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Hey John I'm sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I'm the only Ham around that I know about? I just got back into HF a couple of yrs ago.
I did try two meters a few times but can't seem to find anyone to talk to and I don't really know where any groups are? Haven't really looked.
I did manage to go onto a video chat thing (I can't recall it off the top of my head?) but the bunch on there were very very rude!
They would just sit around, drink beer and rank on each other so I quickly stopped associating myself with that kind of an atmosphere.
When I first got licensed about 50 yrs ago I had a brand new Yaesu FT-101ZD MKIII that I paid around $600 for.
That rig was tubes but I had a really good antenna set up. Sadly I had to sell everything after 3 months due to too many complaints from the neighbors with their TV's
Times have changed and I rent instead of living with my Grandfather today
and the best antenna that I can do is a half wave dipole. It's a wire or nothing. So I will take the wire.
My mind is not the same as 50 yrs ago. No, my memory fails most of the time along with confusion and extreme tiredness.
50 yrs ago I bet if I had this rig I could tune it up quickly without a problem but it's not 50 yrs ago now is it?
I do what I can and thank you for replying to my topic
Mark
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Maybe it¡¯s when I neutralize the finals?
I read somewhere (I forgot where?)
a good way is to:
1) Tune up on 10 meters into a 50 ohm dummy load with a power meter
2) Remove screen voltage to finals
3) connect a T connector to RF output
4) connect other end of T to a 50 ohm dummy load
5) Connect T portion to Oscilloscope
6) Tune neutralization capacitor until you get minimum signal on scope
8) Put back the screen voltage connection.
?
I¡¯m used to working on high voltage at my company so I use an insulated tuning stick with caution!
?
I then tune up my MFJ or LDG?
antenna tuner for less than 2:1
?
That¡¯s my standard way
?
Mark
?
?
?
?
?
?
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A highish SWR won't ruin the finals in and of itself (if you can dip the plate current below the recommended limit... ) but leaving it in transmit for extended periods of time? will cook the finals.
Just to scale things a bit.... I can tune a Drake rig in probably 10 to 15? seconds of total transmit time , spaced into 3-4 separate transmissions of a few seconds each. I never load the rig up to max plate current.
I keep a muffin fan pulling air out of the final cage.
I almost never have final tubes go soft
Glad the rig was ok other than tubes. The Drake tune up instructions are pretty good, but are there any locals there familiar with tuning up tube rigs you might get help from???
73 John K5MO
Yep! All 3 finals were BAD! I threw another matched set in (Ouch!) and tomorrow I will neutralize the finals.
Mark
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Yep! All 3 finals were BAD! I threw another matched set in (Ouch!) and tomorrow I will neutralize the finals.
Mark
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Yeah I don't know what I did before to make the rig go into Xmit and blow the 5 amp power supply fuse?
I Know I tuned it up (I'm new at this on a Drake) and then I believe I was playing around with VOX and ANTI-VOX and some how it transmitted.
I also forgot to turn on the autotuner because my dipole is higher than a 2:1 by itself.
I just replaced the fuse and set the VOX fully clockwise and Anti-VOX CCW according to the manual. (I logged on here a few minutes ago
AFTER I turned my rig on) It started right up and I got stations heard. I tuned it up but SAD TO SAY I think I cooked the finals!
I'm only getting about 50 watts out on 40. I didn't try the other bands. So I guess the high VSWR cooked the tubes then blew the fuse.
I have two additional sets of finals, so when I get the chance I will throw in another set and neutralize them.
A little costly but at least she's still alive!
Mark
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Start with each at approximately halfway.? You should definitely not have the rig go into transmit at that setting but it is nearly impossible for it to go into transmit by itself with no mic or key connected.
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 at 2:44 PM, Mark N2DMI via groups.io <markkiziuk1@...> wrote:
That¡¯s great about the cat! Does anyone know if VOX is making my rig transmit? If it could be then how do I set the VOX and anti-vox so it will NOT transmit.Thank You. Mark
On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 2:31 PM, n4buq <n4buq@...> wrote: Ouch!? One of mine loves to "type" for me.? I still love him, though.? He's a great cat. 73, Barry - N4BUQ > I became a victim of this two months ago. My TR4CW was in cw mode. My straight > key was sitting there and while I was? outside my kitty kat laid down in front > of the rig and was up against the key. > Fried 3 precious 6JB6¡¯s > Ronnie >> On Apr 8, 2025, at 11:23?AM, n4buq < n4buq@...> wrote: >> >> ?I have a Speedex key as well.? I found that I like the blade turned over from >> ?the "normal?" way.? It allows the blade to move a bit farther away from the >> ?other half of the switch and prevents me from accidentally closing it as much. >> >> 73, >> Barry - N4BUQ >> >>> Many early rigs worked this way. I had a straight key with a built in >>> knife switch to lock key-down for transmitting in many modes. >>> >>> >>> -- >>> 73 de Mike, W1NR >>> >>> THAT was the equation. EXISTENCE!... SURVIVAL... must cancel out... >>> programming! >>> >>> - Ruk - >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> >> >> > > > >
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That¡¯s great about the cat! Does anyone know if VOX is making my rig transmit? If it could be then how do I set the VOX and anti-vox so it will NOT transmit. Thank You.
