[Hammarlund] Why 2nd RF stage?

[Roy Morgan]

On Nov 30, 2014, at 2:37 PM, Kenneth G. Gordon <kgordon2006 at frontier.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> The OT designers weren't stupid, despite not having 'pooters at the 
> time…

It’s been my experience that the more fancy and technically complicated are the computer systems used to analyze and design things, the farther the engineers get from having a feel for how the things work.  

I’ve just gotten to work one of the mainstay tools used at Hammarlund and National to design and test RF stages and IF transformers - a Boonton 260A Q-Meter.  I’m just starting to learn how to use it, but I expect I’ll gain a seat of the pants sense of how coils and transformers work that has eluded me so far.

I’ve just realized that the BC-779 I have here may well have a product detector that I installed back in the 1960’s.  When I get it upside down on the bench, I won’t be surprised to find a relay and extra tube added under the chassis.  Any pointers to what design I might have used would be most welcome.

PS: If anyone knows how to use the Q Meter to test crystals, do let me know!

Roy


Roy Morgan
RoyMorgan at alum.mit.edu
K1LKY Since 1958