[Hallicrafters] Black Beauty capacitors Beware

Sun Mar 8 14:22:05 EDT 2015

Jim,

According to my old HP catalog;
The 8553B RF section with the 8552B if section will cover from 1KHz to 
110MHz.  8553B has two ranges 0-11MHZ and 0-110MHz
The range of the 606B is given as 50KHz to 65MHz.
The 8443A will only go down to 100KHz
I have been looking for a 8556A which is the audio frequency RF unit at 
a price I can afford.  They are relatively rare and expensive when they 
show up.
I have used the storage function but it has been several years ago and 
really have forgotten how to use it.  I have all the manuals so it 
wouldn't be hard to brush up on it.  Although, I do seem to remember it 
was a touchy process because the trace wanted to bloom.

I have restored several Johnson Invader transmitters and find the SA useful.

David

On 3/8/2015 12:29 PM, Jim Liles wrote:
> Hi Dave,
> First off Dave, I don’t see anything in the mix that will reach down 
> to 50Kc.  Help me out on that one.  Haven’t used that gear for years 
> and years.
> I don't see anything in the mix that can do a sweep except maybe the 
> 8443A and 141T but I don’t think they make it down to 50Kc.
> I believe the output of the tracking generator is a bit high for the 
> I.F.Sweep so will probably need an attenuator.  You need to get down 
> to the millivolt levels for I.F. and microvolt levels for the front 
> end sweeps.  What is its minimum output.
> Been a long time since I used a 141T but as I recall it has a storage 
> CRT standard.  Does the storage function in your 141 work and are you 
> familiar with its use?  If the storage function works, you can do a 
> single manual sweep by simply turning the frequency knob on the SG 
> letting the 141 store the trace.
> I have to admit I’ve never used a tracking generator, never needed to 
> do so.  Most Spectrum analyzers have storage CRT or max hold 
> functions.  What’s the difference?  About 30 seconds of your time and 
> you can inject a precision signal of any amplitude, composition, or 
> purity.
> Let us know if the storage function works and if you’re familiar with 
> it’s use.
> The attached photos are of the SX-117 band pass .5Kc and 2.5Kc 
> settings.  The 2.5Kc wave form looks to be only slightly wider than 
> the .5Kc because we doubled the sweep rate compressing the image.  We 
> used an HP 3325A which uses a TTL transition for a matker.  The down 
> transition is the 50Kc point.
> The .5Kc trace is 250 cycles per graticule and the 2.5Kc trace is .5Kc 
> per graticule.
> Kindest regards Jim K9AXN
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David C. Hallam
> Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2015 8:38 AM
> To: Jim Liles ; hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] Black Beauty capacitors Beware
> Jim,
> TEK 465 scope
> HP 606B/8708A SG
> HP 410C vtvm
> HP 141T/8552B/8553B SA
> HP 8443A tracking generator
> HP 5246L FC
> I also have an old EICO 369 sweep generator but I am not sure it is
> working properly.
> David
> On 3/7/2015 10:06 PM, Jim Liles wrote:
> > Dave,
> > Tell us what equipment that you have available and we'll see what we
> > can do to configure it to make it happen.  Have you done any sweep
> > analysis?
> > Kindest regards Jim K9AXN
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: David C. Hallam
> > Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2015 4:01 PM
> > To: hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net
> > Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] Black Beauty capacitors Beware
> > Jim,
> > What is the recommend procedure to sweep the the filter? I do not have
> > a sweep generator but do have a good assortment of test equipment.
> > David
> > KW4DH
> > On 3/7/2015 10:20 AM, Jim Liles wrote:
> > > Hi Greg,
> > > good assoermentr
> > > Exactly!  They were as good as film and legions better than
> > ceramic.  That’s why you still see paper defined on the schematics not
> > ceramic caps.
> > >
> > > I still would replace the paper because as they dry out or begin to
> > leak the Q goes to the devil.  Won’t effect the .5Kc position because
> > it doesn’t use them but when you use the higher band widths,
> > especially the 1Kc, they will widen because of the denigration of the
> > Q.  May not be obvious but if you sweep that filter system it’s
> > obvious. The band center skew jumps out at you when using the ceramic
> > caps.
> > >
> > > In any case the paper at their worst will out perform ceramic unless
> > they are shorted or open.
> > >
> > > One measure is, you should be able to tune in an SSB signal in the
> > 5Kc position and dial right down through 1Kc and still clearly copy
> > that conversation without touching the BFO and tuning to peak for
> > clarity.  The best definition that describes what you have to do when
> > incorrect caps are installed is “You have to be a human I.F. shift
> > mechanism” You have to tune an SSB signal then tune slightly back and
> > fourth for peak strength while adjusting the BFO for clarity.  You
> > don’t want to go there, let the radio do it for you.
> > >
> > > One thing that I didn’t mention is the 390 ohm resistor will be well
> > above 420 ohms.  Those resistors are very critical. Get it right on
> > or 5% below not above or the 5Kc position will droop excessively.
> > >
> > > Kindest regards Jim K9AXN
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----
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> > Enrico Fermi
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> -- 
> There are two possible outcomes: if the result confirms the 
> hypothesis, then you've made a measurement.
> If the result is contrary to the hypothesis, then you've made a discovery.
> Enrico Fermi
> -----
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> Version: 2015.0.5751 / Virus Database: 4299/9253 - Release Date: 03/08/15
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>

-- 
There are two possible outcomes: if the result confirms the hypothesis, then you've made a measurement.
If the result is contrary to the hypothesis, then you've made a discovery.
Enrico Fermi

-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2015.0.5751 / Virus Database: 4299/9253 - Release Date: 03/08/15