Daily GLOWBUGS
Digest: V1 #53
via AB4EL Web Digests @ SunSITE
Purpose: building and operating vacuum tube-based QRP rigs
Subject: glowbugs V1 #53
glowbugs Sunday, June 8 1997 Volume 01 : Number 053
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 00:22:07 -0500 (CDT)
From: mjsilva@ix.netcom.com (michael silva)
Subject: re:Inexpensive generic pentodes!
>I recently ran across this sales notice on one of the Usenet groups.
>The 6AG5 is an RF/IF sharp cutoff pentode rated to 400 MHz. Its
>pinout is slightly different from the standard 6AU6/6BZ6/6CB6/etc.
>pentodes in that it has two cathode pins to reduce inductance and the
>suppressor is internally connected to the
>cathode. <snip>
>At this price, I hope some of the Glowbugs folks take advantage of the
>opportunity to experiment. I don't mind throwing away a few dimes for
>educational purposes learning about a new circuit - and this tube
>should be useful from audio through VHF.
Well I must admit after I saw this posting I couldn't pass up the price
either. The 6AG5 is a venerable old bottle, being one of the first
miniature tubes and widely used starting in WW2 (along with its
slightly hotter cousin the 6AK5) especially in radar applications, and
in FM radio and TV after that. The innards of the 6BC5 and 6CB6, as
well as the pentode section of the 6U8 are similar, and the RCA tube
manual provides an RC amplifier table for them all.
73,
Mike, KK6GM
Date: Sat, 07 Jun 1997 09:32:25 -0600
From: Doug <doug@sunrise.alpinet.net>
Subject: Spy set....?
Hi fellow Fingerburners....got a question for the group. I've just
aquired a nifty little GB rig...supposedly was a spy radio. It's made
up of separate units, transmitter(crystal controlled), reciever, power
supply and apparently a power regulator and filter unit. All units
are flat and small, and plug together with small, short cables that are
stowed in the side of each unit, and make up a rig laying on the bench.
It came with earphones and cables to plug it all up...fun to play with.
I've had it fired up on 7050 last week, but it seems to have at least
one bad cap in the power filter unit..got pretty hot and started to
emit those bone chilling fry/zap sounds and was leaking some of its
life blood out onto the unit. So, shut it down and will fix it when
time is available (the river goes down).
Has anyone got a clue as to the history of these units? It's a neat
little rig, 'would just like to know more.
Thanks
Doug Dunn, K7YD
Livingston, MT
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 13:22:53 -0800
From: "Kenneth G. Gordon" <keng@uidaho.edu>
Subject: Re: HW 16 mods...
Leon:
I will send you what I have so far. Most of the mods I have worked
up are not yet finished since they need a bit of "tweaking" of values
to get best performance.
I will mail you my mod to the power supply and crystal oscillator
circuit, and a couple of mods I found in a Hints and Kinks which you
will find useful. The modification to the power supply and crystal
oscillator circuit will greatly reduce the HW-16s tendancy to chirp
badly when using crystal control.
I will also mail you my PRELIMINARY mod to make the HW-16 full
transceive. Remember, this is ONLY PRELIMINARY as I have NOT had
time to tweak the circuit values yet. For instance, I am sure the
heterodyne crystal frequency will have to be changed a bit in order
to get the tx to "net" with the rx.
Ken W7EKB
Date: Sat, 07 Jun 1997 18:14:00 -0400
From: "Yves A. Feder W1UX" <y.a.feder@snet.net>
Subject: Info on DAG1 RDF set?
Has anyone ever run across a Signal Corps surplus item nomenclature
RDF Set - DAG-1?
It consists of a self contained receiver - mf through 18 mcs. approx -
with bfo, sense antenna, and shielded loop controlled from front panel.
Works from dry battery set carried in lower compartment.
Looks like something from early 40's.
Any info would be appreciated!
73 Al W1UX
Yves Albert (Al)"Al" Feder
electric mail: y.a.feder@snet.net
Harpsichord Workshops and Recording Studios
and, dare we say it,
Home of "Tiny Radio Theater(tm)" and "Sound Cartoons(tm)"
and of the studios and transmitting facilities of W1UX Radio....
"Danged if'n I unnerstand all I know!"
http://www.geocities.com/paris/1769
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 15:43:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ken Gordon <keng@uidaho.edu>
Subject: Re: Info on DAG1 RDF set?
>
>
> Has anyone ever run across a Signal Corps surplus item nomenclature
> RDF Set - DAG-1?
>
> It consists of a self contained receiver - mf through 18 mcs. approx -
> with bfo, sense antenna, and shielded loop controlled from front panel.
> Works from dry battery set carried in lower compartment.
>
> Looks like something from early 40's.
>
> Any info would be appreciated!
