[Central-Electronics] VFO for 10B and 20A

[David]

Jim-
Great info- I never would have figured this out.
Learning from others that have traveled this road is the way to go.
You mention the 6BH6 again.  I see that it is rated at .15A vs the .3A 
filament for the 6CB6.
Is this still a significant improvement to do even if I don't go with the 
Huff Puff Cumbria board as you did?
The Cumbria really sounds like a neat way to go, but I'd like to play with 
the native performance before going Hollywood on it (or it might be more 
accurate to say, "British").

Nope.  Didn't see any Lakeshore SSB (Phasemaster, right?) nor any other 
potentially valuable BA's there.
I'll ask my buddy to scout the future shows for George.  I can't say that 
I've ever seen one myself.  Would be interesting to hear of any stories 
about Lakeshore; they didn't appear to last very long.  Maybe bought out by 
another company?
In the interest of sharing great info, I added this response back to the 
listserve in hopes it can help someone along the way.
73
-dave
W5OC


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Candela" <jcandela at prodigy.net>
To: "David" <texasroadrunner at comcast.net>
Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2009 1:46 PM
Subject: Re: [Central-Electronics] VFO for 10B and 20A (Tisha)


>
> Dave,
>
>   The center dial shaft 'floats' in a slight vertically elongated hole. 
> When everything is right, you can just lift that screw with a Phillips 
> screwdriver in it, then turn a little until the frequency is spot on, and 
> then lower until the gear teeth re-engage. Mine was all messed up, and I 
> didn't figure it all out until I reconditioned the 2nd BH for Doc Kalsa 
> (also on our CE group). Then I went back and made mine correct. It is 
> definitely kinda funky...the screw if allowed to tighten will jam the dial 
> from turning.
>
> BTW, with my BH now with the 6BH6, it doesn't move after the initial lock 
> which is about 60 seconds after turn on. The VFO is like a rock. What 
> moves is the 9.0000 Mhz crystal in the 20A. I went through 4 crystals, and 
> the warmup drift from them alone was about 60, 140, 200, and 600 Hz. These 
> crystals all look the same, but are not. I have ideas about them too (PTC 
> varistor as a heater). So far the ideas are just ideas. For now I'm using 
> the best of 4 crystals..
>
> Any chance that the companion Lakeshore SSB transmitter is still at that 
> sale? George, w1lsb, who recently posted on the CE reflector has one, and 
> he is looking for parts (maybe the case?)
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: David <texasroadrunner at comcast.net>
> To: Jim Candela <jcandela at prodigy.net>
> Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2009 11:57:46 AM
> Subject: Re: [Central-Electronics] VFO for 10B and 20A (Tisha)
>
> Hi Jim-
> I think you're right about the BH on it's way to the dump.  It was pretty 
> lonely item sitting on the rusted shelves alongside other vintage 
> carcasses which didn't get much of glance from others.
> Of course, when I spotted it, I did a double take and immediately cradled 
> it.  Still can't belive my good fortune.
> Thanks for the offer of your help.  It's sitting on the ground alongside 
> the computer right now.  I've got a pesky Navigator which has hogged all 
> of my bench space for the last month, but the BH is next.
> The window (plastic?) is missing, but the dial is good shape.  Though it 
> tracks with the tuning knob, I just noticed that it seems loose on it's 
> shaft.  I hand tightened the front screw, but something else isn't 
> tightening.  once I get it on the bench I'm sure I'll discover other items 
> that need band aids. The good news is that it's all intact and unmodified.
> I enjoyed your database of BH and CE (and other stuff).  The H&P Cumbria 
> is a very interesting addition.  But like you mentioned in another post 
> (googled), it's most effective for units that remain on all the time- 
> which won't be my case.  I won't hesitate to ask for help if needed. 
> Again, thanks for the kind offer of assistance.
> -dave
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Candela" <jcandela at prodigy.net>
> To: "David" <texasroadrunner at comcast.net>
> Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2009 10:42 AM
> Subject: Re: [Central-Electronics] VFO for 10B and 20A (Tisha)
>
>
>>
>>
>> Dave,
>>
>>   If you had not attended that sale, that BH might have been tossed into 
>> the dump. Very few hams know anything about it.
>>
>> So what does the dial and window look like? Many dials are really messed 
>> up, and the windows are yellow and no longer flat.
>>
>> I have a high resolution image of that dial that can be printed out with 
>> a good laser printer and glued on to the metal dial.
>>
>> I also stabilized my BH so it stays within +/- 10 Hz very well.
>>
>> http://pages.prodigy.net/jcandela/Band%20Hopper/
>>
>> I have since replaced the 6CB6 VFO tube with a 6BH6 to cut the filament 
>> power in half (less heat for 7806 6 volt regulator to deal with).
>>
>> Feel free to ask questions about that BH since I have now restored two of 
>> them.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Jim
>> WD5JKO
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----
>> From: David <texasroadrunner at comcast.net>
>> To: central-electronics at mailman.qth.net
>> Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2009 9:50:47 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Central-Electronics] VFO for 10B and 20A (Tisha)
>>
>> Belated thank you for all the informative and thoughtful responses to my
>> original post.
>> It sounds like the BC 458 conversion is the most popular and the best
>> practical match for the CE 10/20 Xmtrs.
>> I acutally bought the Dan's Small Parts kit Universal VFO Kit (5.0-5.5 
>> MHz)
>> for $29.95 + $6.75 shipping (Note: it's a Kit closeout so, not sure how 
>> long
>> these will be stocked).  It comes complete with all parts, including PCB 
>> and
>> main tuning cap (mfr Hammarlund).   It looks like a terrific sandstate
>> solution, including an extra amplifier stage to accommodate extra drive
>> needs. Designed by W1CER Doug DeMaw (SK). Well, as fate sometimes works,
>> last weekend I attended the local Houston Vintage Radio Assn's sale at 
>> one
>> of the member's yard.  Because a co-worker kinda encouraged me to come, I
>> drove over there within unexpected hopes of finding an ARC5 carcass.  To
>> make long story short, in a storgage shed with misc radios, I found a
>> Lakeshore Bandhopper for $25!
>> The guts are perfect and the case only needs a sandblast and paint!  This
>> clearly was one of the astounding moments of divine radio invervention.
>> Someone upstairs wants to hear the BA combo that I will shortly get on 
>> the
>> air (Bandhopper+CE20A+600L).  Life is sweet.  Thanks again to all.
>>
>> 73
>> -dave
>> W5OC