FS-4 Injection Cable Questions
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I went on a spree and bought two FS-4 units this week. Both work fine (thank goodness) but I'm curious about what looks like oxidation on this original injection cable. What would work to safely remove the buildup and clean the surface?
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Also- why do I hear that regular RCA cables, intended for audio, are not as good as coax cables, intended for antenna connections? Is it the resistance?
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Lastly- has anyone hooked up an FS-4 to multiple receivers at one time? I enjoy comparing reception between my R-4A, B and C receivers and would love to have one FS-4 permanently attached, maybe switching between units without having to reach back and connect/disconnect for each receiver. Any downsides to this?
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Thanks,
Dominic
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Hi Dominic, ? White vinegar should pretty much take that off. Afterwards, rinse with water. I had an FS-4. Worked well. ? 73, Joe-WA9LAE. ? ? ? ? -----Original Message-----
From: <[email protected]> Sent: Dec 7, 2024 11:04 AM To: <[email protected]> Subject: [DRAKE-RADIO] FS-4 Injection Cable Questions ? I went on a spree and bought two FS-4 units this week. Both work fine (thank goodness) but I'm curious about what looks like oxidation on this original injection cable. What would work to safely remove the buildup and clean the surface?
?
Also- why do I hear that regular RCA cables, intended for audio, are not as good as coax cables, intended for antenna connections? Is it the resistance?
?
Lastly- has anyone hooked up an FS-4 to multiple receivers at one time? I enjoy comparing reception between my R-4A, B and C receivers and would love to have one FS-4 permanently attached, maybe switching between units without having to reach back and connect/disconnect for each receiver. Any downsides to this?
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Thanks,
Dominic
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That doesn't look like an original Drake cable. ?What is interesting is that the connector is corroded but the solder lug/wire are not. ?Almost suggests it was a cable from another application or was in storage for a very long time; the fact that the center pin appears to have corrosion around the entire circumference supports this. Criticality of shielded cables for certain applications has to do with amount of shielding, impedance, and loss. ?There are experts here on the Reflector that can explain it.
On Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 12:22:15 PM EST, Joe via groups.io <toptyp19@...> wrote:
Hi Dominic, ? White vinegar should pretty much take that off. Afterwards, rinse with water. I had an FS-4. Worked well. ? 73, Joe-WA9LAE. ? ? ? ? -----Original Message-----
From: <[email protected]> Sent: Dec 7, 2024 11:04 AM To: <[email protected]> Subject: [DRAKE-RADIO] FS-4 Injection Cable Questions ? I went on a spree and bought two FS-4 units this week. Both work fine (thank goodness) but I'm curious about what looks like oxidation on this original injection cable. What would work to safely remove the buildup and clean the surface?
?
Also- why do I hear that regular RCA cables, intended for audio, are not as good as coax cables, intended for antenna connections? Is it the resistance?
?
Lastly- has anyone hooked up an FS-4 to multiple receivers at one time? I enjoy comparing reception between my R-4A, B and C receivers and would love to have one FS-4 permanently attached, maybe switching between units without having to reach back and connect/disconnect for each receiver. Any downsides to this?
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Thanks,
Dominic
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Thanks, Evan. Does anyone have a photo of the original injection cable?
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Thanks,
Dominic
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On Sat, Dec 7, 2024 at 11:38 AM, Evan wrote:
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Thanks, Joe! I'll give it a try.
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On Sat, Dec 7, 2024 at 11:22 AM, Joe wrote:
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Domenic: Congrats on the two FS-4's.? They are not getting any easier to find, though an inexpensive alternative?nowadays?is the "FS-4b" that Gary, WB6OGD, and Bernie VE3FWF, have come up with, with contributions by others as well (sorry...?forgotten?who all was involved).? More available in the archives for this group.? Just search?FS-4b. That oxidation can be polished off with a bit of Tarn-X or other silver polish.? Might be easier dipping it in a liquid type of silver?polish first. Low capacitance cables were used by Drake for the Car Osc and INJ cables for the 4-line.? ? They were usually "marked" with a small metal tab.? I haven't tried?it but a short audio coax lead should probably work fine.? RG-6 can be used but is too stiff for my liking.? Belden 8421 cable works well.? Much about this in the archives as well. I have never tried?hooking up multiple rigs to one FS-4 at the same time, but you could use a coax switch and switch between radios pretty easily.? A BNC switch might be the best choice, but you could probably use a cheap 1 x 4 RCA audio (or audio/video) switch and get away with it too.? Worth a try. 73 Peter VE7PS On Sat, Dec 7, 2024 at 9:04?AM Dominic Dambro via <dominic1967=[email protected]> wrote:
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Technically, characteristic impedance is not an issue for these short runs. Quality of the shielding and dielectric are. Capacitance of the cable as well when dealing with high frequencies or tuned circuits. See previous postings of K4OAH comments on C-Line cables. Cheap audio cables can be problematic even at audio frequencies and you probably won't find any technical specs on even the audiophool woo-woo cables. Lately I've been using Belden RG-58A/U for audio interconnects in the shack just because I have a number of short runs surplus from my previous employer. If I want low capacitance RF cable I have some 93 Ohm mil spec that works nicely. A friend of mine used to badger me about using 50 Ohm coax for speaker wire and patch cables in my stereo system until he saw an audio engineer using RG-8x for audio interconnects. Like my word wasn't good enough.... :)
On Sat, 7 Dec 2024 17:38:34 +0000 (UTC) "Evan via groups.io" <k9sqg@...> wrote: Criticality of shielded cables for certain applications has to do with amount of shielding, impedance, and loss. ?There are experts here on the Reflector that can explain it. -- 73 -Jim NU0C |
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Just a comment...that right angled cable looks exactly like the one I got in a Drake SPR-4 kit with the correct crystal to use in the FS-4 for use with an SPR-4 (or RR-1).?? I cannot recall what cable came with my two FS-4's but believe they were longer and had a straight RCA plug on the end. 73 Peter VE7PS On Sat, Dec 7, 2024 at 9:38?AM Evan via <k9sqg=[email protected]> wrote:
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Here's another thought. Baseband video distribution amplifiers are good out to at least 6+ MHz and typically up to 10 MHz. I'm using one to feed my 10 MHz GPSDO to multiple test instruments. I did change the 75 Ohm load resistors in the input and output circuits to 50 Ohms but probably didn't need to. Cf. previous comment about characteristic impedance with short runs.
