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Re: Another TR-3 s/n 1329

 

I have found a superior applicator for contact and switch cleaning: eye makeup foam applicators.? They also work fine for cleaning other small mechanical items.? They can be occasionally pressed into a cloth to remove dirty residue and reused to a limited extent.??

I no longer use Q Tips for anything other than cleaning PTO shafts and cleaning old grease/applying new grease to the PTO or the ball bearing in some of the switch detents.

You can get a bag of 'em from Amazon for around $5.

Steve Wedge, W1ES

Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.

Sent with secure email.

On Friday, May 23rd, 2025 at 9:48 AM, John K5MO via groups.io <johnk5mo@...> wrote:

" I am done for the night and will not press my luck.

I have done nothing else yet, no tubes pulled / checked, no switch
contacts or tube sockets sprayed with Deoxit D5."

Congrats Dave, and you're wise to not push your luck when tired and success is on the way!

I would NOT spray switch contacts or sockets with Deoxit (or anything else) but daub some on with a qtip and work it around (or daub it on tube pin contacts). Drake used phenolic wafers and sockets and those are like sponges for fluids.

Good work and keep us posted!

73
John K5MO

On Fri, May 23, 2025 at 12:13?AM Dave Stepnowski KC3AM via <kc3am=[email protected]> wrote:
Thanks for the suggestions guys.

There was no jumper on the RV3 VFO socket.
I have installed a 8 pin plug with pins 2 & 8 jumpered.
It is amazing what happens when something is connected properly!
Voltages on C145 are dead nuts on.
I am now using an original power supply that I got last year, original
paper caps and it seems to work just fine.

The radio is now somewhat alive!

Plenty of audio from the speaker. RF tune control does what it should.

Using a Motorola service monitor I can input a CW signal and can hear it
on all bands except 40, 40 seems dead at the moment.

I was able to tune it on 20 and had about 80 watts output.

Hooking up a whip antenna in the basement tonight did not produce any
signals anywhere.
My TS-590 didn't sound much better either with the R7 vertical.

What I did notice on 80 was many, many birdies across the band with
nothing hooked up.

I am done for the night and will not press my luck.

I have done nothing else yet, no tubes pulled / checked, no switch
contacts or tube sockets sprayed with Deoxit D5.

I will hook up an outside antenna and see what happens.

Dave KC3AM
Re: Help ID'ing Some Misc Flea Market Items

 

I think that first one is the backlight lamp holder for a 4-line receiver/transmitter/transceiver(?).

Barry - N4BUQ

Some things followed me home this weekend. In addition to my TR7 parts, I got several "bonus" items. Let me know if you recognize any of these pieces, or better yet let me know if you need them.?
--
Craig/W8CS
Greenville, SC
Help ID'ing Some Misc Flea Market Items

 

Some things followed me home this weekend. In addition to my TR7 parts, I got several "bonus" items. Let me know if you recognize any of these pieces, or better yet let me know if you need them.?
--
Craig/W8CS
Greenville, SC
Re: Another TR-3 s/n 1329

 

" I am done for the night and will not press my luck.

I have done nothing else yet, no tubes pulled / checked, no switch
contacts or tube sockets sprayed with Deoxit D5."

Congrats Dave, and you're wise to not push your luck when tired and success is on the way!

I would NOT spray?? switch contacts or sockets with Deoxit (or anything else) but daub some on with a qtip and work it around (or daub it on tube pin contacts).? Drake used phenolic wafers and sockets and those are like sponges for fluids.

Good work and keep us posted!

73
John K5MO

On Fri, May 23, 2025 at 12:13?AM Dave Stepnowski KC3AM via <kc3am=[email protected]> wrote:
Thanks for the suggestions guys.

There was no jumper on the RV3 VFO socket.
I have installed a 8 pin plug with pins 2 & 8 jumpered.
It is amazing what happens when something is connected properly!
Voltages on C145 are dead nuts on.
I am now using an original power supply that I got last year, original
paper caps and it seems to work just fine.

The radio is now somewhat alive!

Plenty of audio from the speaker. RF tune control does what it should.

Using a Motorola service monitor I can input a CW signal and can hear it
on all bands except 40, 40 seems dead at the moment.

I was able to tune it on 20 and had about 80 watts output.

Hooking up a whip antenna in the basement tonight did not produce any
signals anywhere.
My TS-590 didn't sound much better either with the R7 vertical.

What I did notice on 80 was many, many birdies across the band with
nothing hooked up.

I am done for the night and will not press my luck.

