The note sounds beautiful without the case on, but with the case, instead of a clean, solid note, its sounds choppy-kinda unfiltered.

I fired up my Johnson Viking Adventurer today (After just having it sit around for a while) to try out a few new crystals. The CW note didn't sound that good. It seemed like the power supply became suddenly unfiltered. Kind of a choppy note.

I took the rig downstairs, redid a few "ok" solder joints, and while I was at it, I replaced the botched meter a previous OM put in. I tried the radio without its case, and the note sounded great. Tried a few more crystals without a problem. Then I put the case back in, and the bad sounding note came back. I made sure nothing was shorting out, and everything looks fine.

I'm not sure what could be causing it.

I cant wait to radios going into the Terahertz. 

Thats bad? Years ago I walked into a game store to buy a used video game and trade an old one in. After looking around, deciding what I want, I got to the counter and they practically want my life story!! Full name, address, phone, adult signature (I was only 13), picture ID, and told me I had to join their member program to trade my old game for cash.I told them I had cash, but "NO exceptions". I quickly left, but not before exchanging a few choice words about their store policy. Never went back.

-Alex
KC2VDM

I have to agree with AC5UP, the vintage radio game is not for the faint of heart. It takes 5 seconds to turn on and use a new fashioned rice box. With vintage radios, it takes more time than that for it to get warmed up, let alone tune up. The farther back in time you go, the harder it becomes to use, repair, and find parts for old radios. I'm running into trouble just finding parts for a simple tube qrp transmitter project. If the parts are there, the prices are huge. Most rigs will also require some work just to get going. The costs can add up quickly.

He'd also right about Collins being the most expensive. All the others are the same way. Unless there's a local ham looking to get rid of one, you'll have to pay eBays prices.

Not trying to discourage you from this part of the hobby.   It's fun to use these rigs, just don't expect big performance.

If you're up for the challenge, have a good soldering iron, and a huge parts bin, go ahead and dip that plate! It is rewarding to see those tubes glow.


Oh, and one last thing, I wouldn't trade your Yaesu for boatanchor. If that new rig has a big failure (Power transformer, hard to find part, or otherwise) at least you wont be out of a radio.

I'm using the power meter on the AT-230 tuner. When I checked it against my mfj-941-e it seemed correct. I've tried adjusting the carrier control, and it's on max and putting out 50 watts cw on 20m. I've tried whistling into the mic, Thats how i got full power on ssb. processor on, mic gain at 3 o clock position, the power went all the way up to 100. this is with carrier control at max too

AC5UP can rest easy now.

Well I checked the ALC deflection in sideband, and it seems alright. I took off the front and bottom covers and tightened screws on the boards I could get to without tearing the radio apart. Still no luck. The cw output on 20m is still about 50w. Something odd I noticed, If I turn up the mic gain and processing, I can get nearly full power by whistling into the mic. This is with the gain at about the 3 o clock position.

On 20m

Meter in IC position at approx. 60w output: Approx 12 amps
Meter in ALC Position At same output: No reading at all.
SWR= <1.3:1
--------------------------------------------------
On 27mhz

Meter in IC position at approx. 90w output: near 20 amps
Meter in ALC position at same output: No reading at all
SWR= 1:1

So It might need to be realigned? I really hope I don't have to, I don't have proper the test equipment.

Clif, I've read that article already. I noticed something odd today. All the bands have about the same half power, except CB? Call it blasphemy, but when I tried 27 mhz just for the heck of it, power was about 80w out. Everywhere else its 50w or less.

My father is thinking about buying a used Kenwood ts-430, tuner, and power supply for $300. The seller is a good friend and is letting us try it out first. The problem is, it has some output issues. On 20m, the power output is about 50w CW. I haven't tried it on any other bands, but will tomorrow. The receive is great, and we did do a test at qrp levels and the audio is good and clear. The output on cw is stable. Though we did try tapping the radio a few times while transmitting and no changes are noticed.

Any ideas? My guess is that one of the transistors is off the pads from heating and cooling cycles. That's the only thing I can think of that matches the symptoms. I can't tear into the radio before my dad hands over the money, so I'd like to know If you think It'd be worth it. And if it would be easy to fix.

Thanks
-Alex

Kudos George on you're new old rig. They are truly a joy to operate (I own a few myself, though no Kenwood's yet).

Like everyone else said, Check your settings on 40m, And give the inside a thorough look over. Please have plenty of respect for the voltages lurking in that final amplifier cage. The kick inside there can easily know you across the room, or worse! I learned that the hard way.

Have you tried the radio on any other bands besides 20 and 40?

-Alex
KC2VDM

July QST, page 72. "As of March 2012, HES (Heathkit Educational Systems), the company indefinitely suspended operations."

Can't say I didn't see it coming.

-Alex

Thanks again, take care.

-Alex
KC2VDM

I am looking desperately around for my copy of January 2011's QST. I was planning on making the "Mystery Inductor Box" project, but never got around to it. Now when I need to measure a few inductors and would like to build it, I can't find the magazine. (alas I have almost every OTHER QST since early 2010- go figure)

If anyone has a copy of the article (I believe it was 2 pages long), If they could scan it and E-mail it to me, I'd really appreciate it.

My E-mail: P42engine@aol.com

-Alex