[Elecraft] O.T. Datong FL3.

[G3VVT at aol.com]

In a message dated 29/06/05 21:50:12 GMT Daylight Time, n6wg at comcast.net  
writes:

Actually, Mike, I think I've seen mention of Datong in
recent  years.  Not totally dead yet.
Dr. D. A. Tong was a very clever  designer, but he kept
his designs very close to his chest.  To the  best of
my knowledge, the schematics for the FL3 or others
were never  published.  I too have an FL3 and would
like to see the schematic, but  no joy so far.
73, Bob N6WG



Reply:-----------------------------------------------------------
 
As Nigel mentions in an earlier posting, Datong Ltd are still very much in  
business in more upmarket RF tracking equipment sold to government  agencies.
 
I did contact the company recently trying to obtain a schematic for their  
earlier Datong DF1 FM direction finding unit that was marketed in the mid  
1980's. I have obtained one of these items to help in  the tracking an interfering 
signal (moron) on the input to our  local 2m repeater. Unfortunately the 
antenna combiner part of the DF1 had got  lost over the years, so the only option 
was to build another to get the DF1  working. Contacted Datong via their 
website listed address and though they were  initially willing to help, became 
unable to do so when a schematic was  requested. Only suggestion they made was to 
post a request for help in Radcom or  similar.
 
Never have seen any of their schematics available so possibly none were  ever 
given out. I traced out a schematic for their AD170/AD270  active RX antenna 
from the PCB as a necessity to repair the unit after it  got zapped by static 
electric during my years in the Middle  East.
 
Other than having a go yourself to trace out the schematic from the FL3  PCB, 
it may be worth contacting Datong via their website address to see if  they 
will help with the FL3 schematic.
 
As a footnote did finally find a project unit that was very similar  and 
compatible to the Datong DF1 that had the schematics available plus the  necessary 
blank PCBs. In process of constructing this unit at present.
 
Bob, G3VVT