[TMC] SBE use on 80 meters

[Nick England]

Hi gang - if you have a TMC VOX (VMO Variable Master Oscillator), how
do you use your SBE to cover 80 meters?

The VMO covers 2000-4000 kc and gets mixed with the 270kc sideband
signal in the SBE (SBE-2, -3). Normally the VMO is set 270kc higher
than the desired output frequency and the lower mixer product (VMO
-270) is tuned for amplification. For desired outputs of 3730-4000 kc,
the VMO is set 270kc lower and the upper mixer product is tuned
(VMO+270) - and the sidebands are reversed of course.

I have an SBE-9 which has a 250kc local osc - the manual blithely says
tune the VMO from 2000-4250 kc for output frequencies 1750-4000 kc,
with no mention of the flip-flop as in the earlier SBE manual. But my
VMO don't tune up to 4250 (unless I double from 2125). This would be a
major PITA when moving from below to above 3750kc (not just retuning,
but turning the VMO dial about 15,000 turns).

So, with that background, does anyone see any reason I can't just
cover the whole 80 meter band by tuning the VMO from 3250-3750 and
always tuning to the high side of the mixer product? Yeah the
sidebands are flipped and the MF tuning dial will be off, but so what.

And yeah, I know I could just hook up my HP signal generator and
forget about the VOX, but what's the fun in that? The whole point of
TMC-ness is Heavy Metal and lots of it!
http://www.navy-radio.com/misc/shack.htm

cheers,
Nick K4NYW