[FARC] Need Help with Tube Testing on my Ranger II

[Lester Veenstra]

However, to be contrary

 

Assuming you have a set of replacement tubes, the best tube checker is the
Ranger-II. If you cannot see any difference in performance with some test
configuration, such as grid drive or modulation level, between original and
substitute, they are both good (or marginal to the same extent).  Tells you
a lot that the tube tester cannot really tell.  If you keep a gold standard
set of known good spares, and use another set as working, you always can
tell if you’re working tubes (valves) are going down.   Tube testers are
good for telling if the filaments are open or if the tube is otherwise
cooked.  In other cases, particularly if the tester says marginal or poor,
before you toss in the trash, I would use the RANGER-II as the final arbiter
of quality.   In some cases, say an R-390 where the same tube is used in
multiple roles, a “hot” tube in the RF may not the best of you available
spares in say an IF role.

 

Just my 2p from N. Yorkshire

   73

     Les

 

 

 

Lester B Veenstra  MØYCM K1YCM

lester at veenstras.com

m0ycm at veenstras.com

k1ycm at veenstras.com

 

 

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From: owner-madxra at madxra.org [mailto:owner-madxra at madxra.org] On Behalf Of
Jeff Fishman
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 8:05 PM
To: FARC reflector; MADXRA
Subject: Fw: Need Help with Tube Testing on my Ranger II

 

Can anyone help David?

Jeff Fishman KB3FIO

----- Original Message ----- 

From: David Soffrin <mailto:Soffrind at api.org>  

To: k3erm at qsl.net 

Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 2:22 PM

Subject: Need Help with Tube Testing on my Ranger II

 

Hi!

 

I thought maybe you could point me in the right direction!  I am currently
in the process of restoring a Ranger II, as part of my “retirement plan” to
create the early-60’s station that I always wanted as a kid.  I am in the
process of recapping the rig which is in working condition, but I would like
to test the tubes before putting it back on the air. All the tubes but one
are the Johnson originals. Unfortunately I don’t have access to, or even a
lead on who in the area (I like in Gaithersburg) might have a decent tube
tester, so I thought I would try one of the local ham clubs.  Any
information or leads would be gratefully appreciated.

 

Tnx and 73

 

David Soffrin

WB2JJV