WQ9E
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« on: April 30, 2009, 10:18:47 PM » |
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I was test driving my new (just arrived) Chinese tube type military receiver and heard W8VYZ booming in on 7.160. I have to be part of a conference call at 9:25 so I can't get on tonight but the conditions are beautiful. Nice to hear VYZ in the new spot on 40.
Rodger WQ9E
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Rodger WQ9E
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W2PFY
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« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2009, 11:40:37 AM » |
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How do you like that receiver and what model is it? I've seen a few on eBay
and they look nice. I think they came with spare parts and tubes.
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The secrecy of my job prevents me from knowing what I am doing.
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flintstone mop
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« Reply #2 on: May 01, 2009, 03:42:30 PM » |
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Interesting receiver. These are supposed to be NOS!! Straight from China!!
Fred
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Fred KC4MOP
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WQ9E
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« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2009, 05:49:41 PM » |
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The receiver is a model 222-1 and it was straight from China with everything still sealed in clear plastic bags. The bags are a bit yellowed with age but the receiver looks new. I have not had a chance to pair it up with a transmitter yet but so far it seems like a competent receiver. It sounds very good in the 6 Khz. bandwidth (non-crystal) and the narrower bandwidths (3, 1.5, and .4) are useful but definitely lower fidelity. It has very nice audio and a very nice gear driven dial.
It came with a complete set of spare tubes, lamps, fuses, etc. all sealed in individual compartments in another plastic bag and also included 2 sets of headphones. The power supply has selectable taps from 180 to 240 and I use a step up transformer with it.
The calibration is excellent and there is a 500 Khz. calibrator built in. But if you tune to one of the WWV frequencies it is dead on. Sensitivity seems good and images don't appear to be a problem although it is a single conversion receiver. Apparently it has pretty good front end selectivity. It is also a very nice looking receiver and my only complaint is the tuning knob is on the wrong side for me.
Rodger WQ9E
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Rodger WQ9E
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k4kyv
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Don
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« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2009, 05:55:28 PM » |
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How good is the frequency stability and image rejection?
Even for monitoring AM I want a receiver with negligible drift after a few minutes warm-up.
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Don, K4KYV AMI#5 Licensed since 1959 and not happy to be back on AM... Never got off AM in the first place.- - - This message was typed using the DVORAK keyboard layout. http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak |
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WQ9E
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« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2009, 06:37:53 PM » |
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Don,
The frequency stability is very good. It appears they paid attention to this aspect of performance and both the B+ and filament voltage for the oscillator tubes are regulated. I am going to take it down to the bench this weekend and check the image rejection. It does have 2 stages of tuned RF amplification so I doubt that images will be an issue at least below 15 meters.
Rodger WQ9E
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Rodger WQ9E
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W1TAV
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The Glow of Wood and Radios
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« Reply #6 on: May 01, 2009, 09:36:30 PM » |
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Rodger, Were did you order this from? I just looked on the web, couldn't find one listed for sale.. Did find a note comparing it to the r390. ??  I like "odd ball" stuff.. this has all the makings for something to add to my collection... Steve W1TAV |
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Steve - W1TAV
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KX5JT
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John-O-Phonic
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« Reply #7 on: May 01, 2009, 10:03:42 PM » |
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AMI#1684
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« Reply #8 on: May 01, 2009, 11:00:48 PM » |
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There is a guy in China selling recent sand state gear too. something like a 2-30MHz SSB+CW rig for $400. New. I was leery of sending money over. I can try to find the link.
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Radio Candelstein - Flagship Station of the NRK Radio Network.
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WQ9E
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« Reply #9 on: May 02, 2009, 07:38:40 AM » |
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Steve, KX5JT posted the link to the seller. His prices have gone up considerably; apparently these are pretty popular. There used to be a seller in Canada (Red Star Radio was the name) who had a lot of Chinese gear at good prices but he seems to have disappeared. I bought my Chinese version of the AN/GRC-9 from him several years ago and it was still sealed in wax covered boxes. I tried to google him but I couldn't find him. It is a long way from being an R-390 but it is a competent receiver. The construction is excellent and it has a very nice tuning feel but it is a single conversion 455 Khz. IF design. The filtering is nothing like an R-390 or A variant; I guess you could say it was the Chinese answer to the R-390 since it is probably the most advanced receiver they had at the time. It does make a good addition to an eclectic collection. I have an Eldico SSB-100 military version that needs a power transformer and when I get it running I think it will get paired with this receiver. 73, Rodger WQ9E Rodger, Were did you order this from? I just looked on the web, couldn't find one listed for sale.. Did find a note comparing it to the r390. ?? I like "odd ball" stuff.. this has all the makings for something to add to my collection... Steve W1TAV |
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Rodger WQ9E
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Ed-VA3ES
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« Reply #10 on: May 02, 2009, 10:51:29 AM » |
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Please! There is a guy in China selling recent sand state gear too. something like a 2-30MHz SSB+CW rig for $400. New. I was leery of sending money over. I can try to find the link. |
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"There ain't a slaw-bukit inna worl, that kin jam me!!"
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« Reply #11 on: May 02, 2009, 09:22:36 PM » |
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It's not the same guy as on ebay. The link to his page was found way down a rat-hole. I'll have to look more later. Nice green radios 20W manpacks.
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Radio Candelstein - Flagship Station of the NRK Radio Network.
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W2PFY
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« Reply #12 on: May 25, 2009, 12:20:48 PM » |
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I found it rather interesting that the lettering inside is in English. Is the manual also in English. Maybe too much to hope for?
