From ianmwilson73 at gmail.com  Wed Jul  8 21:53:10 2015
From: ianmwilson73 at gmail.com (Ian Wilson)
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2015 18:53:10 -0700
Subject: [HBR] Some Compactron modules
Message-ID: <CAEz8jcTJLDM1-Nozbt9R_iVh4UsS_awzUCnbf0ht=efoGhbt0w@mail.gmail.com>

A few years back, I got part way through a receiver based
on the 'KCS Compactron' (in two of the last issues of GE
Ham News). Naturally I made some radical changes. My
version used a 9MHz IF (instead of 455kHz), Pullen mixers,
different tube lineup, etc. This had some promise but attempting
to use the 6AR11 (twin high-gm semiremote pentode, TV IF amp)
with inadequate shielding at 9MHz led to .. predictable results.

Anyway. I don't seem to do anything with this except kick it
around the floor. It was built on a number of single-sided PCB
"modules" using ugly, er, ground-plane construction. There are
three 5.5"x4.5" modules and one 9.5"x6" module. There is a
nice premixer 16MHz VFO (high-quality air variable and ceramic former
variable inductor, mixed with an 11MHz xtal osc). The modules are:

RF: 6BH11 (dual triode + pentode); 6AC10 (triple triode);
       VFO components and 9MHz homebrew filter

IF: 6AR11 (dual semiremote pentode)

BFO (9MHz)/Product detector: 6U10 (triple triode)

Audio/AGC: 6T10 (beam power pentode + shpar cutoff pentode);
           6U10 triple triode; small (8W) audio output transformer

The Compactrons were all NIB and have a few hours of
operation on them. The sockets are all high quality ceramic
12-pin Compactron.

I actually have schematics for all the modules (they may have
had work done on them but should save lots of detective work).

I would like $15 for the set of modules plus shipping from
92620. Happy to trade for something as long as it's smaller
and glowbug-oriented :)

Please reply off-list. First come first served.

73, ian K3IMW

From ianmwilson73 at gmail.com  Fri Jul 10 18:13:23 2015
From: ianmwilson73 at gmail.com (Ian Wilson)
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2015 15:13:23 -0700
Subject: [HBR] Some Compactron modules
In-Reply-To: <CAEz8jcTJLDM1-Nozbt9R_iVh4UsS_awzUCnbf0ht=efoGhbt0w@mail.gmail.com>
References: <CAEz8jcTJLDM1-Nozbt9R_iVh4UsS_awzUCnbf0ht=efoGhbt0w@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <CAEz8jcRAXpsZ_6ij-7=w1KtXpaZhn673m-tsm18j0MQ8Nv9bNw@mail.gmail.com>

I couldn't resist tinkering. The RF module uses the 6BH11
(dual triode, pentode) as a 16MHz premixer VFO (this makes
sense, since you wouldn't want to use the pentode part of the
tube anywhere in the signal path). The LO part of the VFO is
one of my better efforts in terms of stability (by eyeball).

Two triodes of the 6AC10 are used in a Pullen mixer (the
plan was to have no RF gain ahead of this). The 9MHz output
is coupled through a tuned transformer to the xtal filter.

The schematic for the filter has 3 sections but I measure two
bumps. Also the bandwidth is about 3.4kHz while the schematic
claims 2.5kHz. So it looks as if I bypassed a section, or something.

I guess all this is telling me that I should rebuild the 9MHz IF
horror-amplifier instead of dumping it :)

73, ian K3IMW


On Wed, Jul 8, 2015 at 6:53 PM, Ian Wilson <ianmwilson73 at gmail.com> wrote:

> A few years back, I got part way through a receiver based
> on the 'KCS Compactron' (in two of the last issues of GE
> Ham News). Naturally I made some radical changes. My
> version used a 9MHz IF (instead of 455kHz), Pullen mixers,
> different tube lineup, etc. This had some promise but attempting
> to use the 6AR11 (twin high-gm semiremote pentode, TV IF amp)
> with inadequate shielding at 9MHz led to .. predictable results.
>
> Anyway. I don't seem to do anything with this except kick it
> around the floor. It was built on a number of single-sided PCB
> "modules" using ugly, er, ground-plane construction. There are
> three 5.5"x4.5" modules and one 9.5"x6" module. There is a
> nice premixer 16MHz VFO (high-quality air variable and ceramic former
> variable inductor, mixed with an 11MHz xtal osc). The modules are:
>
> RF: 6BH11 (dual triode + pentode); 6AC10 (triple triode);
>        VFO components and 9MHz homebrew filter
>
> IF: 6AR11 (dual semiremote pentode)
>
> BFO (9MHz)/Product detector: 6U10 (triple triode)
>
> Audio/AGC: 6T10 (beam power pentode + shpar cutoff pentode);
>            6U10 triple triode; small (8W) audio output transformer
>
> The Compactrons were all NIB and have a few hours of
> operation on them. The sockets are all high quality ceramic
> 12-pin Compactron.
>
> I actually have schematics for all the modules (they may have
> had work done on them but should save lots of detective work).
>
> I would like $15 for the set of modules plus shipping from
> 92620. Happy to trade for something as long as it's smaller
> and glowbug-oriented :)
>
> Please reply off-list. First come first served.
>
> 73, ian K3IMW
>
>

