[HBR] I'v finally started the HBR-16 -- And HBGCR Update

[hbr@mailman.qth.net]

Congratulations!   Sounds like a good start on a great project!

> The 6JH8 product detector from the "KCS Compactron" looks like it is
> worth trying ...

This is probably a very high gain circuit compared to most product 
detectors and I wonder if the gain you have ahead of the detector is a 
rough match for the KCS design?  From the reverse side, the original 
HBR designs had only 'fairly high' gain detectors and lots of 
preceding gain.

Maybe someone here knows more about this than I do ... that's just 
a speculation.

The HBGCR (Home Brew General Coverage Receiver) project refuses 
to get beyond square two.   Having gotten the VFO assembly built 
and working, I set out to put together a synthesizer from an ARC-27 
20-30 Mcs IF chassis.   But visualizing all the interferences and 
squshing two bandswitches, some shielding, and ten crystal sockets 
into the 4-1/2" available in front of the IF chassis has prooved difficult. 
It *can* be done, but I've revisited the 'IN' side of square two several 
times and am about to go there again today, rebuilding the entire 
crystal socket and switch assembly to a slightly smaller size and 
lower relative to the chassis so it won't hit the rear of the VFO gear 
drive.

I did get the crystal oscillator hooked up and checked.  Boy, us 1958 
taxpayers bought good crystals for that radio.   They're third overtone 
units 24.7-33.7 Mcs, and most are about 150 cps high after nearly 50 
years with a variation over 100 cps in just a couple of cases.   

I'm hoping to get the rebuild of that assembly done today and then 
move on to mounting it on the main chassis.  Ugh -- about 40 holes 
to be accurately drilled in a 'U' section piece of Al.  

Biggest problem is no time.   Again the winter season is being 
devoted to playing SWAT team to the Virginia General Assembly's 
conveyer belt for passing laws.   They consider close to 2500 bills in 
60 days and in backwater areas like laws affecting pets (we breed 
and rescue dogs) there's close to no effort to consider what's good or 
bad policy -- they just count votes and heavy hitters on both sides.   
Ordinary citizens have maybe 7-10 *days* between the time a bill 
becomes public and when the decision making train leaves the 
station.   We have upwards of a dozen bills to deal with this year, 
including three new pet-related felonies and a bill that would allow 
anyone (and *require* an animal control officer) to shoot a dog 
believed to be attacking another pet.

Ugh, legislation.  I'd rather drill 40 holes accurately in a wet noodle.  I 
promise not to mention the topic again. 
  
Walt Hutchens
KJ4KV