Re: "I Never Should Have Gotten Rid Of......
If you are part of a big librarian consortium, have them do a search for you inside and outside their domain. I was looking for a ¡°non¡± existent history (way back) book on Ham radio for years¡.when I moved 4 miles south of NH I got into reading a lot and became friends with a few old school librarians who helped me¡the large book written when books filled columns, not paragraphs, was in Louisiana¡.40 years and 3 weeks to get that book in my hands¡ ? GOOD LUCK all! ? ? STAY SAFE AND STAY WELL! ? Respectfully,
Thomas K. Lanieri, NU2W NJ DOH Licensed EMT;? PHTLS, AMLS, PHPEC Millenium EMS ARC N.E. BioMedical Services ARC N.E. Disaster Cycle Services  ? 
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Joe - W7RKN via groups.io
Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2025 5:13 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO]"I Never Should Have Gotten Rid Of......? Any idea where to find this book?? Amazon shows it as out of publication and not available. ? Joe - W7RKN ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Terry WB0VQP via groups.io
Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO]"I Never Should Have Gotten Rid Of...... ? Anyone interested in the "Life and Times of Heathkit" should pick up a book titled "Heath Nostalgia."? It's good reading and details the company from it's meager start making airplane kits.?
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Re: "I Never Should Have Gotten Rid Of......
Any idea where to find this book?? Amazon shows it as out of publication and not available. ? Joe - W7RKN ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Terry WB0VQP via groups.io
Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO]"I Never Should Have Gotten Rid Of...... ? Anyone interested in the "Life and Times of Heathkit" should pick up a book titled "Heath Nostalgia."? It's good reading and details the company from it's meager start making airplane kits.?
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Re: DRADE USERS NET UPDATE - 18 May 2025
Yeah, we went visiting today. I listened to 40 yesterday for the Kenwood Hybrid net and conditions were execrable. Didnt think they¡¯d recover from that today :-)
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
On Sun, May 18, 2025 at 17:04, William W9MXQ via groups.io < w9mxq@...> wrote:
Today's Drake User's Net had the following participant information:
?
Total Check-in Stations: 22
Band Conditions: As challenging as I can remember - A special thanks for understanding Check-In Stations and a great team of Net Control Stations!!
?
Radios:
?
Twins (All Versions): 5
TR-3: 1
TR4: (All Versions): ?2
TR5: 2
TR7: 4
?
Next week ¨C 25 April 2025 ¨C will have Mark, WB0IQK, as Net Control.
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73,
?
Bill Shadid, Net Control
Drake Users Group for 18 May 2025
W9MXQ@...?
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DRADE USERS NET UPDATE - 18 May 2025
Today's Drake User's Net had the following participant information:
?
Total Check-in Stations: 22
Band Conditions: As challenging as I can remember - A special thanks for understanding Check-In Stations and a great team of Net Control Stations!!
?
Radios:
?
Twins (All Versions): 5
TR-3: 1
TR4: (All Versions): ?2
TR5: 2
TR7: 4
?
Next week ¨C 25 April 2025 ¨C will have Mark, WB0IQK, as Net Control.
?
73,
?
Bill Shadid, Net Control
Drake Users Group for 18 May 2025
W9MXQ@...?
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Re: "I Never Should Have Gotten Rid Of......
Anyone interested in the "Life and Times of Heathkit" should pick up a book titled "Heath Nostalgia."? It's good reading and details the company from it's meager start making airplane kits.?
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Re: "I Never Should Have Gotten Rid Of......
