600 Meter
(VLF)
Experiments
as
WD2XSH/22
Receivers
NOTE: Some of these manuals
are large files, make sure your
ISP can handle them!!!
Follows are my
trials and tribulations with 600 meter radio work. Some of them you may
find interesting, I had good fun getting on the LF Band. After several false starts at
getting a group license approval, and staying on the list, finally I decided to do a few things
while I awaited "Official" word that I could start running some experiments on the low frequencies.
find interesting, I had good fun getting on the LF Band. After several false starts at
getting a group license approval, and staying on the list, finally I decided to do a few things
while I awaited "Official" word that I could start running some experiments on the low frequencies.
The receiver was a mixed
configuration of military surplus from WWII
and more recent
times, and solid state amplifiers and up/down converters. I also brought my SP-600JX-17
into the picture.
times, and solid state amplifiers and up/down converters. I also brought my SP-600JX-17
into the picture.
One of the receivers I am using is the military ARC5 series BC-453 LF receiver.
This one is on loan from Scott WA3FFC
in
the radio friends link. We swapped gear for a while, as I
wanted to play with a BC-453, and he wanted to play with my TR-7A, I think the BC-453 is a good
starting point just for listening to the band. First I took it to our machine shop and had one of the Garys
make me a fluted shaft 1/4 inch diameter so I could put a knob on it, and tune the thing.
wanted to play with a BC-453, and he wanted to play with my TR-7A, I think the BC-453 is a good
starting point just for listening to the band. First I took it to our machine shop and had one of the Garys
make me a fluted shaft 1/4 inch diameter so I could put a knob on it, and tune the thing.
Next it needed a power supply, as I really didn't
want to listen to a
dynamotor, there are enough noises
in the shack already, what with all the receivers running and I can't work without my Country Music! I
have a lot of scrapped out biology experiments equipment and one of them is a voltage amplifier component.
in the shack already, what with all the receivers running and I can't work without my Country Music! I
have a lot of scrapped out biology experiments equipment and one of them is a voltage amplifier component.
It provides the HV for the tubes, and
also the filaments at 6.3 VAC. Here is a shot of the underside of the
scrapped out unit, and also the cabinet front and back, I reused it and only had to fabricate a new front
panel for it.
scrapped out unit, and also the cabinet front and back, I reused it and only had to fabricate a new front
panel for it.
Three 6SN7s and a 5Y3 just add a choke, remove the 6SN7s and run the voltages out the back!
I also use for receive an
HP-3586B Selective Level
Voltmeter
And After cleaning it up and checking it out!
The little box on top is my 10 Mhz
TCXO system reference
source 1 part in 10 to 9th.
The manuals I have are as follows In PDF files,
TM 11-6625-3087-24P
calibration sheets
TB 9-6625-2137-35
and of course the HP manual
For the 3586 A-B-C
Operation manual
and service manuals
Vol.1
Vol.2
Vol.3
This Receiver is the Rycom R1307A/GR
Yet another version of receiver for 600 Meters and Down.
Frequency coverage is 3 KC to 810 KC.
Modes available are AM, CW, MCW, SSB, FM, and FSK.
The manual for the Rycom R1307A/GR
is Here, as a PDF
.
The tuning range on the display
of the 1307A/GR
Also the metering scale.
The crystal filters
1,2,4,&8 Khz.
The Nuvistors are 7586s.
The matching Receiver for the ET-8010A is
The RMCA AR-8503.
The Data Plate.
Range cover info plate.
The rear view of the inside of the unit.
A very nice regenerative
receiver layout.
The RF input section.
Four (4) Band Segments.
Tube section RF and Detector-Audio section.
The tube complement.
This receiver covers 15 to 600 KC, and appears to
hear quite well. I had to build a power supply for the receiver.
There is a filament supply at 6.3VAC and also a HV supply that provides 90 VDC and 22 VDC to the receiver. The receiver
antenna is connected to the Antenna switching relay inside the ET-8010A through the ceramic feed-thru on the back
of the transmitter. It is a single wire with a separate "Chassis ground" lead which also connects to the transmitter ground.
There is a filament supply at 6.3VAC and also a HV supply that provides 90 VDC and 22 VDC to the receiver. The receiver
antenna is connected to the Antenna switching relay inside the ET-8010A through the ceramic feed-thru on the back
of the transmitter. It is a single wire with a separate "Chassis ground" lead which also connects to the transmitter ground.
The receiver is a regenerative receiver, and the schematic is here: The power
supply schematic is Here:
A full shot of all the test receivers available to the
BUF-Grabber.
Did I mention this stuff is addictive?
Along comes the R1307A, ok that might help, But...
Thought I would run the R1307A for a while so I put it in a desk-top
rack to free up some room, THEN.......
Along comes a Lowfer Coverage only Rycom!
The Rycom 2174A for Lowfer freqs only,seen here in the full rack with
some ancillary equipment, I think it is getting out of hand!
The manual for the 2174-A in PDF is here at 120 DPI,
also here at 150 DPI, and here at 600 DPI LO,
and here at 600 DPI HI. Lastly here is the DJVU file.
Dial coverage for the "LOWFER" Crowd!
The signal meter scale.
In the rack with accessories and the 1307A receiver.
The FULL rack. with scope dual channel, HP 3586B SLV,
HP 3336A for diferent type of modulation, Keyboard, and parts drawer,
A PTS 040, and PTS 160 for signal generation
And lastly a rack mount computer Pentium 400 Mhz W/ 2 40 GB HDs
CD, floppy and a zip-drive 100MB for saving captures.
Also the Computer controls the GPIB bus for the instruments with that capability.
Also had four (4) sound cards in the computer, it started dropping the link to the
BUF-GRABBER, so I removed two of them, so I could run the receivers for now.
Go BIG or "stay home"!
Good thing the rack has wheels on it!!
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