[Milsurplus] Tek Scopes

Sat Sep 9 20:34:24 EDT 2006

It's sort of akin to earlier IFR service montiors.
CRT for my IFR-1000S is no longer available.  It
has some problems, but I certainly can't afford
to have it fixed or calibrated.

Mac - K2GKK/5

----Original Message Follows----
From: "Ralph Cameron" <ramcam at magma.ca>
To: <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [Milsurplus] Tek Scopes
Date: Sat, 9 Sep 2006 20:06:01 -0400

Been away so just read those items about Tek Scopes.
I worked for Tek for 20 years and the 465/475/485 were the real workhorses 
as was the 454 and even the 545B.  Often heard the military guys tried to 
calibrate their glidescopes with the time base from the 545( which was out 
of cal.) and had near fatalities.

The progress from analog to digital storage and single shot storage ( with 
FFT) to 1 Ghz was amazing . The laser people loved them. Of course when you 
pay $13K U.S. for a replacement CRT using microchannel plate technology , 
you want to be careful topack the scope well when having it recal'd.

Tek progressed to using color monitors coupled with digital storage. That 
gave the best contrast ratio as well as colour presentation and it didn't 
cost and arm and leg to replace.

There was one high end scope that was made for Tek in France that had 10Ghz 
bandwidth and used fiber optic coupling to the deflection plates, to reduce 
transit time. It was made to mil spec and cost about $150K Can. $. The only 
one I sold 20 years ago is still operating.

If you've been to the Baltimore flea market, some east coast rental 
companies are sellingl 400,500 series scopes and 7000 series mainframes and 
plug in for peanuts so having students work on them may be cost effective. 
Of course, if they had to use silver solder , they may be in for a surprise.

73

Ralph Cameron
VE3BBM
----- Original Message ----- From: <milsurplus-request at mailman.qth.net>
To: <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, September 03, 2006 11:19 PM
Subject: Milsurplus Digest, Vol 29, Issue 5