I have all of my Heathkits that I ever built and I have a lot of them!? My first was a CB transceiver, "Benton Harbor Lunch Box", probably called CB-1, A??handheld CB transceiver, battery charger/eliminator, radio control system for model airplanes on the 6meter?amateur radio band, etc, etc.? The one item I use most frequently is the SB-220 linear amplifier.? I have a stack of Heathkit sale flyers that were mailed to me too.? All great stuff!? 73, Karl, KO8S
On Sun, May 18, 2025 at 11:16?AM Terry WB0VQP via <TLNixon357= [email protected]> wrote: I built quite a few pieces of Heathkit stuff including a RF/AF generator, and VHF Police Scanner. I still have a tube tester, and early signal tracer that I purchased at a flea market. Both still work as they should. The Signal Tracer didn't work well when I got it. it seemed to be clipping?the input signal.? So one snowy night, I pulled out enough caps to totally recap it.? I would put in one cap, then test it. Finally I got down to the last cap, the one?in series with the input jack. Turns out whoever built it wired that cap to ground instead of in series.? It's worked flawlessly ever since. I was in Civil Air Patrol for years and repaired and tweaked a lot of the HW-18 (4.5 MHz xtal-controlled) transceivers? they used.? I also modified a HW-12 into a HW-18 by removing the VFO and inserting a small International Crystal oscillator board.?
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Re: "I Never Should Have Gotten Rid Of......
There's a guy on eBay flogging a bunch of em for around $8.50, including tax and shipping.? I just ordered one, as I have a customer's TR-3 where I removed the PA cage to fix the neut cap.? It was difficult to get a 1/4" nutdriver in there to get it out and there's no bloody way I'd get it back in without one of these nut starters unless I want to use chewing gum.
$8.50 is a pretty quick and cheap way of getting one.? Ease of ordering is worth a few bucks.
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Sunday, May 18th, 2025 at 10:20 AM, mike bryce via groups.io <prosolar@...> wrote:
Do you have a mouser part number for one?
> ?I would kill ?for one of those orange nut starters that came with each kit. ?
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I still have one, its red.
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BUT, you don't have to kill!? You can still get them from Mouser.? Except they are anti-static black.
?
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
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Richard, Steve,
Thank you both for the responses.? I wasn't sure if "soft" was just a generic for "weak" and, in general, maybe that's true.
My three tubes do not exhibit some of the more obvious signs of excess gas (e.g. white coating or a "getter-like" spot but that's not a very good indicator of small gas amounts.? I'm going to pull them again and run the gas test as I didn't do that when I was testing them.? Maybe that will be revealing.
Thanks again, Barry - N4BUQ
From: "Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io" <w1es@...>
To: "DRAKE-RADIO" <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2025 12:37:22 PM
Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] TR-4 - Soft Finals?
Yep, that sounds like a textbook example. ?Power falls off first on the higherbands as the gain (transconductance) decreases. ?The electrons are generated at the heated cathode and eventually, the cathode material gets depleted.
I¡¯m starting to think that my TR-4Cw RIT is having similar issues, though strangely, the output only sags when on the antenna and not on the dummy load. ?The tubes in it are well-used.
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
On Sat, May 17, 2025 at 10:46 PM, n4buq <n4buq@...> wrote: Can someone please tell me what is meant by the term "soft finals"? I'm still having problems getting proper output from my TR-4 and, for all I know, that might be the problem. I've tested them for transconductance and all three are very close to the same value and, furthermore, that value is quite a bit above the minimum for a good tube.
Aside from low output (i.e. about 300 mA plate current maximum into a dummy load), I notice that if I hold down the key for a few seconds the plate current tends to drop just slightly and I think if I were to continue holding the key down, the current would continue to slowly decrease.
I measured the voltage across each cathode resistor and I notice the same phenomenon: the voltage climbs to about 1.6 VDC and then begins to drop a bit. Like the transconductance values, each cathode resistor is "matched" in value and behavior to the other two so I suppose that's one good thing.
Am I seeing the result of weak/soft tubes or is something else going on that would cause this?
Thanks,
Barry - N4BUQ
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Yep, that sounds like a textbook example. ?Power falls off first on the higherbands as the gain (transconductance) decreases. ?The electrons are generated at the heated cathode and eventually, the cathode material gets depleted.
