[HBR] HBR Update ...Bill McKay's (W7QBR)
Don
dkelly42 at cox.net
Sat Apr 4 00:01:01 EDT 2009
That was a wonderful post. The old timer friends of my dad, W1KPS (SK) were
engineers from Ratheon, Mitre Corp and MIT and always had a unusual kinship
with anyone else interested in homebrew tube gear. Like them, Mr McKay must
have been a rare treat to know and a wonderful resource...like most of you
fellas.
I consider my self a very average builder. Strangely, I use a lot of
information from the solid state book Experimental Methods in RF Design by
W7ZOI to design IF filters, bandpass filters, IF coils, etc. for my tube
receivers. I did not know Wes Hayward was associated with the HBR receivers.
I apolgize for non-HBR series posts but if not here there are not many other
alternatives.
73 Don K5UOS
-----Original Message-----
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Sent: Friday, April 03, 2009 8:00 AM
To: hbr at mailman.qth.net
Subject: HBR Digest, Vol 62, Issue 2
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: Dons new reciever (match at ece.utah.edu)
2. Re: Dons new reciever (Paul Dulaff)
3. HBR Update ...Bill McKay's (W7QBR) (Kees & Sandy)
4. Re: HBR Update ...Bill McKay's (W7QBR) (Peter Bertini)
5. Re: HBR Update ...Bill McKay's (W7QBR) (William Nichelson)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:14:03 -0600
From: match at ece.utah.edu
Subject: Re: [HBR] Dons new reciever
To: hbr at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <49D48FEB.3320.8D3886 at match.ece.utah.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
On 1 Apr 2009 at 12:00, Don wrote:
> But I am still deciding on which mixer
> to use for the front end (7360, 6BE6). I have decided 20 times but keep
> changing my mind.
How's about a 6BA7?
Marvin
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 15:10:06 -0400 (EDT)
From: Paul Dulaff <pdulaff at embarqmail.com>
Subject: Re: [HBR] Dons new reciever
To: HBR Receiver List <hbr at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID:
<1760127301.1581931238699406700.JavaMail.root at md23.embarq.synacor.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
6BA7 is somewhat noisey. These were used in the 75A4. A typical modification
on the 'A4 is to reconfigure the 1st mixer to a 6ES8 dual triode configured
as a Pullen Mixer. Better intermodulation distortion performance and less
noise. My HBR has this setup and works well.
Paul - WB2NMI
----- Original Message -----
From: match at ece.utah.edu
To: hbr at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Thursday, April 2, 2009 12:14:03 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: [HBR] Dons new reciever
On 1 Apr 2009 at 12:00, Don wrote:
> But I am still deciding on which mixer
> to use for the front end (7360, 6BE6). I have decided 20 times but keep
> changing my mind.
How's about a 6BA7?
Marvin
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------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 21:32:03 GMT
From: "Kees & Sandy" <windy10605 at juno.com>
Subject: [HBR] HBR Update ...Bill McKay's (W7QBR)
To: hbr at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <20090402.163203.22188.18 at webmail06.dca.untd.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
Every once in a while I receive some really great HBR email from someone who
came across the website. I just received this note from Tom Rousseau and
thought I would share it with the group. Just goes to show more of the
history of these units and how they were appreciated. I often wondered where
a unit like Bill McKay's ended up. I'll post the pictures to the website
later.
73 Kees K5BCQ
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Kees,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
I was recently surfing the internet when I came across my photo on your
website. So I thought I?d send you a note to let you know that I am still
alive and well. I am the HBR-16 featured on the opening page on your very
fine HBR website. I was very lovingly built by Bill McKay, W7QBR, in the
early sixties.
The attached photos show my current status. A little older looking and a
bit more worn, but still not bad for being nearly fifty years old. I am
still all here, with all my coils, storage drawer, and even the three-ring
notebook with Bill?s design/construction notes. I attended Washington State
University with Bill while he was studying EE in Pullman. I even operated
CW Sweepstakes one cold November with Bill and Wes, W7ZOI, from Bill?s
college room. I enjoyed the active on-the-air life, and the considerable
attention that Bill always seemed to find time to give me. He liked to use
me on the air, but I think he more enjoyed tinkering with my insides,
improving my performance. He was not happy with my excessive birdies, and
was trying to reduce them. The most notable modification was when he
changed my product detector from a 6BE6 to a 7360. I think that he was
trying to get lower distortion.