I have done nothing else yet, no tubes pulled / checked, no switch
contacts or tube sockets sprayed with Deoxit D5.

I will hook up an outside antenna and see what happens.

Dave KC3AM
Re: Another TR-3 s/n 1329

 

Dave, when you get this running better, please let me know how it¡¯s working in 10 in tx/rx.?

Right now, I¡¯m working on a TR-3 and a very early TR-4 and both of them are not really all that good on 10. I can remember other early sets that were equally bad. I¡¯m about to try and find the reason(s) for why this is. I¡¯ve replaced all weak tubes and with the TR-3, I¡¯m finding a lot of grossly out-of-tolerance resistors.?

There are some differences in tube types around mixer and RF amp and some of those really can¡¯t be changed without enlarging socket holes (e.g., the 6HS6 or 12BA6 first mixer that went to 6EJ7).?

Speaking of resistors, do check on a few of them beyond the PA. On the TR-3 currently on my bench, every 1.5k is out of tolerance by as much as 100%! ?Many others are also bad. I¡¯ve replaced around 7 resistors so far and this has perked things up somewhat.?

Good luck with it!

Steve Wedge, W1ES

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.


Sent from for iOS


On Fri, May 23, 2025 at 00:13, Dave Stepnowski KC3AM via groups.io <kc3am@...> wrote:
Thanks for the suggestions guys.

There was no jumper on the RV3 VFO socket.
I have installed a 8 pin plug with pins 2 & 8 jumpered.
It is amazing what happens when something is connected properly!
Voltages on C145 are dead nuts on.
I am now using an original power supply that I got last year, original
paper caps and it seems to work just fine.

The radio is now somewhat alive!

Plenty of audio from the speaker. RF tune control does what it should.

Using a Motorola service monitor I can input a CW signal and can hear it
on all bands except 40, 40 seems dead at the moment.

I was able to tune it on 20 and had about 80 watts output.

Hooking up a whip antenna in the basement tonight did not produce any
signals anywhere.
My TS-590 didn't sound much better either with the R7 vertical.

What I did notice on 80 was many, many birdies across the band with
nothing hooked up.

I am done for the night and will not press my luck.

I have done nothing else yet, no tubes pulled / checked, no switch
contacts or tube sockets sprayed with Deoxit D5.

I will hook up an outside antenna and see what happens.

Dave KC3AM






Re: TR-4 AM Mode

 

Randal,

This is exactly what I was trying to do.? I have a key in the key receptacle, no mic in the mic receptacle, and when I switch to X-AM, the audio goes dead.? To me, that doesn't seem correct and, based on your comment, I don't think it is so I'm not sure where to go from here.? It's as if I have a problem with the MODE switch but, so far, I haven't proven that.

I've tested all the tubes and since everything seems to work properly in SSB, unless V2 is not working, then I'm not sure why this isn't working.

Thanks so much for the reply,
Barry - N4BUQ

Having just listened a bit to some AM on my TR-4, ?and having read Mike's comment, I'll point out that the manual indicates that you can receive AM in the X-AM function switch position. ? I have a Push-to-talk Shure 444 in the mic plug. ? I think that is the difference in the procedure.
?
If you don't have a key in the key receptacle, and you don't have a mic with an open PTT switch, then switching to X-AM will trigger the the transmit function and mute the receiver.?
?
The last sentence in the instruction manual regarding AM transmission indicates that if you want to receive AM using the product detector, you need to switch the function switch back to SSB. ?Also the manual states that in X-AM a diode detector is in use in that made for receiving.?
Re: TR-4 AM Mode

 

Mike,

Thanks for the explanations below.? In my case, I have a key inserted in key jack so switching to X-AM would only transmit with the key down (I don't have a microphone inserted - yet).? With it setup that way - and keeping the key up, I thought that switching to X-AM would allow reception using the diode detector (V2).? Is that incorrect?

If I'm understanding your message correctly, to transmit, one would need to switch to X-AM and use either PTT or the key down and to receive, it would be necessary to switch back to SSB.? If that's the case, then it seems very awkward but perhaps I'm misunderstanding this.

Thanks again,
Barry - N4BUQ

Barry,

To receive AM with the TR4 the Function switch must be set to "SSB"
not "X-AM". Setting the Function switch to "X-AM" will key up the
transmitter, disabling the receiver.

Operating AM with the TR4 is done as follows.

Tune the AM station until the receiving stations AM carrier beat note drops
to zero (no beat note heard). This leaves the AM audio heard in the speaker.

Transmitting AM, the Side Band switch MUST be set to "X" and the Function
switch is set to "X-AM".

