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Author Topic: Getting closer...  (Read 12576 times)
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Todd, KA1KAQ
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« on: March 03, 2017, 09:35:10 PM »

The peanut whistle station is set up and pretty much ready to go, thanks to a visit from W3JN and his EZ-Hang a couple weekends back, and a couple days last weekend of unpacking/moving/hoeing out a space in the garage. Only the Heathkit injuns are set up so far, the rest just came out of bags and boxes to make room.

Hoping to test it out Sunday if time allows. Only 100 watts, but it's a start. The 40m dipole is higher than it's ever been.


* 40mDipole.JPG (347.82 KB, 1000x665 - viewed 376 times.)

* VA PW_Station2.JPG (276.7 KB, 1000x665 - viewed 521 times.)
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« Reply #1 on: March 03, 2017, 10:44:52 PM »

That looks mighty fine Todd! What could be better than to grab a cup of coffee, put your feet up on the desk, and call CQ on 40 meters! Hope I tune across your wireless station tomorrow!

Rob
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« Reply #2 on: March 03, 2017, 11:21:35 PM »

!00W well modulated (if AM as it should be) can be king on 40.. Wink.

73DG
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« Reply #3 on: March 04, 2017, 07:23:52 AM »

Heck yeah, that's an easy 500 pep with our OM voices if we have the right polarity on those mod  plate caps.  Grin.

Your injuns look pretty sweet, rarin'' to meet Pocahontas.
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Steve - K4HX
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« Reply #4 on: March 04, 2017, 09:54:26 AM »

Up and in the clear. You'll be heard. I need to get my station back on the air. Tongue
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« Reply #5 on: March 04, 2017, 10:12:55 AM »

Let me know when you fire up on 40M tomorrow Todd and I will fire up the GMS rig. 

Station looks good and the antenna will do a good job for you. 

Joe-GMS
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« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2017, 12:10:54 PM »

Nice!  What are those radios on the upper shelf above the Racal that look somewhat like Collins S line sets?
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Chris, AJ1G
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Steve - K4HX
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« Reply #7 on: March 04, 2017, 12:33:09 PM »

Happy to say that the station is back up on 40 meters. Currently in a nice QSO with Buddly. He's booming in at 20-30 over 9.
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« Reply #8 on: March 04, 2017, 12:44:18 PM »

And you sound pretty good too, Steve.
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« Reply #9 on: March 04, 2017, 01:48:22 PM »

Nice!  What are those radios on the upper shelf above the Racal that look somewhat like Collins S line sets?

Looks like the Eldico R(S)-119 "SSB communications system". Consists of of the T-102 transmitter and the R-104 receiver, speaker. Collins clones. Collins was very unhappy and the clones were production killed in less then one year after introduction.
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Todd, KA1KAQ
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« Reply #10 on: March 04, 2017, 02:27:02 PM »

Happy to say that the station is back up on 40 meters. Currently in a nice QSO with Buddly. He's booming in at 20-30 over 9.

Dayum, you beat me back on the air!  Cheesy Congrats, glad to hear you and Buddly have been burning a hole in the aether. Been taking care of weekend chores this morning and about to hit the road for a few, but it's too damned cold in the garage right now anyway. High 30s and windy here.

Yes, the dipole is a huge improvement, Steve. I'm sure you recall the one out front in NC hanging from the pecan tree maybe 15 feet up at the center, and maybe 8-10 ft up on one end at the plum tree. Johnny really got it up in the air. Can't wait to see how it works.

Looks like the Eldico R(S)-119 "SSB communications system". Consists of of the T-102 transmitter and the R-104 receiver, speaker. Collins clones. Collins was very unhappy and the clones were production killed in less then one year after introduction.

That's the story I heard years ago too, Pete. But apparently it's not true. Spoke with a fellow in 5 Land who knew the original/one of the original owners of Eldico. He forwarded to me an email message from the gent explaining. Apparently the gov't put out a spec for contract for SSB systems to be used in MARS stations and such. Supposedly they already had Collins S-Line gear but had to second-source it, so the spec was based on the already-proven design. Definitely not a copy or of the same level of quality. Not bad, just not the same.

Anyhow - the reason they disappeared from the market was related to Eldico's financial state: they were going bankrupt or such. The business ended up being sold to Radio Engineering Laboratories (REL) also on Long Island who continued production of the sets until the contract was completed. The last few stations off the line were badge as RELiant instead of Eldico, as these are. There was also a matching amplifier that was never badged as Eldico gear. Would love to find one of those amps, seen a couple in collections.

