, since I am currently troubleshooting what may be a similar event with my late model TR7A.
Guys: so what was the end result of this thread?? Cause of problem?
73 de Sevim, WB8BHN
|
MN-2000 enclosure available
I picked two of these up at the Stanwood hamfest thinking they'd be suitable to house another piece of equipment I'm building.? They include the screws and the faceplates.? But then it occurred to me that repurposing within a set of Drake equipment would be a better use for them.? So if anyone here wants one, you can have it for the cost of shipping from Vancouver BC or Point Roberts, WA.? You can reach me using my callsign at myrac.ca.
Halden VE7UTS
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A large signal generator from the 80s.? 
Steve Wedge, W1ES/4
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
On Mon, May 13, 2024 at 18:34, jerry-KF6VB < jerry@...> wrote: On 2024-05-13 15:06, Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io wrote:
> Good thing I bought that monster R&S SMPC
Who's R&S? What's an SMPC?
- Jerry, KF6VB
|
Nope, they were just in an unmarked bag. No part numbers anywhere on the switch either. On Tue, 14 May 2024 00:10:27 -0400 "Rich W3RJ via groups.io" <w3rj@...> wrote: Do you have the exact model number of these switches?
W3RJ -- 73 -Jim NU0C
|
Do you have the exact model number of these switches?
W3RJ
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On 5/13/2024 8:39 PM, Jim Shorney wrote: I just received the NOS McGill DPDT white rocker switches that I found. It turns out that they are center OFF rockers. The body appears to be the same size and ratings as the Drake switch, which would make it identical to the body of the white double-rocker dual SPDT that Drake used as a late replacement. What makes it center-OFF is the shape of the center pivot in the body as compared to the pictures in the HFN article. So that means that they should work fine and, although not original they would act like Drake's replacement after rebuilding with the original Drake red and black dual rocker assembly.
Which is funny since that I recently commented that I have gotten to like that double white rocker because it allows you to turn the HV off independently of the filaments.
--
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
www.avast.com
|
I just received the NOS McGill DPDT white rocker switches that I found. It turns out that they are center OFF rockers. The body appears to be the same size and ratings as the Drake switch, which would make it identical to the body of the white double-rocker dual SPDT that Drake used as a late replacement. What makes it center-OFF is the shape of the center pivot in the body as compared to the pictures in the HFN article. So that means that they should work fine and, although not original they would act like Drake's replacement after rebuilding with the original Drake red and black dual rocker assembly.
Which is funny since that I recently commented that I have gotten to like that double white rocker because it allows you to turn the HV off independently of the filaments.
--
73
-Jim
NU0C
|
I think Steve is referring to the Rhode & Schwarz SMPC signal generator.
I have an HP 8656B which I like a lot.
73
Stan? KM4HQE?
On Mon, May 13, 2024 at 5:34 PM, jerry-KF6VB < jerry@...> wrote: On 2024-05-13 15:06, Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io wrote:
> Good thing I bought that monster R&S SMPC
Who's R&S? What's an SMPC?
- Jerry, KF6VB
|
Re: nanoVNA documentation
I just ordered the book. ? I will do a brief book review once I receive the book.
--
73, Bernie. VE3FWF
Real?radios glow in the dark
|
On 2024-05-13 15:06, Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io wrote: Good thing I bought that monster R&S SMPC Who's R&S? What's an SMPC? - Jerry, KF6VB
|
I bought one of the 60 MHz generators off Amazon and it worked great for a few years. Lately, I¡¯ve noticed that the displayed frequency is off when I check it against my Fluke counter.?
Good thing I bought that monster R&S SMPC at Raleigh. That thing will Outlive the cockroaches.?
Steve Wedge, W1ES/4
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
On Mon, May 13, 2024 at 17:31, Jim Shorney < jimNU0C@...> wrote:
Well, out of a sample of two (different) models in the $20 price range I have, 100% work well. And one was a kit so I had fun building it. But you can also look around to read reviews and look at seller feedback. But really? For 20 bucks? And they test and identify transistors as well! No one complained when I posted electrolytic capacitor tests here not long ago. Don't knock it if you haven't tried it. :D
OTOH, if you are talking about signal generators, I have HP iron that I much prefer. Not impressed overly much with the Chinese RF gadgets for the most part, although I did just buy a nice little GPSDO which seems to have primo build quality and functions as advertised. And the sensitivity of the GPS module is impressive. That was $92 and worth every penny.
