[Johnson] Valiant Chirp - longish post

[Al Parker]

Hi Chris,
    I had  much the same 40m chirp problem with my Valiant in Dec. 2007. 
I'm looking for my info on it, thought I'd put it on a webpage, but can't 
find it.  Did fix it, tho'.
    Word of caution, if you get into it, be very careful of the VFO shaft 
coupling.  Loosen it before you turn the rig up on it's side, or block it up 
so you don't rest any weight on the front panel when it's on it's side.
    I'll get bk with you shortly.  Also have a bunch of various notes on 
Valiant stuff I've saved that I can send you.
73,
Al, W8UT
New Bern, NC
www.boatanchors.org
www.hammarlund.info

"there is nothing -absolutely nothing- half as much worth doing as simply 
messing about in boats."
   Ratty, to Mole


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Kepus" <ckepus at comcast.net>
To: <johnson at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2009 4:18 AM
Subject: [Johnson] Valiant Chirp - longish post


>I tried a newly acquired Valiant on CW for the first time tonight to get in
> a few SKN QSOs and not let the CW get too rusty.  Well, this Valiant seems
> to work just fine on 160 and 75 AM.  It has been modded for better quality
> AM and it sure gets some very nice reports.  So on to the chirp.  Tonight 
> I
> tuned up on the dummy load at 7050, switched over to the Windom, and 
> spruced
> up the dip and loading while adjusting the SA-2060 for low SWR.  All 
> seemed
> to be ducky.  I was able to load to 450 ma, all other currents seemed just
> fine, the grid current was steady at 8 ma.  Keyed the rig a few times and
> tweaked the loading and then.nothing.  No grid current, no buffer current,
> no plate current..etc.  Switched the Plate SW off.  Scratched my head. 
> OK,
> let's try it again.  On with the plate SW.  OK, grid current, plate
> current..Opps.again nothing.  no grid current, no buffer current, no plate
> current..etc.  Off went the plate switch.  More head scratching.  This 
> just
> doesn't make any sense.  One more time.  On with the plate SW.  OK, grid
> current, plate current.  Hmmm.  All seems OK.  So I listened, found an 
> empty
> frequency, and called a quick CQ SKN.   A W5 came back and gave me a 569C 
> .
> I was using a SX-100 to monitor my signal and another receiver for the QSO
> which was muted by a relay when the plate switch was on.  This isn't the
> best set up SX-100 in the world but it hears OK.  So with the sensitivity
> cranked down, it served easily as a monitor.  But I attributed the chirpy
> signal I was monitoring to overloading the rx or something going on in the
> SX-100 that needed fixing.  Turns out the receiver is just fine!  But I 
> have
> a real bad chirp I need to fix.   AFAIK, the Valiant keying circuit was 
> not
> modified.  Before I extract the beast from its case, is there anything in
> regard to the tuning or loading that would enhance a chirp?  Is there
> anything in particular that would be suspect in causing a chirp?  Do
> Valiants normally chirp?
>
> Any and all comments will be appreciated.
>
> 73 and Happy New Year
>
> Chris
>
> W7JPG
>
>
>
>


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