[Milsurplus] Re: [ARC5] SCR-274N Makes It on ARRL.ORG

[MillerKE6F at aol.com]

.  In the context of the hay day of command set usage and the state of  the 
art of TVs during that period and the state of amateur radio prowess in  
dealing with TVI, the command sets in general even when run somewhere near their  
rated power were a grand source of TVI.  I have some completely stock  command 
set units that I'd be happy to power up under stock conditions and  measure the 
harmonic content and publish same in a few weeks as my curiosity has  become 
renewed on this parameter.  

2.  As to the Half Baked articles in CQ et al.  My point is  it is demeaning 
to those adventuresome fellows that took the time to try and get  some utility 
from this stuff.  Historically these folks should be enshrined  for at least 
trying to do something with the glut of aluminum that WWII  produced.  Hacked, 
or whatever, these folks at least tried to do something  creative with the 
stuff as opposed to the ever present appliance operators who  had the money to 
buy commercial gear...
 
3.. Some folks have cited the stability of the command set VFO and to that  I 
agree completely.  When run at low potentials these rascals are a  monument 
to good mechanical and electrical engineering.  However, the best  conversion 
practice with these units is to add a buffer between the oscillator  and PA as 
vfo pulling is a reality on phone.  Not a big deal in the 40s and  probably 
not a big deal even now with an am detector.  But a correctable  design 
shortcoming (not a flaw...but a shortcoming).
 
4.  I too have used command sets from pure stock to using them as  platforms 
for W2EWL ssb exciters.  What fun it was and the results varied  from pure 
junk to Hey! not bad!  And what an education it provided.
 
    In closing, please keep the context of my arguments  and statements in 
mind and lets all have fun with the command set stuff and show  a bit more 
appreciation for the folks who at least tried to use them and perhaps  visit some 
of the conversion projects that dotted the pages of CQ and other  magazines 
over the years to see what drove the authors towards their  solutions.
 
73
Bob, KE6F