Setting the Function switch to "X-AM", keys the transmitter producing
a low level of RF output carrier of approximately 8 to 10 watts.

As you speak into the microphone, the speech amplifier output is applied
to the CCSM Modulator V14 13DE7. The output of V14 varies at the same
rate at the speech amp audio, varying the level of screen voltage to the
final tubes, producing CCSM AM output ifrom the final amplifier.
You cannot switch side bands in X-AM mode. The side band switch must
remain in "X" for X-AM to work.

The microphone audio in X-AM mode is controlled by the XMTR GAIN control,
same as in normal SSB mode. Operating in X-AM mode there is NO AGC voltage
produced like in SSB Mode, to control the gain of the CCSM AM transmit signal.

To switch back to AM receive, the Function switch is set to "SSB".

To operate SSB or X-AM, the KEY socket MUST be shorted to ground. The KEY
socket is connected to the V4 transmit mixer's grid. Inserting a 1/4" mono plug
from a CW key or keyer into the KEY socket removes the ground, providing
a high negative grid block voltage to the grid of V4, biasing V4 to cut off. Shorting
the KEY socket to ground, reduces the grid block negative voltage to V4's grid turning
V4 ON. The KEY socket MUST be shorted to ground for SSB and X-AM to work.

This is covered in the TR4 manual.

73
Mike W5RKL





On 5/22/25 11:39 PM, n4buq via groups.io wrote:
On my TR-4, when I switch to AM mode I get no audio output at all.  Can someone please suggest a way to troubleshoot this?

I thought that if I touched the grid of the last audio amplifier with a screwdriver, I'd get a pretty loud buzz, etc., from the speaker but I don't get anything with that little test (crude, yes, but I was trying to see where the signal stopped).

I presume injecting a modulated CW signal back through the chain should eventually find where it stops but not sure about that.  Any hints are welcome.

Thanks,
Barry - N4BUQ


Re: TR-4 AM Mode

 

Having just listened a bit to some AM on my TR-4, ?and having read Mike's comment, I'll point out that the manual indicates that you can receive AM in the X-AM function switch position. ? I have a Push-to-talk Shure 444 in the mic plug. ? I think that is the difference in the procedure.
?
If you don't have a key in the key receptacle, and you don't have a mic with an open PTT switch, then switching to X-AM will trigger the the transmit function and mute the receiver.?
?
The last sentence in the instruction manual regarding AM transmission indicates that if you want to receive AM using the product detector, you need to switch the function switch back to SSB. ?Also the manual states that in X-AM a diode detector is in use in that made for receiving.?
Re: Supercapacitors - Possible anti-surge device to protect filaments/ heaters

 

>On Fri, May 23, 2025 at 03:54 AM, Jim Shorney wrote:
>Or a NTC surge limiter in the AC mains side of the power supply.

That would work too...... but they have to be sized correctly.? ?They run hot, and have to stay hot.? ?IE:? no forced air on them, or their resistance will increase.?

The op did not tell us what tube or tube fils? he is trying to limit inrush current on.?

For stuff like my L4B's,? I do the step start externally.? ?It's just a 8x8x4 electrical box, (home depot)? with loads of knock outs.? ?2 x P+B / Deltrol? DPST? 30 amp relays, + a 20 ohm / 50-100 watt resistor.? ?I used arcol metal finned resistors since I had? a bunch of them.? No standoffs? required, just bolt em down.?

Small control cable? runs from the new? box on floor.....up to a small? mini box on desk, with 2 x mini toggle switches......one for each 120 vac relay coil.? ?Relay #1? applies the 240 vac. (On/off switch on L4B left permanently in the on position).? 20 ohm resistor in one leg of the 240 vac.? ?B+ comes up to 90% of normal.? ?Fils on the pair of 3-500Z's come up to 70% of normal brilliance.? ?Wait 2-3 secs, then hit toggle #2....and 2nd relay operates.? ?One pole on 2nd relay? shunts the resistor.? ?2nd pole on 2nd relay has the key line running through it.? ? IE: step start the B+ and the fils at the same time.?

IE: manually operated step start.? ?Amp can't be keyed until 2nd relay is operated.? ?Dead simple.? ?When? switching from SSB to lower 1900 vdc CW position, non issue.? ? ?When switching from CW 1900 vdc? back to the SSB? 2650 vdc position, I put the resistor back in the circuit,? then switch? from CW to? SSB, then? shunt the resistor.?