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>
>Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Re: parting rigs (J. Forster)
>   2. Re: parting rigs (J. Forster)
>   3. Re: parting rigs (J. Forster)
>   4. Re: parting rigs (Scott Johnson)
>   5. RE: parting rigs (Ed Zeranski)
>   6. RE: Recent Tek scopes (gl4d21a at juno.com)
>   7. Re: Recent Tek scopes (J. Forster)
>   8. what "ARC-5" stuff is (Eric Jones)
>   9. Re: +AFs-Milsurplus+AF0- what +ACI-ARC-5+ACI- stuff is
>      (Brian McQueen)
>  10. RE: what "ARC-5" stuff is (WF2U)
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Message: 1
>Date: Sun, 03 Sep 2006 17:34:13 -0400
>From: "J. Forster" <jfor at quik.com>
>Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] parting rigs
>To: Hue Miller <kargo_cult at msn.com>
>Cc: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
>Message-ID: <44FB4A55.94603B9E at quik.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
>Hue Miller wrote:
>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "J. Forster" <jfor at quik.com>
>>
>> > I have seen current, working Tektronix scopes donated to
>> > vocational schools for the students to practice soldering on. Both > 
>>things are
>> > vandalism, IMO.
>>
>>Do you mean by "current" scopes, models such as TEK 465 and later?
>>Or the old tube monsters?
>
>465B, 7704A, 7904A, ........-John
>
>>If the former, that's a  waste of resources, but they're hardly rare or
>>collectible, and probably never will be, except maybe to retain an example 
>>or
>>two for a "history of scopes" display.
>>If the latter, maybe a few examples should be retained somewhere in a 
>>display
>>also,  but very, very  few people find these huge tube scopes have the 
>>allure
>>of  historical associations  that make  them interesting, desirable 
>>collectibles.
>>So i don't understand your scope example.
>>-Hue Miller
>
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 2
>Date: Sun, 03 Sep 2006 17:41:17 -0400
>From: "J. Forster" <jfor at quik.com>
>Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] parting rigs
>To: Hue Miller <kargo_cult at msn.com>
>Cc: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
>Message-ID: <44FB4BFD.971BF989 at quik.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
>Five years ago, they were $3 at fleas. Now an unmodified one with good 
>paint often
>goes for $100 on eBay, especially with nice canvas. The internal decals are 
>often in
>bad shape and some battery leads are often missing.
>
>-John
>
>
>Hue Miller wrote:
>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "J. Forster" <jfor at quik.com>
>>
>> > I wonder how many BC-1066s were bought and stripped for their case and 
>> > dials?
>> > Sadly far too many, IMO.
>> > -John
>>
>>Are there a lot of  historical-oriented collectors out there who long to 
>>have a
>>BC-1066 in their collection, so that prices have gone astronomical?  Or 
>>are there
>>maybe approximately "enough" BC-1066's in existance still? -Hue Miller
>>
>>______________________________________________________________
>>Milsurplus mailing list
>>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/milsurplus
>>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>Post: mailto:Milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
>
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 3
>Date: Sun, 03 Sep 2006 17:44:04 -0400
>From: "J. Forster" <jfor at quik.com>
>Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] parting rigs
>To: D C *Mac* Macdonald <k2gkk at hotmail.com>
>Cc: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
>Message-ID: <44FB4CA3.BAA09276 at quik.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
>I didn't mention this occurred about 20 years ago, when 7000s and 465Bs 
>were
>VERY sought after.
>-John
>
>D C *Mac* Macdonald wrote:
>
>>The 465 is hardly current.  Many parts are not available
>>any more to repair them and when they don't work,
>>FAA (where I work) simply junks them.
>>
>>Mac - K2GKK
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 4
>Date: Sun, 03 Sep 2006 15:42:43 -0700
>From: Scott Johnson <scottjohnson1 at cox.net>
>Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] parting rigs
>To: jfor at quik.com
>Cc: D C *Mac* Macdonald <k2gkk at hotmail.com>,
>milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
>Message-ID: <44FB5A63.2070209 at cox.net>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
>Speaking of Tek scopes, I have a very large collection, dating back to
>the 511 with an engineering serial #, up through current the current
>day.  I would be willing to give away many of these treasures to a
>loving home.  I have on the order of 500 pieces, including 500 series,
>560 series, 7000 series, 11000 series, and 300 series.  If you guys are
>truly interested, contact me.  I do not have time to pack, so if you
>need them shipped, you will have to pay for professional packing.  I