On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 2:31 PM, n4buq <n4buq@...> wrote: Ouch!? One of mine loves to "type" for me.? I still love him, though.? He's a great cat. 73, Barry - N4BUQ > I became a victim of this two months ago. My TR4CW was in cw mode. My straight > key was sitting there and while I was? outside my kitty kat laid down in front > of the rig and was up against the key. > Fried 3 precious 6JB6¡¯s > Ronnie >> On Apr 8, 2025, at 11:23?AM, n4buq < n4buq@...> wrote: >> >> ?I have a Speedex key as well.? I found that I like the blade turned over from >> ?the "normal?" way.? It allows the blade to move a bit farther away from the >> ?other half of the switch and prevents me from accidentally closing it as much. >> >> 73, >> Barry - N4BUQ >> >>> Many early rigs worked this way. I had a straight key with a built in >>> knife switch to lock key-down for transmitting in many modes. >>> >>> >>> -- >>> 73 de Mike, W1NR >>> >>> THAT was the equation. EXISTENCE!... SURVIVAL... must cancel out... >>> programming! >>> >>> - Ruk - >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> >> >> > > > >
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Ouch! One of mine loves to "type" for me. I still love him, though. He's a great cat.
73,
Barry - N4BUQ
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I became a victim of this two months ago. My TR4CW was in cw mode. My straight
key was sitting there and while I was outside my kitty kat laid down in front
of the rig and was up against the key.
Fried 3 precious 6JB6¡¯s
Ronnie
On Apr 8, 2025, at 11:23?AM, n4buq <n4buq@...> wrote:
?I have a Speedex key as well. I found that I like the blade turned over from
?the "normal?" way. It allows the blade to move a bit farther away from the
?other half of the switch and prevents me from accidentally closing it as much.
73,
Barry - N4BUQ
Many early rigs worked this way. I had a straight key with a built in
knife switch to lock key-down for transmitting in many modes.
--
73 de Mike, W1NR
THAT was the equation. EXISTENCE!... SURVIVAL... must cancel out...
programming!
- Ruk -
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I became a victim of this two months ago. My TR4CW was in cw mode. My straight key was sitting there and while I was outside my kitty kat laid down in front of the rig and was up against the key.
Fried 3 precious 6JB6¡¯s
Ronnie
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Apr 8, 2025, at 11:23?AM, n4buq <n4buq@...> wrote:
?I have a Speedex key as well. I found that I like the blade turned over from the "normal?" way. It allows the blade to move a bit farther away from the other half of the switch and prevents me from accidentally closing it as much.
73,
Barry - N4BUQ
Many early rigs worked this way. I had a straight key with a built in
knife switch to lock key-down for transmitting in many modes.
--
73 de Mike, W1NR
THAT was the equation. EXISTENCE!... SURVIVAL... must cancel out...
programming!
- Ruk -
|
I have a Speedex key as well. I found that I like the blade turned over from the "normal?" way. It allows the blade to move a bit farther away from the other half of the switch and prevents me from accidentally closing it as much.
73,
Barry - N4BUQ
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Many early rigs worked this way. I had a straight key with a built in
knife switch to lock key-down for transmitting in many modes.
--
73 de Mike, W1NR
THAT was the equation. EXISTENCE!... SURVIVAL... must cancel out...
programming!
- Ruk -
|
Many early rigs worked this way. I had a straight key with a built in knife switch to lock key-down for transmitting in many modes.
--
73 de Mike, W1NR
THAT was the equation. EXISTENCE!... SURVIVAL... must cancel out... programming!
- Ruk -
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I believe I was in SSB mode and not CW/X Mode.
Almost 90 percent positive.
Mark
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BTW, all TR-3/4 versions are like this. Earlier T-4 and T-4X are also this way. Conversely, if you leave an open key plugged in, you won¡¯t get TUNE, SSB or AM to work. The rig will key the relay but there¡¯ll be no power out/modulation.?
Later T-4X and all subsequent separate transmitters can leave the key in the jack and still fully work in the other modes without closing the key.?
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
On Tue, Apr 8, 2025 at 09:49, n4buq < n4buq@...> wrote:
If the TR-4CW is like the TR-4 (and I believe it is), if the sideband switch is at "X", the mode switch is in "X-CW", and there is no key plugged in (or if there is a key but its contacts are closed), then the rig will be in transmit.
