[Boatanchors] Station Set up follow up questions

[Peter Markavage]

With the muting off or disconnected, you can use a set of headphones and
listen to yourself talk while you transmit. If you trying to rectify the
AC to the relay, you'll need to change the AC coil to a DC coil. I always
try to put the dow key as close as possible to the transmitter with the
AC leads as short as possible. If the current dow key has an audible hum
with your current mounting, try mounting the dow key on some rubber
grommets and then into the board. Also make sure the coil is not loose in
its mounting.

Pete, wa2cwa

> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Eugene Hertz" <ehertz at tcaf.org>
> To: <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Monday, October 23, 2006 2:11 PM
> Subject: [Boatanchors] Station Set up follow up questions
> 
> 
> Ok, everyone. Thanks a ton for the suggestions on the TR-change over 
> relay 
> situation. I now have my 51J4 and my CE100V all wired up! When I key 
> the 
> 100V, the antenna relay fires and the J4 mutes! Things are getting 
> very 
> exciting now!
> 
> So, a few follow up Q's.
> 1. When the TR Relay (a dow 115vac relay) is in transmit mode (coil 
> energized), there is a distinct 60Hz hum coming from it. I am sure 
> it is 
> amplified by the wooden board it is mounted on and the wall that the 
> board 
> is in turn, mounted on.  I was wondering if I could reduce that hum 
> by 
> putting a rectifier in place? I am not sure if I would need a 
> smoothing cap 
> or not, but maybe just the rectifier? Can anyone tell me a) if this 
> could 
> alleviate the hum b) if it would alleviate the hum but I would need 
> a cap, 
> c) if there would be a detrimental effect to the relay by doing 
> this? The 
> total Vp-p would be higher is my undertsanding once it is 
> rectified/filtered? I was not thinking of using any transformer at 
> all in 
> this process (mistake?)
> 
> 2. Thinking in terms of tuning both Tx and Rx separately, I have 
> always 
> heard of the term "talking yourself on frequency." My understanding 
> was 
> there is some way to leave the receiver on the frequency you want to 
> use and 
> then tuning the transmitter until you hear yourself.  This seems 
> very 
> logical to do. But how to do this with the muting/relay stuff? 
> Should I have 
> some kind of override switch to prevent the receiver from muting 
> when 
> attempting to set the frequency? Would I need any RF connection 
> between the 
> Tx and Rx? Otherwise without any explicit rf connection, the Tx 
> would be 
> connected to the antenna and the Rx would simply have a length of 
> coax to 
> the TR relay but it would be unterminated as the open circuit leg of 
> the TR 
> relay. But perhaps that would be enough to get some signal in?
> 
> Thanks again in advance!
> Eugene