I think the rub or alleged rub came in with Eldico offering the sets for sale to the public and (supposedly) Collins objecting because the Eldico emblem closely resembled the winged Collins emblem, along with being a similar set up that was (possibly) not intended for private sale or use.

A lot of speculation there. Who knows at this point? Someone must? Photo attached of the RELiant R-104 receiver. Note that even the meter face was changed to say RELiant.

Some days I think I'll get around to restoring it, other days I think about selling it. Time isn't what it used to be.


* RELiant R-104.JPG (221.67 KB, 960x638 - viewed 384 times.)
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Pete, WA2CWA
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« Reply #11 on: March 04, 2017, 11:09:48 PM »

Looks like the Eldico R(S)-119 "SSB communications system". Consists of of the T-102 transmitter and the R-104 receiver, speaker. Collins clones. Collins was very unhappy and the clones were production killed in less then one year after introduction.

That's the story I heard years ago too, Pete. But apparently it's not true. Spoke with a fellow in 5 Land who knew the original/one of the original owners of Eldico. He forwarded to me an email message from the gent explaining. Apparently the gov't put out a spec for contract for SSB systems to be used in MARS stations and such. Supposedly they already had Collins S-Line gear but had to second-source it, so the spec was based on the already-proven design. Definitely not a copy or of the same level of quality. Not bad, just not the same.

Anyhow - the reason they disappeared from the market was related to Eldico's financial state: they were going bankrupt or such. The business ended up being sold to Radio Engineering Laboratories (REL) also on Long Island who continued production of the sets until the contract was completed. The last few stations off the line were badge as RELiant instead of Eldico, as these are. There was also a matching amplifier that was never badged as Eldico gear. Would love to find one of those amps, seen a couple in collections.

I think the rub or alleged rub came in with Eldico offering the sets for sale to the public and (supposedly) Collins objecting because the Eldico emblem closely resembled the winged Collins emblem, along with being a similar set up that was (possibly) not intended for private sale or use.

A lot of speculation there. Who knows at this point? Someone must? Photo attached of the RELiant R-104 receiver. Note that even the meter face was changed to say RELiant.

Some days I think I'll get around to restoring it, other days I think about selling it. Time isn't what it used to be.

There are a number of stories floating around but I should have said the "clones" were killed under the Eldico badge. (typing too fast)

One of the stories I heard was that after they got the military contract, they didn't have enough financial reserves to buy parts and pay for manufacturing for the quantities required, so they struck a deal with a well established company like REL to buy them out and take over the product line. Eldico then became a division of REL.

Another rumor was that the 75S-3 and the R-104 were designed by the same person.  Cheesy
Other then for external cosmetic similarities, the internal designs were different.
I would suspect any parties in the "real know" are probably all gone by now. I think Don Merten, W2UOL later K2AAA, one of the principals of Eldico, passed away in 1996.

But, their real claim to fame probably is that they produced the first SSB transmitter for amateur use 2 years earlier then CE's 10A.
And, I believe, they also had the first (or one of the first) SSB mobile rigs, SSB-100M. All tubes, 5894 in final (60 watts PEP), 80 through 10 meters.

A RELiant L-103 linear amplifier was selling on eham back in 2015. The P110 power supply was also included.




Eldico SSB-100M Mobile transmitter

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« Reply #12 on: March 05, 2017, 10:12:12 AM »

Todd -

Nice looking station you have there. I'm located a stone's throw from Ft. Belvoir so maybe we'll run into each other on 40m AM daytime.

Thanks for posting the close-up photo of the Eldico.  I'm almost certain that (or its twin) is the same rig I have seen in two "Mannix" episodes recently, in one show portrayed as a Forest Service radio.  I paused the recording both episodes for a closer look at what first glance appeared to be Collins gear but the wide dial window had me stumped.

73,
Brad K4RT

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« Reply #13 on: March 06, 2017, 09:30:20 AM »

Good going Todd! yes, that dipole should work marvelous! I'll be listening for ya!

Yes Steve, it was great hooking up with you. Sunday's WFN found Gary The INR checking in and later last night I found Jim N3JUH calling CQ for all the tall ships Cay Man! Chatted with him for half an hour or so. In all a good radio weekend!

Bill (WTK), fire those bottles and say hello!
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« Reply #14 on: March 06, 2017, 11:43:07 AM »

I hit the WFD on Sat but missed Sunday. Good to hear some blasts from the past back on.
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« Reply #15 on: March 06, 2017, 01:13:19 PM »

I hit the WFD on Sat but missed Sunday. Good to here some blasts from the past back on.

