[Hammarlund] HX-50 Progress

[Robert Sauvan]

Well,
We are making some nice progress on the HX-50. I have removed the 
cluster of resistors and diodes that were bugging me so much and have 
now replaced them with new diodes only and it is working just fine. It 
looks so much cleaner under the chassis now. I seemed to have eliminated 
the chirp which started all of this. Not sure if it was the couple of 
resistors I replaced or one or more of the electrolytics I replaced. 
Regardless, I dont see it on the scope or hear it in a remote receiver. 
So, the next real test would be to put it on the air. I used to get 
really bad chirp reports. I am getting just a bit of ripple on my scope 
that I believe is coming from my can electrolytics. I have been told 
that I can just take a new electrolytic and put it across the old one 
and test it to see if my ripple goes away. Apparently the ripple I am 
seeing is pretty small and probably doesnt show up on my signal. Maybe 
someone could expand on that for me. I only have 3 items left to 
explore. The mysterious cut wire that was supposed to be connected to 
the PTT terminals on the back of the radio, a resistor that has been put 
in parallel with another, and I dont seem to find it in the schematic, 
and a variable cap that is also seemingly put on by someone else. Havent 
looked into thjs one yet.

The PTT circuit is next. I have been sent numerous mods from 2 sources 
and after reading through them, my radio doesnt appear to have any of 
these modifications done to it. Al, W8UT is looking into finding some 
type of PTT mod that he recalls so maybe that is what I am looking at in 
my radio. If he is unable to find it I guess Im on my own to figure out 
why this wire has been cut and no longer in use. Jack, W0YJ was able to 
tell me where the wire went originally. He was up until midnight last 
night tracing the darn thing on his HX-50 since I was unable to tell 
where it started and stopped. He's a good man I say. There is now a new 
wire in its place going to a terminal strip with numerous resistors and 
wires connected to it. Need to figure this all out.

Everyones advise and tips have been paying off. Many thanks, and I hope 
to get this thing back to square one even though it is working just fine 
for now. Will keep everyone up to speed.

73-Bob-W0YBS