Eventually, I think that he tired of me. He sold me to a college mate,
Linley Gumm, K7HFD. He needed the money to fund his next HBR. I guess Bill
did, indeed, make a couple of more HBRs, but I never had the chance to meet
them and do a side-by-side operation with them. Linley took good care of
me, but he mostly kept me stored in a safe, dark place in his garage,
together with my coils and design notes. Linley was too busy with his
career and family to give me much attention. Linley was one of Tektronix?
very top design engineers, leading the design of many forward looking
spectrum analyzers.
By the early nineties, Linley realized that he probably wasn?t going to use
me, and he wanted the space in his garage. So he gave me to a Tek work
associate of his, Tom Rousseau, K7PJT. I have been living at Tom?s ever
since. At first, Tom carefully brought me up with a Variac, then we toured
some of the bands together. It really felt good to have that warm glow
back, and the sensuous feeling of changing coils as we cruised the different
bands. And wow, to have those microvolts entering my antenna terminals and
flowing though my vacuum circuits was an incredible feeling that I had long
ago forgotten! Tom cleaned my switch contacts and potentiometers, almost
with the same love that Bill used to afford me. He took notes of things
that he wanted to do to return me to original operating condition. He
noticed my 7360, and made a note to return it to Ted?s original design; but
later he decided to leave it alone when he found out that it was an
authentic W7QBR mod.
I am hopeful that I will again have a functional life at Tom?s QTH,
operating alongside one of his vintage homebrew transmitters. However,
after our few weeks together, he disconnected me and put me on a shelf with
many other radios, some of which are also homebrew, but many are
Hallicrafters, Nationals and Hammarlunds. I like the companionship provided
by my commercial friends, but feel just a little apart from them,
nonetheless. I have been here for more than 15 years, and am still looking
forward to another opportunity to feel the warmth of my tubes.
Anyway, thank you for so nicely displaying my photos and history on your
website. And thank you for allowing me to see all my cousins and the great
levels of achievement that they aspired to. Let?s keep in touch. I?ll let
you know when I?m on the air again.
73, W7QBR?s HBR-16
BTW: I want to thank Wes W7ZOI, Linley K7HFD and Tom K7PJT for helping me
to remember my history and taking good care of me for these many years. It
is indeed a frightening thought to consider what might have happened with
less understanding hams; I could have been parted out for my beautiful dial
or IF transformers!
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 17:52:02 -0400
From: Peter Bertini <radioconnection at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [HBR] HBR Update ...Bill McKay's (W7QBR)
To: HBR Receiver List <hbr at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID:
<ccedf7ca0904021452w3a39f3e3q1daa0b13002e5397 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Kool!!! I always wondered what happened to McKay's HBR-16; it has to the
most recognized HBRs out there!
It is comforting to know it still exists and is still in good condition; and
owned by someone who appreciates the
history behind that set.
pete k1zjh
On Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 5:32 PM, Kees & Sandy <windy10605 at juno.com> wrote:
> Every once in a while I receive some really great HBR email from someone
> who came across the website. I just received this note from Tom Rousseau
and
> thought I would share it with the group. Just goes to show more of the
> history of these units and how they were appreciated. I often wondered
where
> a unit like Bill McKay's ended up. I'll post the pictures to the website
> later.
> 73 Kees K5BCQ
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> Hi Kees,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
> "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
> I was recently surfing the internet when I came across my photo on your
> website. So I thought I?d send you a note to let you know that I am still
> alive and well. I am the HBR-16 featured on the opening page on your very
> fine HBR website. I was very lovingly built by Bill McKay, W7QBR, in the
> early sixties.
