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Re: Technology Change (OT)

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Mike Morrow-3

Re: Technology Change (OT)

Morgan / NJ8M wrote:

> I made a miss key ... 1625 not 1628.

Yep...in fact there was never a 1628. The 1625 is a 12.6v 807, with different base.

> ...then there was the magic EYE of the ARK 5 command transmitter.

That's the 1629. The equipment nomenclature is AN/ARC-5 (or ARA/ATA or SCR-274-N):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/ARC-5
The transmitters use a 1626 MO, two 1625 PA, and a 1629 cal indicator.

There are many many of these sets, often in near original military configuration except for some capacitor replacement, in use *today* by those who appreciate vintage technology and history. The users accept that it won't be K3S performance. :-)

> ...it was great, A J38.

The J-38 is a Morse training set key. The J-37 was used with Morse communications sets.

> I forgot my first real commercial receiver...the trusty BC454, with one touch
> of the top of the case you wire 20 KHz off freq.

The BC-454-B (3.0 to 6.0 MHz, A1/A2/A3) is not a commercial set, but a USAAF version from the command sets mentioned above...the SCR-274-N set. If your BC-454-B drifted that much, something was very very wrong with it. It was designed for use in all aircraft types under extreme mechanical vibration stress under gross temperature changes. It was pilot-tuned via a long flexible shaft. Its entire range was in seven inches of dial travel, so selectivity was deliberately very poor by post-war standards.

> Then I upgraded to the BC348.

The USAAC/AAF BC-348-* receiver (200 to 500, 1.5 to 18.0 MHz) is basically a 1936 RCA design. It was the finest aircraft radio receiver in the world during WWII. A few remained in USAF service into early 1970s.

I like the idea of a KX2 communicating effectively with a 75-year-old BC-696-A (3.0-4.0 MHz) transmitter and associated BC-454-B receiver. The latest sets like the KX2 and KX3 may be appreciated much more with knowledge of antecedent technology. The same can be said of new and (likely) transient communications modes.

To borrow from Ecclesiastes 1:4: "One ham fad passeth away, and another ham fad cometh: but CW abideth for ever."

Mike / KK5F
[With one other old-time quirk that the modern crowd doesn't share: I just can not purchase a commercial HF ham rig that lacks schematics. That violates all my ham instincts. :-) ]
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WILLIE BABER

Re: Technology Change (OT)

I'd just like to know how an ADC works and produces some measurable form of dynamic range that I can associate with what I do know and learned about dynamic range. I got started with Solid State Design for the Radio Amateur, published in 1977, where I learned about the concept of roofing filter but the concept didn't have a name. Wes and Doug were producing 100 db two tone dynamic range receivers in their homes, back in the day. Then I got hold of Wes Hayward's book and learn more about how to test receivers.

I don't enjoy radio when someone seems to explain something that is so complicated mathematically that I don't understand in comparison to what I do know, or how I enjoy what I do know. A true paradigm shift will be able to explain the new technology in terms of some mutually comparable variable that includes the old technology.

For example, I do not yet understand how Flex radio can top the chart of Sherwood's receiver table based on how two tone dynamic range is measured when I also know that Flex radio is a direct conversion radio without a way of separating the two tones of two tone dynamic range in the way that superhets do. Yes, I understand that signal separation is a delayed output based on signal sampling by the ADC but how does that process relate to two tone dynamic range? Flex radio numbers in that chart do not make sense to me in comparison to the superhet receiver numbers that do make sense to me.

Am I simply an Elecraft nut when it seems by the numbers that K3 should be ranked first (based on MDS AND dynamic range), and that there needs to be some type of conversion based on two-tone dynamic range to know where the Flex-type ADC radios would rank?

Ok, so I am a nut.

73, Will wj9b

CWops #1085
CWA Advisor levels II and III
http://cwops.org/

--------------------------------------------
On Fri, 9/23/16, Mike Morrow <[hidden email]> wrote:

Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Technology Change (OT)
To: [hidden email]
Date: Friday, September 23, 2016, 10:45 AM

Morgan / NJ8M wrote:

> I made a miss key ... 1625 not 1628.

Yep...in fact there was never a 1628. The 1625 is a
12.6v 807, with different base.

> ...then there was the magic EYE of the ARK 5 command
transmitter.

That's the 1629. The equipment nomenclature is
AN/ARC-5 (or ARA/ATA or SCR-274-N):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/ARC-5
The transmitters use a 1626 MO, two 1625 PA, and a 1629 cal
indicator.

There are many many of these sets, often in near original
military configuration except for some capacitor
replacement, in use *today* by those who appreciate vintage
technology and history. The users accept that it won't
be K3S performance. :-)

> ...it was great, A J38.

The J-38 is a Morse training set key. The J-37 was
used with Morse communications sets.

> I forgot my first real commercial receiver...the trusty
BC454, with one touch
> of the top of the case you wire 20 KHz off freq.

