Hints and Kinks for the Radio Amateur

175 Pages·1992·5.17 MB·English

by  American Radio Relay League

Hints and Kinks
for the
Radio Amateur
Editor
Robert Schefgen, KU7G
Contributing Editor
David Newkirk, WJ1Z
Cover design by
Sue Fagan
Production work by
Shelly Bloom, WB1ENT
Jodi Morin, KA1JPA
Joe Shea
Deborah SfrzfJskowskl
Published by
• The American Radio Relay League, Inc.
Newington, CT 06111
Copyrighte 1992by
TheAmericanRadio Relayleague,Inc.
CopyrightsecuredunderthePan-American
Convention
InternationalCopyrightsecured
ThisworkIspublicationNo.10oftheRadio
Amateur'slibrary,publishedbytheleague.
All rightsreserved. Nopartofthiswork may
bereproducedinanyformexceptbywritten
permissionofthepublisher.Allrightsof
translationarereserved.
PrintedinUSA
QuedanreservadostOdoslosderechos
ISBN;0-87259-385-1
ThirteenthEdition
Second Printing,1993
$9.00InUSA
Foreword=========
Are you looking for fun in Amateur Radio? Many QST readers say they need
look no further than the monthly Hints and Kinks column. Each month, Hints
and Kinks brings QST readers the most creative ideas of other resourceful
hams. Every few years, the best of the recent SUbmissions are gathered up
and reorganized into a convenient reference volume.
This edition of Hints and Kinks is the thirteenth in a line that stretches back
almost 60 years! A ham stepping out of a time machine from 1933 would
scarcely recognize any of our modern equipment. We have whole
transceivers that are smaller than some vacuum tubes of that time! He or she
might recognize little in a '90s ham shack. One anchor is QST, but even that
has changed: Inside are articles about digital techniques and microwave
projects. Many columns have come and gone, but one the time traveler
would recognize immediately is Hints and Kinks.
There is a reason for such long-lived popularity. Coming up with a better
idea-to meet a challenge, either making your station more competitive or
just a bit more comfortable-is fun. We all love it, because it brings Amateur
Radio to life for us. Even better is seeing your idea published in Hints and
Kinks.
This book holds ideas from many hams-good ideas for any shack. Enjoy
them, but don't stop there; come up with something better. let's see your
idea in the next edition.
David Sumner, K1ZZ
Executive Vice President
Newington, CT
May 1992
Preface==========
This book is a compilation of material that originally appeared in the OST
Hints and Kinks column from January 1987through December 1991. Authors'
addresses have been left as published in OST. Some of the addresses may
have changed since publication. If you wish to write to an author, check the
latest Radio Amateur Gal/book for a current address.
All suppliers mentioned in this book appear in a Suppliers List at the back.
The addresses in the Suppliers List were verified at the time of publlcation.
Contents=========
Units of Measure and Equivalents
Schematic Symbols
1 Equipment Tips and Modifications
1-1 AEA
Ameritron
Collins
Drake
1-4 Heath
1-12 ICOM
1-19 Kenwood
1-25 MFJ
Radio Shack
Ten-Tee
1-29 Yaesu
1-32 Home-Built
2 BaUerles and Generators
3 Mobile Stations
4 Portable Stations
S Construction
5-1 Design Hints
5-10 Tools and Techniques
5-18 Parts
e
Test Gear
7 Antenna Systems
7-1 Feed Lines
7-11 Supports and Construction Techniques
7-20 Rotatable Antennas
7-24 Fixed Antennas
7-29 Vertical Antennas
e
Operating Techniques
9 Around the Shack
9-1 Voice and Other Modes
9-12 CW
9-18 Packet
10 Electromagnetic Interference
(RFI/EMI)
Abbreviations List
Suppliers List
Index
Units of Measure and
Equivalents=======
MUltiply -
Metric Unit = Conversion Factor x U.S.Customary Unit
.. Divide
Metric Unit + Conversion Factor = U.S.Customary Unit
Conversion Conversion
= =
Metric Unit Factor x U.S.Unit Metric Unit Factor x U.S.Unit
(Length) (Volume)
mm 25.4 Inch mm3 16387.064 in3
cm 2.54 Inch cm3 16.387 in3
cm 30.48 foot m3 0.028316 ft3
m 0.3048 foot m3 0.764555 yd3
m 0.9144 yard ml 16.387 In3
km 1.609 mile ml 29.57 II 02
km 1.852 nautical mile ml 473 pint
(Area) ml 946.333 quart
mm2 645.16 Inch2 I 28.32 ft3
cm2 6.4518 In2 I 0.9483 quart
cm2 929.03 ft2 I 3.785 gallon
m2 0.0929 ft2 I 1.101 dry quart
cm2 8361.3 yd2 I 8.809 peck
m2 0.83613 yd2 I 35.238 bushel
m2 4047 acre
km2 2.59 mi2 (Mass) (Troy Weight)
g 31.103 02 t
(Mass) (Avoirdupois Weight)
g 373.248 Ib t
grams 0.0648 grains
g 28.349 02 (Mass) (Apothecaries' Weight)
g 453.59 Ib g 3.387 dr ap
kg 0.45359 Ib g 31.103 02 ap
tonne 0.907 short ton g 373.248 Ib ap
tonne 1.016 long ton
U.s.
