[Heathkit] Heathkit Digest, Vol 112, Issue 24

Tue May 28 17:25:12 EDT 2013

Hi. Here's my "dumb question of the day". I have used several of N3ZI's digital dial kits with great success. I asked Doug about using one of his DDS kits to use as a 'crystal substitute' for my collection of Drake receivers. The hope is that it would work for the outrageously priced devices that can be used with said receivers.
I know that there was a similar 'Drake' synthesizer in QST a while back, however, I would like to purchase a complete solution (kit) instead of chasing parts, programming PICs, etc.
Hey, I'm retired, I ain't got enough spare time! ha ha

tnx
ron
N4UE

-----Original Message-----
From: heathkit-request <heathkit-request at mailman.qth.net>
To: heathkit <heathkit at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tue, May 28, 2013 3:33 pm
Subject: Heathkit Digest, Vol 112, Issue 24

Send Heathkit mailing list submissions to
	heathkit at mailman.qth.net

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
	http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/heathkit
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
	heathkit-request at mailman.qth.net

You can reach the person managing the list at
	heathkit-owner at mailman.qth.net

When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Heathkit digest..."

Today's Topics:

   1. Modern VFO? (L L bahr)
   2. Re: Modern VFO? (Ed - K9EW)
   3. Modern VFO (k2cby)
   4. Heathkit GW11 (Jim Pruitt)
   5. Re: Modern VFO? (Bill Cromwell)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Mon, 27 May 2013 13:07:59 -0400 (EDT)
From: L L bahr  <pulsarxp at embarqmail.com>
To: heathkit at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Heathkit] Modern VFO?
Message-ID:
	<1785367239.685956.1369674479547.JavaMail.root at md35.embarq.synacor.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

I've been thinking about acquiring a modern SS Digital VFO to drive my old 
Heathkit transmitters such as a DX-60, DX-100, etc. I know there are a few on 
the market.  What has been stopping me is the display most likely will show the 
output frequency of the VFO rather then the rigs operating frequency.  This kind 
of turns me off to the idea. 

I'm curious to know what others have done who have gone ahead of me on all this.  
Right now I use crystals and old Heathkit VFOs and they are OK.  I have even 
built up a separate power supply for the VFO which helps out with the chirp.  
I'm just thinking it would be great to have an almost zero drift VFO which shows 
the actual transmitters output frequency rather then just the VFO frequency. Any 
of you chaps doing this right now?  I'd be interested in knowing what you did.

Lee, w0vt

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Mon, 27 May 2013 13:13:02 -0500
From: Ed - K9EW <k9ew57 at gmail.com>
To: L L bahr <pulsarxp at embarqmail.com>, heathkit at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Heathkit] Modern VFO?
Message-ID:
	<CALoUX64mEd1CjScG=V8+aRdGmTSCmqXnJD=n_PJEOdtrf03HSA at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

>
> Hi Lee,
>
> I've used a couple of different DDS-type signal sources as a VFO for my
> boatanchor rigs, including a DX-20, and DX-60.
>
> The DDS sources are usually set up to either *display* (not read)
> frequency directly, or to incorporate an offset if the transmitter does any
> mixing of the VFO signal to get the desired transmit signal.  Although
> you're still *displaying* (not reading) the transmit frequency, you can
> do a calibration correction so that the display will read the same as a
> counter.
>
> Hope that answers your question.
>
> 73,
> ed - k9ew
>
>
>
> On Mon, May 27, 2013 at 12:07 PM, L L bahr <pulsarxp at embarqmail.com>wrote:
>
>> I've been thinking about acquiring a modern SS Digital VFO to drive my
>> old Heathkit transmitters such as a DX-60, DX-100, etc. I know there are a
>> few on the market.  What has been stopping me is the display most likely
>> will show the output frequency of the VFO rather then the rigs operating
>> frequency.  This kind of turns me off to the idea.
>>
>> I'm curious to know what others have done who have gone ahead of me on
>> all this.  Right now I use crystals and old Heathkit VFOs and they are OK.
>>  I have even built up a separate power supply for the VFO which helps out
>> with the chirp.  I'm just thinking it would be great to have an almost zero
>> drift VFO which shows the actual transmitters output frequency rather then
>> just the VFO frequency. Any of you chaps doing this right now?  I'd be
>> interested in knowing what you did.
>>
>> Lee, w0vt
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Heathkit mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/heathkit
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:Heathkit at mailman.qth.net
>>
>> List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF
>> ** For Assistance: dfischer at usol.com **
>>
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>
>

