invader 2000 - what exactly is this TX?

[Opcom]

Here are pics of a Johnson Invader 2000. And apparently some huge chromed power supply? next to it. I am sort of lusting after it but don't know.

Are the coils on top of the right-hand box to it?

Can anyone comment from experience on the usefulness, quality, and capabilities of this unit?

[WBear2GCR]

Same as a regular Invader but on STEROIDS... I believe it is not plate modulated, but I am not sure. KW power.

Sort of like a latter day Johnson Desk Kilowatt... I love that styling!!.

I was looking at a regular Invader yesterday - it is like a Heath Maurader...but Johnson.

You can find it online for sure. I think it is 2 x 4-400, iirc...

If the price is right, fun!

                            _-_-bear

[WQ9E]

It is the Invader 200 (SSB, CW, AM with one sideband) coupled with an additional dual 4-400A amplifier in the box.  The regular Invader 200 has the power supply built in and in the 2000 version the internal power supply is relocated to the external box with the HV power supply and the high power twin 4-400A final takes its place.  You can run it either in the exciter only mode (200 watts input) or amp mode with 2,000 watts input.  Johnson offered a kit to convert the 200 to a 2000.

I have a 200 set up with a Hammarlund HQ-215 and a 2000 awaiting restoration.  It is a neat transmitter but it isn't plate modulated.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Frank - KB3AHE has one and we've used it for a number of special event stations. He has written up extensive modifications for it. See them at the link below.

http://www.amwindow.org/tech/htm/invader2000.htm

[W2PFY]

It is the Invader 200 (SSB, CW, AM with one sideband) coupled with an additional dual 4-400A amplifier in the box.

Me thinks it had two PL-175A's in the box. Somewhat like a 4-400 but may have had lower IMD in the day. The PL-175's are hard to come by and I guess folks swapped them out for 4-400A's? It would be a nice rig to own.


 
The problem running some of these older rigs is the fact that everyone on SSB wants you to be exactly on frequency. The other problem is letting the VFO warm up for 1/2 hour.

[Superhet66]

RE: Deyellification of the Johnson Invader 2000

by Frank - KB3AHE.....


Hole-E-Crap! That is dedication to the craft.



 
 

[WQ9E]

[
Me thinks it had two PL-175A's in the box. Somewhat like a 4-400 but may have had lower IMD in the day. The PL-175's are hard to come by and I guess folks swapped them out for 4-400A's? It would be a nice rig to own.
 
The problem running some of these older rigs is the fact that everyone on SSB wants you to be exactly on frequency. The other problem is letting the VFO warm up for 1/2 hour.

You are right, they are PL-175A's although 4-400's will work fine. 

The Invader is probably the easiest to use of the Johnson SSB rigs.  I have a Pacemaker/T-bolt combo and with that you get both the drifting VFO and phasing/balance adjustments.  I have a Valiant 2 with SSB adapter and it is a pretty convoluted adapter (uses multiple sheet beam balanced mixers but it is a filter type like the Invaders) and is dependent upon the far from stable Valiant VFO.  The VFO is a bit better in the Invaders and the SSB generation circuitry is a bit less complex.  They are neat looking rigs and generally not too bad to get running.

[K5UJ]

I had some idea this was also an amp for AM back when they made amps to handle AM.  I think the 4-400s are in chimneys.

The separate p.s. I saw once looked pretty impressive and heavy, although I don't know the h.v. and current CCS specs or how it is regulated.

If it drifts, run it on AM 

[w3jn]

The PS isn't chromed, nor are the coils on top of it part of the rig..

It's one of the coolest looking xmitters ever.  Frank's 2000 sounded great on AM with a relay to bypass the xtal filter.  I think he was a bit frustrated during the restoration process - I seem to recall him threatening to pitch it across the room at one point 

We paired it with my SX-88 at the Gaithersburg fester AM station one year.

[The Slab Bacon]

Frank - KB3AHE has one and we've used it for a number of special event stations. He has written up extensive modifications for it. See them at the link below.

http://www.amwindow.org/tech/htm/invader2000.htm

Thanks, Steve!!! You saved me from looking for the link.

Once dehyellified the I2K is an extreemely good sounding and working transmitter. You just have to "re-invent the wheel" a little to get it that way. A stock I2K is about as crappy and hyellowy transmitter as you can get. Not to mention that you can play all kinds of games with it---- sincle sidebanded AM with either sideband, DSBRC, and assymetrical modulation with the old "Pennsylvania positive peakers". It's a really neat box!