>have a reliable packer and shipper I use.  Otherwise, pick up in the
>Phoenix area.  Please! no audiophiles hunting for Bugle Boy tubes
>or guys looking to scrap them for gold., most of these are very nice and
>a large percentage work.
>
>regards,
>Scott
>
>J. Forster wrote:
>>I didn't mention this occurred about 20 years ago, when 7000s and 465Bs 
>>were
>>VERY sought after.
>>-John
>>
>>D C *Mac* Macdonald wrote:
>>
>>
>>>The 465 is hardly current.  Many parts are not available
>>>any more to repair them and when they don't work,
>>>FAA (where I work) simply junks them.
>>>
>>>Mac - K2GKK
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>______________________________________________________________
>>Milsurplus mailing list
>>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/milsurplus
>>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>Post: mailto:Milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
>>
>>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 5
>Date: Sun, 3 Sep 2006 17:02:09 -0700
>From: "Ed Zeranski" <ezeran at ezeran.cnc.net>
>Subject: RE: [Milsurplus] parting rigs
>To: "Scott Johnson" <scottjohnson1 at cox.net>, <jfor at quik.com>
>Cc: D C *Mac* Macdonald <k2gkk at hotmail.com>,
>milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
>Message-ID: <EMEPKDEJDNHEMLEAHGKHGEMMDDAA.ezeran at ezeran.cnc.net>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>
>
>While on the scope subject Tek 2465 and 2467 models from the late '80s &
>'90s are showing up on the used market. Nice analog tools for the home
>lab/shop, especially the 2467B.
>
>EdZ
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 6
>Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2006 01:14:31 GMT
>From: "gl4d21a at juno.com" <gl4d21a at juno.com>
>Subject: RE: [Milsurplus] Recent Tek scopes
>To: ezeran at ezeran.cnc.net
>Cc: jfor at quik.com, k2gkk at hotmail.com, milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
>Message-ID: <20060903.181529.752.216394 at webmail08.nyc.untd.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain
>
>I get nervous about Tek scopes from the 80s and 90s.  There are some
>models with overstressed custom ICs which have gone bye bye.  2445
>comes to mind, but I may have the 2s and 4s mixed up.  Same
>unobtanium as many WW2 repair parts.  How many more contain incipient
>failures waiting for the next power on?  Save your pennies and think
>LCD.
>
>I have reproduced the intermediate voltage tripler module for the 335
>for which there are no replacements available.  Handful of high
>voltage Schottky rectifiers and 3 kV disc ceramics and high voltage
>potting material.  Anyone adventurous with a 335 with dead 3 kV
>supply who wants to play with that voltage, contact me off the
>reflector for info.  Can't help with those wideband driver amplifiers
>and electronic switches, though.
>
>73,
>George
>W5VPQ
>
>
>________________________________________________________________________
>Try Juno Platinum for Free! Then, only $9.95/month!
>Unlimited Internet Access with 1GB of Email Storage.
>Visit http://www.juno.com/value to sign up today!
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 7
>Date: Sun, 03 Sep 2006 22:23:16 -0400
>From: "J. Forster" <jfor at quik.com>
>Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Recent Tek scopes
>To: "gl4d21a at juno.com" <gl4d21a at juno.com>
>Cc: ezeran at ezeran.cnc.net, k2gkk at hotmail.com,
>milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
>Message-ID: <44FB8E14.9589BD30 at quik.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
>The older scopes are a lot more repairable than those with CCDs in them. 
>There
>were also lots made and there are lots around. There are also several good 
>spare
>parts sources.
>
>-John
>
>
>
>gl4d21a at juno.com wrote:
>
>>I get nervous about Tek scopes from the 80s and 90s.  There are some
>>models with overstressed custom ICs which have gone bye bye.  2445
>>comes to mind, but I may have the 2s and 4s mixed up.  Same
>>unobtanium as many WW2 repair parts.  How many more contain incipient
>>failures waiting for the next power on?  Save your pennies and think
>>LCD.
>>
>>I have reproduced the intermediate voltage tripler module for the 335
>>for which there are no replacements available.  Handful of high
>>voltage Schottky rectifiers and 3 kV disc ceramics and high voltage
>>potting material.  Anyone adventurous with a 335 with dead 3 kV
>>supply who wants to play with that voltage, contact me off the
>>reflector for info.  Can't help with those wideband driver amplifiers
>>and electronic switches, though.
>>
>>73,
>>George
>>W5VPQ
>
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 8
>Date: Sun, 3 Sep 2006 21:38:13 -0500
>From: "Eric Jones" <ejones at hiwaay.net>
>Subject: [Milsurplus] what "ARC-5" stuff is
>To: <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
