The AM Forum
March 28, 2024, 05:51:54 PM *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
 
   Home   Help Calendar Links Staff List Gallery Login Register  
Pages: [1] 2   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: Collins 20V3 Arrives at W8ER Vermilion,Ohio  (Read 24062 times)
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
WD8BIL
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 4409


« on: February 08, 2005, 11:58:02 AM »

The beginning of the W8ER 20V3 story !!
It was a good night..... mud n' all !!!

The Beginning
Logged
W8ER
Guest
« Reply #1 on: February 08, 2005, 07:12:26 PM »

Thanks Buddly, you beat me to the post!

One of the fun evenings. I knew it had possibilities when I stepped out of my S-10 at the transmitter site and heard those two sounds "plunk and plunk" of my right foot following the left into the driest part of the path between it and me.  The second laugh was watching you do the backstroke between the F-150 and the transmitter building.  Mike W8BAC followed, by locking the hubs on his truck while treading water!

I would not have thought it possible to disconnect, remove the iron from and load the transmitter in just three hours but that's what happened! It   helped to have Mike's expertise on the box and your cool thinking. When trying to negotiate the door of the building with the beast, instead of removing the door to the building, which looked to be the only reasonable way to get the rig out, your suggestion to move the truck out a couple of feet and slide the transmitter closer to the door so the balance of the top was easier to handle, was but one example. It was a symphony!

The final laugh was when Bill Bowin, the Chief Engineer, came out holding a dead mouse that had fallen out of the 20V3. He noted that it was good to find the source of the smell that had been getting stronger the past few days! My feet were soaked and my pants wet to the knees but I had more laughs in that three hours than I can remember in recent history.

Today Mike stopped back over and we went over the rig with a fine comb. We found the mouse nest, just inside the bottom.  It has been unpowered for nearly 18 years and I am shocked at the condition that it is in, meaning that after sitting in a building in a farm field for it's entire life, the largest problem is that it is dirty., a testament to Collins construction and use of quality parts.

I will keep the page updated with photographs as the project progresses. The wife mentioned this morning that she hoped I would "give it a bath" before bringing it into the house and I figured that if that was her only objection, I was a lucky guy!

Thanks to Mike W8BAC, Bill Bowen, WBCO, and you Bud. A great time! I see a catered firing up party on the horizon!

--Larry W8ER

http://www.w8er.com/20V3.htm
Logged
W3SLK
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 2651

Just another member member.


« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2005, 10:14:57 PM »

Nice box Larry. I hope to hear it sometime on 160(?) BTW I like your avitar.
Logged

Mike(y)/W3SLK
Invisible airwaves crackle with life, bright antenna bristle with the energy. Emotional feedback, on timeless wavelength, bearing a gift beyond lights, almost free.... Spirit of Radio/Rush
Jim W8DRZ
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 26



« Reply #3 on: February 10, 2005, 02:54:45 PM »

Congradulations Larry!
I heard you talking on 52 on the way out, and back.
I'm turning GREEN with envy. I have been looking for some
Heavy Iron for 2 years, always find stuff to far away to get.
GOOD CATCH!
Hope to hear you on the air with it soon.
Logged

Jim - W8DRZ
-----------------
WLRO, WOBL,
WBNO, WHFD,
WJW
W8ER
Guest
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2005, 01:09:22 AM »

Thanks Mikey and Jim,

It was Buddly's catch and his extreme generosity. I nearly had one from Houston, but in the end .. 2.5 days down and 2.5 days back, and only an S-10 to carry it, just killed the deal. I've got my eyes out for one for him now!

Since I moved to Vermilion, Jim you are a stones throw away.  Come on over!

--Larry
Logged
Jack-KA3ZLR-
Guest
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2005, 03:59:40 AM »

Good Luck on the Rig Larry, looks like a FBOM situation...

Enjoyed the Pics, ..Excellent...
Logged
WD8BIL
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 4409


« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2005, 01:02:33 PM »

Where the heck is McConnelsburg Mark Huh

Hmmmmm.........
Logged
WD8BIL
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 4409


« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2005, 01:48:41 PM »

Ya... I see on the map it's just north of Altoona.

Do you know the dimensions of the beast ? (that's an open question to all viewers)
Logged
WD8BIL
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 4409


« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2005, 02:53:12 PM »

Quote
78H x 36W x 32D. Front door swings 28 Inches.


Hey Larry... this'll fit in my truck with 3" to spare !!

Mis-spelled McConnellsburg. It points you to the middle of the state (just north of Altoona) when ya do that.

I'm thinkin' hard about it Mark.
Logged
Jim W8DRZ
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 26



« Reply #9 on: February 11, 2005, 03:46:15 PM »

Wowzers, I'm partial to Gates anyway having spent many years with a
BC-500 in my younger days. If buddy does not want it, I would appreciate a shot at it. Please let me know. It's not to far away for me, hi.
Logged

Jim - W8DRZ
-----------------
WLRO, WOBL,
WBNO, WHFD,
WJW
W8ER
Guest
« Reply #10 on: February 11, 2005, 04:26:37 PM »

Buddly,

Say the word, me and the S-10 will follow anywhere!