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WQ9E
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« Reply #13 on: May 25, 2009, 12:53:15 PM » |
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I found it rather interesting that the lettering inside is in English. Is the manual also in English. Maybe too much to hope for?
No such luck, the manual is native. The schematics are very clearly done and they include plenty of additional information. My later solid state version arrived a couple of weeks ago and like the tube type unit it arrived in excellent shape. The SS unit (Type 339) came with two battery trays, an AC supply that plugs in place of the battery tray, the straps and backpack for the radio, and spares for all of the diodes, transistors, fuses, and lamps. The 339 is smaller than the tube type unit but it is still pretty heavy for a "man pack" receiver. It is a bit more advanced and is dual conversion. It came with a moisture proof cover which was thoroughly stuck in place after being on for years. But the receiver worked fine with no sign of dirty switches or pots when powered up. Rodger WQ9E |
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Rodger WQ9E
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W3RSW
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Rick & "Roosevelt"
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« Reply #14 on: May 26, 2009, 11:47:43 AM » |
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The tube version appears to be very well made, ceramic switches, really sealed IF transformers.. . (no screw driver hacks there.) Neat stuff. Hallicrafters made two RF stage receivers with single conversion. Looks like the controls are pretty intuitive; if in doubt compare the front panel Chinese characters with those of the schematic.
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RICK *W3RSW*
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wb1aij
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« Reply #15 on: May 26, 2009, 03:19:52 PM » |
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Did the receiver come with a Rosetta Stone language CD so you can decipher the markings on the front panel?
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k4kyv
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Don
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« Reply #16 on: May 26, 2009, 03:37:23 PM » |
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Good luck with deciphering it using a Chinese-English dictionary. You could probably come up with as good a translation as the Chinese do when they write the assembly instructions for the "some assembly required" items sold in Wal-of-ChinaMart.
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Don, K4KYV AMI#5 Licensed since 1959 and not happy to be back on AM... Never got off AM in the first place.- - - This message was typed using the DVORAK keyboard layout. http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak |
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Jim KF2SY
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« Reply #17 on: May 26, 2009, 04:05:20 PM » |
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Whch version does W8VYZ have?
I thought he used a BC348 with an outboard "slicer"....
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WQ9E
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« Reply #18 on: May 26, 2009, 04:05:33 PM » |
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The 339 (SS receiver) is also pretty well constructed and uses a turret for band switching. Among the spare parts are extra contact leaves for the switch. Although the tuning gear setup is not as impressive looking as the tube type unit it does have good tuning feel and no problem with backlash.
A Chinese grad student helped with the front panel translation and fortunately it is pretty simple and straightforward. I later came across a translation of the panel on the web.
Don, I agree with you on bad Chinese instructions. Several years ago a colleague bought a futon to sleep on while she was waiting for her "real" furniture to be delivered and asked me to help with assembly. It came with some very poor quality mimeographed instructions which left a lot to the imagination. Apparently at some point, the manufacturing process was changed so much of it was pre-assembled before shipment but the instructions and hardware pack were not updated. When all was finished, there were quite a few fasteners left over; presumably a duplicate of those already used in the pre-assembled portion. But I did have some fear that maybe there was a hidden place to use the fasteners and perhaps the futon would collapse at some point during her night's sleep.
Rodger WQ9E
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Rodger WQ9E
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WQ9E
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« Reply #19 on: May 26, 2009, 04:06:38 PM » |
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Whch version does W8VYZ have?
I thought he used a BC348 with an outboard "slicer"....
Jim, The Chinese receiver is what I was listening with, not what VYZ was using. I would be concerned if he suddenly went to a foreign receiver! Rodger WQ9E |
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Rodger WQ9E
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Jim KF2SY
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« Reply #20 on: May 26, 2009, 04:24:15 PM » |
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Whch version does W8VYZ have?
I thought he used a BC348 with an outboard "slicer"....
Jim, The Chinese receiver is what I was listening with, not what VYZ was using. I would be concerned if he suddenly went to a foreign receiver! Rodger WQ9E Rodger, I was just kidding  You hijacked your own thread. Don't see that too often.  |
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WQ9E
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« Reply #21 on: May 26, 2009, 04:31:48 PM » |
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Rodger, I was just kidding You hijacked your own thread. Don't see that too often. Jim, You are picking on a fellow ham with too little sleep AND a broken coffee maker  Confucius say, "he who fool sleepy ham get insomnia while band conditions very bad" Rodger WQ9E |
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Rodger WQ9E
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Tom WA3KLR
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« Reply #22 on: May 26, 2009, 04:42:58 PM » |
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Example of chinese translation:
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73 de Tom WA3KLR AMI # 77 Amplitude Modulation - a force Now and for the Future!
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KB2WIG
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« Reply #23 on: May 26, 2009, 07:02:20 PM » |
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" sleep AND a broken coffee maker "
You can fix the coffee maker... I got my part at RatShack.........
klc
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What? Me worry?
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WQ9E
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« Reply #24 on: May 26, 2009, 09:57:30 PM » |
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Thanks KLC,
The coffee maker malfunction was mechanical-it is a Braun with the gold filter and the filter frame broke. I got a spare gold filter when I bought the coffee maker several years ago and finally remembered the safe spot where I stored the spare... I am ready for morning! I really like this fine mesh reusable filter instead of dealing with disposables.
73, Rodger WQ9E
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Rodger WQ9E
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