[Collins] Extra, and S-line Epic Begins :-)

[Bruce H. McIntosh]

Well, I did it.  Bootstrapped my fool self from Tech clear up to Extra
at the Orlando Hamcation.  It was hard, but not NEARLY as hard as NOT
buying that $600 75A-3 at that one indoor table! :-) 

So I've got the old multiband dipole up in the air again (about 25 or
30', thanks to a lot of nylon rope and a 2-1/2lb weight plate for
heaving it over the branches) and hooked up to the S-Line.  I never did
get around to investigating the S meter and possible AGC foulups in the
75S-3 that we discussed last summer; I wasn't using it so it wasn't
pressing.  Back to that soon.  Anyhow, I fired up the 32S-3 (after
replacing the power cord, which was in really bad shape, and blowing out
a bunch of dust and cathair).  Seemed to work ok on 80, couldn't load up
on 20 per the instructions - PA plate current stayed up around 300mA.  I
*did* find that the total lack of modulation on ssb was due to the mic
cable coming loose inside the plug :-).  Anyhow, it seemed to want to
transmit, but VOX is wicked flaky.  No matter how I adjust the controls,
it pingpongs in and out of transmit like a spastic vibroplex; to send at
all I have to force Transmit Only on the 312B-4.  This was just
off-the-cuff stuff, since it was too late for me to pull the chassis and
start checking components and voltages and such.  That'll come this
weekend, I expect.

I figure I've got a bit of overhauling to do.  I have Glen's "clean your
trimmers" instructions, and several of Gerald's emails to various folks
about replacing capacitors, and I'm fairly sure at least some of the
tubes have gone soft.  Does anyone sell a helpful package of all the
"suspect" caps to replace in a 32S-3 and 75S-3?  Is there a particular
back issue of the CRA Journal I should snag for good articles on
overhaul of these beasties?

Lastly, can anyone recommend a good, affordable (even MFJ :-) ) tuner to
pair with this lot (and share with the FT-100 when it's not in the car)?

-- 
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 Bruce H. McIntosh scotsman@afn.org http://www.afn.org/~scotsman KG4WKY
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         Network geek with a strong affinity for Telecasters