[Johnson] Ranger VFO Access Question

[Bill Cromwell]

On Wed, 2012-12-19 at 20:47 -0500, Roy Morgan wrote:
> On Dec 18, 2012, at 10:10 PM, Roy Morgan wrote:
> 
> > ...  there has been identified a problem resulting in drift,  
> > instability and warble in the VFO, especially on 40 meters ...
> 
> Johnson folks,
> 
> The web site where I Iearned about this is:
> 
> Johnson VFO chirp frequency jump
> http://www.w8ji.com/johnson_vfo_chirp_jump.htm


Thanks,

I have quite a bit of material on the Ranger but this is the first I
have seen about those Insulating washers! We can be pretty sure mine
won't have those much longer. The symptoms they are supposed get rid are
present to some degree in my Ranger. I wouldn't complain if doing that
fixed *all* the problems.

I haven't done the AM mods for mine as I use it only for CW. I have even
removed the audio tubes. That might change in future but for now I would
be delighted to have the Ranger behave itself on 40 meters.

Info at that site warns us to NOT use the T-R swicth with a solid state
receiver. Too late. I have already done so and did not suffer any
trouble. The article he wrote mentioned 700 watts of output power from
the transmitter. Not from *MY* transmitter. I have only ever used it
with the Ranger. I might use it with my DX-100 - still far, far from 700
watts. But you can bet your boots I will be looking closely with the
DX-100 before I connect that receiver to it. I used a similar,
homebrewed T-R switch with a 90 watt output transmitter and a solid
state receiver in the past for about a year with no trouble. I've had
thoughts of big tubes and kilovolts here lately so I'll keep that
warning in mind!

73,

Bill  KU8H