[Collins] SYNTHESIZER FOR DRAKE RECEIVER BY HAGEMAN

[kiyoinc at attglobal.net]

Doc Gerry wrote:

> While its not as convenient for band scanning, the S-line with an easily
> accessed crystal socket and a crystal pack works that way, quite well.
> 
> The synthesizer tends to have a lot more phase noise than the crystal
> oscillator and so degrades receiver performance when strong signals are
> near the desired weak signals.
> 
> There has been a commercial synthesizer for S-line. Cost last I recall
> was on the order of $750. Its not as simple as the one for the Drake
> because Collins crystal frequencies all end in 55 KHz where the drakes
> end in 00 KHz.

I'm sure that a synthesizer won't work as well for low signals but 
here's my situation.  I live in the city on a 50x100 city lot. It's 
noisy here.

I don't really operate.  I might get on 2 meters once every few months. 
  I listen though.  I have 2 going in the car and now and then, I'll 
listen to HF, mostly to practice CW.

As I mentioned, I have a 75S-1 (with a 2 digit serial number!) and the 
Collins crystal pack.  I'll be ordering a switch kit from Glen when I 
figure out which model I want.

I've looked at the AOR DDS2A, the wood VFO from Italy but the kit that 
caught my interest is the SS Engineering DVFO-II.

http://www.sseng.com/My_Homepage_Files/Page2.html

==== the text reads ==

- Frequency Range: 1 Hz to 54 MHz
- Frequency Resolution: 1 Hz over full range
- Output Level: 0.2 V p-p
- Supply Voltage: 9 - 14 VDC
- Supply Current: 125 ma
- Spurious Outputs: -40 db typical
- Accuracy: Can be set to < 1 PPM
- Overall Size: 5.25" x 1.9" x 1.0" (W x H x D) (Enclosure Not Included)


Features:

- Programmable display offsets
- Accomodates
- Suitable for Direct Conversion Recievers
- Output Protected
- Detented Tuning
- Tuning Steps - 1 Hz to 10 MHz
- Supertwist Liquid Crystal Display
- Subminiature socket/pins on output
- Mounts via the toggle switches. Only two holes - No Screws
- Ten programmable non-volatile registers for Display/Frequency 
Output/Offsets
- Calibration done in software, no capacitor tweaking

========= End Text ==

1 Hz to 54 MHz? That more than covers the S-Line front end.

Programmable display offsets?  PTO+IF but only show the band. I could 
put a piece of tape over the right side of the display.

Tuning steps 1 Hz to 10 MHz, tuning steps of 200 KHz would do it.

Ten programmable registers for Display/Frequency Output/Offsets, that 
should cover it.

Their ad doesn't say if I can specify a starting frequency, ending in 
55.  Nor does it say how hard it is to set the steps or if I can set the 
tuning ranges.

I email'ed them but could not get them to understand what I wanted.

It's $169 which is pricey for a kit that may or may not do what I want.

So I toss it out to the list, has anyone tried this?  Even if it 
degrades the front-end, my QTH is so noisy, S-7, S-9 birdies from 
computers, that I probably won't notice.

Even better would be for SS Eng or someone to work up the mods for 
S-Lines, turn an S-Line receiver into an all bander.

I figure it would would work well with Glen's switch kit.  Run the 
receiver on crystals for low noise reception and off the DDS box for 
general listening.

de ah6gi/4