Hi Guys,
Yesterday I took my R-4 receiver & T-4X transmitter---the one with the ailing
PTO---to the lakeside cottage for a bit of a field trip operation on 40-meters,
to validate the effectiveness of my "fix" to the frequency stability...
After some 5 hours of off & on CW operating---and all-the-while monitoring my
actual signal on the receiver---it pleases me to no end to report that the
intermittent warbling / raspiness / instability of my signal is now GONE...!!!
I made a half dozen or so, QSOs, & specifically asked for a critique of what I
sounded like in the contacts I made. To a man, each respondent said that the
signal was good---no chirp, no clicks, no NOTHING that might be considered to
be "...untoward". Two of the fellows that I worked even complimented me on the
great "Drake sound" coming out of the T-4X, & at least one of them expressed
regret that he'd sold his own Drake Twins years ago.
One comment that I received---meant to be a compliment, I'm sure!---was that
the T-4X sounded like an old Johnson Valiant transmitter "...on its best day,
when brand new". I personally can remember with special fondness the note those
old rascals emitted, but only WHEN OLD! Hi Hi.
LESSONS LEARNED:
(1) Always suspect MORE than just one single issue with your PTO in the event
of "raspy warbles". Mine was two-fold here, i.e. TWO bad solder joints with the
3000-pfd. silver mica cap, and a consequent bad solder joint with the 33-pfd.
temperature compensating capacitor (probably my own fault, after my first "fix"
to the s.m. cap!), and,
(2) Do not discount the "ill effects" that circuitry EXTERNAL to your PTO might
have upon your signal. I discovered yesterday that I have some serious cleaning
/ inspection ahead of me in the matter of the function switch of my T-4X: by
rotating the switch ever-so-slightly off of its "normal" detent, I could induce
raspiness & a shift of the frequency of the PTO rather easily---and with shades
of the original ailment! These rigs are wonderful, to be sure, but they ARE
fast-approaching the half-century mark in age(!). Rigs---like the owners of
same---need a bit of TLC as they grow older. Hi Hi.
I hope this personal saga of mine might serve to inspire others not to give up.
Many thanks to all who generously & graciously took the time to share their own
personal experiences with me, during the course of my journey of discovery
here...
~73!~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ
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