That KerCHUNK "sound of power" when keying, and modern transmitters

[Opcom]

and not definable as music by the fcc. yet. My object was not noise toys, just the quest for approriate transmiter sounds.

dynamotor spin-up
360Hz or 180Hz hum to imply 3 phase
large motor-generator spin-up
kerchunk
thump/oomph (power supply charging)

although flatulence is a normal operator sound.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Did you know that the South African hams can legally play music on the air?

[KX5JT]

Did you know that the South African hams can legally play music on the air?

Is that what I hear on 3.925 Mhz AM sometimes? South African hams? hmmm....

[k4kyv]

Did you know that the South African hams can legally play music on the air?

Is that what I hear on 3.925 Mhz AM sometimes? South African hams? hmmm....

I think that is a broadcast station in Papua New Guinea. They have been there for years.  Audible in the morning.  It would be a daylight path to S.A. at that time.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

No. SA hams are limited to below 3800 kHz.

[W1RKW]

thought this might be of interest for those desiring the ker-chunk but using solid state relays.
http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/index.php?page=HOME

That website reminds me of the type of projects one would see in Popular Electronics back in the 70's and 80's before PE went TU.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

No. SA hams are limited to below 3800 kHz.

From the South African ham rule book.

B7  MUSIC TRANSMISSIONS 

No form of entertainment shall be transmitted from an amateur radio station: Provided that music transmissions for experimental purposes shall be

Permissible on condition that-  

a) such transmissions shall last no longer than three minutes;

(b) at least five minutes shall elapse before any further music is transmitted from the same station.

(c) when commercial recordings are used the make, name or title of such recordings shall not be mentioned; and

(d) such transmissions shall not take place in bands other than the following:

(i) 3 500 - 3 800 kHz
(ii) 50 - 54 MHz
(iii) 144 - 146 MHz (iv) 430 - 440 MHz
(v) 1 240 - 1 300 MHz


That's perfect for a music QSO with three stations!!!

[Opcom]

 My old "big" tube rig was amazingly quiet on key up (even though I was switching a 10,000 volt power on and off!).  All of the relays were spring mounted (not screwed directly to the racks) in an effort to reduce background hum (relays usually vibrate a little) and other noises. 

Tell the truth Steve, those relays were quiet as they were suspended with JS clip leads! 

Here's how I quieted my antenna changeover relay.  The springs came off a couple of old boom mounted workshop lamps I pulled out of a dumpster.  The wooden box has a door that, when closed, muffles out almost all the sound.  Otherwise I wouldn't be able to stand the sound of the thing clanking and buzzing.

A true work of art there!

[WB2YGF]

Pretty funny stuff in this thread - I was giggling so hard, the tears were rolling down by cheeks.

I seen to recall Irb VJZ had a loud SNAP!! when he went to transmit on his DX100 followed by some squealing, but this may have only been on his 10M transmitter.

[Opcom]

thought of this topic for some reason, maybe the potatoes in the Tucker are too small. anyway, some things got scrounged up of the shelves and put on the bench to experiment with.

1. a synchronous motor driven frequency generator. This makes 90Hz and 150Hz sinewaves simultaneously at 7 volts using a small alternator. On 120V it starts very quickly, hardly any spool-up time, needs more investigation. Also, would the 90 and 150Hz be heard A La Voice of Moscow II? maybe. It can be seen in the photo of the spring reverb. I have no idea what this was from. Was too cool to be thrown in the scrap dumpster and has been around for a decade.

2. a spring reverb aftermarket kit from Sears. Germanium dirt. 2 springs.

3. a Beringher frequency shifting pedal.  - best kept for the mic?

4. contactors - -too PW for mounting in air, but maybe on a sounding board might do OK. It could be possible to mount an 8-ohm speaker to the sounding board and let it pick up the contactor noise electronically.

if these things were sequenced by relays, it could get amusing.

key up with reduced screen voltage to the PA, @ 1/2 carrier.
1/2 second delay to give the listeners' s-meters time to settle.
bang with spring echo from the contactor on the board, contactor bumps up the screen volts to normal for that stepped-power effect and also spins-up the 90/150 Hz MG set for that RM background sound.

analog sickness at it peak.

