[Boatanchors] More National NCX-3 problems - Chirp on CW

[D C _Mac_ Macdonald]

Well, the NCX-3 has an inherent problem when used on CW.  I don't believe there is any carrier shift when using CW so you would not even hear a station that comes back to you zero-beated on your frequency.  To successfully use the NCX-3 on CW you would probably need to develop an RIT circuit for the radio, as far as I know.  It is basically designed for SSB only.  Otherwise, you will play leapfrog across the band to maintain a QSO.

As far as the chirp is concerned, that may lie in the 8.7 MHz signal circuitry.  Stabilizing that circuit MIGHT cure the problem.

73 de Mac, K2GKK/5​
Since 30 Nov 1953​
Oklahoma City, OK​
USAF, Retired ('61-'81)​
FAA, Retired ('94-'10)

(NCX-3, NCX-5, NCX-500, NC-200, NCL-2000 Owner)

________________________________
From: boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net <boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of Mark V Johnson <mvjohn at sympatico.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2020 19:58
To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>; national-bounces at mailman.qth.net <national-bounces at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [Boatanchors] More National NCX-3 problems - Chirp on CW

Team,

I'd appreciate the teams wisdom as I continue to get my NCX-3 operational.

I'm getting great SSB reports, but I do get reports of chirp on CW.

I did the recommended  mod as per the National 1966 service bulletin - RF
choke in the B+ at the 0A2 regulator - but I still have chirp.

When I put a receiver near the transceiver and tune in the VFO signal -
8.7mhz - I can hear a chirp as I key the rig.  The plate and screen voltages
of the 12AU6 VFO tube - V5 - are rock solid. No movement what so ever. The
8.7mhz signal when measured on my freq. counter drops ever so slightly as I
key the radio.



Am I chasing the wrong area??? Maybe the "keyed" VFO signal is OK and what
I'm hearing is a change in the signal as the radio goes from receive to
transmit. In other words, as long as the keyed signal is steady, which it
seems to be, I'm OK???



Of course in a world filled with ultra modern transceivers that measure down
to the Hz, maybe the old boat anchors have no place doing CW on the bands. I
love it when I'm on SSB with this old beast I'm informed my signal is off a
few hertz. But that editorial is not pertinent to my question...sorry!

Suggestions?

Much appreciated!!

Mark V Johnson
VE3LU/VE3DJU