[Boatanchors] Collins 75S-3 vs. Collins 51J-4

[Garey Barrell]

Jeff -

I think the 51J-4 is a 'better' receiver than the 75S-3B.   There, I said it!  :-)

BUT, (there's always a 'but'!,) the J-4 needs a Product Detector modification to make it really 
suitable for SSB/CW.  Yes, I know you can turn up the AF GAIN and ride the RF GAIN for excellent 
SSB/CW with the diode detector, but we've been spoiled to think that you should be able to run with 
full RF gain and let the AVC take care of it.

There are plenty of PDs available for the J-4, from relatively minor internal modifications to major 
modifications to external 'add-on' devices.  Read the "Hollow State Newsletter" articles by Dallas 
Lankford for an excellent overview of the J-4 and a few of the PD mods.

73, Garey - K4OAH
Glen Allen, VA

Drake 2-B, 4-B, C-Line&  TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs
<www.k4oah.com>


W8KZW wrote:
> I ran a  75S-3 with my Central Electronics 100V for years back in the '70s&
> '80s as WB5KZW (anybody work me?). I sold the transmitter - bad move on my
> part - and moved to a 75S-3B as my S-line receiver when I acquired a 32S-3.
>
> I have, within the last few months, acquired another 100V, a 75S-3, and a
> 51J-4, all of which are beautiful.
>
> Both receivers need a little bench time, and I thought I'd get some opinions
> on one compared to the other to help me decide which one to start on!  I
> won't be running AM, and it will be about 50/50 ssb vs. CW.  The general
> coverage RX of the J-4 is of little value to me in the tradeoff, but I think
> it gets the nod in the "looks cool" category.
>
> Thanks in advance for the input.
>
> 73,
> Jeff
> W8KZW
> www.w8kzw.homestead.com
>
>
>
>
>
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