[AMRadio] Boat Anchor Receiver

[D. Chester]

> Most of the vintage receivers had three major problems in my book, poor
> selectivity, poor frequency resolution, and distortion and/or high
> background noise.
> Brett
> N2DTS

Add a 4th one: poor frequency stability.


> Some vintage receivers sounded very good, but who know what frequency they
> were on and forget about using them under battle conditions.
> Others were very accurate (Collins) and loaded with distortion and very 
> poor
> fidelity...

The fidelity and distortion problem can be resolved fairly easily if one 
isn't afraid to make a few modifications to the audio section.  This is 
something that can be accomplished without butchering the receiver, and  the 
mods can be made easily reversible.  Usually just involves changing the 
values of some coupling caps, or else you can pick audio right off the 
output of the detector and use a separate outboard audio amplifier and good 
speaker.  With most Collins receivers, the audio section seems to be an 
after-thought at best.  But it is still an excellent receiver if the stock 
audio section is either modified or by-passed.

Don't be afraid to dig into the circuitry of the set.  You will probably 
have to eventually anyway, as the 50 y.o. capacitors and other components 
inevitably fail and need  replacing.  Avoid irreversible Hammy Hambone 
modifications that include blasting extra holes in the front panel or in the 
cabinet, or re-painting if the original finish is still in at least fairly 
good shape.

Don k4kyv

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