[Swan] Re: SS-16

[Mark Shaum]

>From: Dave Hollander
>The first is a Swan 500C. Would be no big deal but it has small plate
>below the main tuning that says
>SS-16B Special. Can anyone tell me what this is about as I have found
>nothing on the web on this. Here are a couple of photos.

Hi Dave!  The SS-16 is a 16 pole crystal filter option that was
available during the production of the later 500 series, 700 series and
the separate tx-rx pair receiver (the model number slips my mind at the
momemt on that receiver, 600-R?).  I remember it advertised in 73 and CQ
in the later 60's.

If the rig was ordered with that option (retrofit kits were also
available) you got the little plate for the front panel.

The filter is narrower at the nose than the stock Swan SSB filter and
has considerably steeper skirts by design.  Basically a QRM fighting
option.  It's interesting to note that the documentation with the filter
manual addendum mentions that one should not even attempt to introduce
any carrier for AM transmitting by unbalancing the balanced modulator,
as the filter is too narrow to allow enough carrier to pass through for
proper sideband-carrier balance.

If you find a cache of 8950's out there in some warehouse, let me know.
The pair in my 700 are only about half output on 20 meters, much lower
on 15 and 10,  and I"ve been nervous about buying a used pair from
ebay - luckily my 500C still puts out 250 peak watts on most bands.

73! - Mark, K9TR