On Sat, 7 Dec 2024 09:55:59 -0800 "VE7PS via groups.io" <ve7ps@...> wrote: I have never tried hooking up multiple rigs to one FS-4 at the same time, -- 73 -Jim NU0C |
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The black stuff is likely silver oxide, which is conductive. It can usually be left alone. OTOH the tarnish removers will strip come of the silver that you want to keep.
On Sat, 7 Dec 2024 09:55:59 -0800 "VE7PS via groups.io" <ve7ps@...> wrote: That oxidation can be polished off with a bit of Tarn-X or other silver -- 73 -Jim NU0C |
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To me, that looks like tarnished silver-plate.? Steve Wedge, W1ES Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana. Sent from for iOS On Sat, Dec 7, 2024 at 12:38, Evan via groups.io <k9sqg@...> wrote:
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Having owned a couple of FS-4s, the cables from the original owners were gray and had a straight plug. ?Not sure if those were Drake supplied or after-market. 73, Evan, K9SQG
On Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 01:04:44 PM EST, VE7PS via groups.io <ve7ps@...> wrote:
Just a comment...that right angled cable looks exactly like the one I got in a Drake SPR-4 kit with the correct crystal to use in the FS-4 for use with an SPR-4 (or RR-1).?? I cannot recall what cable came with my two FS-4's but believe they were longer and had a straight RCA plug on the end. 73 Peter VE7PS On Sat, Dec 7, 2024 at 9:38?AM Evan via <k9sqg=[email protected]> wrote:
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Whatever it is probably doesn' tmatter in the least.? Just plug it in, rotate it back and forth a few times and it will be just fine..? I bet. I also think, it would be fine to route the signal to several rigs.? It is a strong signal driving into a high impedance crystal oscillator input.? Though, I don't think anyone has ever tried that. 73, Gary WB6OGD On Sat, Dec 7, 2024 at 12:52?PM n4buq via <n4buq=[email protected]> wrote: I know very little about chemistry but I've read that the black stuff on silver is oxidation and conducts as well as the silver.? Maybe I've read incorrect information. |
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýDominic, ? If you have or can find a C4 Station Console, it has a multi position equipment switch that should be able to perform the FS-4 switching between your R4A, B and C.? It¡¯s even labeled A, B and C for the first three positions!? I have an FS-4 and E-Tek digital dials (FR-4 and FR-4tr) that I plan to set up with the C4 and my B/C lines and TR4CW RIT.? Just have not gotten to it yet since I moved back to Idaho. ? 73 Dale AF7WH ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Dominic Dambro via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, December 7, 2024 9:05 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [DRAKE-RADIO] FS-4 Injection Cable Questions ? I went on a spree and bought two FS-4 units this week. Both work fine (thank goodness) but I'm curious about what looks like oxidation on this original injection cable. What would work to safely remove the buildup and clean the surface? ? Also- why do I hear that regular RCA cables, intended for audio, are not as good as coax cables, intended for antenna connections? Is it the resistance? ? Lastly- has anyone hooked up an FS-4 to multiple receivers at one time? I enjoy comparing reception between my R-4A, B and C receivers and would love to have one FS-4 permanently attached, maybe switching between units without having to reach back and connect/disconnect for each receiver. Any downsides to this? ? Thanks, Dominic ? ? |
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This sounds really cool- I want to see pics when you're all set up
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On Sat, Dec 7, 2024 at 03:02 PM, Dale Dean - AF7WH wrote:
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Thanks very much to all for the replies. I won't stress so much about the quality of the injection cable. Besides, experimentation is half the fun of this hobby. I'll leave the included cable as-is and compare it's effectiveness against a few homebrews I put together.
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For the time being, I'll connect the FS-4 to my R-4C that WB4HFN gave the full service to and come up with either a switch or splitter solution for multi-radio tuning. I dig projects.
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I'm thinking perhaps getting my hands on a replica preselector sticker would be more beneficial to me in the short term.?
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Thanks,
Dominic |
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýDominic, ? Check out my QRZ page.? I have pictures of my Drake collection prior to the move to Florida (and return).? I need to get the station re-setup over the winter.? I only have the 7 line on the desk for now. ? 73 Dale AF7WH ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Dominic Dambro via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, December 7, 2024 4:33 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] FS-4 Injection Cable Questions ? This sounds really cool- I want to see pics when you're all set up ? On Sat, Dec 7, 2024 at 03:02 PM, Dale Dean - AF7WH wrote:
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Dominic Dambro
Jim Shorney
Gary WB6OGD
Dale Dean - AF7WH