73
-Jim
NU0C
On Mon, 13 May 2024 14:11:51 -0700
"Lyndon VE7TFX via groups.io" <lyndon@...> wrote:
> Jim Shorney writes:
>
> > Don't be so quick to dis on the Chinese "component testers". They are based=
> > on a design published by a German ham a few years back.=20
>
> The problem is telling apart the "crap" from the "mostly works."
>
> I.e. I have a generic Chinese signal/function generator that works
> just fine. I also have a generic Chines "lab grade" power supply
> that I bought from Digikey for too much $ that was complete garbage.
>
> --lyndon
>
>
>
>
>
--
73
-Jim
NU0C
|
Re: nanoVNA documentation
I¡¯m going to have to remember to order this book when we get back from Europe.?
I have trouble deciphering the¡±logic¡± of the menus of this device.?
Steve Wedge, W1ES/4
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
On Mon, May 13, 2024 at 17:19, Lyndon VE7TFX < lyndon@...> wrote: Lyndon VE7TFX writes:
> While I was ordering the LCR meter, this popped up in the
> "you might like" section. Based on the example text it
> looks like it could be a useful reference. Published by
> the RSGB. Seems to be Kindle only.
Nope. Hardcopy here:
https://www.rsgbshop.org/acatalog/NanoVNAs-Explained-2110.html
--lyndon
|
Hello to all,
I am still looking for a junk L-4B and L7.
Thank you.
Chuck Pool
|
Well, out of a sample of two (different) models in the $20 price range I have, 100% work well. And one was a kit so I had fun building it. But you can also look around to read reviews and look at seller feedback. But really? For 20 bucks? And they test and identify transistors as well! No one complained when I posted electrolytic capacitor tests here not long ago. Don't knock it if you haven't tried it. :D OTOH, if you are talking about signal generators, I have HP iron that I much prefer. Not impressed overly much with the Chinese RF gadgets for the most part, although I did just buy a nice little GPSDO which seems to have primo build quality and functions as advertised. And the sensitivity of the GPS module is impressive. That was $92 and worth every penny. 73 -Jim NU0C On Mon, 13 May 2024 14:11:51 -0700 "Lyndon VE7TFX via groups.io" <lyndon@...> wrote: Jim Shorney writes:
Don't be so quick to dis on the Chinese "component testers". They are based=
on a design published by a German ham a few years back.=20 The problem is telling apart the "crap" from the "mostly works."
I.e. I have a generic Chinese signal/function generator that works
just fine. I also have a generic Chines "lab grade" power supply
that I bought from Digikey for too much $ that was complete garbage.
--lyndon
-- 73 -Jim NU0C
|
Re: nanoVNA documentation
Lyndon VE7TFX writes: While I was ordering the LCR meter, this popped up in the
"you might like" section. Based on the example text it
looks like it could be a useful reference. Published by
the RSGB. Seems to be Kindle only. Nope. Hardcopy here: --lyndon
|
While I was ordering the LCR meter, this popped up in the
"you might like" section. Based on the example text it
looks like it could be a useful reference. Published by
the RSGB. Seems to be Kindle only.
--lyndon
|
Jim Shorney writes: Don't be so quick to dis on the Chinese "component testers". They are based=
on a design published by a German ham a few years back.=20 The problem is telling apart the "crap" from the "mostly works." I.e. I have a generic Chinese signal/function generator that works just fine. I also have a generic Chines "lab grade" power supply that I bought from Digikey for too much $ that was complete garbage. --lyndon
|
Don't be so quick to dis on the Chinese "component testers". They are based on a design published by a German ham a few years back. 73 -Jim NU0C On Mon, 13 May 2024 12:39:00 -0700 "Rick W4XA via groups.io" <myr748@...> wrote: Your other choice instead of a "crappy" meter is a good one.
I chose the B&K Precision 880
It was more money but if you get a cheap meter, you get cheap performance.
--
*73/Rick* *W4XA
|
Jim Shorney
Ham Radio