Customary - Metric Conversion Factors
International System of Units (SI) - Metric Units U.S. Customary Units
Prefix Symbol Multiplication Factor Linear Units
exa E 1018 = 1,000,000,000,000,000,000
psta P 1015 = 1,000,000,000,000,000 12 inches (in) = 1 foot (ft)
tera T 10'2 = 1,000,000,000,000 36 inches = 3 feet = 1 yard (yd)
giga G 109 = 1,000,000,000 1 rod = 5/2 yards = 16/2feet
' '
mega M 106 1,000,000 1 statute mile = 1760 yards = 5280 feet
kilo k 103 1,000 1 nautical mile = 6076.11549 feet
hecto h 102 = 100
deca da 101 = 10 Area
(unit) 100 = 1 1ft2 = 144 in2
deci d 10.1 = 0.1 1 yd2 = 9 f(2 = 1296 in2
centi c 10.2 = 0.01 1 rod2 = 30Y. yd2
milli m 10-3 = 0.001 1 acre = 4840 yd2 = 43,560 ft2
micro I' 10-6 = 0.000001 1 acre = 160 rod2
nano n 10.9 = 0.000000001 1 mile2 = 640 acres
pica p 10.12 = 0.000000000001
femto f 10.15 = 0.000000000000001 Volume
atto a 10.18 = 0.000000000000000001 1 ft' = 1728 in'
1 yd' = 27 ft'
Linear
1 meter (m) = 100 centimeters (em) = 1000 millimeters (mm) Liquid Volume Measure
1fluid ounce (fl 02) = 8 fluidrams = 1.804 in'
Area 1 pint (pt) = 16 fl oz
1 m2 = 1 x 10' cm2 = 1 x 106 mm2 1quart (qt) = 2 pt = 32 fl oz = 57'4 in'
1 gallon (gal) = 4 qt = 231 in'
Volume 1 barrel = 311/2 gal
1 m' = 1 x 10. em' = 1 x 10. mm'
1 liter (I) = 1000em' = 1 x 10. mm' DryVolume Measure
1 quart (qt) = 2 pints (pt) = 67.2 in'
Mass lpeck=8qt
1 kilogram (kg) = 1000 grams (g)
(Approximately the mass of 1 liter of water) 1 bushel = 4 pecks = 2150.42 in'
1 metric ton (or tonne) = 1000 kg Avoirdupois Weight
1dram (dr) = 27.343 grains (gr) or (gr a)
1ounce (oz) = 437.5 gr
1 pound (Ib) = 16oz = 7000 gr
1 short ton = 2000 Ib, 1 long ton = 2240 Ib
Troy Weight
1grain troy (gr t) = 1grain avoirdupois
1 pennyweight (dwt) or (pwt) = 24 gr t
1ounce troy (oz t) = 480 grains
1 Ibt = 12oz t = 5760 grains
Apothecaries' Weight
1grain apothecaries' (gr ap) = 1 gr t = 1gr a
1dram ap (dr ap) = 60 gr
1oz ap = 1 oz t = 8 dr ap = 480 gr
1 Ib ap = 1 Ib t = 12oz ap = 5760 gr
Schel118.tic SyDlbols
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CHAPTER 1
EquipDlent Tips and
Modifications
SIMPLER CW/RTTY MODE
keeping the PK-232's PTT output high
CHANGES WITH THE AEA PK-232 BANO. CATHODE regardlessofwhetherthePK-232isinCW
o AfterI'dsortedout various optionsfor transmit or CW receive. This allows the
U37 U39 U38
equipment control and interconnection, IC-75IA'ssemi-break-infunctiontohandle
7406 741..504 7406
CW and RTTY operation with my Ad CW TR switching functions. When the
.E1-Btl'N
vanced Electronics Applications PK-232 PK-232 is in the RTTY mode, the CWN
multimodecommunicationsprocessorand line is high and the '232 works as if the
