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Author Topic: mysterious transmitter  (Read 14400 times)
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w30kc
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« on: October 23, 2014, 10:30:44 PM »

Does anybody recognize this transmitter,  I can't find any nameplate on it.


* image.jpg (1372.16 KB, 2448x3264 - viewed 498 times.)

* image.jpg (1736.83 KB, 2448x3264 - viewed 580 times.)

* image.jpg (1060.26 KB, 3264x2448 - viewed 608 times.)
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W3GMS
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« Reply #1 on: October 24, 2014, 08:03:34 AM »

Hi Steve,

Great looking transmitter!  I don't recognize it, but will pass the photos around to those that may recognize it. 

Welcome to AMfone!

73,
Joe, GMS
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KL7OF
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« Reply #2 on: October 24, 2014, 08:04:41 AM »

I don't recognize the transmitter....What are the tubes?  It looks well made..Is that vario coil the antenna tune?...I can't make out the modes on the "Emission Selector"...  Good Luck..
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K4RT
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« Reply #3 on: October 24, 2014, 08:25:25 AM »

Maybe a CAA airways or ILS transmitter. Perhaps made by Federal or another contractor.  Nice condition.
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W3RSW
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Rick & "Roosevelt"


« Reply #4 on: October 24, 2014, 09:04:47 AM »

Emission; CW, MCW, Keyed MCW.

Serious variometer there on "antenna coupling."

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Carl WA1KPD
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« Reply #5 on: October 24, 2014, 09:34:19 AM »

I can't make out the modes on the "Emission Selector"...  Good Luck..

CW, MCW, Keyed MCW.
It also has a phone jack below that that says 1020 (Sine wave)
If you click on the picture you get a nice enlargement.
Carl
/KPD
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Carl

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N0WEK
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« Reply #6 on: October 24, 2014, 11:20:28 AM »

I can't make out the modes on the "Emission Selector"...  Good Luck..

CW, MCW, Keyed MCW.
It also has a phone jack below that that says 1020 (Sine wave)
If you click on the picture you get a nice enlargement.
Carl
/KPD

I thought that the 1020 cps tone sounded familiar.

I think you have a Low-Frequency Radio Range transmitter there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-frequency_radio_range

http://ed-thelen.org/TJohnson-LFRDF.html#Article
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« Reply #7 on: October 24, 2014, 12:14:24 PM »

I can't make out the modes on the "Emission Selector"...  Good Luck..

CW, MCW, Keyed MCW.
It also has a phone jack below that that says 1020 (Sine wave)
If you click on the picture you get a nice enlargement.
Carl
/KPD

I thought that the 1020 cps tone sounded familiar.

I think you have a Low-Frequency Radio Range transmitter there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-frequency_radio_range

http://ed-thelen.org/TJohnson-LFRDF.html#Article


With all that inductance it sure makes sense on the low frequency of operation.

Joe, GMS
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Tom WA3KLR
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« Reply #8 on: October 24, 2014, 02:03:45 PM »

1020 Hz is a standard modulated cw identification frequency for aviation navigation resources.  With the low frequency inductors shown (variometer and antenna loading coil), I think it is a non-directional beacon (NDB) transmitter.  The usual frequency range was 200 to about 450 kHz.  Some beacons ran power like 50 Watts and just repeated the 2 letter or 3 letter i.d.  But some beacons were higher power and broadcast weather information.

Most beacons in this range have left the airwaves, but some are still on, by my observations.
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WD8BIL
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« Reply #9 on: October 24, 2014, 02:35:39 PM »

Quote
Most beacons in this range have left the airwaves, but some are still on, by my observations.

http://www.dxinfocentre.com/ndb.htm

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K6JEK
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« Reply #10 on: October 24, 2014, 02:54:39 PM »

Here's a nice write-up about how Adcock antennas were used in this system. It goes a bit into some of the nuances.