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Mon, 27 May 2013 17:22:36 -0400
From: k2cby <k2cby at optonline.net>
To: heathkit at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Heathkit] Modern VFO
Message-ID: <E6EFB9FBC28844CD9108A759F098BF4D at milesdesk>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I was lucky enough to get one of the NorCal direct synthesis digital VFO
kits while they were still selling them several years ago. I have used it
with great success to drive a Viking I AM-CW rig, and I am now planning to
use it with my Heathkit SB-301/SB-401 combination on SSB.

The great advantage of that particular kit is that you can program the
display for almost any conversion scheme (HFO-VFO, HFO+VFO, VFO-HFO, VFO x
2, VFO x 3, VFO x 4, etc.). The other benefit is that you can program a
different conversion scheme for each band, with a couple of spare channels.

As Ed, K9EW, pointed out the display does not show the transmitted frequency
but a mathematical function of the VFO output.

The down-side to this and most other synthesized VFOs is that they don't
have enough oomph to drive a tube transmitter, although this can be cured by
adding a post-amplifier.

While the NorCal kit is no longer available, there are others on the market.
Jim Haggerty, (WA1FFL.COM) sells one - and also published the circuit for a
driver amp (which he also sells) in June 2011 CQ. EBay also shows several
for sale from the Far East.

Miles B. Anderson, K2CBY
16 Round Pond Lane
Sag Harbor, NY 11963
Tel.: (631) 725-4400

Fax.: (631) 725-2223
e-mail: k2cby at optonline.net 

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Mon, 27 May 2013 17:04:16 -0700
From: "Jim Pruitt" <wa7duy at charter.net>
To: "Heathkit" <heathkit at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [Heathkit] Heathkit GW11
Message-ID: <6CED3324A9784D27A668D46A339C326A at PRUITT1>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

Does anyone have any information on a Heathkit GW11?  Did it also come with 
a multivibrator?

Thank you.

Jim Pruitt

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Tue, 28 May 2013 08:04:00 -0400
From: Bill Cromwell <wrcromwell at gmail.com>
To: heathkit at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Heathkit] Modern VFO?
Message-ID: <51A49D30.1050900 at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Hi Lee,

I rely on my receiver to determine my operating frequency and to 
determine if I am in or out of a band. My old boat anchor transmitters 
have *approximate* dial calibration and would be satisfactory with only 
a logging scale on the VFO knob/dial. In operation I am going to find 
somebody calling CQ or find and an empty place and then net the 
transmitter. The transmitter is NOT telling me my operating frequency 
but instead that information is from the receiver. My gear is setup to 
monitor my transmitter in place of an audio sidetone generator.

I'm working on a homebrew version of a Hallicrafters HA-5. The 
oscillators run all the time but are nowhere near the operating 
frequency until the mixer is keyed on with the transmitter or the spot 
switch. In the receivers I have either the cpu showing what it "thinks" 
(aka guesses) the radio is set to or uses a digital frequency counter 
with up/down counting/combining of all the oscillators involved. The 
accuracy of both is checked against WWV often (aka daily). I am also 
looking at the DDS solutions for new projects.

73,

Bill  KU8H

On 05/27/2013 01:07 PM, L L bahr wrote:
> I've been thinking about acquiring a modern SS Digital VFO to drive my old 
Heathkit transmitters such as a DX-60, DX-100, etc. I know there are a few on 
the market.  What has been stopping me is the display most likely will show the 
output frequency of the VFO rather then the rigs operating frequency.  This kind 
of turns me off to the idea.
>
> I'm curious to know what others have done who have gone ahead of me on all 
this.  Right now I use crystals and old Heathkit VFOs and they are OK.  I have 
even built up a separate power supply for the VFO which helps out with the 
chirp.  I'm just thinking it would be great to have an almost zero drift VFO 
which shows the actual transmitters output frequency rather then just the VFO 
frequency. Any of you chaps doing this right now?  I'd be interested in knowing 
what you did.
>
> Lee, w0vt
>

------------------------------

______________________________________________________________
Heathkit mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/heathkit
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Heathkit at mailman.qth.net

List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF
** For Assistance: dfischer at usol.com **

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

End of Heathkit Digest, Vol 112, Issue 24
*****************************************