I have 2 x harbach boards in each L4PS, and each board has 8 x 330 uf caps.? ? The on/off switch in the L4B is a 10 amp slide switch buried below the rocker switch....and is flaky at best.??
Re: TR-4 AM Mode

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Barry,

To receive AM with the TR4 the Function switch must be set to "SSB"
not "X-AM". Setting the Function switch to "X-AM" will key up the
transmitter, disabling the receiver.

Operating AM with the TR4 is done as follows.

Tune the AM station until the receiving stations AM carrier beat note drops
to zero (no beat note heard). This leaves the AM audio heard in the speaker.

Transmitting AM, the Side Band switch MUST be set to "X" and the Function
switch is set to "X-AM".

Setting the Function switch to "X-AM", keys the transmitter producing
a low level of RF output carrier of approximately 8 to 10 watts.

As you speak into the microphone, the speech amplifier output is applied
to the CCSM Modulator V14 13DE7. The output of V14 varies at the same
rate at the speech amp audio, varying the level of screen voltage to the
final tubes, producing CCSM AM output ifrom the final amplifier.
You cannot switch side bands in X-AM mode. The side band switch must
remain in "X" for X-AM to work.

The microphone audio in X-AM mode is controlled by the XMTR GAIN control,
same as in normal SSB mode. Operating in X-AM mode there is NO AGC voltage
produced like in SSB Mode, to control the gain of the CCSM AM transmit signal.

To switch back to AM receive, the Function switch is set to "SSB".

To operate SSB or X-AM, the KEY socket MUST be shorted to ground. The KEY
socket is connected to the V4 transmit mixer's grid. Inserting a 1/4" mono plug
from a CW key or keyer into the KEY socket removes the ground, providing
a high negative grid block voltage to the grid of V4, biasing V4 to cut off. Shorting
the KEY socket to ground, reduces the grid block negative voltage to V4's grid turning
V4 ON. The KEY socket MUST be shorted to ground for SSB and X-AM to work.

This is covered in the TR4 manual.

73
Mike W5RKL





On 5/22/25 11:39 PM, n4buq via groups.io wrote:

On my TR-4, when I switch to AM mode I get no audio output at all.  Can someone please suggest a way to troubleshoot this?

I thought that if I touched the grid of the last audio amplifier with a screwdriver, I'd get a pretty loud buzz, etc., from the speaker but I don't get anything with that little test (crude, yes, but I was trying to see where the signal stopped).

I presume injecting a modulated CW signal back through the chain should eventually find where it stops but not sure about that.  Any hints are welcome.

Thanks,
Barry - N4BUQ

TR-4 AM Mode

 

On my TR-4, when I switch to AM mode I get no audio output at all. Can someone please suggest a way to troubleshoot this?

I thought that if I touched the grid of the last audio amplifier with a screwdriver, I'd get a pretty loud buzz, etc., from the speaker but I don't get anything with that little test (crude, yes, but I was trying to see where the signal stopped).

I presume injecting a modulated CW signal back through the chain should eventually find where it stops but not sure about that. Any hints are welcome.

Thanks,
Barry - N4BUQ
Re: Another TR-3 s/n 1329

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

There was no jumper on the RV3 VFO socket.
I have installed a 8 pin plug with pins 2 & 8 jumpered.
It is amazing what happens when something is connected properly!
Voltages on C145 are dead nuts on.
I am now using an original power supply that I got last year, original paper caps and it seems to work just fine.

The radio is now somewhat alive!

Plenty of audio from the speaker. RF tune control does what it should.

Using a Motorola service monitor I can input a CW signal and can hear it
on all bands except 40, 40 seems dead at the moment.

I was able to tune it on 20 and had about 80 watts output.

Hooking up a whip antenna in the basement tonight did not produce any signals anywhere.
My TS-590 didn't sound much better either with the R7 vertical.

What I did notice on 80 was many, many birdies across the band with nothing hooked up.

I am done for the night and will not press my luck.

I have done nothing else yet, no tubes pulled / checked, no switch contacts or tube sockets sprayed with Deoxit D5.

I will hook up an outside antenna and see what happens.

Dave KC3AM
Re: Supercapacitors - Possible anti-surge device to protect filaments/ heaters

 

Or a NTC surge limiter in the AC mains side of the power supply.

On Thu, 22 May 2025 18:10:03 -0700
"Jim VE7RF via groups.io" <jim.thom@...> wrote:

Wasted effort.? ?You would be better off to do any surge limiting with an outboard step start circuit.? ?Like a 20 ohm resistor in the hot leg? of the incoming mains.? ?Then shunt it after 2-3 secs with a spst relay.


