[Collins] Sometimes it really is simple.

[Craig Roberts]

This is the umpteenth installment in the ongoing "Craig Learns His 
Lesson So You Won't Have To" series.

So, while working a CW contact on my newly rebuilt R-388 (with slick 
product detector mod), I note that my correspondent's signal is terribly 
unstable.  His newish Ten Tec is sounding like an ancient Hartley 
oscillator.  I'm about to point this out in brotherly fashion when I 
notice that surrounding signals are also warbling, swooping and 
exhibiting other unwelcome if vaguely musical qualities.  I apply within 
and summon my years of experience and expertise to the fore.  I conclude 
that a) a solar storm or space alien invasion of massive and frightening 
magnitude is destroying our fragile ionosphere, or b)  my receiver's 
screwed up.

While hoping for option a), I commence troubleshooting on the off-chance 
that the problem is actually choice b).

I zero beat my calibrator, activate the CW switch and flick, thump, tap 
and otherwise molest various thingies on and around the BFO can.  Every 
disturbance, of course, causes the same instability, so I learn nothing. 
All mechancal connections seem secure so I envision a long evening of 
under-chassis disassembly and solder splashing labors. Just as I'm about 
to begin the tedious process of disemboweling the radio, however, I 
decide to take one last short and painless troubleshooting step. I 
replace the rather-too-merrily glowing V114 with a new tube. 

By golly, it worked!

In this age of ancient, crumbling boatanchor components that require 
wholesale replacement, it's hard to remember the advice given in the 
service manuals that came with these radios, "Most problems can be 
traced to a bad tube."  Snmetimes, at least, that simple counsel is 
still the best.

73,

Craig
W3CRR