[ARC5] Transistorized ARC-5 Receiver

[Dennis Monticelli]

The chief value of solid-stating vintage rigs these days (in whole or in
part) is reducing heat buildup and making life easier on the transformer.
In rare cases it's because a tube has become near Unobtainium.  But then
one loses some of the charm and authenticity....sigh.

Dennis AE6C

On Mon, Jan 2, 2017 at 10:42 AM, George Babits <gbabits at custertel.net>
wrote:

> I've been watching this thread since it began.  Wondering the overall WHY
> of solid stating a piece of history.  Tubes just aren't that hard to find,
> so it just doesn't make any sense at all to me.  The "tubester" filled
> Collins gear, from what I have heard, never worked as well as the same set
> with the correct tubes in it.
>
> George W7HDL
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Spencer Petri" <petewa5jci at gmail.com>
> To: "Phillip Carpenter" <carpenterpa at tds.net>
> Cc: <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Monday, January 02, 2017 11:32 AM
>
> Subject: Re: [ARC5] Transistorized ARC-5 Receiver
>
>
> Years ago I converted an LM freq meter to solid state using MPF102s,
>> except in the audio. It was a fairly easy conversion, the calibration
>> stayed intact. The paperwork is long gone and that's all I remember
>> about it except I ran it with a 9 V battery. de Pete WA5JCI
>>
>> On 1/2/17, Phillip Carpenter <carpenterpa at tds.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Reading and studying the Solid State Q5er article in detail shows that
>>> the
>>> author, Bob Grabowski, W5TKP, built two versions. The first was
>>> experimental
>>> and used first generation transistors such as 2N1639 for the mixer and
>>> 2N384
>>> for the oscillator. Also the originals coils were altered. It was a fair
>>> amount of work and destroyed the Command receivers original componentry.
>>>
>>> However, a second version did not alter any of the original coils or
>>> components. Also it used FETs, namely  seven TIS34s for all the stages
>>> except the detector which used two 2N1306s.
>>>
>>> Results were claimed to be excellent. This means we could make plug in
>>> FET
>>> substitution units using octal adapters (these are available on eBay from
>>> China sources for 2pcs for $10.49 shipped).
>>>
>>> I'm going to start with a plug in substitute for the 12K8 and see if
>>> performance is notably improved.
>>>
>>> Phillip W4RTX
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Jan 2, 2017, at 12:33 PM, Glen Zook <gzook at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Plastic 2N4416 transistors, which are, basically, the same as the
>>>> MPF-102,
>>>> are still available from Mouser.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Leaded J-310 are also available from Mouser for $3.47 in single
>>>> quantities
>>>> and for $2.79 each in quantities of 10.  The surface mount J-310 are
>>>> available for as little as $0.31 in single quantities and $0.201 (yes,
>>>> $0.201) each in quantities of 10 (make for total of $2.01 for 10) again
>>>> from Mouser.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Glen, K9STH
>>>>
>>>> Website: http://k9sth.net
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> From: MICHAEL ST ANGELO <mstangelo at comcast.net>
>>>> To: Phillip Carpenter <carpenterpa at tds.net>; Brian
>>>> <brianclarke01 at optusnet.com.au>; Jim Haynes <jhhaynes at earthlink.net>
>>>> Cc: arc5 at mailman.qth.net
>>>> Sent: Monday, January 2, 2017 10:17 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [ARC5] Transistorized ARC-5 Receiver
>>>>
>>>>  Brian,
>>>>
>>>> That's the path I took; replaced all circuitry except the frequency
>>>> determining components such as the capacitors, inductors and
>>>> transformers.
>>>> If someone is concerned about upgrading a set with tubes there are lots
>>>> of
>>>> carcasses around minus the tubes to resurrect.
>>>>
>>>> MPF-102's have been obsolete for years but J310 are still being produced
>>>> and is a better alternative. Unfortunately the production of leaded
>>>> thru-hole devices has been discontinued but SMT devices are available.
>>>>
>>>> I purchased leaded J310s from Arrow Electronics last year. I checked
>>>> today
>>>> and they are on backorder.
>>>>
>>>> I also stocked up an leaded bipolar transistors such as the 2N3904 and
>>>> 2N3906 at that time.
>>>>
>>>> Dan's Small Parts still has leaded devices.
>>>>
>>>> With regards to plug-in replacements I would be more interested with
>>>> solid
>>>> state replacements for some of the transmitting tubes which are hard to
>>>> find such as the 211E in the BC-375.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
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>
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