IC-75IAtransceiverwentwell-exceptfor diode isn'tthere. Note: Ihaven'tyettried
~@)
onesnag. Iprefertocopycodeaurallyand 10 myPK-232onAMTORorpacket; Iassume
usethePK-232onlytotransmitduringCW @) @) that the diode will not affect operation
operation. To do this, as the PK-232 of the PK-232 in those modes.-Guy
manual says, you must "disconnect your FRONT+PANEL Olbrechts, NY70, 4809 Jl6th Ave SE,
microphonecable from the PK-232to the Bellevue, WA 98006
radio so that the radio does not hang in
ELECTRONICBIASSWITCHINGFOR
transmit."I The culprit isthe PK-232-to Fig 1-GuyOlbrechts solved his THE AMERITRON AL·1200
transceiverPTT-lineconnection,which, in PK-23211C-751A compatibility problemwith
my setup, must be present for RTTY this modification. Addition ofa diode, D. o Adding electronicbiasswitching(Fig2)
operationbut absentduringCWoperation. disables the PK-232'sPTToutputduring to theAmeritronAL-1200grounded-grid
Withoutthis connection, the PK-232can CWoperation, allowing the transceiver's 3CX1200A7 amplifier allows noiseless
keyedVOXcircuitry to handleTR
not switch the IC-75IA into RTTY trans break-in when an electronicTR switchis
switching. DIsasilicon switching diode
mit; with this connection, the IC-75IA (1N914, 1N4148and others suitable).See used. Becausethis circuit biases the tube
transmits a continuous carrier when the text. off in the absence of excitation, it can
PK-232 is commanded to transmit CW!
The need to plug andunplugthis connec
56•
tion-orinstallaswitchinthePTT line 2W
seemed to bean unnecessarycomplication ,
1N4007
ofanotherwiseelegantPK-232/IC-751A1PC
system. There had to be a better way!
Thereis.Lackingtheprogramdocumen 56 k
2W
tation necessary to figure out a suitable 1~0::'
software PTT switch, I looked for an
automatichardwaresolution.The PK-232
schematic shows signal lines labeled CW
and CWN. I suspected that the state of Exceptu lndlcat«l,declmllVllulllof
capacltll'lC8If8inmlcrolarads(,iF);OIhlrl
these lineswould indicate whether or not 1111inplcolara(pf);mlsllllCeSIreIn
ohms:k_ 1000.
the PK-232isinthe CW mode. Tests con
firmed my hunch.
Armedwiththisinformation, Idisabled
the PK-232's CW-mode PTT output by
adding just one component-a silicon 01
switchingdiode-tothe'232.Iinstalledthe
diodebetween U37pin 12andU38pin 10,
with its cathode at U37 pin 12 on the R1 R2
PK-232circuitboard (seeFig I). U37and uZ.W.!. 1N914 25W6k ..ZaWJ!.
U38areclosetogether, allowingthediode
leads to be soldered right to the IC pins.
Thismodificationworksasfollows:The L-__~ ~----'''''''''_''''''06
fifth sectionofU3g(U38 pins 10and II)
is in series with the '232's PTTN line.
Fig2-HankGarretsonadded electronic biasswitching to hisAL-1200withthis circuit.