>
> The attached photos show my current status. A little older looking and a
> bit more worn, but still not bad for being nearly fifty years old. I am
> still all here, with all my coils, storage drawer, and even the three-ring
> notebook with Bill?s design/construction notes. I attended Washington
State
> University with Bill while he was studying EE in Pullman. I even operated
> CW Sweepstakes one cold November with Bill and Wes, W7ZOI, from Bill?s
> college room. I enjoyed the active on-the-air life, and the considerable
> attention that Bill always seemed to find time to give me. He liked to
use
> me on the air, but I think he more enjoyed tinkering with my insides,
> improving my performance. He was not happy with my excessive birdies, and
> was trying to reduce them. The most notable modification was when he
> changed my product detector from a 6BE6 to a 7360. I think that he was
> trying to get lower distortion.
>
> Eventually, I think that he tired of me. He sold me to a college mate,
> Linley Gumm, K7HFD. He needed the money to fund his next HBR. I guess
Bill
> did, indeed, make a couple of more HBRs, but I never had the chance to
meet
> them and do a side-by-side operation with them. Linley took good care of
> me, but he mostly kept me stored in a safe, dark place in his garage,
> together with my coils and design notes. Linley was too busy with his
> career and family to give me much attention. Linley was one of Tektronix?
> very top design engineers, leading the design of many forward looking
> spectrum analyzers.
>
> By the early nineties, Linley realized that he probably wasn?t going to
use
> me, and he wanted the space in his garage. So he gave me to a Tek work
> associate of his, Tom Rousseau, K7PJT. I have been living at Tom?s ever
> since. At first, Tom carefully brought me up with a Variac, then we
toured
> some of the bands together. It really felt good to have that warm glow
> back, and the sensuous feeling of changing coils as we cruised the
different
> bands. And wow, to have those microvolts entering my antenna terminals
and
> flowing though my vacuum circuits was an incredible feeling that I had
long
> ago forgotten! Tom cleaned my switch contacts and potentiometers, almost
> with the same love that Bill used to afford me. He took notes of things
> that he wanted to do to return me to original operating condition. He
> noticed my 7360, and made a note to return it to Ted?s original design;
but
> later he decided to leave it alone when he found out that it was an
> authentic W7QBR mod.
>
> I am hopeful that I will again have a functional life at Tom?s QTH,
> operating alongside one of his vintage homebrew transmitters. However,
> after our few weeks together, he disconnected me and put me on a shelf
with
> many other radios, some of which are also homebrew, but many are
> Hallicrafters, Nationals and Hammarlunds. I like the companionship
provided
> by my commercial friends, but feel just a little apart from them,
> nonetheless. I have been here for more than 15 years, and am still
looking
> forward to another opportunity to feel the warmth of my tubes.
>
> Anyway, thank you for so nicely displaying my photos and history on your
> website. And thank you for allowing me to see all my cousins and the
great
> levels of achievement that they aspired to. Let?s keep in touch. I?ll
let
> you know when I?m on the air again.
>
> 73, W7QBR?s HBR-16
>
> BTW: I want to thank Wes W7ZOI, Linley K7HFD and Tom K7PJT for helping me
> to remember my history and taking good care of me for these many years.
It
> is indeed a frightening thought to consider what might have happened with
> less understanding hams; I could have been parted out for my beautiful
dial
> or IF transformers!
> ______________________________________________________________
> HBR mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hbr
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:HBR at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 18:57:56 -0500
From: William Nichelson <wnichelson at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [HBR] HBR Update ...Bill McKay's (W7QBR)
To: HBR Receiver List <hbr at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID:
<6bb97a850904021657y61a0030dx16dc82b0e064b3a at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
Beautiful is all I can say!
Bill W3KOC
On 4/2/09, Peter Bertini <radioconnection at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Kool!!! I always wondered what happened to McKay's HBR-16; it has to the
> most recognized HBRs out there!
> It is comforting to know it still exists and is still in good condition;
> and
> owned by someone who appreciates the
> history behind that set.
>
> pete k1zjh
>
> On Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 5:32 PM, Kees & Sandy <windy10605 at juno.com> wrote:
>
> > Every once in a while I receive some really great HBR email from someone
> > who came across the website. I just received this note from Tom Rousseau
> and
> > thought I would share it with the group. Just goes to show more of the
> > history of these units and how they were appreciated. I often wondered
> where
> > a unit like Bill McKay's ended up. I'll post the pictures to the website
> > later.
