[Johnson] Some more Ranger anomalies.

Wed, 17 Dec 2003 15:00:42 -0800

Hi Phil.....this response may answer all your questions...

Check the tx for PTT mic wiring. This is sort of a goofy arrangement but
it works when done correctly. It sounds to me that the vfo is still
running.
Just going from memory but there is some wiring on the operate switch
that you can check as the PTT mod was a user mod....the tx did not come
with PTT installed but I think the wiring was shown in the manual. A
relay had to be added as well.
Normally, on phone, the mode switch is in phone and the station is
controlled with the PTT switch on the mic. If the station is on rx, you
can switch the meter to modulation and watch the meter swing as you
speak. The PTT mod does not shut off the modulator.
Usually, the D-104 internal wiring is 'hot wired' meaning the mic
element is on at all times as for VOX use.
The Johnson PTT wiring is sort of confusing and it is easy to make a
wiring mistake on the mode switch wafers. As I recall, there is a strap
or two that must be added or removed...
Also, I think there was an option for zero level too.

Regards

Dave Harmon
NSRCA 586
[email protected]
Torrance, Ca.

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Philip Atchley
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2003 1:53 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Johnson] Some more Ranger anomalies.

Hi.
I have a Johnson Ranger (original) that I've been working with off and
on
for the past couple of months or so.  There were a number of "Issues"
with
this Ranger including Parasitics on 10Meters due to a tank coil that was
missing nearly a full turn due to an earlier 6 Meter mod that was since
"undone".  Every time I want to finally put this thing on the air there
seems to be some other little gremlin pops his head up.  Yes, this unit
has
been fully recapped, new filters, VFO resistor mod done and replaced etc
etc.

The setup here is the Ranger coupled with a Hammarlund HQ-110 receiver
through a Dow type antenna relay (not sure it's actually Dow).  Contacts
on
the relay open the B+ in the receiver to mute it during TX.

I REALLY want to get this thing up and running and hopefully use it on
SKN
New Years Eve (or before)!!  Anyway, thought I would do some CW on it,
probably more than I will AM and fired it up this afternoon on 20Meters.
Here are some things I've noted.

Some anomalies I see.  Are 'any' of these "normal" for a Ranger or are
they
all indicative of a deep rooted "psychosis" in the Ranger ;-)

1.  In the STBY position of the operate switch I STILL get some VFO
leakage
through to the receiver so that I hear a constant heterodyne, not
conducive
to pleasant CW operation.  A noisy band will almost cover it up but it's
still there.  With the receiver on AM I can see it on the S meter as I
tune
through it.  The Crystal/VFO switch seems to function normally in that I
get
a strong VFO signal in the Zero position.

2.  In STBY I DO still get some Parasitic oscillations on the 10M band
that
are apparently being generated by the 6146 stage as Tuning/loading
affects
it somewhat.  NOT nearly as bad as it was before I repaired the tank
coil by
putting the required wire on it to bring it back from the modification.
apparently the Final tube is NOT fully cut off in while in standby, and,
yes, the clamp tube has been changed.  BUT, it is still a problem.  CAN
A
BAD 6146 CAUSE THIS PROBLEM?  I don't have a spare right now.

3.  When in standby, if I tap the microphone I will get a loud burst of
noise from the speaker of the receiver as if the transmitter is trying
to
come on.  This has been largely eliminated by wiring the mic (D104 non
amplified type) so that the mic element is shorted until you squeeze the
grip.  However, shouldn't the transmitter NOT respond to anything picked
up
by the mic in standby?  In short, it sounds to me like the final stage
is
not getting fully cut off and this is adding to it's instability.

4.  I've gone through the keyer circuit thoroughly and can find no
problems
there that would preclude shutting the TX off in STBY (and the
capacitors in
it have been replaced).

5.  I read a -52 Volts across the handkey in either Standby or CW modes
that
seems pretty close to what I would expect.

73 from the "Beaconeers Lair".
Phil, KO6BB

DX begins at the noise floor!
[email protected]
Merced, Central California
37.18N  120.29W  CM97sh

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