Hi everyone,
I have been chasing down the chirp that sounds like bloop-bloop on my Johnson Ranger for a couple of months now to no avail. (If you've heard lots of bloops on 40m, it's me! It's so bad, RBN doesn't pick me up!) I've recapped all the electrolytics and changed out R3 -- all the regular stuff. When I switch to a crystal at 7.100, my CW tone is nice and solid. When I switch to the VFO, on any frequency on 40m or 20m, my CW tone bloops.
Since it seems to be related to the VFO, I replaced the 500pf mica capacitors, the 5000pf ceramic capacitors, as well as C15 with a 43pf capacitor in the VFO as well as any resistors that seemed out of spec. The OA2 is putting out around 150VDC. I have the add-on keyer platform (I have an early Ranger), and I replaced the capacitors in there as well as any resistors that were out of spec. I also did the chirp mod suggested here:
https://www.w8ji.com/johnson_vfo_chirp_jump.htmNothing I've done seems to have helped the chirp. Also, when I key down, the pitch slightly changes, as if the VFO can't stay steady. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I'm pulling out my hair here. I haven't changed either of the tubes in the VFO (unfortunately, I don't have a tube tester).
Here's the funny thing: the tone sounds perfect on 80m and 160m but not on 40m or 20m. No bloops, no drift on 80m and 160m with CW. I've also had good AM phone reports on 80m. I feel like this a hint to what's going on. Before I continue, I thought I'd seek out some wisdom.
Thank you for any guidance!
73,
Tony W1TTL