> > 73 Kees K5BCQ
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Hi Kees,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
> > "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
> > I was recently surfing the internet when I came across my photo on your
> > website. So I thought I?d send you a note to let you know that I am
> still
> > alive and well. I am the HBR-16 featured on the opening page on your
> very
> > fine HBR website. I was very lovingly built by Bill McKay, W7QBR, in
the
> > early sixties.
> >
> > The attached photos show my current status. A little older looking and
a
> > bit more worn, but still not bad for being nearly fifty years old. I am
> > still all here, with all my coils, storage drawer, and even the
> three-ring
> > notebook with Bill?s design/construction notes. I attended Washington
> State
> > University with Bill while he was studying EE in Pullman. I even
> operated
> > CW Sweepstakes one cold November with Bill and Wes, W7ZOI, from Bill?s
> > college room. I enjoyed the active on-the-air life, and the
considerable
> > attention that Bill always seemed to find time to give me. He liked to
> use
> > me on the air, but I think he more enjoyed tinkering with my insides,
> > improving my performance. He was not happy with my excessive birdies,
> and
> > was trying to reduce them. The most notable modification was when he
> > changed my product detector from a 6BE6 to a 7360. I think that he was
> > trying to get lower distortion.
> >
> > Eventually, I think that he tired of me. He sold me to a college mate,
> > Linley Gumm, K7HFD. He needed the money to fund his next HBR. I guess
> Bill
> > did, indeed, make a couple of more HBRs, but I never had the chance to
> meet
> > them and do a side-by-side operation with them. Linley took good care
of
> > me, but he mostly kept me stored in a safe, dark place in his garage,
> > together with my coils and design notes. Linley was too busy with his
> > career and family to give me much attention. Linley was one of
> Tektronix?
> > very top design engineers, leading the design of many forward looking
> > spectrum analyzers.
> >
> > By the early nineties, Linley realized that he probably wasn?t going to
> use
> > me, and he wanted the space in his garage. So he gave me to a Tek work
> > associate of his, Tom Rousseau, K7PJT. I have been living at Tom?s ever
> > since. At first, Tom carefully brought me up with a Variac, then we
> toured
> > some of the bands together. It really felt good to have that warm glow
> > back, and the sensuous feeling of changing coils as we cruised the
> different
> > bands. And wow, to have those microvolts entering my antenna terminals
> and
> > flowing though my vacuum circuits was an incredible feeling that I had
> long
> > ago forgotten! Tom cleaned my switch contacts and potentiometers,
almost
> > with the same love that Bill used to afford me. He took notes of things
> > that he wanted to do to return me to original operating condition. He
> > noticed my 7360, and made a note to return it to Ted?s original
> design; but
> > later he decided to leave it alone when he found out that it was an
> > authentic W7QBR mod.
> >
> > I am hopeful that I will again have a functional life at Tom?s QTH,
> > operating alongside one of his vintage homebrew transmitters. However,
> > after our few weeks together, he disconnected me and put me on a shelf
> with
> > many other radios, some of which are also homebrew, but many are
> > Hallicrafters, Nationals and Hammarlunds. I like the companionship
> provided
> > by my commercial friends, but feel just a little apart from them,
> > nonetheless. I have been here for more than 15 years, and am still
> looking
> > forward to another opportunity to feel the warmth of my tubes.
> >
> > Anyway, thank you for so nicely displaying my photos and history on your
> > website. And thank you for allowing me to see all my cousins and the
> great
> > levels of achievement that they aspired to. Let?s keep in touch. I?ll
> let
> > you know when I?m on the air again.
> >
> > 73, W7QBR?s HBR-16
> >
> > BTW: I want to thank Wes W7ZOI, Linley K7HFD and Tom K7PJT for helping
> me
> > to remember my history and taking good care of me for these many
> years. It
> > is indeed a frightening thought to consider what might have happened
with
> > less understanding hams; I could have been parted out for my beautiful
> dial
> > or IF transformers!
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > HBR mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hbr
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:HBR at mailman.qth.net
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >
> ______________________________________________________________
> HBR mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hbr
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:HBR at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
------------------------------
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