The BC-454-B (3.0 to 6.0 MHz, A1/A2/A3) is not a commercial
set, but a USAAF version from the command sets mentioned
above...the SCR-274-N set. If your BC-454-B drifted
that much, something was very very wrong with it. It
was designed for use in all aircraft types under extreme
mechanical vibration stress under gross temperature
changes. It was pilot-tuned via a long flexible
shaft. Its entire range was in seven inches of dial
travel, so selectivity was deliberately very poor by
post-war standards.

> Then I upgraded to the BC348.

The USAAC/AAF BC-348-* receiver (200 to 500, 1.5 to 18.0
MHz) is basically a 1936 RCA design. It was the finest
aircraft radio receiver in the world during WWII. A
few remained in USAF service into early 1970s.

I like the idea of a KX2 communicating effectively with a
75-year-old BC-696-A (3.0-4.0 MHz) transmitter and
associated BC-454-B receiver. The latest sets like the
KX2 and KX3 may be appreciated much more with knowledge of
antecedent technology. The same can be said of new and
(likely) transient communications modes.

To borrow from Ecclesiastes 1:4: "One ham fad passeth
away, and another ham fad cometh: but CW abideth for ever."

Mike / KK5F
[With one other old-time quirk that the modern crowd doesn't
share: I just can not purchase a commercial HF ham rig
that lacks schematics. That violates all my ham
instincts. :-) ]
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Michael Walker

Re: Technology Change (OT)

Can we get an OT reflector for the Elecraft group?

I know you are all wonderful people, but I already get 400 emails a day
related to ham radio forums.

many 73, mike va3mw
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Ken G Kopp

Re: Technology Change (OT)

Hi Mike?

Sounds like you need to choose what forums are most interesting / important
to you and curtail those that aren't.

73!

Ken - K0PP

On Sep 23, 2016 11:25, "Michael Walker" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Can we get an OT reflector for the Elecraft group?
>
> I know you are all wonderful people, but I already get 400 emails a day
> related to ham radio forums.
>
> many 73, mike va3mw
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

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Phil Wheeler-2

Re: Technology Change (OT)

In reply to this post by Michael Walker

Mike,

Why not build a filter and have it move anything
with OT in the title to trash? Such things work
for me :-)

But here I find the OT stuff often to be of interest.

73, Phil W7OX

On 9/23/16 10:25 AM, Michael Walker wrote:
> Can we get an OT reflector for the Elecraft group?
>
> I know you are all wonderful people, but I already get 400 emails a day
> related to ham radio forums.
>
> many 73, mike va3mw

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Nr4c

Re: Technology Change (OT)

In reply to this post by Ken G Kopp

All OT threads get old after 5-10 answers. I'm with Mike. Go off list!

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

> On Sep 23, 2016, at 1:33 PM, Ken G Kopp <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Hi Mike?
>
> Sounds like you need to choose what forums are most interesting / important
> to you and curtail those that aren't.
>
> 73!
>
> Ken - K0PP
>
>> On Sep 23, 2016 11:25, "Michael Walker" <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Can we get an OT reflector for the Elecraft group?
>>
>> I know you are all wonderful people, but I already get 400 emails a day
>> related to ham radio forums.
>>
>> many 73, mike va3mw
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
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Michael Walker

Re: Technology Change (OT)

In reply to this post by Ken G Kopp

I agree. The Elecraft one is important to me for my KRC2, W2's, KPA500 and
KX2.

73

On Fri, Sep 23, 2016 at 1:33 PM, Ken G Kopp <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi Mike?
>
> Sounds like you need to choose what forums are most interesting /
> important to you and curtail those that aren't.
>
> 73!
>
> Ken - K0PP
>
> On Sep 23, 2016 11:25, "Michael Walker" <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Can we get an OT reflector for the Elecraft group?
>>
>> I know you are all wonderful people, but I already get 400 emails a day
>> related to ham radio forums.
>>
>> many 73, mike va3mw
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
>

Grant Youngman-2

Re: Technology Change (OT)

In reply to this post by Ken G Kopp

>>
>> I know you are all wonderful people, but I already get 400 emails a day
>> related to ham radio forums.
>>

This is much like stepping into the path of a dozen speeding oncoming 18-wheelers, and then complaining that the drivers couldn’t stop in time to avoid turning you into a smudge on the pavement :-)

Grant NQ5T

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Jim Brown-10

Re: Technology Change (OT)

In reply to this post by WILLIE BABER

On Fri,9/23/2016 10:21 AM, WILLIE BABER wrote:
> I'd just like to know how an ADC works and produces some measurable form of dynamic range that I can associate with what I do know and learned about dynamic range.

Hi Will,

I think what people are saying is that an email reflector dedicated to a
specific topic (like this one) should not be a substitute for studying
either classic texts (like the ARRL Handbook or Antenna Book) or for
digging on the internet. Wikipedia is a great starting point for many
topics. There are plenty of places to study how these radios work.
Google is your friend.

As to off-topic posts in general -- every computer I've ever owned has a
delete key, and it works real well. :) That's the best reason I know of
for NOT using digest mode.

73, Jim K9YC

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