[N2DTS]

I have heard various key up sounds, most were interesting, but background blowers just sound nasty.
Hum is fine, relays/contactors are fine, but blowers just suck.

Someone years ago had a clock ticking loudly in the background, I remember hearing lawn mowers running in the background, aircraft flying over, I don't hear much of that sort of thing anymore.

Better compressors with thresholds?


Brett

[K9ACT]

I have heard various key up sounds, most were interesting, but background blowers just sound nasty.
Hum is fine, relays/contactors are fine, but blowers just suck.

Agreed but the only blower you will here with the "key up" is your own.

Jack

[K1JJ]

I use those 24V furnace? relays with 20A contacts for all RF T/R-ing the shack. Quite a racket on key up in the shack. But my key-up on the air is as quiet as a butteryfly. How do you do it, Tom Vu?  I use a 250 millisecond delay in the audio so that the loud relay clack has already decayed when audio is applied. I do the same on ssb.

Normally, a key-up clack on AM is not so bad - but on ssb it's abominable. When doing ssb PTT with fast comments, a quiet key-up is needed.

Yes, vacuum relays are the best way to do it, but a second cheaper way is the slight audio delay.  Use a 555 timer that has an adjustable attack R/C and drive a small (quiet) relay that makes and breaks the audio at the 1 volt (high-level) point in the audio chain.  Works like a charm.  

I have a switch to enable instant audio key-up when I want to join in with the AM "clacker boys" ...

(hmm.. just looked back at this old thread and see I already said this on page 2 - well, here it is again in fine Old Buzzard fashion)

T

[w1vtp]

<snip>... but blowers just suck.

Someone years ago had a clock ticking loudly in the background,...<snip>

Better compressors with thresholds?


Brett

Agree on the blower sound

Irvine Vermilia  W1ZE  used to do the clock sound I liked it

Here's his QSL - Oh yeah, I misspelled his name -- oh well.

http://www.bostonradio.org/essays/vermilya

OK OK  One more article

http://earlyradiohistory.us/1917verm.htm

Al

[KA2QFX]

Just a 'clack' is annoying. To really sound like a power house it will need that 300mS of exponentially decaying 60Hz as the transformer surge settles down. If you're gonna have a spud in yer shorts make sure it's a big ol' Russett, not some "New Potato"  yuppie nibble.

73,
Mark

[WA1GFZ]

my tube likes the sound of a blower

[DMOD]

When I get my rig built, I want the sound of an ARC LAMP searchlight or a Spark Gap transmitter as an intro.

When I lived in Burton Mich. as a youngster,they had a searchlight in the Car Lot at the corner. 

It had such a neat FIZZING/Crackling sound to it.

[Opcom]

Good suggestion on the decaying 300ms of 60Hz. That's the groan of iron!

There is also a nice motor-generator-like sound in the movie "TXH1138" where he restarts the turbine-electric car and takes off.

[Ed KB1HVS]

http://www.claysradioshop.com/Toy%20Sounds.htm

The "PING", and a bit of feedback from a Browning Golden Eagle. Thats real POWAH........

[w1vtp]

I like the sound of Tron's relay "clack!" and the blower (muffin fan?) winding up slowly at the beginning of each transmission.  The fan drops into the background not to be heard again during one of his legendary buzzard transmissions on doing a mod on a transmitter completely from memory.

Al

[W2WDX]

I currently have an ad running on craigslist for a hunchbacked lab assistant. I shall call him Igor and already have a large six foot knife switch mounted on a large oak board. His only job will be to watch me key up and simultaneously throw the big knife switch ... just to make the sound.

I'm pissed Marty Feldman is dead. He would have got the gig.



John

[Opcom]

I currently have an ad running on craigslist for a hunchbacked lab assistant. I shall call him Igor and already have a large six foot knife switch mounted on a large oak board. His only job will be to watch me key up and simultaneously throw the big knife switch ... just to make the sound.

I'm pissed Marty Feldman is dead. He would have got the gig.



John

What's the job pay?