PTTNislowwhen the '232's PTToutput The 12-pF,O.01-j£F andO.015-j£F capacitors areceramic. Connect Terminals 1and 2to
goes low to switch the associated trans 120V acatthe primary ofthe AL-1200's heatertransformer, Terminal 3 tothe center tap
ceiverintotransmit.ThesignalatU38pin ofthe AL-1200's heatertransformer, andTerminal 4to the RF·INterminal onthe AL-1200's
10ishighinthis situation. With the diode ALC/PowerBoard AR-574;do notchange the AL-1200's wiring forthese steps. Breakthe
installed, however,the'232's CWNline white wire betweencontact Aof RLY1andthe RLY terminal on Meter Board AR·545in
the AL·1200. ConnectTerminal5tocontactAofRLY1 onthe AL-1200, and Terminal8to
low when the PK-232 is in CW mode
the RLYterminal of the AL·1200's Meter BoardAR-545.
pulls U38 pin 10low tbrough the diode,
01, 02-2N5855. Alternatives: 2N5658,2N5657,2N4055.2N4056.NTE 157.MJE3439,
MJE3440, MJE9741,MJE9742.
T1-lsolation transformer, 120-Vprimary and secondary(twolow-current filament
'PK·232Operating Manual. p4-4. transformers connected back-to-backwill alsowork),
Equipment Tips and Modifications 1-1
lengthen the lifeof your 3CX1200A even BETTER SSB FOR THE COLLINS at approximately 1802kHz (1825 - 23),
if you don't operate break-in. R-390A RECEIVER-REVISITED Ifyoufindan 1802-kHzsignal,turnoffthe
The circuit is an adaptation of similar o Somereceiveraficionadosthinkthat the calibratortoseeifthesignaldisappearsat
schemesbyClements-and Piuenger.? Two R-39OandR-390Aare identicalexcept for the same time. Spurs ofthe typediscussed
parallelled 56-kilohmresistors (RI and R2) their method of IF filtering, (The R-390 in this hint disappear when the calibrator
are placed inserieswiththestock AL-1200 uses LC IF filtering; the R-390A uses is turned off.
biascircuit. With noexcitationapplied, Ql mechanical filters and is generally con Inmycase,thespursregisteredS5onthe
and Q2(aDarlingtonamplifier) are turned sidered to be more desirable because of TR-7'sSmeter, whilethe 25-kHz markers
off, and voltage drop across Rl and R2 .this.) The R-390Aisactuallyapared-down came in at 15 dB over S9. This "multi
produces sufficient bias to cut off the R-390: It has one fewer RF amplifier and channel" response degraded my TR-7's
AL-I200's 3CX1200A7. Excitation, recti two fewerIFamplifiers than the '390.This abilityto receiveweaksignals.O·ntransmit,
fiedby01 and 02and filteredbyCI,turns seems to make the R-39O a little more otherhams heard meatseveralunexpected
QI and Q2on, bypassing RI and R2and sensitive than the '390A, The '390 and places on the band-at reduced strength,
applying normal operatingbiastothetube. 390Aalsodifferintheirpowersuppliesand but still quite readable.
Mountthecircuitcomponentsonapiece tubecomplements. Thesedifferencesmake Replacing"C2108, a de-to-de converter
ofperfboardand installthismoduleabove circuit modules and most parts non decoupling capacitor on the transceiver's
the AL-1200 circuit boards (immediately interchangeablebetweenthetworeceivers. internalpower-supplycircuitboard(Fig2-23
behind the amplifier meters). Caution: My modification concerns the R-390's intheTR-7MaintenanceManual),reduced
Voltages in the AL-1200 can kill you. AGC circuitry; the AGC circuits in the the spurs to S2. This is acceptable, but
Unplug the amplifier and ground the R-390 and R-390A are similar. Both adding another pifilter section incascade
3CX1200A7plateconnection before work receiversuse12AU7/5814tubes forAGe with RFC2101/C2108 (Fig 3)pushed the
ing on the amplifier.s-cHank Garretson, rectifierand AGC-time-constantfunctions; spurs into the noise.