>Message-ID: <000301c6cfcb$a203b320$0541b4d8 at ejones>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-7"
>
>de N4TGC Eric
>
>It seems I must apologize - I did not realize so many on the milsurp list 
>didn't
>know what ARC-5 type equipment is, and don't recognize the nomenclature. So
>here goes:
>
>The BC-459-A is a natural-aluminum-finish crystal-controlled transmitter, 
>part
>of WW2 Navy aircraft sets known as SCR-274-N.  It covers 7-9.1 mc (i.e., 40
>meters), has a trio of octal sockets along the back shelf, one for a 
>+ACM-1629
>tuning eye, a 1626 triode oscillator, and the crystal which controls it,
>(under)driving a pair of 1625 tetrode tubes mounted amidships.  It normally
>plugged into a rack with other +ACI-Command+ACI- tx's of different 
>frequencies.  The
>correct socket on the back, a mica job, has been removed, and an octal put 
>in -
>see my ad for mention of the other externally visible mods.  I haven't 
>opened it
>yet, but there's not a host of holes blown in the chassis, so I have hopes 
>...
>there should be numerous photos online of what they looked like originally.
>Just google on BC-459-A, or Command Sets, or ARC-5, or SCR-274-N, or some
>variations thereof.
>
>The other two rigs are receivers, neither of which would have been used 
>directly
>with the tx.  The one covering 190-550kc was for navigation+ADs- the other, 
>1.5-3mc,
>the 160-meter band.  This one is quite rare, being an early model, of the 
>ARA
>system which preceeded the ARC-5 and SCR-274-N series.
>
>I'm sure I managed to mangle this sketch, but it would take WAY too much 
>b/w for
>me to give Command set history and the gazillion models and variations 
>within.
>Now +ACo-there's+ACo- something I bet's online: Command set history+ACE-
>
>I'll go ahead and open these up and clean around on them and take some 
>.jpg's.
>This will take me a week or two (doesn't everything?+ACE-)
>
>To Bill:  yep, I gotcher pix.  Pleased to see your progress in bringing one 
>back
>to life.  Maybe we can work a deal where you get the HV cover off this 459 
>...
>e
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 9
>Date: Sun, 3 Sep 2006 22:19:55 -0500
>From: "Brian McQueen" <brianm at carsoncomm.net>
>Subject: [Milsurplus] Re: +AFs-Milsurplus+AF0- what +ACI-ARC-5+ACI-
>stuff is
>To: "Eric Jones" <ejones at hiwaay.net>, <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
>Message-ID: <005601c6cfd0$feb8a9e0$96cc14d0 at carsoncomm.net>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-7"
>
>Whooaa - And to think that after all these years I've been using my BC-
>459-A as a VFO oscillator xmitter and using that silly crystal as a
>frequency reference for dial accuracy.  And to think, all this time I was
>actually working CW on 8.000 Mcs.... Don't I feel like the dork+ACE-
>And how did I ever end up with an original wrinkle black BC-459-A?  Must be
>a Navy spy.
>
>Now found to be ARC-5 'rock controlled',
>Brian     wj0p
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: +ACI-Eric Jones+ACI- 
>+ADw-ejones+AEA-hiwaay.net+AD4-
>To: +ADw-milsurplus+AEA-mailman.qth.net+AD4-
>Sent: Sunday, September 03, 2006 9:38 PM
>Subject: +AFs-Milsurplus+AF0- what +ACI-ARC-5+ACI- stuff is
>
>
>+AD4- de N4TGC Eric
>+AD4-
>+AD4- It seems I must apologize - I did not realize so many on the milsurp 
>list
>didn't
>+AD4- know what ARC-5 type equipment is, and don't recognize the 
>nomenclature.
>So
>+AD4- here goes:
>+AD4-
>+AD4- The BC-459-A is a natural-aluminum-finish crystal-controlled 
>transmitter,
>part
>+AD4- of WW2 Navy aircraft sets known as SCR-274-N.  It covers 7-9.1 mc 
>(i.e.,
>40
>+AD4- meters), has a trio of octal sockets along the back shelf, one for a 
>+ACM-1629
>+AD4- tuning eye, a 1626 triode oscillator, and the crystal which controls 
>it,
>+AD4- (under)driving a pair of 1625 tetrode tubes mounted amidships.  It
>normally
>+AD4- plugged into a rack with other +ACI-Command+ACI- tx's of different 
>frequencies.
>The
>+AD4- correct socket on the back, a mica job, has been removed, and an 
>octal put
>in -
>+AD4- see my ad for mention of the other externally visible mods.  I 
>haven't
>opened it
>+AD4- yet, but there's not a host of holes blown in the chassis, so I have 
>hopes
>...
>+AD4- there should be numerous photos online of what they looked like
>originally.
>+AD4- Just google on BC-459-A, or Command Sets, or ARC-5, or SCR-274-N, or 
>some
>+AD4- variations thereof.
>+AD4-
>+AD4- The other two rigs are receivers, neither of which would have been 
>used
>directly
>+AD4- with the tx.  The one covering 190-550kc was for navigation+ADs- the 
>other,
>1.5-3mc,
>+AD4- the 160-meter band.  This one is quite rare, being an early model, of 
>the
>ARA
>+AD4- system which preceeded the ARC-5 and SCR-274-N series.
>+AD4-
>+AD4- I'm sure I managed to mangle this sketch, but it would take WAY too 
>much
>b/w for
>+AD4- me to give Command set history and the gazillion models and 
>variations
>within.