I had one once, and used it regularly. The receiver seemed to me to be
quite sensitive for such a simple little rig, although its selectivity
left a lot do be desired. Also, with the BFO on, a tap on the case
produced noticeable wobble in the received signal. The one I had was
mounted in a green wrinkle painted case which looked like a small metal
suitcase, complete with handle on top. The front opened, then folded in
half downward. The loop and a whip were carried in the lid. The loop was
about 12" or more in diameter and operated from a knob with a compass rose
behind it on the front panel. There were tuning and nulling controls on
the front panel also. The loop plugged into a socket on the top of the
case to the right of the carrying handle. I think the whip went to the
left of the carrying handle.
Below the receiver there was room for both a battery, or an AC
powersupply on the right. At the left, there was a small hinged door about
4"square with a knob on it and a friction latch, behind which were the
spares. Mine came with the spares and was brand new when I got it from
MARS.
Its direction finding ability (after I figured out how to use it) was
pretty good. As I remember it there was a place in the center of the loop
to mount a compass, which didn't come with mine.
Is that about right?
:-)
I kinda wish I still had it. I wanted to build a small transmitter into
the bottom but never got to it.
Ken W7KB
Date: Sat, 07 Jun 97 17:42:10 PDT
From: "Adam, KD6POC" <kd6poc@jps.net>
Subject: 6AG5
Dear Glowbuggers,
Does anyone remember who was it that was advertising the 6AG5 tubes? I =
need his Address (E-mail) so that I can arrange an order. A friend and =
I have a radio that uses these, so this would be a great source for us =
to "Stock up".
Thanks!
Adam McLaughlin KD6POC
QRG: 7037 KHz
kd6poc@jps.net
http://www.jps.net/jmclaugh
Date: Sat, 07 Jun 1997 20:53:17 -0600
From: Doug <doug@sunrise.alpinet.net>
Subject: Re: Spy set....?
Hi Ken...nope, no brass plate, not a clue as to it's manufacture or
origin. I get the impression it will work on A/C from 60 to 250 volts,
switch selectable and also a 6 volt battery. It's painted black and
has some numbers of unknown use stenciled on it, but nothing useful.
At any rate, it works pretty well...just need to get the bugs out of
the power supply.
Thanks
Doug, K7YD
Ken Gordon wrote:
>
> >
> > Has anyone got a clue as to the history of these units? It's a neat
> > little rig, 'would just like to know more.
>
> Are there any numbers or other identifying marks on it/them?
>
> Ken W7EKB
>
> (Born in Kalispell 1942, lived 35 years in Missoula)
Date: Sat, 07 Jun 1997 21:01:21 -0600
From: Doug <doug@sunrise.alpinet.net>
Subject: Re: Spy set....?
HI Bob...nope, dont think it's a GRC-109. It's got absolutly no info
or brass plate on it. The transmitter unit is an RT-6, the reciever is
an RR-6, the power supply unit is an RP-6 and the filter unit is an
RA-6. Other than that info and a little paper that sez it passed QC,
that's about it. I get the impression that nobody wanted to be credited
with it's design/construction.
I'd love to have a print of the lil' bugger...would sure aid in getting
it all back up and running.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Doug, K7YD
Bob Rolfness wrote:
>
> Doug wrote:
> >
> > Hi fellow Fingerburners....got a question for the group. I've just
> > aquired a nifty little GB rig...supposedly was a spy radio. It's made
> > up of separate units, transmitter(crystal controlled), reciever, power
> > supply and apparently a power regulator and filter unit. All units
> > are flat and small, and plug together with small, short cables that are
> > stowed in the side of each unit, and make up a rig laying on the bench.
> > It came with earphones and cables to plug it all up...fun to play with.
> >
> > I've had it fired up on 7050 last week, but it seems to have at least
> > one bad cap in the power filter unit..got pretty hot and started to
> > emit those bone chilling fry/zap sounds and was leaking some of its
> > life blood out onto the unit. So, shut it down and will fix it when
> > time is available (the river goes down).
> >
> > Has anyone got a clue as to the history of these units? It's a neat
> > little rig, 'would just like to know more.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Doug Dunn, K7YD
> > Livingston, MT
>
> Doug - Is this a AN/GRC-109 radio set? Or a RS-1. Is so, lots of
> information is available here on the list and I can send you some data.
> If its one of these, let me know and I'll send you some drawings.
>
> 73's Bob W7VZX
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 23:31:46 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ken Gordon <keng@uidaho.edu>
Subject: Re: Spy set....?
Bob: (W7VZX)
Send him that article you sent me on the GRC-109 and its derivatives. I
think what he has is one of the later model replacements for the 109.
On Sat, 7 Jun 1997, Doug wrote:
> HI Bob...nope, dont think it's a GRC-109. It's got absolutly no info
> or brass plate on it. The transmitter unit is an RT-6, the reciever is
> an RR-6, the power supply unit is an RP-6 and the filter unit is an
> RA-6. Other than that info and a little paper that sez it passed QC,
> that's about it. I get the impression that nobody wanted to be credited
> with it's design/construction.
>
Ken W7EKB
End of glowbugs V1 #53
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Created by Steve Modena, AB4EL
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