From ko6bb1 at gmail.com  Fri Jul 10 19:08:15 2015
From: ko6bb1 at gmail.com (Phil)
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2015 23:08:15 +0000
Subject: [HBR] Some Compactron modules
In-Reply-To: <CAEz8jcRAXpsZ_6ij-7=w1KtXpaZhn673m-tsm18j0MQ8Nv9bNw@mail.gmail.com>
References: <CAEz8jcTJLDM1-Nozbt9R_iVh4UsS_awzUCnbf0ht=efoGhbt0w@mail.gmail.com>
	<CAEz8jcRAXpsZ_6ij-7=w1KtXpaZhn673m-tsm18j0MQ8Nv9bNw@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <55A0505F.5040809@gmail.com>

Sounds like fun, by the way, what is a "Pullen Mixer"?  It seems I've 
heard the term, but can't place it.  Guess I could Google it.

My "Summer Homebrew Project" is a regen receiver, primarily for LF 
(200-530KCs) but will also tune the BCB & SW.  5 Tubes (2 of them are 
double triodes) + a silly-cone bridge rectifier, it has a few whips and 
bells.  Things  like selective audio filtering centered on 400, 600 & 
1020 CPS, accomplished via LC filters. Only SS devices in it are the 
rectifiers (didn't feel like generating more heat than necessary with a 
5Y3 or similar).

73 de Phil,  KO6BB
http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/  (Web Page)

PRESENT RADIOS:
Grundigs:    S-350 (~2006), G6 (2011) & S450DLX (2014).
Icom:        R-75 With Cascaded 250 & 125Hz CW Filters. (~2005)
Icom:        IC-7200 Transceiver (~2015).
Radio Shack: DX-380 digital portable (~1990).
Zenith:      Royal-7000 Transoceanic Portable (~1968).

ACCESSORIES:  Homebrew LF-MF Pre-Amp, MFJ-993B HF Auto-Tuner.
               Homebrew 8 Hz Audio Filter.

ANTENNAS:  88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole at 35 feet AGL.
            Active Mini-Whip at 36 Feet AGL for LF/MW.
            37 foot "Low Noise Vertical" at 11 feet AGL for LF/MW/SW.

Merced, Central California, 37, 18, 37N   120, 30, 6W CM97rh

On 7/10/2015 10:13 PM, Ian Wilson wrote:
> I couldn't resist tinkering. The RF module uses the 6BH11
> (dual triode, pentode) as a 16MHz premixer VFO (this makes
> sense, since you wouldn't want to use the pentode part of the
> tube anywhere in the signal path). The LO part of the VFO is
> one of my better efforts in terms of stability (by eyeball).
>
> Two triodes of the 6AC10 are used in a Pullen mixer (the
> plan was to have no RF gain ahead of this). The 9MHz output
> is coupled through a tuned transformer to the xtal filter.
>
> The schematic for the filter has 3 sections but I measure two
> bumps. Also the bandwidth is about 3.4kHz while the schematic
> claims 2.5kHz. So it looks as if I bypassed a section, or something.
>
> I guess all this is telling me that I should rebuild the 9MHz IF
> horror-amplifier instead of dumping it :)
>
> 73, ian K3IMW
>
>
> On Wed, Jul 8, 2015 at 6:53 PM, Ian Wilson <ianmwilson73 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> A few years back, I got part way through a receiver based
>> on the 'KCS Compactron' (in two of the last issues of GE
>> Ham News). Naturally I made some radical changes. My
>> version used a 9MHz IF (instead of 455kHz), Pullen mixers,
>> different tube lineup, etc. This had some promise but attempting
>> to use the 6AR11 (twin high-gm semiremote pentode, TV IF amp)
>> with inadequate shielding at 9MHz led to .. predictable results.
>>
>> Anyway. I don't seem to do anything with this except kick it
>> around the floor. It was built on a number of single-sided PCB
>> "modules" using ugly, er, ground-plane construction. There are
>> three 5.5"x4.5" modules and one 9.5"x6" module. There is a
>> nice premixer 16MHz VFO (high-quality air variable and ceramic former
>> variable inductor, mixed with an 11MHz xtal osc). The modules are:
>>
>> RF: 6BH11 (dual triode + pentode); 6AC10 (triple triode);
>>         VFO components and 9MHz homebrew filter
>>
>> IF: 6AR11 (dual semiremote pentode)
>>
>> BFO (9MHz)/Product detector: 6U10 (triple triode)
>>
>> Audio/AGC: 6T10 (beam power pentode + shpar cutoff pentode);
>>             6U10 triple triode; small (8W) audio output transformer
>>
>> The Compactrons were all NIB and have a few hours of
>> operation on them. The sockets are all high quality ceramic
>> 12-pin Compactron.
>>
>> I actually have schematics for all the modules (they may have
>> had work done on them but should save lots of detective work).
>>
>> I would like $15 for the set of modules plus shipping from
>> 92620. Happy to trade for something as long as it's smaller
>> and glowbug-oriented :)
>>
>> Please reply off-list. First come first served.
>>
>> 73, ian K3IMW
>>
>>