Welcome back to the wireless Steve! 

Looking forward to having a QSO with you. 

Joe-GMS 
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« Reply #16 on: March 06, 2017, 11:40:29 PM »

Todd that is a very nice looking station. Can it stay so tidy? Does the Golden Eagle work? All very classic gear!
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Todd, KA1KAQ
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« Reply #17 on: March 07, 2017, 09:56:31 AM »

Thanks Pat. The old Browning did work fine last time it was powered up a few years back. Station looks tidy now because I haven't used it plus the space is limited. But someone already sat a GRR-5 on the desk and a few other items. And I haven't even made a contact yet.  Roll Eyes

Brad - strange that you should mention the Mannix series, someone else brought up the same equipment question on another list a while back. Haven't seen it in years (decades?) but it recently came back on so I'll have a look.

Good to hear that the old N3JUH is still active! Johnny and I were just talking about him a couple weeks back. With Jim, Gary, and Steve back on, 75m must really be hopping again.

Curious - with all the open space down in the 80m portion of the band, does the WFD group still gather on the same frequency as the Canadian SSB group that moved down from 40m, requiring them to give up the frequency to the SSB group after a half hour or so? Never could make sense of that....

Planning(hoping) to fire up later today or tomorrow. Fingers crossed that it all still works after the move.
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« Reply #18 on: March 07, 2017, 11:01:41 AM »

Yes Todd, the WFN still meets on 3733kHz at or near 5PM eastern and we do still honor our standing agreement with the Sandbox net to the north. At times, if some are wanting to continue, we just slide down to 3725kHz or where ever there's room.

I really have no problem with the arrangement since they standby patiently waiting for us to close without a bunch of tuning up.

Besides, after 1 1/2 hours the topics are usually exhausted anyway.
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Todd, KA1KAQ
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« Reply #19 on: March 08, 2017, 10:58:26 AM »

True, I guess if that's the only time you're getting on each day it doesn't really matter. Sorta like the old fudd nets discussing new dentures and age spots.  Grin We're getting to be the new old fudds, I guess. It never made sense to me because so many folks who wanted to join in got there too late to enjoy much time before having to give away the frequency. Why no one thought about finding a better frequency is beyond me, but that's what nets are all about.

Fortunately you're known to wander elsewhere.  Wink
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« Reply #20 on: March 19, 2017, 10:03:49 AM »

Hi Todd.... looking good! I've got one of those amps upstairs too, but I've never had it on the air. I think I have two of the RX/TX stations. The one thing I DONT like is the pinch roller drive on the main tuning.  With the general robustness of the rest of the rig, this seems like a big afterthought.

Hope to see you @ one of the local fests this yr....we can compare age spots.

John
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« Reply #21 on: March 19, 2017, 02:53:40 PM »

Talking about Eldico gear, a good friend bestowed me with some of his Eldico gear many years ago.    I am pretty sure I also have the 100F although its not shown in the picture. When I restore the 100F along with what you see in the picture, I will mount the 100F above the SSB-100 MIL.  

What you see below is a very unique and uncommon Eldico amplifier.  Its model number is L-100 and the power supply below is the P-100.  Both are labeled serial number 2.  The transmitter is the rack above the linear is the common SSB-100 MIL.  

Joe-W3GMS


* IMG_5301.JPG (1811.31 KB, 2248x4000 - viewed 409 times.)
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« Reply #22 on: March 19, 2017, 05:00:46 PM »

Thanks for the photo of the Eldi-Stack. I have a 100F and a 100M (or maybe 2...black face and grey face?) but I've never seen that stack.

Very nice!
John K5MO
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« Reply #23 on: March 20, 2017, 08:40:32 AM »

This brings back many memories. When I was in HS our radio club had an Eldico station (can't recall he models). I remember that the transmitter had a small round CRT. We got more "OO" notices than QSL's every time it went on the air. One of my classmates fathers was W2KUW, a real equipment trader / reseller. Teddy donated a KWM2A station with a 30L1 to replace the Eldico.

Looked up the club call - today WB2ELE has been reassigned ...
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Todd, KA1KAQ
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« Reply #24 on: March 25, 2017, 11:10:02 PM »

Very interesting amp, Joe. Have never seen or even heard of one. Bet there weren't many made.

Looks like the stars will finally align tomorrow morning so I can get on 40m AM again. Hope to catch a few of you scallywags in there. Rob, you put a nice signal into NC when I was down there so I'm guessing VA will be equally loud. Of course, I'll need to get a new sense of band openings, closings, and when I can expect to hear what stations where. Local vs further out and all that.
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