--

73

-Jim
NU0C
Re: Supercapacitors - Possible anti-surge device to protect filaments/ heaters

 

As a side note, not all step-start controls are really what one would want. ?One particular model (still in inventories) is no longer made and is not a step-start even though it is advertised as such.

On Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 09:10:05 PM EDT, Jim VE7RF via groups.io <jim.thom@...> wrote:


Wasted effort.? ?You would be better off to do any surge limiting with an outboard step start circuit.? ?Like a 20 ohm resistor in the hot leg? of the incoming mains.? ?Then shunt it after 2-3 secs with a spst relay.??
Re: Supercapacitors - Possible anti-surge device to protect filaments/ heaters

 

Wasted effort.? ?You would be better off to do any surge limiting with an outboard step start circuit.? ?Like a 20 ohm resistor in the hot leg? of the incoming mains.? ?Then shunt it after 2-3 secs with a spst relay.??
Re: OT: Looking for help with Kenwood Handheld

 

When I used to work on computer motherboards, the memory batteries
were of different sizes and shapes.
I found a battery holder source, maybe in China?
As long as it would fit the board it worked fine.
Just make sure of the battery voltage.
Drake RV-3/4

 

Hello everyone, I¡¯m trying to get a RV-3 and a RV-4 working again. When I put the VFO in receive only it causes the radio to trip into transmit in a cycling manner. ?I cleaned wafer switch very well. Has anyone had this issue before?? ?Thanks for any input. 73 Tony N5DIM
Re: "I Never Should Have Gotten Rid Of......

 

I got a note tonight from Terry Perdue K8TP that some of us are ordering his CD through PayPal (me included), and if you use the F&F mode Paypal is not sending him your address. I thought it always sent the sender's address to the funds recipient, but no.
?
So, please include a specific note to Terry with your PayPal payment indicating where you want your CD mailed.
?
Dave
Re: Drake 2-B

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Sorry, that was supposed to be an off list email.

Stan


On 5/21/25 21:27, Stan Gammons via groups.io wrote:

Ok.

Do you have a PayPal account?


73

Stan
KM4HQE


On 5/21/25 19:34, Ronnie Hull - W5SUM via groups.io wrote:
$28?

Ronnie

On May 21, 2025, at 6:02?PM, Stan Gammons via groups.io <buttercup11421@...> wrote:

?
I have an R-4B also. ?I need to go through the alignment procedure to see if that is what¡¯s causing the T-4XB to not put out good power when the receiver is used for frequency control. ?I just thought pairing the 2-B with the T-4XB would be something to try and see how it worked. ?It won¡¯t transceive but they will work together. ?Getting them on the same frequency might be a problem. Using spot should help me get close. ?I can¡¯t hear any closer than about 100 cycles though.

Thanks to everyone that replied.


73

Stan?
KM4HQE



On Wed, May 21, 2025 at 4:43 PM, K5DH via groups.io <mustang_maniac@...> wrote:
I agree with Gary.? A nice 2-B and a nice R-4B can both be bought for around $200.? I own both.? While the 2-B is a very good receiver and I like it a lot, the R-4B is even better and I like it even more.? If I had to settle for just one of those two, it would be the R-4B.? My R-4B is my go-to receiver to use with classic and homebrew CW transmitters.?
--
73,
Dean K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida


Re: Drake 2-B

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Ok.

Do you have a PayPal account?


73

Stan
KM4HQE


On 5/21/25 19:34, Ronnie Hull - W5SUM via groups.io wrote:

$28?

Ronnie

On May 21, 2025, at 6:02?PM, Stan Gammons via groups.io <buttercup11421@...> wrote:

?
I have an R-4B also. ?I need to go through the alignment procedure to see if that is what¡¯s causing the T-4XB to not put out good power when the receiver is used for frequency control. ?I just thought pairing the 2-B with the T-4XB would be something to try and see how it worked. ?It won¡¯t transceive but they will work together. ?Getting them on the same frequency might be a problem. Using spot should help me get close. ?I can¡¯t hear any closer than about 100 cycles though.

Thanks to everyone that replied.


73

Stan?
KM4HQE



On Wed, May 21, 2025 at 4:43 PM, K5DH via groups.io <mustang_maniac@...> wrote:
I agree with Gary.? A nice 2-B and a nice R-4B can both be bought for around $200.? I own both.? While the 2-B is a very good receiver and I like it a lot, the R-4B is even better and I like it even more.? If I had to settle for just one of those two, it would be the R-4B.? My R-4B is my go-to receiver to use with classic and homebrew CW transmitters.?
--
73,
Dean K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

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