[Boatanchors] collins looking

[Glen Zook]

Reportedly, after the 32S-1 and 32S-2, as well as the KWM-2- series, came out the FCC issued a number of citations for multiple CW signals.  In all of the units Collins went from a 2 diode "full wave" balanced modulator to a 4 diode "full wave bridge" balanced modulator which helped some.  They never "fixed" the problem in the KWM-2- series.  But, CW was an "after thought" on the transceiver and the vast majority of people use it only on SSB where they do an excellent job.

It is possible to very carefully align any of those units to where anything except the desired USB pseudo CW signal can be heard even a few blocks away.  Unfortunately, it is very unusual for the unit to hold that close alignment for more than 2 or 3 days.  I do have a 32S-1 that I could align so that another amateur radio operator who lived across the golf course from me could not detect anything except the desired signal.  However, within a few days he could again hear the unwanted signals.  Since I already had a 32S-3 I didn't use the 32S-1 on CW.  Still have both transmitters.  Even though the unwanted signals are attenuated a good amount, it doesn't take much power for a CW signal to be heard many miles away.

The 32S-3- series bypasses the mechanical filter with the CW carrier and keys one of the mixer stages so that a true CW signal is generated.  The only thing with the 32S-3- series is that if the CW "cal" potentiometer is run much above 1:00 o'clock they do tend to have some pretty bad clicks.  This is not true of every 32S-3- transmitter but is pretty common.  If the CW "cal" pot is kept below around 1:00 o'clock when transmitting then the CW signal is very clean.

Glen, K9STH

Website:  http://k9sth.com


--- On Wed, 5/18/11, Steve Ellington <n4lq at carolina.rr.com> wrote:

Heard a guy running a Swan 240 which also uses audio tone cw keying and he had at least 5 signals spread over 10khz! I think the FCC got after Collins for that didn't they?