My first contact of Heavy Metal Night was the most meaningful as it involved a transmitter which had not been operated since May of 1998.
That transmitter belonged to my Elmer, Dick Haungs W2UJR, and is of typical old buzzard relay rack construction. He had built it on his retirement from CalSpan and had used it daily like a fixture on 1888 KC. Since his passing, the unit had set in storage until Larry NE1S and I liberated earlier this year in Buffalo while attending the Antique Wireless Association Conference.
It was with the able help of NE1S that the W2UJR rig, a pair of 811s modulated by a pair, returned to the air on 1885 at or about 7PM last night.Thanks to Brent, HUZman and others who kindly tolerated and coached as brought the beast to life, cranking up the audio and doing manual T/R operation.
The unit has some really clever design features, like an outboard VFO built inside of an old command set cabinet, which uses a Collins PTO and National Velvet Vernier dial!
As this was the maiden voyage and we were still testing, not all of our connections were done in a workmanship manner. The trial run was especially JS, with the antenna feed clip leaded together and the workbenches were strewn with parts, tools and unfinished cups of coffee. The photos tell the story, especially our power supply and antenna connections. And we had some nice arcing when I discovered the antenna output wires had an enamel coating – amazing how quickly an RF arc removed enamel - but the beast not only made RF, it actually worked (once we figured out a wiring error I made on the audio cable).
There is much more work to do on the unit, not fundamental changes as I would like to keep the design and character intact, but minor tweaks and safety measures – take a look at the power supply section and exposed HV to see what I mean.
Anyway, I found it altogether well and fitting that it should make its return to the air on Heavy Metal Night.
Ironically one of the schematics was dated 12/29/82, some 23 years almost to the day earlier.
My most heartfelt thanks to Larry for taking time out of his day and operating hours to assist in the project.
More information, and photos, can be found at
http://www.brucehowes.com/the_ujr_project.htmMod-U-Later,
Bruce W1UJR
