[HBR] Semi Experienced Builder

[Edward Swynar]

Hi Guys,

A most interesting thread...!

>From my personal perspective---BEFORE tackling something as complex as an
HBR--- build something smaller & simpler first, like the classic "A Mate For
The Mighty Midget" superhet receiver which was featured in the April 1966
issue of QST, & the 1969 ARRL Handbook...

I made the mistake back in '82 of tackling the construction of a multi-tube
receiver that was featured in a '70s issue of QST---a specialty 75-meter DX
affair, written-up & designed by Doug Blakeslee. I'd never built an actual
receiver per se before, & I made a LOT of mistakes & became more than
frustrated, finally abandoning the project altogether...

Then some 10 years later, I undertook "The Mate" project, & even embellished
the design with my own personal extras---and guess what? It worked like a
charm! Inspired, I've since built a 4-tube regen, & my ultimate 1929-style
12-tube superheterodyne...

I wish I'd tried building "The Mate" first---but live & learn...

Hopefully you'll learn from my mistake here, & history won't repeat itself
at your end...! In as much as an HBR can, indeed, be built by a first-time
newbie, I personally would advise against it.

Better you should learn how to drive with a manual transmission on an old
Toyota, rather than a brand new Z-28 Camaro! It's a whole lot cheaper, and
you'll appreciate the Chevy just that much more once you're ready to
graduate into its driver's seat...!

~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ


*************************************

----- Original Message -----
From: "C Eus" <catman351 at gmail.com>
To: <hbr at mailman.qth.net>; <ppkj4 at yahoo.com>
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2010 12:19 PM
Subject: [HBR] Semi Experienced Builder


> Tom!
> Nice to meet a fellow semi-experienced builder too! I have built gobs and
> gobs of TRANSMITTING equipment but receivers? My only experience was
> building (from scratch) crystal diode radios and a single tube 6J5 regen
rx
> using metal hacked out from an old biscuit in back in the 1970s.  Building
> an HBR will be a challenge for me so to start with, I'm going to build and
> HBR-8.  The parts count is reasonble enough that instead of building a 4
> tube 2 band superhet like I originally intented, I decided to use this
> exercise to build an HBR in the same footprint.  If I wanted to later, I
can
> build a 2nd HBR on a more elaborate scale (which is my intent).  I was
> reading some of Ted Crosby's (W6TC, SK) notes and it seems he wanted as
many
> hams to a taste of building an HBR using deminimus parts counts and an
> abbreviated schematic compared to its more advance bretheren. Hence, the
> HBR-8.  From there, it was supposed to be expandable to something more
> elaborate so one wouldn't be overwhelmed in trying to build an HBR-16 or
the
> like.  Good luck in your endeavor to build this rig. I know I will and I
> plan to use it accordingly. Cal, N6KYR/4.
>
>
> Subject: [HBR] Semi Experienced Builder
> To: hbr at mailman.qth.net
> Message-ID: <459699.54811.qm at web44905.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> To All
> I am a semi experienced builder. Built somethings using tubes and some
using
> solid state. In anyone's opinion, what HBR would be the best for me to
> build? I have lots of tubes and some parts. I'm a product of the 60"s and
I
> enjoy the older stuff more then the new. Kind of anxious to get started
just
> want to know the best to to go. I understand some of these HBR's are
spread
> out on a more open chassis. That's what I need. Don't see as well as I
used
> to and fingers don't move as well either.
> Thanks for your help
> Tom N8CHR
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>