--Larry
Logged
Jack-KA3ZLR-
Guest
« Reply #11 on: February 11, 2005, 06:20:23 PM »

Hey, When you guys gona Hook me up with some BIG IRON... So I can Be a Strapping Lad from Canonsburg Pa...Heck with these Linear Amps..

That's a dangerous thought...
Logged
Mike/W8BAC
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 1042



WWW
« Reply #12 on: February 11, 2005, 11:41:46 PM »

I can help to Bud. Say the word

Mike
Logged
Jim W8DRZ
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 26



« Reply #13 on: February 12, 2005, 03:00:22 PM »

Mark, thanks for sharing the pictures. Good to know its found a home
instead of the scrap heap. I'll keep looking, someday I'm sure I will
luck into something.
Glad to lend a hand if Buddy and the gang need any help.
I have installed a few Broadcast rigs in my time, from 250 Watts to
100KW always hopeing that someday one could follow me home, HI HI.
Logged

Jim - W8DRZ
-----------------
WLRO, WOBL,
WBNO, WHFD,
WJW
W8ER
Guest
« Reply #14 on: February 13, 2005, 09:26:42 PM »

I received this and thought that I'd pass it on. It's too good to keep to myself.



--Larry W8ER   :lol:  :lol:  :lol:
Logged
w3jn
Johnny Novice
Administrator
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 4620



« Reply #15 on: February 14, 2005, 07:27:30 AM »

So who's Arthur, and is he gonna help you get that strapmaster xmitter on the air?

73 John
Logged

FCC:  "The record is devoid of a demonstrated nexus between Morse code proficiency and on-the-air conduct."
W8ER
Guest
« Reply #16 on: February 14, 2005, 08:09:23 AM »

Arthur Collins maybe?
Logged
Mike/W8BAC
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 1042



WWW
« Reply #17 on: February 14, 2005, 08:19:29 AM »

That's awesome. You put a big transmitter like that on the air and everyone wants to saith something to you. They only speaketh  in tongs to me but you get personal messages from the commander and chief. What happens if your angle music gets into the church sound system? Do you get a slip from St. Peter?
Logged
Paul, K2ORC
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 854


« Reply #18 on: February 14, 2005, 08:29:46 AM »

And who are Arthur's "fruits"?
Logged

Go Duke![/b]
Mike/W8BAC
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 1042



WWW
« Reply #19 on: February 14, 2005, 08:56:29 AM »

If you look at his avatar, Larry is gently cradling Arthur's fruits. Bias them wisely my son and let them not go into self oscillation. For thyne is the kingdom, the power and the glory. Deliver us from St Riley. Amen
Logged
W1IA
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 778



« Reply #20 on: February 14, 2005, 09:10:10 AM »

Quote from: Mike/W8BAC
If you look at his avatar, Larry is gently cradling Arthur's fruits. Bias them wisely my son and let them not go into self oscillation. For thyne is the kingdom, the power and the glory. Deliver us from St Riley. Amen


Our four by one who art in the window, hallowed be thy strap!


 :-P
Logged

Run What Ya Brung!
WD8BIL
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 4409


« Reply #21 on: February 14, 2005, 09:18:33 AM »

Quote
Mike/W8BAC wrote:
If you look at his avatar, Larry is gently cradling Arthur's fruits. Bias them wisely my son and let them not go into self oscillation. For thyne is the kingdom, the power and the glory. Deliver us from St Riley. Amen


Our four by one who art in the window, hallowed be thy strap!



Amen !
Logged
W8ER
Guest
« Reply #22 on: February 14, 2005, 09:26:11 AM »

Arthur's fruits .. hell I thought they were 4-400's! No wonder you had a grin on your face when you handed them to me!  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

--Larry
Logged
w3jn
Johnny Novice
Administrator
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 4620



« Reply #23 on: February 14, 2005, 11:15:21 AM »

Larry, you'll get a slip from St. Peter sure as shootin' if you get across the B+ in that beast.... I know I don't hafta tell ya to be careful but let's hope this isn't some sort of omen!

73 John
Logged

FCC:  "The record is devoid of a demonstrated nexus between Morse code proficiency and on-the-air conduct."
W8ER
Guest
« Reply #24 on: February 14, 2005, 11:35:21 AM »

Thanks for your concern John. As an old broadcast engineer type of guy, used to working on a 50 KW AM transmitter, I am overly cautious when inside one of these birds. What you don't see in the pictures is my platform sneakers and the velcro wristband that keeps one of my hands behind my back when working on it. Then there's the 200 pound HV transformer that has reminded me already, by it's sheer weight, that it's nothing to play games with.

By the way, with the permission of radio station WBCO general Manager Debbie Gifford, my avatar is again changing to keep up with Mike W8BAC. I will not however, be changing my call to W8BCO!!!




--Larry
Logged
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

AMfone - Dedicated to Amplitude Modulation on the Amateur Radio Bands
 AMfone © 2001-2015
Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines
Page created in 0.063 seconds with 19 queries.