My article was written to document what you needed to do to a WORKING one to make it sound like mine.

All ot the frustration came from the fact that mine was BADLY JSed and butchered when I got it by some hammy hambone trying to overcome Junkston's piss poor design. (10 lbs of szht in a 5 lb bag) It was just too neat of a rig to give up on, so I made it work and work well.

                                                               The Slab Bacon

[Opcom]

Thanks for all the info, especially about the mods to get one working properly. That is a great article.

As cool and great-looking as this beast is, I decided to pass. I hate to pass on something like that. I like to smoke, and that thing looks like it's never been smoked at. I am not going to mess it up or even modify it. A sin. Too clean. There looks like a large size Johnson tuner as well.

I sat down and looked at my projects. I got too much to get done. I admire Vortex Joe and all his kind, but I'm done shoppin' in Patrick's sto'.

That thing is in Texas might be in the DFW area in a little while. If anyone wants to admire it more closely PM me. But I got to pass. If it was high level it would be different.

[WA3VJB]

Frank's recipe on an Invader 2000 sure did sound good as the Gaithersburg AM Festival Station.

Frank said:

Having finished the restoration just two weeks earlier, it got the proverbial "Trial by Fire" at this year's Gaithersburg Farfest 2005 where it really had to "sing for its supper". All went basically without a hitch or crap out. We were running a straight dynamic mike without any audio processing at all and got many good audio reports. It was transformed from a persnickety piece of s@#$ into a fun rig that is quite pleasant and easy to operate. My Invader 2000 is now one of my favorite transmitters and a definite "keeper" that I have no plans of parting with.

And, at that very fest, here's Vortex Joe N3IBX at the microphonium, in chorus with Al, KZ3AB, and Fran, W3SCC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4xed2R5kG4

The PS isn't chromed, nor are the coils on top of it part of the rig..

It's one of the coolest looking xmitters ever.  Frank's 2000 sounded great on AM with a relay to bypass the xtal filter.  I think he was a bit frustrated during the restoration process - I seem to recall him threatening to pitch it across the room at one point  

We paired it with my SX-88 at the Gaithersburg fester AM station one year.

[The Slab Bacon]

Patrick,
          If you can get that thing for a reasonable price, you should really consider it.
As far as rarity is considered they are not all that rare as mor and more of them seem to be popping up. They are just not real commonplace. As far as it being pristeen, who gives a szht! A good working, fun piece of gear is a lot more valuable than a non working shelf queen any day!!



Hey Paul, I clicked on the link you posted, and low and behold, on the sidebar was a video of the meters on my 4X1 transmitter swinging away. I dont know who posted it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDRbhKdpf1U&feature=related


                                                                   the Slab Bacon

[WA3VJB]

Yeah man, you're whorl wide

[Opcom]

Patrick,
          If you can get that thing for a reasonable price, you should really consider it.
As far as rarity is considered they are not all that rare as mor and more of them seem to be popping up. They are just not real commonplace. As far as it being pristeen, who gives a szht! A good working, fun piece of gear is a lot more valuable than a non working shelf queen any day!!

                                                                   the Slab Bacon

Yeah you don't understand, the brothel is full. Here is the list of things already here that I could fix, mostly without buying more parts, if I could just get 8-10 hours to myself at a stretch to get wound up and in the mood:

3) Collins 618S-1's
Harris RF-130 HF set. The RF-590, two RF-1310, and the RF-110A need fixed
T-408/URT-12 , AN/URT-12 Transmitter
3) Singer spectrum analyzers MF-5 + VR-4/4b
AN/GRC-106A HF tranceiver needs DSB mod, have filters
Shallcross 673-D Milliohmmeter
RCA BA-6A vacuum tube compressor
"COL Tucker" KW HB AM transmitter
15 or 20 TS-505 and TS-505D/U Military VTVM
Norton 200 Watt Tube Amplifier from the 1940's.
4) Ling TPA-850 manual 850 watt shaker table audio amplifiers
IFI Model 400A broadband RF Power Amplifier
General Radio 732 Distortion & Noise Meter, 1937 vintage
Hallicrafters HT-9 Transmitter (also one for parts)
Hallicrafters SX-28 (crapped out again)
R-390A
CAA (FAA) TV-15 VHF Transmitter (put on 2M AM)
Motorola PT300 Handie Talkie 8 watts of FM on 43.120MHz in 1965!
SDP 1000L RF Power Amplifier
RCA BTA-250L Broadcast Transmitter (one is broke)
Sonar FS-23 CB Radio
CU-168/FRR HF Receiving Antenna Coupler
2) Rycom VLF receivers
3CX3000 leenyar
6) military 386/486 PCs SAIC V2 LC, rugged cool and green from DOS to W95.