I¡¯m starting to think that my TR-4Cw RIT is having similar issues, though strangely, the output only sags when on the antenna and not on the dummy load. ?The tubes in it are well-used.
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
On Sat, May 17, 2025 at 10:46 PM, n4buq < n4buq@...> wrote: Can someone please tell me what is meant by the term "soft finals"? I'm still having problems getting proper output from my TR-4 and, for all I know, that might be the problem. I've tested them for transconductance and all three are very close to the same value and, furthermore, that value is quite a bit above the minimum for a good tube.
Aside from low output (i.e. about 300 mA plate current maximum into a dummy load), I notice that if I hold down the key for a few seconds the plate current tends to drop just slightly and I think if I were to continue holding the key down, the current would continue to slowly decrease.
I measured the voltage across each cathode resistor and I notice the same phenomenon: the voltage climbs to about 1.6 VDC and then begins to drop a bit. Like the transconductance values, each cathode resistor is "matched" in value and behavior to the other two so I suppose that's one good thing.
Am I seeing the result of weak/soft tubes or is something else going on that would cause this?
Thanks,
Barry - N4BUQ
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Re: Hanvention tradition...broken
Ahhh, but you bonded with the puppies!!!!!!!
So envious we couldn't make it this year!
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See you in 2026!
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73 - Dino KL?S
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Re: Hanvention tradition...broken
Sorry, my emotions got the best of me.
73,
Evan, K9SQG
Why, WHY would you tempt the rain gods by pointing out they failed to rain on Xenia BEFORE Hamvention ends? It's like you're taunting them...
It's been so sunny this year the real bargain hunters are all wishing they brought sunscreen!
On May 17, 2025, at 19:35, Evan via groups.io <k9sqg@...> wrote:
? For the second day in a row there has been no rain at Hamvention. ?I guess all traditions fail every now and then, hi hi. ?Let's see what Sunday yields...maybe we can do three days in a row. ?It could mark the start of a new tradition this century!
73,
Evan, K9SQG
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Re: "I Never Should Have Gotten Rid Of......
It may have been the kit the nut starter was in.? Some kits like the wattmeter needed the blade to adjust the capacitor and some kits may not have needed any adjustments that a small blade could do.
Two of mine do not have the blade and the 3 rd one does..? ?Been over? 50 years? ?that I built any Heathkit .
Ralph ku4pt
On Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 10:46:42 AM EDT, Gary WB6OGD via groups.io <winbladgary@...> wrote:
No.? I guess you could supply your own strip of tin from an old can, hi hi.
I am not sure where mine is right now but IIRC it had a different size nut holder on the other end..
twice as useful.
?
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
?
_.
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Re: Drake TR-22C question
Thanks Jim. Much appreciated. The background information is very interesting.?
Ron WD8INF
It was a popular modification. The built-in whip was prone to breakage and the BNC was the common fix. I have a T-22c, TR-33C, an coincidentally a Kenwood TR-2200A loaded with crystals and with an intact whip just followed me home from a 'fest for free. The 2200A has some improvements (including 12 channels) but is still essentially a TR-22C. Or maybe I should call it a TR-22D.... Still looking for a manual or copy for it. Yes, I know I can purchase one online, but the radio was free and it has been monkeyed with so I don't even know if it works yet.
On Sun, 18 May 2025 11:48:43 -0400
"Ron May via " <1982.coffee=[email protected]> wrote:
> Hello. I purchased a very clean, working TR-22C portable 2 meter
> transceiver at the Xenia Hamvention. This particular rig has a BNC
> connection in place of the pull-up antenna. If it is a modification, it was
> performed very well. Since I¡¯ve seen this on several TR-22C radios online
> I¡¯m wondering if it was a just a popular modification back in the day or if
> some radios came this way from the factory? Thanks in advance.
