[PPRAANet] FW: Local new general looking for some 'elmer help' w/ a Collins 30L-1 and a IC746

[Jim KD0KQL]

All,

  Just received this from Bryan.   I certainly hope one of you (or more) can help him out.  Thanks.
  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

73
Jim
KD0KQL



Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone



-------- Original message --------
From: kb9uzo w <kb9uzohamradio at hotmail.com>
Date: 12/26/22 10:42 PM (GMT-07:00)
To: KD0KQL at hotmail.com
Subject: Local new general looking for some 'elmer help' w/ a Collins 30L-1 and a IC746

Hey Jim

I'm Bryan Wheeler, KB9UZO

I recently upgraded to general last week. Had been a tech since the mid 90's and upgrading my license had been on the 'bucket list' for years although I've operated on ten meters within the technician's privilege on that band.

I was a firefighter for 10'ish years and have been an A/P mechanic (airframe and power plant) mechanic for 16.

This year I was diagnosed with bicuspid aortic disease and terminal heart failure at 36. Surgery has not yet been successful and I'm told I have roughly two to three years left in me if future intervention isn't successful.  So, in addition to getting my affairs in order, it was time to finally upgrade my license and enjoy HF while I still can.

I have an IC 746 (non pro) passed down to me from my grandfather who'd been a ham since the early 60's.  Due to lightning damage to my previous mast this past summer, I will not have a new mast up until next summer (40') thus my antennas including the HF dipoles reside in the attic; one 20 meter and one 10 meter dipole.

Even while using attic-based dipoles, I'm able to do .. "ok" on HF though obviously my "Eastern hemisphere reach" can be limited unless propagation on the bands is decent.

I had been planning to purchase an Ameritron 811 for quite a while (100 watts from the 746 can be limiting) but because of my last surgery, funds have been tight and Ameritron amps are rather expensive.  This week I found a Collins 301-L amplifier in NV for $280 and it should arrive the week of the first(ish).

Although I hadn't yet gotten my hands on it, the seller sent plenty of detailed pictures of the amp. Everything is in place inside the amp and it looks rather 'clean' but the AC cord had been cut previously. I am pretty confident I can find a replacement AC /power cord online though (hopefully)

Reason for reaching out to the group is twofold:  Although I've 'wrenched' on the largest, most complex aircraft in the world... I'm still a 'newbie' when it comes to communication equipment. I simply haven't the knowledge yet on amplifiers and the integration into a modern(ish) radio (746)

I'm looking to seek out mentorship from someone who has knowledge/experience with checking-out linear amplifiers, how to spec/troubleshoot this (new to me) Collins 301-L amplifier and wouldn't mind assisting me with integrating it for use with my IC 746.

I've seen plenty of buffers/keying relays on eBay which I assume will work with the Collins amp. The amp does have what appears to be an RCA; "ALC", "INPUT" and "SENSE" relay on the rear left of the cabinet and the research I've done seems to indicate it's quite possible to safely utilize a 301-L with my 746.

But again, I want to do this correctly without damaging the radio, amp or .. the QTH while ensuring its operation is clean and non-obtrusive.

Would you know of any fellow hams that might be willing to assist me with checking out the amp, putting it through its "paces" as it were, making any needed repairs and sharing with me the technical knowledge needed to operate the amp/radio safely and efficiently?

My schedule is mostly open in the late afternoon / evenings and on weekends.  I'm also looking to (hopefully) pick up a used 110 Variac transformer at one point as I *assume​* bringing an unused/stored tube amplifier alive from 'sleep' is the same as the analog aircraft I've worked on (727,MD-80,737 CLs,707 etc) where tube-based avionics can be 'shocked' (stressed/fail-- release the magic smoke) applying full-bore voltage/current after the tubes/transformers have been at rest/stored for extended periods.. or I might be wrong on that.

Anyways please feel free to reach out to me here if you or someone you know would be willing to pass along some 'Elmer knowledge' :)

73 and Happy Holidays!

Bryan Wheeler,KB9UZO