Barry - NB4BUQ
From: "Mark N2DMI via groups.io" <markkiziuk1@...>
To: "DRAKE-RADIO" <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 8, 2025 8:43:53 AM
Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] TR-4CW S meter stays to the right
OK. How would it go into transmit without keying the mike?
VOX circuit?
I am not that familiar with Vox?
But I was also trying to set vox and anti-vox according to the instruction manual.
Where should my vox and anti-vox be set so that outside noise won¡¯t trip the transmit?
Mark
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Correct.?
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
On Tue, Apr 8, 2025 at 09:49, n4buq < n4buq@...> wrote:
If the TR-4CW is like the TR-4 (and I believe it is), if the sideband switch is at "X", the mode switch is in "X-CW", and there is no key plugged in (or if there is a key but its contacts are closed), then the rig will be in transmit.
Barry - NB4BUQ
From: "Mark N2DMI via groups.io" <markkiziuk1@...>
To: "DRAKE-RADIO" <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 8, 2025 8:43:53 AM
Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] TR-4CW S meter stays to the right
OK. How would it go into transmit without keying the mike?
VOX circuit?
I am not that familiar with Vox?
But I was also trying to set vox and anti-vox according to the instruction manual.
Where should my vox and anti-vox be set so that outside noise won¡¯t trip the transmit?
Mark
|
If the TR-4CW is like the TR-4 (and I believe it is), if the sideband switch is at "X", the mode switch is in "X-CW", and there is no key plugged in (or if there is a key but its contacts are closed), then the rig will be in transmit.
Barry - NB4BUQ
From: "Mark N2DMI via groups.io" <markkiziuk1@...>
To: "DRAKE-RADIO" <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 8, 2025 8:43:53 AM
Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] TR-4CW S meter stays to the right
OK. How would it go into transmit without keying the mike?
VOX circuit?
I am not that familiar with Vox?
But I was also trying to set vox and anti-vox according to the instruction manual.
Where should my vox and anti-vox be set so that outside noise won¡¯t trip the transmit?
Mark
|
OK. How would it go into transmit without keying the mike?
VOX circuit?
I am not that familiar with Vox?
But I was also trying to set vox and anti-vox according to the instruction manual.
Where should my vox and anti-vox be set so that outside noise won¡¯t trip the transmit?
Mark
|
Mark-
?
I would echo what others said; sounds like you were in transmit mode. Hard to blow a supply fuse in receive unless something's really wrong.?
?
If you have doubts about the power supply, then stop everything that you're doing until you fully check it out.?
?
There is a really great article on the WB4HHN site which will help you identify if you have all of the required voltages. You can disconnect the supply from the radio and use the cinch/jones jumper to turn on the supply. Be really careful since you are dealing with B+ and screen voltages. Even if the AC-4 has been rebuilt by someone else, those same voltages should be present on the correct pins. The bias supply is negative, as well.?
?
Be systematic about it. As they say, "slow is smooth, smooth is fast."?
--
Craig/W8CS
Greenville, SC
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Check the filter cap for the bias supply. It should have the + terminal connected to ground. Some eBay sellers are offshore vendors ripping off the IP of legitimate sellers and don't have any technical knowledge. On Mon, 07 Apr 2025 17:22:48 -0700 "Mark N2DMI via groups.io" <markkiziuk1@...> wrote: Hi Tim! It has fairly brand new parts inside of the power supply. It cost me good money from someone on Ebay who rebuilds these power supplies with new boards with new parts. Hopefully its not anything to do with the power supply but who knows?
Mark -- 73 -Jim NU0C
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Hi Tim! It has fairly brand new parts inside of the power supply. It cost me good money from someone on Ebay who rebuilds these power supplies with new boards with new parts. Hopefully its not anything to do with the power supply but who knows?
Mark
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Happened to me years ago and its been long time since I looked at the bottom of a AC4 but as I recall there are two rectangle higher wattage white resistors, one of those was the problem.
73 Tim
WB8UHZ
On Monday, April 7, 2025 at 08:11:02 PM EDT, Mark N2DMI via groups.io <markkiziuk1@...> wrote:
Not to my knowledge? I am very new to Drakes. There are settings for VOX and anti-VOX which to be honest might not be set right?
I'm still trying to tune this thing up. As a matter of fact, I tuned up on 40 and 20 then went to 80. When I was at 80 is when the problem kicked in.
I believe I was tuning it up correctly? Then the S meter started to go to the right and stay there with no sound.
Then as I adjust the RF gain metal finger lever it will not do anything to the S meter. Then about 2 minutes later the rig shut down. I looked inside the drake and the 2 fuses measure OK so I believe the 5 amp fuse in the power supply blew. I'm not having much luck.
Mark
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Mark N2DMI
Ronnie Hull - W5SUM
Craig W8CS
Jim Shorney