>
> Ron
> WD8INF
--
73
-Jim
NU0C
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Re: "I Never Should Have Gotten Rid Of......
Still have my first Heathkit and it works.? It's the CR-1. My dad and I put it together when I was eight.
73, Ron wa7gfe (Many years beyond eight now)
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Re: Drake TR-22C question
It was a popular modification. The built-in whip was prone to breakage and the BNC was the common fix. I have a T-22c, TR-33C, an coincidentally a Kenwood TR-2200A loaded with crystals and with an intact whip just followed me home from a 'fest for free. The 2200A has some improvements (including 12 channels) but is still essentially a TR-22C. Or maybe I should call it a TR-22D.... Still looking for a manual or copy for it. Yes, I know I can purchase one online, but the radio was free and it has been monkeyed with so I don't even know if it works yet. On Sun, 18 May 2025 11:48:43 -0400 "Ron May via groups.io" <1982.coffee@...> wrote: Hello. I purchased a very clean, working TR-22C portable 2 meter
transceiver at the Xenia Hamvention. This particular rig has a BNC
connection in place of the pull-up antenna. If it is a modification, it was
performed very well. Since I¡¯ve seen this on several TR-22C radios online
I¡¯m wondering if it was a just a popular modification back in the day or if
some radios came this way from the factory? Thanks in advance.
Ron
WD8INF -- 73 -Jim NU0C
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Hello. I purchased a very clean, working TR-22C portable 2 meter transceiver at the Xenia Hamvention. This particular rig has a BNC connection in place of the pull-up antenna. If it is a modification, it was performed very well. Since I¡¯ve seen this on several TR-22C radios online I¡¯m wondering if it was a just a popular modification back in the day or if some radios came this way from the factory? Thanks in advance.?
Ron WD8INF
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Yes, my error in typing ¡ª since this is the Microphone phone connector.
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The Size is 0.206 inch (same as historically used in Aviation).
Switchcraft still manufactures the 0.206¡± Plugs & Jacks as T-R and T-R-S?
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Switchcraft S230 Plug (T-R-S) was photo posted
https://www.switchcraft.com/right-angle-flat-plug-206-3-conductor-screw-terminals-black-handle/s230/
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Re: "I Never Should Have Gotten Rid Of......
I built quite a few pieces of Heathkit stuff including a RF/AF generator, and VHF Police Scanner. I still have a tube tester, and early signal tracer that I purchased at a flea market. Both still work as they should. The Signal Tracer didn't work well when I got it. it seemed to be clipping?the input signal.? So one snowy night, I pulled out enough caps to totally recap it.? I would put in one cap, then test it. Finally I got down to the last cap, the one?in series with the input jack. Turns out whoever built it wired that cap to ground instead of in series.? It's worked flawlessly ever since. I was in Civil Air Patrol for years and repaired and tweaked a lot of the HW-18 (4.5 MHz xtal-controlled) transceivers? they used.? I also modified a HW-12 into a HW-18 by removing the VFO and inserting a small International Crystal oscillator board.?
|
Re: "I Never Should Have Gotten Rid Of......
We had the ESD black version of the nut starter all over the place at my previous job. I got some funny looks from younger co-workers when I called them "Heathkit nut starter". On Sun, 18 May 2025 06:51:19 -0700 "Gary WB6OGD via groups.io" <winbladgary@...> wrote: ?I would kill ?for one of those orange nut starters that came with each kit. I still have one, its red.
BUT, you don't have to kill!? You can still get them from Mouser.? Except they are anti-static black.
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
-- 73 -Jim NU0C
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Re: "I Never Should Have Gotten Rid Of......
No.? I guess you could supply your own strip of tin from an old can, hi hi.
I am not sure where mine is right now but IIRC it had a different size nut holder on the other end..
twice as useful.
?
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
?
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NU2W
Ron Magnus
Jim Shorney
Greg W9GB
Gary WB6OGD