[Hallicrafters] More SX99 questions

Mark Drakage markdd at nc.rr.com
Wed Feb 4 23:05:39 EST 2009


Hi, there should be a wire coming from pin 1 on T2 to pin 4 of V4. The 
gimmick wire coming from pin 3 of V5 is typically wrapped around the T2 
pin 1/ pin V4 wire at least one turn. Of course the gimmick wire needs 
to be insulated where it wraps around the other wire. Each turn produces 
about 1-2 pf capacitance. One turn should work fine. Doing this would 
also keep it from moving around from vibration. My S-40B and S-108 have 
the exact same circuitry for injecting a local oscillator carrier to mix 
w/ the IF signal coming out of the 1st If amp stage via T2.

For anyone that owns an S-38 (not applicable on the a,b,c,d or e 
version), or a National NC-188, their gimmick wire wraps around the wire 
that connects the 2nd IF amp output transformer to the plate of the 
detector tube. This works OK if all you want to do is listen to CW but 
produces poor results for listening to SSB. Just unwrap the gimmick wire 
and move it to the same equivalent wire that feeds IF from the 1st IF 
stage output transformer to the control grid pin of the 2nd IF stage. In 
other words just like it's done on the S-99, S40 and S-108. This makes a 
vast improvement in audio quality when listening to SSB on S-38's and 
NC-188's. Reason is none of these receivers have a true product detector 
stage, but the pentode tube used in the IF stage acts as a much better 
virtual product detector for mixing the IF and LO than a diode detector 
tube does.

regards,
   Mark
   KJ4FJK


N8IE wrote:
> THANKS!
> I un-wired mine and let it loose near the pin and it works fine.
> I guess I need to secure it so it does not move when bumping the radio
> around or moving it.
>
> You guys a great, thank you all!
>
> 73
> Dan, N8IE 
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: hallicrafters-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:hallicrafters-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of rbethman
> Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 4:11 PM
> To: hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net
> Cc: ANTHONY CASORSO; n8ie at woh.rr.com
> Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] More SX99 questions
>
> Dan,
>
> The end that you found loose?  Do NOT solder it!  It is indeed the
> "gimmick"!
>
> The insulated wire is simple left extended outside the shielding.  I just
> pullked mine out of its cabinet.
>
> Bob - N0DGN
>
> n8ie at woh.rr.com wrote:
>   
>> Thanks Bob,
>> Can anyone confirm this easily?
>>
>> When the problem first happened, switching the AM\CW switch made no
>>     
> difference and only a local broadcast station could be heard with the volume
> cranked. I found the wire loose and soldered it back to V5. This fixed the
> problem except now when the AVC is on, I get a loud squeal, but the
> sensitivity works fine otherwise. Sounds like it just slipped far enough
> away from the tube to loose coupling.
>   
>> I appreciate all the help guys!
>>
>> 73
>> Dan, N8IE
>>
>> ---- rbethman <rbethman at comcast.net> wrote: 
>>   
>>     
>>> Yep, that is "another" method of creating a gimmick.
>>>
>>> If I'd dig out my SX-99 and look, I could confirm it.  It is sort of 
>>> buried right now.
>>>
>>> Another project with too little time.
>>>
>>> Bob - N0DGN
>>>
>>> ANTHONY CASORSO wrote:
>>>     
>>>       
>>>> I the Halli sets I am familiar with, the gimmick is just a piece of 
>>>> standard hookup wire stripped on one end only. The stripped end is 
>>>> soldered per usual but the other end is just wrapped around a tube 
>>>> socket pin to provide a few pf of coupling. It should not be 
>>>> connected directly.
>>>>  
>>>> Tony
>>>>
>>>>       
>>>>         
>>>>> Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 14:10:22 -0500
>>>>> From: rbethman at comcast.net
>>>>> To: hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net
>>>>> CC: n8ie at woh.rr.com
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] More SX99 questions
>>>>>
>>>>> Dan,
>>>>>
>>>>> A "gimmick" is a low value capacitor that is made by twisting what 
>>>>> is usually enameled wire a "few" turns. They were normally a low 
>>>>> voltage component.
>>>>>
>>>>> Bob - N0DGN
>>>>>
>>>>> n8ie at woh.rr.com wrote:
>>>>>         
>>>>>           
>>>>>> While working on getting the SX99 back up and running I have
>>>>>>           
>>>>>>             
>>>> another question.
>>>>       
>>>>         
>>>>>> One of the main faults was the wire running from pin 3 of V5 to
>>>>>>           
>>>>>>             
>>>> pin4 of V4 came off. It did not look like it was originally on very 
>>>> well to begin with.
>>>>       
>>>>         
>>>>>> This wire is shielded and in the schematic is listed in part as
>>>>>>           
>>>>>>             
>>>> C38 Gimmick 2uF.
>>>>       
>>>>         
>>>>>> Exactly what is a "gimmick" capacitor?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks es 73
>>>>>> Dan, N8IE
>>>>>>
>>>>>>           
>>>>>>             
>>> --
>>> Bob - NØDGN
>>>
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>>   
>>     
>
> --
> Bob - NØDGN
>
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