[NJARC] Star Roamer (was Reflexed Superhet?)

[NICHOLAS SENKER]

Regarding the Star Roamer, I was responding to your question of why the crystal or diode detector wasn't used more often in AA 5s to eliminate a tube and thus cut costs.  I don't intend to use the Star Roamer in the DX contest.  I agree it can't be taken seriously as a communication receiver, but it is 'cute' and interesting as a first intro into short wave.
Back to the AA 5s, it seems the 12AV6 or comparable tube served several purposes; detector, AVC, and audio amp thus merely substituting a  diode would still present problems.  I am not really familiar with a reflex design so maybe I'm not really appreciating the point you were trying to make.
Nick Senker

----- Original Message -----
From: John Ruccolo <jr6v6gt at yahoo.com>
To: New Jersey Antique Radio Club <njarc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:18:58 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: [NJARC] Star Roamer (was Reflexed Superhet?)

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Hi Nick,

I don't think the Star Roamer was a reflexed super.
But I think it did use an oscillating IF stage as a
quick-and-dirty BFO (for copying Morse Code) like the
later S-38's and lots of other entry-level
communications receiver wannabes did.

If you're thinking about using it in the DX contest, I
have one word of friendly advice: DON'T. Anything
without an RF stage in categories D and E puts you at
a serious disadvantage. I've already talked myself out
of using a similar radio, a Heath GR-64.

Someone in the club once described the Star Roamer as
"the cheesiest radio ever to have an S-meter." But the
Star Roamer *is* a cute little sucker, though. ;-)


JR


--- Al Klase <al at ar88.net> wrote:

> Visit our web site - See http://www.njarc.org
> _______________________________________________
> NICHOLAS SENKER wrote:
> 
> My Knight 'Star Roamer' uses a diode detector.  Does
> that qualify as a producion radio?
> Nick Senker
> 
> 
> Hi Nick,
> 
> I'm not sure in what context you ask this question.
> For the purposes of the DX contest, let's consider
> it category D.  I checked both the 1969 Allied
> Catalog and the Star Roamer manual
> http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/knight/str-rmr/
> Neither makes any claims that this is a
> "communications receiver."  I feel this is fair for
> this and other similar simple radios like
> Hallicrafters S-38, S-120, etc.  I don't think
> anyone with an RCA 15K or such is going to feel
> threatened.
> 
> RECEIVER CATEGORIES:
> A - Crystal radios
> B - Primitive tube receivers (homebrew also) -1 to 2
> tubes plus power supply
> C - 1920's Battery sets (homebrew also) -batteries
> or modern power supply is OK
> D – Other tube radios sold for home entertainment.
> E – Amateur, commercial, and military tube-type
> communications receivers.
> F – Transistor radios introduced before 1970.
> 
> -- 
> Al Klase – N3FRQ
> Flemington, NJ
> http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/
> 
> _______________________________________________
> NJARC mailing list
> NJARC at mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/njarc
> 



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