[Lowfer] midday EAR and MP and RAY6 LF converter upgrades

[Michael Sapp]

Mitch, JB & All:  Midday captures of EAR and MP after high sky noise levels last nite. 

EAR

http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag19/wa3tts/j914ear_zps2477472e.jpg


MP

http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag19/wa3tts/j914mp_zpse7314a71.jpg


I've had better mid-day numbers on both stations midday in past few weeks, the A-index was still at 39 at the time.....


Some upgrades on the RAY-6 converter....

http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag19/wa3tts/IMG_3808_zpscbb51113.jpg

I added an 8dB gain single-ended Norton 2N5109 amplifier (ratio 1:11:4 on type 75 core, 1 to 5 ratio base bias resistors)  after the OCXO output to take
the +15dBm 3.0MHz output to +23dBm.  A 3dB pad on the LO port of the RAY6
takes the LO level to +20 dBm and improves match to mixer.  From what I have read, that should put the mixer compression
point at about +19dBm.   Also have a 3dB pad between the RAY6 RF input and the W1VD
2N5109 LF amplifier, which W1JR suggested as a preferred DBM setup in an 1980s HR magazine
article.  I have a AM BC station at 730kHz that my SA shows at about -20 to -18 in the daytime on the RAY6 converter output. 
Reduced night time power on the local AM BCs (usually 10 dB)  drops the strong signal levels to around -30 to -28 at night, which
my IF radios seem to handle well enough. I do have a VE7BPO & W7ZOI design LPF in front of the converter along with a 1020 kHz
shunt for the local 50kW station 4.5 miles to the East....

Next build plan is to scale W1VD's 500kHz preselector to my 3.0 MHz IF frequency
range and place it between my magic-T IF splitter and one IF radio....but that will have to wait a few weeks.....and it looks
like I'm starting to run out of small "Bud" boxes (hi)....

73 Mike,  wa3tts