W6SX, 18831Capense FountainValley, however, the part numbers and tube-pin There's plenty ofroom on the back of
CA 92708 referencesdifferbetweenthetwo receivers thepowersupply board to "kludgein"the
forthecircuitrythatservesthesefunctions. new parts. The added filter inductor (Ll
2P.Clements,"AllSolid-StateaSKfortheHeath Anyone wishing to improve the SSB in Fig3)isa junk-box Y2-inch-ODferrite
8B·220," OST,Jan 1980, PP25·27.
performance of an R-390A by trying my toroid filled with no. 24enameled copper
3J. Pittenger, "3CX1200A7 10 to 80-Meter
Amplifier," hamradio, Aug1985,pp75-78,83, modification should consult a schematic wire,-Mike Agsten, WA8TXT, 405 W
84·85, 87. diagram of the '390A for circuit details. Bogart Rd, Sandusky, OH44870
Please note that Ihavenotattempted this
BETTER SSB FOR THE COLLINS modificationon anR-390A;thebasicidea USINGTHEDRAKETR-? AND TR-7A
R-390 RECEIVER should be applicable to this receiver, TRANSCEIVERSWITHFULL-BREAK
IN AMPLIFIERS
D The Collins R-390 is a great receiver however,-Ken Johnson, N5US, PO Box
except for its poor performance on SSB. 10063, Austin, TX 78766 o TheDrakeTR-7exhibitsacharacteristic
The primary reason for this fault is an that makes it difficult to use with several
improper signal versus BFO level in the CURING DC-TO-DC CONVERTER full-break-in (QSK) amplifiers on the
detectorstage; withthe BFOasweak asit SPURS IN THE DRAKE TR-7 market(ETO modelsAlpha77,78and 86,
TRANSCEIVER
is, the '390'sAGC range isinsufficientto and theTen Tee425),The problemisthat
ensure undistortedreception of strong SSB D Isyour TR-7transmittingandreceiving there is RF at the TR-7!7A's ANTENNA
signals. The addition of a single 33-kO spurious signals 23 and 46 kHz above its jackbeforethetransceiver's VOXrelayhas
resistor between the anode of the AGC tuned frequency? Checking this is easy. closed. This condition activates the
rectifier tube (pin 6or 7of V51O) and the With a 50-ohm dummy load attached to amplifier's "hot-switchprotect" circuitry,
grid of the AGC time constant tube (pin your TR·7's antenna jack and the trans causing the amplifier not to amplify the
7of V511)givestheAGCahelping hand, ceiverina narrowCW mode, turn on the first dot or, in the case of the Alpha 86,
producing excellent SSBquality. TR-Ts 25-kHz CALibratorand tune inthe to triptheprotectionlatchand not amplify
You can test this modification without 1800-kHzmarker. Now, tune for a signal at all. In SSB VOX operation, a similar
removing the R-390's IF subchassis as
follows: Extend the leads of a 33-kQ,
12-watt resistor by soldering a length of
solid, insulated hook-up wire to each 21/10
resistor pigtail. Wrap the resistor and its +10 VDC:EGOUT
leadswithinsulatingtape. Next,strip both
ofthe extended resistor leads for 12inch.
Remove tube V510from the R-390IFsub
chassisandtightlywrapthebareendofone
resistor lead around pin 6or 7at the tube
Break 11
base. Reinstall thetube, beingcarefulthat RfC2101 Connection (See relit)
the twisted resistorwireremainsinsulated from \ -- ='=,
from the other tube pins and shield base Inverter +1 +1
+
whenthe tubeisseated. Connecttheother
C210a ci C2
resistor lead to pin 7of V511in the same ~220~F (Replace; ~220~F ~'0~F
manner.ExcellentSSBperformanceshould 16V See Text) 16V 16V
benoticed,withnoadverseaffectsonAGC
time constant.
A more permanentmodification would I r Jl r J
involveplacingthe33-kOresistorinparallel Originol N••
with the series combination of resistors
R556 and R557 inside the IF subchassls.
-Ken Johnson, N5US, PO Box 10063, Fig 3-Mike Agsten reduced de-to-deconverter-related TR·7 spurs by replacing the rig's
C2108 and adding three filter components (C't, C2and 11) asshown here. 11consists of
Austin, TX 78766
no. 24 enameled wire wound to fill ajunk-box V2-inch-OD ferrite toroid.
1-2 Chapter 1