[HBR] from Kurt W6PH

[Kees & Sandy]

 I built an HBR-13C last summer but haven't got it working.  The three oscillators are all working and the audio stage is working.  Still more troubleshooting ahead and the priority has been low. One of my questions is the wiring of the back-to-back 100 kc IFTs.  The photograph of the bottom view in the Oct 65 QST shows the physical connections straight across which differs from the schematic which would have wire connections physically crossing each other to feed the top of the secondary winding of the first IFT to the top of the primary winding of the second IFT.  The photograph has the top of the secondary (first IFT) going to the bottom of the primary (second IFT).  I would appreciate any comments about this. I have tried using the output of the BFO as a signal generator to check the 100 kc IF stages but haven't had success.  I may try using a 100 kc crystal calibrator as a signal generator.  The BFO is working properly as evidenced by the signal in my IC-706.  (Too bad they didn't have these back in 1960.) I bought the HBR-13C with all the components mounted properly as depicted in the Oct 65 QST.  But there were no resistors or capacitors and I scrounged/purchased them for the wiring. On another note, I would like to make everyone aware that W6HHT has a pot pourri of information about the HBR's, some not previously published.  He knew Ted Crosby and is trying to put together a publication of this stuff that should be invaluable to a would-be builder.  To my knowledge, he will be making it available for the cost of printing.  Not sure when it might be available. Since the original 100 kc and 1600 kc IFTs are no longer available, I would think that the 85 kc and 1415 kc IFTs from the ARC-5 receivers could be used.  A 1500 kc or 1330 kc second oscillator could be used in lieu of the 1700 kc LO.  (I haven't done the math for birdies.) Another thought is to use two variable capacitors in lieu of the three section variable cap.  A single section cap could operate the first oscillator and a dual section cap could be used to "peak" the RF and mixer stage coils.  This would eliminate the problems of making the three section cap "track" the tuning across the band. Although the original plug-in coils have a lot of merit for the original design, a person could build the receiver for a certain band (Collins style) and then use crystal controlled converters for the desired bands.  The converter could use the circuitry of the HBR front end but with a fixed first oscillator.  This is sure to produce birdies that would have to be worked out. Just some thoughts.                                 73, Kurt, W6PH