I am sure I have left out many things.

How many years will it take to fix all this stuff?

[W2PFY]

That's all

3) Collins 618S-1's
Harris RF-130 HF set. The RF-590, two RF-1310, and the RF-110A need fixed
T-408/URT-12 , AN/URT-12 Transmitter
3) Singer spectrum analyzers MF-5 + VR-4/4b
AN/GRC-106A HF tranceiver needs DSB mod, have filters
Shallcross 673-D Milliohmmeter
RCA BA-6A vacuum tube compressor
"COL Tucker" KW HB AM transmitter
15 or 20 TS-505 and TS-505D/U Military VTVM
Norton 200 Watt Tube Amplifier from the 1940's.
4) Ling TPA-850 manual 850 watt shaker table audio amplifiers
IFI Model 400A broadband RF Power Amplifier
General Radio 732 Distortion & Noise Meter, 1937 vintage
Hallicrafters HT-9 Transmitter (also one for parts)
Hallicrafters SX-28 (crapped out again)
R-390A
CAA (FAA) TV-15 VHF Transmitter (put on 2M AM)
Motorola PT300 Handie Talkie 8 watts of FM on 43.120MHz in 1965!
SDP 1000L RF Power Amplifier
RCA BTA-250L Broadcast Transmitter (one is broke)
Sonar FS-23 CB Radio
CU-168/FRR HF Receiving Antenna Coupler
2) Rycom VLF receivers
3CX3000 leenyar
6) military 386/486 PCs SAIC V2 LC, rugged cool and green from DOS to W95.

[The Slab Bacon]

Yeah you don't understand, the brothel is full. Here is the list of things already here that I could fix, mostly without buying more parts, if I could just get 8-10 hours to myself at a stretch to get wound up and in the mood:

3) Collins 618S-1's
Harris RF-130 HF set. The RF-590, two RF-1310, and the RF-110A need fixed
T-408/URT-12 , AN/URT-12 Transmitter
3) Singer spectrum analyzers MF-5 + VR-4/4b
AN/GRC-106A HF tranceiver needs DSB mod, have filters
Shallcross 673-D Milliohmmeter
RCA BA-6A vacuum tube compressor
"COL Tucker" KW HB AM transmitter
15 or 20 TS-505 and TS-505D/U Military VTVM
Norton 200 Watt Tube Amplifier from the 1940's.
4) Ling TPA-850 manual 850 watt shaker table audio amplifiers
IFI Model 400A broadband RF Power Amplifier
General Radio 732 Distortion & Noise Meter, 1937 vintage
Hallicrafters HT-9 Transmitter (also one for parts)
Hallicrafters SX-28 (crapped out again)
R-390A
CAA (FAA) TV-15 VHF Transmitter (put on 2M AM)
Motorola PT300 Handie Talkie 8 watts of FM on 43.120MHz in 1965!
SDP 1000L RF Power Amplifier
RCA BTA-250L Broadcast Transmitter (one is broke)
Sonar FS-23 CB Radio
CU-168/FRR HF Receiving Antenna Coupler
2) Rycom VLF receivers
3CX3000 leenyar
6) military 386/486 PCs SAIC V2 LC, rugged cool and green from DOS to W95.

I am sure I have left out many things.

How many years will it take to fix all this stuff?

So, what makes you any different than the rest of us     


And, err, furthermore, you're younger than me!! You still got plenty of time!
I could handle that list on one good weekend    

[Opcom]

I must really have you guys fooled! The thing is, I am out of room and having to step over stuff. haha if anyone wants to come over and start fixing.. start with a TS-505 VTVM, right? About those, I am a little disappointed no one wanted the ones I did fix. Anyway, I got to get some stuff weighed up this weekend from that estate. but that is nothing compartively. Maybe I should make a video of the place so yall would understand.

[KM1H]

Get rid of the junk and concentrate on the stuff that you can talk at or listen to....besides women

Carl