The AM Forum

Hi:

I am trying to find out info about this radio that a friend has. It came from the Coast Guard and was used to receive RTTY.

There are no manufacturer markings, serial
numbers, or model number. There are no markings on the 19 inch
rack mount either. The oscillator looks like a typical Collins PTO. It
has the large style BNC RF connector. Other markings on the long
cans are: 53 KHz IF amp, 1650Khz IF amp, Second osc/freq. div.
Field changes/mods: #2 Type 1.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Dan
W1DAN

 

Another photo

And another one

the last one

That's a new one on me, but I'd suspect either TMC or possibly Hammarlund lineage looking at the gold anodized chassis, connectors, and construction style.  Hammarlund and Hallicrafters both used 50/1650 KC IFs; TMC did not to my knowledge.

73 John

to:  w1dan
fm:  sv1cdx
ref yr request abt a ''mystery receiver'', posted  4 yrs ago i'm no sure if you found out
any details. As an owner of four of them -original operation and maintenance manuals
included- i kindly inform u that said receiver is: GALAXY FFR230AS made by Hy-Gain.
It is a fixed frequency receiver easily adaptable for vfo/vxo/pll or whatever use.
I use to operate them in cw and phone in aeronautical networks for a decade in my job.
This receiver is vy user friendly, king of simplicity and constructed in such a way that
gives you the opportunity for vy long hours of modifications even if your technical
background in electronics is of high school level.
This receiver comes from the factory with option for 110ac-220ac or 12-16dc supply.
If u need more infos don't hesitate to post a request.
tnx/73.

Hi SV1CDX!

Thank you very much for the information, however long it took!

My friend Charlie WD5BJT owned this receiver and wanted to know more about it; however it was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina along with his house, dog and everything else he owned.

I will forward your information to him so we may have a laugh over it!

Thank you again!

Dan
W1DAN

If it is fixed frequency, I wonder why it has an oscillator that looks like a Collins PTO.  BFO maybe?  I notice the 6 kHz AM selectivity option, and separate mode and selectivity controls.  It may be possible to fudge on the 2-4 mHz frequency range and extend coverage down to 1.8, to include 160m, especially if an external HFO is used to make it VFO controlled.

to: k4kyv
fm: sv1cdx

ref yr post abt the circuit of said fixed frequency receiver i kindly inform that key elements of
the equipment are three: a.
A.a xtal oscillator determining the receiving frequency
B.a xtal oscillator 1703khz ( injection signal for the second mixer) and
   a by 32 divider providing an injection signal of 53khz for bfo.
C. a vy gd set of LC filters operating in 53khz for cw/usb/lsb/am.
The input signal passing via a 4 band preselector/rf amplifier (2-4, 4-8, 8-16, 16-30mhz) then
mixed in first mixer with the injection signal fm the xtal osc that determines rec. freq. giving
the first if of 1650khz. After an amplification the 1650khz if signal mixed with the second
injection signal fm the 1703khz xtal osc. providing the second if of 53khz that passing via
the LC filter block and then follows the bfo where injected the 53khz signal fm the by 32 divider
and finally af amplified. That' all . Simple but vy effective.
The whole construction in blocks interconnected by RCA jumpers and plenty of empty space
gives the opportunity for easy even field repair or modifications.
Few yrs ago i made a vy fb qrp transeiver using blocks of the receiver, additional mixing scheme
and a simple 5-5.5mhz vfo that covered 80/40 meters and the aeronautical bands 3.4-3.5mhz
and 6.6-7.0mhz. Everything housed into the reeiver.
 Have a nice day dr Om.
 

I dont see anything that looks like a Collins PTO. There is a bandswitch and a front end preselector that moves a rack of slugs in the 4 bands of coils.

The front panel chart indicates a fixed frequency and the Clarifier is the BFO.

As SV1CDX stated it is the king of simplicity.

Carl
KM1H

Perhaps these pictures will be of interest.
Regards.
Vincent.