>+AD4- Now +ACo-there's+ACo- something I bet's online: Command set 
>history+ACE-
>+AD4-
>+AD4- I'll go ahead and open these up and clean around on them and take 
>some
>.jpg's.
>+AD4- This will take me a week or two (doesn't everything?+ACE-)
>+AD4-
>+AD4- To Bill:  yep, I gotcher pix.  Pleased to see your progress in 
>bringing
>one back
>+AD4- to life.  Maybe we can work a deal where you get the HV cover off 
>this 459
>...
>+AD4- e
>+AD4-
>+AD4- 
>+AF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXw-
>+AD4- Milsurplus mailing list
>+AD4- Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/milsurplus
>+AD4- Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>+AD4- Post: mailto:Milsurplus+AEA-mailman.qth.net
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 10
>Date: Sun, 3 Sep 2006 23:18:11 -0400
>From: "WF2U" <wf2u at starband.net>
>Subject: RE: [Milsurplus] what "ARC-5" stuff is
>To: "Eric Jones" <ejones at hiwaay.net>, <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
>Message-ID: <NABBLNEJDDKECLKHCAAPKEAHMBAA.wf2u at starband.net>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-7"
>
>One caveat: the ARC-5, although similar to the SCR-274N, is not identical 
>to it, and the system components are not interchangeable, due to some 
>differences in pinouts of connectors, and some differences in other 
>components, like   modulators, control boxes, etc. The BC-459A you 
>mentioned is a component of the SCR-274N set, while the ARC-5 system 
>transmitter covering the same range is the T-22/ARC-5. The MD-7/ARC-5 
>modulator/dynamotor power supply is a plate modulator, whereas the 
>BC-456/SCR-274N is a screen modulator.
>
>You can join the ARC-5 mailing list, which deals with all the variants of 
>the Command Set series, at
>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/arc5
>
>73, Meir WF2U
>Landrum, SC
>
>+AD4- -----Original Message-----
>+AD4- From: milsurplus-bounces+AEA-mailman.qth.net
>+AD4- +AFs-mailto:milsurplus-bounces+AEA-mailman.qth.net+AF0-On Behalf Of 
>Eric Jones
>+AD4- Sent: Sunday, September 03, 2006 10:38 PM
>+AD4- To: milsurplus+AEA-mailman.qth.net
>+AD4- Subject: +AFs-Milsurplus+AF0- what +ACI-ARC-5+ACI- stuff is
>+AD4-
>+AD4-
>+AD4- de N4TGC Eric
>+AD4-
>+AD4- It seems I must apologize - I did not realize so many on the
>+AD4- milsurp list didn't
>+AD4- know what ARC-5 type equipment is, and don't recognize the
>+AD4- nomenclature.  So
>+AD4- here goes:
>+AD4-
>+AD4- The BC-459-A is a natural-aluminum-finish crystal-controlled
>+AD4- transmitter, part
>+AD4- of WW2 Navy aircraft sets known as SCR-274-N.  It covers 7-9.1 mc
>+AD4- (i.e., 40
>+AD4- meters), has a trio of octal sockets along the back shelf, one for a 
>+ACM-1629
>+AD4- tuning eye, a 1626 triode oscillator, and the crystal which controls 
>it,
>+AD4- (under)driving a pair of 1625 tetrode tubes mounted amidships.
>+AD4- It normally
>+AD4- plugged into a rack with other +ACI-Command+ACI- tx's of different
>+AD4- frequencies.  The
>+AD4- correct socket on the back, a mica job, has been removed, and an
>+AD4- octal put in -
>+AD4- see my ad for mention of the other externally visible mods.  I
>+AD4- haven't opened it
>+AD4- yet, but there's not a host of holes blown in the chassis, so I
>+AD4- have hopes ...
>+AD4- there should be numerous photos online of what they looked like
>+AD4- originally.
>+AD4- Just google on BC-459-A, or Command Sets, or ARC-5, or SCR-274-N, or 
>some
>+AD4- variations thereof.
>+AD4-
>+AD4- The other two rigs are receivers, neither of which would have
>+AD4- been used directly
>+AD4- with the tx.  The one covering 190-550kc was for navigation+ADs- the
>+AD4- other, 1.5-3mc,
>+AD4- the 160-meter band.  This one is quite rare, being an early
>+AD4- model, of the ARA
>+AD4- system which preceeded the ARC-5 and SCR-274-N series.
>+AD4-
>+AD4- I'm sure I managed to mangle this sketch, but it would take WAY
>+AD4- too much b/w for
>+AD4- me to give Command set history and the gazillion models and
>+AD4- variations within.
>+AD4- Now +ACo-there's+ACo- something I bet's online: Command set 
>history+ACE-
>+AD4-
>+AD4- I'll go ahead and open these up and clean around on them and take
>+AD4- some .jpg's.
>+AD4- This will take me a week or two (doesn't everything?+ACE-)
>+AD4-
>+AD4- To Bill:  yep, I gotcher pix.  Pleased to see your progress in
>+AD4- bringing one back
>+AD4- to life.  Maybe we can work a deal where you get the HV cover off
>+AD4- this 459 ...
>+AD4- e
>+AD4-
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>______________________________________________________________
>Milsurplus mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/milsurplus
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>Post: mailto:Milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
>
>
>End of Milsurplus Digest, Vol 29, Issue 5
>*****************************************
>

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