[Milsurplus] [Glowbugs] A dilemma...I think.

[Hue Miller]

Doing some relaxing bedtime reading last night I happened to look at some Navy publication dealing with 
radio equipment troubles reported and solutions. One page happened to talk about the Navy RBG receiver,
which is an upgraded Hammarlund HQ-129. ( Photos and restoration article,  http://www.ohio.edu/people/postr/bapix/rbg2.htm )
I’m mentioning this at this time only because of the Hammarlund receivers tie-in.
The text said that this receiver was used in ship’s conning area to monitor air-ground communications. That would be like on a 
carrier or large warship, I suppose, travelling with a carrier group. I had also previously read about the SX-28 being used for this
application – which surprised me, as that quote used the SX-28 name and not the Navy number  for it.
Anyway what was interesting about the article here, was that it took up complaints from Navy personnel – and the complaint was:
too many knobs! The solution – I don’t have the article before me right now – was to set the crystal filter and selectivity controls
where wanted, then remove the knobs. The advice also seems to have been to set the RF gain to where best, then remove the
knob, and slot the shaft for screwdriver adjustment. There is also a modification to give a squelch control.  
Removing knobs??? Very odd!
-Hue Miller