[Boatanchors] Central Electronics 100V ?

[Peter Markavage]

Actually Eugene I didn't say to use it infrequently. What I said was, "I
often wonder if it's better to use something old only from time to time
or to use it frequently". I sometimes view old rigs like old people.
Inactive or infrequently active , all things considered, may bring on the
poof process somewhat faster. Active or frequently active, all things
considered, may prolong or push out that poof process.

I use my 100V all the time, and other than some minor problems, has
worked very well over the last several years. My Valiant, which I use
infrequently, always seems to develop a problem when I fire it up after
its been inactive for some period of time.

Pete, wa2cwa

On Sat, 17 Jul 2004 19:33:09 +0000 "Eugene Hertz" <ehertz at tcaf.org>
writes:
thanks, Peter.  I appreciate the input...I expect to use it only
infrequently as you suggest
Eugene

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Peter Markavage [mailto:manualman at juno.com]
>Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2004 07:09 PM
>To: 
>Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Central Electronics 100V ?
>
>I have one. Like all things old, it will periodically require some 
>upkeep. If I could predict what could or might go poof, I'd probably be 
>playing the lottery more often. Most tubes are generally available. It 
>uses 6550's in the final. It's a great rig but there's nothing simple in

>its design and construction. I often wonder if it's better to use 
>something old only from time to time or to use it frequently. 
> 
>Pete, wa2cwa 
> 
>On Sat, 17 Jul 2004 18:16:26 +0000 "Eugene Hertz" <ehertz at tcaf.org> 
>writes: 
>> Hi Jim, 
>> 
>> If I were to obtain one that has been restored (professionally), do 
>> you think this Tx requires much upkeep? Or do you think it would 
>> last me a long time without much work? I can certainly change tubes 
>> easy enough, but are there other things that go wrong with them 
>> periodically that would require special (hard to get) parts? For 
>> example, are the tubes fairly common? I don't expect to use it that 
>> much, just from time to time. For me it would be half museum piece 
>> half used type of thing. 
>> 
>> Thanks for the reply! 
>> Eugene 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> >-----Original Message----- 
>> >From: Jim DiMauro [mailto:jfd at warwick.net] 
>> >Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2004 03:26 AM 
>> >To: 'Eugene Hertz', boatanchors at mailman.qth.net 
>> >Subject: RE: [Boatanchors] Central Electronics 100V ? 
>> > 
>> >Eugene: 
>> > 
>> >I've had my 100V for about a year and a half. It's a wonderful 
>> radio. It's 
>> >built like a tank and gives you the best of both worlds: it glows 
>> in the 
>> >dark like classic boatanchor, but you don't have to tune it. I use 
>> it 
>> >weekly for nets on SSB. 
>> > 
>> >Good: broadband design, quality construction and materials, easy to 
>> operate, 
>> >all mode, variable output power, excellent tx audio, very stable 
>> VFO 
>> >(subjective assessment of stability, by ear on SSB; I don't have 
>> the 
>> >stability spex handy, so I don't know how it would do on RTTY), 
>> very pretty, 
>> >and if it matters to you, you'll probably be the first on your 
>> block to have 
>> >one. 
>> > 
>> >Bad: this is a very complicated radio that's not very "service 
>> friendly" 
>> >IMO. Unless you have lots of time, patience and service experience, 
>> I'd 
>> >advise you to get one that's been restored or that's otherwise in 
>> proper 
>> >working order. There aren't many of these around, and there's not a 
>> lot of 
>> >service information out there. Unlike Drake, Collins and other 
>> makes, there 
>> >isn't an abundance of service mentors, and there are no technical 
>> nets and 
>> >the like to get you through the tough problems. You can get some 
>> good 
>> >information from Nick Tusa's website: 
>> >http://www.tusaconsulting.com/ce.htm#info. 
>> > 
>> >Indifferent: it's bigger and heavier than you'd expect for a radio 
>> of it's 
>> >vintage, but that's one of the tradeoffs of building a broadband 
>> transmitter 
>> >in the 1950s. Also, nothing transceives with it, so it's not very 
>> >convenient to use if you're going to answer a CQ. The spotting 
>> function for 
>> >SSB is very clever, so it can make the process a bit easier. 
>> > 
>> >A good one can be expensive, but definitely a keeper. If you're 
>> looking for 
>> >a unique, historically significant radio that you can also make 
>> good use of, 
>> >then the 100V could be a good choice. If you just want a boatanchor 
>> for 
>> >RTTY and the rest of the stuff isn't important to you, then you 
>> could 
>> >probably do better elsewhere, at least with regard to price and 
>> ease of 
>> >acquisition and service. 
>> > 
>> >BTW, there's a Central Electronics e-mail reflector at qth.net: 
>> >http://mailman.qth.net/. You might poke around there for more 
>> information. 
>> > 
>> >Jim 
>> >WA2MER 
>> > 
>> >-----Original Message----- 
>> >From: boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
>> >[mailto:boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Eugene 
>> Hertz 
>> >Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 9:38 PMt 
>> >To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net 
>> >Subject: [Boatanchors] Central Electronics 100V ? 
>> > 
>> > 
>> >any one have experience with this transmitter, good, bad or 
>> indifferent? 
>> >My interest is in rtty primarily...is this stable enough after a 
>> warm up? 
>> > 
>> >Anyone use this as their regular boatanchor Tx? Thoughts? Memories? 
>> 
>> >Eugene 
>