Hi Curt, Oh my, but you can be oh so VERY cruel there...! Hi Hi
But you're correct, of course: in order to properly verify / ascertain the success of the "fix"---or, correctly identify the infamous "Red X" (as it's dubbed in select circles of problem solving)---one needs to be able to turn the problem "off", and then turn the problem "on" again, by repeating the methodology of said "fix"... But I think I'll pass here, thank-you very much! I am absolutely weary of removing the top enclosure off of the transmitter, wrestling with that can, AD NAUSEAM...time to make a few QSOs, & continue monitoring, for now...! :>) ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ***************************************** ----- Original Message ----- From: "Curt Nixon" <cptc...@flash.net> To: "Diane and Edward Swynar" <deswy...@xplornet.ca> Cc: <drakelist@zerobeat.net> Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 1:56 PM Subject: Re: [Drakelist] Drake Twins PTO Woes... > Now..after you have used it some more with no issue, you need to remove > the tin-foil to verify that the problem wasn't simply solved by a > repeated re-installation of the standard can ! :) > > Curt > > > > Diane and Edward Swynar wrote: > > Good Day All, > > > > Well, I think taht an update may well be in order here, as to the outcome of > > my "...red-neck hillbilly" (apologies to all you mountain-dwelling folk > > reading this) "fix" in the matter of improving the shielding of the PTO can > > in my Drake T-4X transmitter... > > > > In a word: it WORKS!!! > > > > SO FAR it works, anyway...again to-day I've completed several CQ calls on > > 40-meters CW, and was engaged in a couple of lengthy rag chews---and there > > was NONE of the previous intermittent tell-tale frequency jumpiness / > > intermittent creeping / jiggling... NOTHING. Needless-to-say, I'm very > > pleased. > > > > Keep in mind, however, that my situation here was probably unique from most > > others: I had repeatedly removed & replaced the PTO shield cover here in > > efforts to track-down what turned-out to be at least one bad solder joint in > > the tank circuit. No doubt this served to compromise the integrity of the > > shielding of the can. Additionaly, my station is situated in a very cold > > basement environment, AND I have a fan extracting air out of the final > > 2x6JB6A PA cage, which by default, cools the entire inside of the > > transmitter... > > > > The rig's warm-up cycle was far from normal, as a result, I'm sure... > > > > Anyway, FWIW guys, don't neglect the critical effect that even the smallest > > of gap changes in shielding seams can have upon the field of that > > permeable-tuned tank coil, and by consequence, your transmit frequency. The > > aluminum strip shielding technique employed here may be far from > > eye-pleasing, but the benefits of its presence sure are a joy to the ear...! > > Hi Hi. > > > > Here's hoping that my travails may ultimately benefit another(s) in the > > Drake community... > > > > ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ > > > > > > **************************************** > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Diane and Edward Swynar" <deswy...@xplornet.ca> > > To: <drakelist@zerobeat.net> > > Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 5:42 PM > > Subject: Drake Twins PTO Woes... > > > > > > > >> Good Day All, > >> > >> Well, I took the T-4X off-line here to-day, & set it up on the bench with > >> the top cover removed, exposing the PTO can... > >> > >> I pondered the ways & means of "sealing" the small gaps between the base > >> > > of > > > >> the can & its metal attaching surface, with the intention of eliminating > >> > > any > > > >> consequent expansion/contraction effect(s) of the joints upon the > >> > > oscillator > > > >> frequency. > >> > >> I settled upon a rather crude, but I think effective, expediency: I simply > >> cut a strip of aluminum cooking foil, and wrapped it around the can base, > >> being sure that there was overlap on the base that supports the "ears" of > >> the can. I then bridged the strip (on both sides) with masking tape, > >> ensuring good bonding along the length of the strip... > >> > >> It's inelegant, for sure, but achieves its end purpose, I think... > >> > >> I put the transmitter on 40-meters CW, and noted the tell tale frequency > >> creep one time---however, the rig had been on for only 10 minutes, barely > >> enough time to warm up. After about 90 minutes, I made a couple of QSOs, > >> > > and > > > >> called CQs, all-the-while monitoring myself on my R-4 receiver... > >> > >> I'm happy to report that "...so far, so good." I'll need more time to > >> evaluate the results of all this, of course, but I'm encouraged. Perhaps > >> > > the > > > >> ultimate answer lies in operating the rigs in an environment that's warmer > >> than the 49F that the basement was this afternoon! Hi Hi. > >> > >> Certainly, time will tell...I guess I could always place a small > >> incandescent bulb somewhere inside the T-4X to help speed its heating > >> /reaching "operating temperature"---but then that effort would be > >> > > defeated, > > > >> in large part, by the cooling fan that extracts air from the 2x6JB6A PA > >> cage! (that rascal keeps the whole inside of the rig cool to the touch). > >> > >> ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ > >> > >> > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Drakelist mailing list > > Drakelist@zerobeat.net > > http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist > > > > > _______________________________________________ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
