[Johnson] [Boatanchors] Johnson Ranger VFO Access Question

[Carl]

Scott, Sprague Atoms are still using 70's technology with several values and 
the 500V and higher versions are using a pair of small modern caps in series 
stuffed inside. All you pay for is the name and they are still limited to 
85C unlike modern caps.

Xicon is very good after they got over early quality issues in the 90's, Ive 
used lots in receiver and transmitter projects.

Ive had a few no names fail on me, have read of many others. It didnt take 
long to remove them from my supplier lists.

Carl
KM1H



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Whitebear1122" <whitebear1122 at comcast.net>
To: "Carl" <km1h at jeremy.mv.com>
Cc: <johnson at mailman.qth.net>; "boatanchors" <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, December 28, 2013 2:07 PM
Subject: Re: [Johnson] [Boatanchors] Johnson Ranger VFO Access Question


Carl, I don't have any plans to 'hot rod' the Ranger, I just get it up and 
running with a smooth tuning non-jumpy vfo.  I won't even dare bring up the 
issue of tube rectifier vs solid state hi hi.  I happen to be a tube 
rectifier guy and they'll stay in.

On the modulator tubes, the 1614's in there are fine will stay in there. 
Somewhere in the distant past I  bought a pair of NOS 7027's for an earlier 
Ranger and never used them.  I'll likely sell them.

I plan to recap the paper and electrolytics since it's open and convenient. 
Ditto on the 18K resistor.  Mine is reading 22K.  When I looked at it, one 
of the bands was loose and fell off when I touched it. hi hi

On electrolytics, I have been using Xicon in the past and they've worked out 
fine.  I'd love to use Sprague Atoms but they are 2x to 3x the cost, and I'm 
not sure they are better than the Xicons or any of the newer name brand 
caps.  I don't use the 'no name' mystery caps either.

No plans for audio mods as this is a Ranger that will either be barefoot on 
CW or driving a Courier amp, not a Desk KW. I've had fine audio reports from 
my last two Ranger 1's and Ranger II's driving the Desk KW before I sold it.

Tnx, 73, Scott WA9WFA


On Dec 28, 2013, at 9:11 AM, "Carl" <km1h at jeremy.mv.com> wrote:

> After having done several Rangers I suggest leaving the tube rectifiers in 
> place as the last thing that rig needs is higher voltages. Since modern AC 
> lines are higher than when the Ranger was designed use an external bucking 
> transformer to bring it down to 110-113V. It will run much cooler in all 
> areas.
>
> Forget 6550's, NOS US brands cost more than the rig and imports are of 
> sporadic quality. The 1614 was used since they were cheap WW2/Korea 
> surplus and are simply a 6L6 that was tested at 8 mc RF, plain metal 6L6's 
> are just fine at audio and not high on audiophool lists.
>
> The use of 470K equalizing resistors is poor advice, use 100K 3W MOX which 
> will force equalization much better. AND do not use no name Chinese 
> electrolytics from the hobby grade basement vendors; stick to name brands 
> from the large distributors. Axial lead electrolytics are going away and 
> there are more choices, better prices, and later technology with the 
> radial versions.
>
> Dont get carried away with audio mods unless you want to be hard to copy. 
> Excessive bass only sounds good when you have a strong signal; with a pee 
> weak 35W of AM carrier and poor to average conditions you will need all 
> the help you can get.
>
> Bring the lows down to no more than 200 Hz and bring the highs up to about 
> 3500-4000 Hz just by changing, adding, or removing about 10 caps and 
> resistors in the audio chain. A D-104 does wonders for full audio punch 
> with its peak at that high end.
>
> If you need more power use a linear.
>
> Carl
> KM1H
>



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