Pretty clever offsetting of the .- of the A with -. the N so if you're hearing both equally, you hear just a steady tone.

http://www.vias.org/radioanteng/radio_antenna_engineering_01_13_03.html



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Tom WA3KLR
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« Reply #11 on: October 24, 2014, 03:01:24 PM »

The style of the labels make me think of the manufacturer Wilcox.
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W2PFY
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« Reply #12 on: October 24, 2014, 08:07:54 PM »





lt looks like a low freq xmitter to me. What are the tubes in it?
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« Reply #13 on: October 30, 2014, 02:21:39 PM »

I think you guys nailed it as an NDB. In addition to the Modulated CW identifier, the lower power ones located near airports also transmitted voice weather conditions at the airport to aid pilots in choosing runways and setting their altimeters based on atmospheric pressure.

I'm an avid pilot and I've been fascinated by NDBs since I was given an AM/LW receiver when I was very young. I heard the 4000 Watt powerhouse on Nantucket Island which transmitted "TUK" in a loop behind a Transcribed Weather Enroute Broadcast (TWEB) report for flights arriving from Europe or flying throughout the Northeast.

I miss DXing the many NDBs that could be heard throughout the 200-400 kc band.
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« Reply #14 on: October 30, 2014, 03:11:11 PM »

Would you please let me know the tube line up? Maybe a picture of the other side?

Thanks Terry 
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w30kc
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« Reply #15 on: October 30, 2014, 04:26:00 PM »

Hey guys thanks for all the input, I will take some pictures tonite see it there is tube identification at the tube sockets someone picked all the tubes out. I got the thing for free I never pass up a deal like that even if I don't know what it is. My wife thinks I'm nuts.

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w30kc
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« Reply #16 on: October 31, 2014, 09:09:02 AM »

Some pix more to follow.


* 20141030_175452.jpg (3391.46 KB, 5312x2988 - viewed 547 times.)
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w30kc
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« Reply #17 on: October 31, 2014, 09:23:44 AM »

More pix.


* 20141030_175504.jpg (3885.64 KB, 5312x2988 - viewed 510 times.)

* 20141030_175515.jpg (3090.62 KB, 5312x2988 - viewed 508 times.)
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w30kc
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« Reply #18 on: October 31, 2014, 09:27:59 AM »

More


* 20141030_175524.jpg (3852.67 KB, 5312x2988 - viewed 497 times.)

* 20141030_175933.jpg (4028.46 KB, 5312x2988 - viewed 516 times.)
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w30kc
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« Reply #19 on: October 31, 2014, 09:35:16 AM »

Having a little trouble posting pix for some reason. May be that files are to big. Hope this helps.

Tks
Steve



* 20141030_175917.jpg (4364.61 KB, 5312x2988 - viewed 376 times.)
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« Reply #20 on: October 31, 2014, 10:31:34 AM »

Very cool OT transmitter Steve!  Thanks for posting the pictures and I am sure you will get some comments about what you have shown!
73,
Joe, GMS
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« Reply #21 on: October 31, 2014, 01:19:30 PM »

AH-HAH!!!

Your transmitter is missing the identification plate just below the bottom row of fuses: "Compass Locator Transmitter" "Federal Aviation Agency" (which pre-dates the FAA).

<a href="http://www.w8ji.com/ndb%20beacon%20fish%20buoy%20net%20beacons.htm"</a>



Love this stuff!

Clark
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w30kc
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« Reply #22 on: October 31, 2014, 05:46:49 PM »

Thanks Clark looks like you hit the nail on the head.  Thanks for the link it was an interesting article.Now I'll have to figure out what I'm going to do with it, Thanks again I'll have to look in the garage and see what else I have you guys can figure out.

Steve
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Brrrr- it's cold in the shack! Fire up the BIG RIG


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« Reply #23 on: November 02, 2014, 08:55:57 AM »


Exactly what I was thinking... what are you going to to with it??

Does it have tubes in it?

Also, my first reaction seeing the thumbnail in post one was "Wilcox" - but it may not be. They made some very nicely built stuff. I have a "module", slide in drawer,  from a larger xmitr built by Wilcox, it is really fabulously well built.

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Rick & "Roosevelt"


« Reply #24 on: November 02, 2014, 09:34:32 AM »

The tube sockets are 4 pin UX base, two small, two large pins  and apparently held 809's (says so) in one of the pictures shown.

Neat rig.
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