[ARC5] Homebrew SSB (was 'cool acquistion')

[Leslie Smith]

Hello list-members:

This SSB rig in a converted command Tx is a most interesting find, both as a record of technology at that time (we "hams" should be proud of our hobby's involvement with the early development of SSB) and now in the idea of putting a homebrew SSB rig on the air - and especially a phasing SSB rig.

I would like to ask (forgive me for being slightly off-topic) how many on this list would have an interest in building and running a restored SSB rig?

Continuing the idea of home-brew SSB, Harry Lythall, who sponsors "Harry's Homebrew Pages" has the circuit for a solid state phasing rig on his site.  Look for "Harry's Homebrew" and navigate to the projects page.  Look for phasing rig.  

I drafted  the layout (PCB art-work) for Harry's circuit, with some mods. For anyone interested send an e-m to LNSmith "at" OperaMail dot com, and I'll send a photo of an assembled card.   I generate the SSB on 3000kHz, with a view to mixing the SSB signal up with a VFO on 600kHz to give an 80m signal.    The project is "up in the air at the moment" - I have a problem with concentrating on one thing at a time. 

There are several advantages with a low-frequency VFO.  For those without a frequency counter, (I have one) the stability is easily checked by zero-beating against a broadcast station.  Stability is a LOT easier to get at a lower frequency.  Stability is the hardest part of a home-brew transmitter.  I could say more, but I think the point is clear.   

I plan on putting this together with an R-23 to make a homebrew 80m SSB rig.  Moving to 40 or 160m would be simple.  I have two  commercial rigs, but in my mind homebrew is the essence of amateur radio.  I have little interest in on-air communication.  I feel embarassed with a microphone in my hand; I have nothing to say, and especially feel embarassed to say, "I have a jap set feeding an end-fed random wire."  

To conclude, may I ask:  How many here are interested in homebrew SSB?  How many are interested in solid state homebrew SSB?   How many are interested in running largely unmodified ARC-5 sets on-air in conjunction with other home-brew gear.  (Not a full ARC-5 rig).  Answers to this Q are welcome, either on this list (although it is close to off-topic) or to the email address above.  I'm interested to hear.

))> 73 <((
Les Smith
formerly VK2BCU

  


> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Robert Nickels <ranickel at comcast.net>
> To: ARC-5 QTH <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: [ARC5] Cool acquisition (not for the squeamish)
> Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:05:35 -0500
> 
> 
>    Last weekend was the Peoria Superfest, where some buddies and I have
> been getting together for a big cook-out and gabfest as well.   One of
> them has taken on the chore of helping a widow dispose of the estate of
> a local SK, and included in the pile of stuff were a half-dozen  sundry
> ARC-5 transmitters and receivers.  Most had been "hammified" to  a
> greater or lesser extent - only one looked to be original.  But my
> attention was drawn instead to one that was REALLY hacked-up, but
> immediately recognizable to the "trained eye".
> 
> It was a nearly-intact version of the W2EWL "Cheap and Easy SSB"
> transmitter that was featured in the ARRL Sideband Handbook that I've
> been studying lately.   Of course I immediately acquired it, as early
> SSB is an area of great interest to me.   When this article was written
> the author noted that the price of the BC-458 was "from $3.95 to $7.95",
> so it's understandable how this was an attractive value for a
> homebrewer, although we'd consider it heresey today.  The first step was
> to strip the chassis of all parts except for the 1626 oscillator and the
> final tube sockets...
> 
> (Graphic image alert!)  I've posted some pictures at:
> http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v652/ranickel/Cheap%20and%20Easy%20SSB/
> 
> I'm tickled to actually find one of these already built and very
> restorable, as I'd feel guilty stripping out even a basket case BC-458,
> and it would be  a real challenge to find the audio transformers and
> phase-shift network to try to build one from scratch today.
> 
> 73, Bob W9RAN
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