NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 1962 KCS COMPACTRON AMATEUR BAND RECEIVER Part I—Design and Electrical By Norman Morgan, W7KCS/ W7KCS/9 TRIES OUT his new receiver in extal operat Tecmegocrcle bend. afer completing adjoint ‘alo home-comtvte, ond runt 280 watt tpet on CW ame NEWS, "Tranum 2 Septonber-Gctober, 196) ite, He oho has writen erect eces Part Il— Construction, alignment and operation, will appear in the Spring, 1963 Issue. Complete fabrication details for cll home-made special Ports will be included. FEATURES — 4 Compactrons perform 10 functions Double-conversion superhetrodyne Crystal-controlled HF oscillat Accurate tuning dial calibrat 2-Kilocyele selectivity for SSB THE KcS COMPACTRON amateur band re {rer wae develope ffl the need fr 2 high-quality, high-performance. te civer for the popular amateur bande that the experienced constructor could hrtld using the usual home workshop Nand tools’ Only eight tubes are et ployed to perform total of seventeen Functions, "including four ‘of General Eleetrie's new compactron tubes which perform ten” circuit. functions. "Four Imodern' types of conventional tubes perform the other seven functions ‘The KCS covers the principal ama- tear "bands from 3.3. 29.0. eyeles, in seven” 600-kiloeyele tuning Tangs, plus the range vom 075. te 0S mogueyeles for reception of WWV. fn 10 megndyeies. Design objectives of fhe receiver included: “inion crows trodlation from strong. sale on ad- Jacont channels; high stablity and low ‘frequency drift; excellent usable senai- tivity; sharp selectivity; low noise gen graued iin fhe Teaver: Top nbch Single sideband reception; compact Iechanical package, andy simplicity of Ajustment nd. operation ‘Aa can be seen from the panel views of the receiver, itis not a "krob-twister's IN THIS ISSUE High-stabi Tunes 8-500-ki ity tunable oscillator jeycle segments 10 megacycle coverage of WWV Low-noise, high-gain first mixer Compact, modern styling delight.” AIl the essential controls are fon the panel; this simplifies operation. Only'a Signal generator, and a vacuum: tube voltmeter. with an RF" probe is noeied for. complete “alignment. Critical circuits are aligned with adjus able capacitors and coils; however, an ‘effort was made to eliminate all aoch ‘adjustments "where sufficiently. precise fixed components could be used ‘A readily-available war-surplus worm land worm-gear drive mechanism was in corprated into a homemade slide rule type dial giving a professional appear- nee and “Yee!” to the receiver. The tun- ing rate is 25 kilocyeles per revolution off the tuning knob, slow enough for feusy tuning of singlo sideband signals The tunable oacillator was designed to give a nearly linear tuning rate, so that Frequency can be Tead directly from the vernier scale on the tuning knob to ‘within a Eiloeyele or two. A modern Sppearing standard cabinet, plus stand- fard_chastis and. sub-chassle’ type eon- Struction, simplifies mechanical fabriea- ton and asvembly. THE COMPACTION in the receiver — as shown in the block diagram, Fig. 1— are 4 6D10 triple triode (V2) as cathode follower and mixer, and erystal oseil latory a GF11 twin pentode (V4) as. thro stage TF amplifier: © 6AGIY twine {ode twin diode (We) us first, audio Emplitien, AGC gating stage, and AGC Fectfier; and, a GALI1 double pentode (W-) “as audio power amplifier, and 100ckiloeycle crystal calibration. sell. lator. ‘The male fanction capability of ‘compactrons thas contributes greaty £0 the simplicity” of design and: compact ‘te af the receiver "The four conventional tubes, and their functions are! 2 6826 RE pentage (Vy) ara tuned, RF amplifier, a OCA Giode-pentode (Vs) "as second mixer find. tinable oseilintory = OALS twin ‘Tode (Ve) as the detector for amplitude: modulated (AM) signals; and, 9 6/28 Toublesplave sheet beam, tube (Va) a8 4 product detector and TF carrier oxcle Tato. The clreuit was designed around those compactroms available at the time onstruction was started, but Tater ade tions "to. G-E'seompacteon Tine will jake posse the further combining of ranetio icon rectifiers in a are used In the high voltage power supply. Alltubes operate with @ maximum of 180 iate supply volts, resulting in low ewer diapaton, while oil providing gh gain and god stability. ven the compact cabinet the receiver rung quite enol durmg extended. periods of Speration, SESION CONSIDERATIONS ANO_ciRcUrT Starting at the antenna snpat the sens tivity, OF signaltoznolae. ratio, ins receiver ean be made as bi rae. ‘eal by choosing low-noise RF amplifier hd. mixer circuits. Referring to. the Schematic diagram, Fig. 2, the 6826 Semisremote cutott IF pentode (Vi) twas chover for the RE amplifier stage Tbaeae of ise lowe cine sestsance, high Bain-bandwidth product, and high input And output resistances, "The tube oper- Stes with a fixed gain of approximately S"Additional voltage gain tn this Ss provided by the stepeup ratio of RE input coll, ro moisten from, trong lal signals on adjacent frequencies ie min trlsed by using highe'Q. RE olla an Sperating the 6BZE orchin. che Tinear Dortion ofits curve. ‘The eonstant amph Feation eliminates the need. for auto: matic gain control (AGC) ofthe control ri circuit, Usually, AGC resistance in ‘id acts as-a shunting impedance, edacing the @ ofthe EF tuned cir ‘AUR cil (La tLe and br to Ly were. purchase ‘with “the secondarica shoe’ Breer ‘heir fonction, The bord and mode witches hove sections ganged, end the Breteler the author. With the posable sxeoption of the universalowound colle (ly Lyi, Leno, Lo and Lan), the coils can Wwotind by" the conetretor ond. W- Miller type 42AG00CB1 coll forms (34: inch diameter, J inch long) for 1. t0 vy ond tyre 400) (cinch 2 eink ing) for Las to Lan "Te tena. inpit is fixed imped- ance for 72ahm teanamission lines; however, i€ can be adjusted. between small limits by adjusting the slug tan- ing in the antenna cols, Althobgh lower capacitance could have been Used for the tuned iveuit, thus achiev Nigher L/C ratios and Q, the 7 #0 10. Dieofarad eapacitor (C;) provides easy overage of all bands oh the PRE” SELECT knob ‘Both the input and output of the RF amplifier stage are tuned to the same Frequency ‘and use. idential Inductors ‘between the put and ify. accomplished. Small nd between aoctions of Gia and. Cin ’ave compensated. for by Ge'and Cy, RF gain ean be Feduced by thei gin. controle) which ie creases the negative grid-cathode vot ‘ge by making the cathode voltage more positive. In order to limit ‘he cathode torneater voltage gradient, fy and Ry form a bridge which holds’the cathode: Presents Electronic Components Application Notes from the 999 radio amateurs at GENERAL @@ ELECTRIC ‘This inne i sponsored by the RECEIVING TUBE DEPARTMENT Owensboro, Kentucky, US.A. # Editor —E, A, Neal, WAITC ied an gn cin ns tae | i en ee ea Pir Suna ‘rive songed variable tocheater yoltage to below 100 volte when the function switch (Ss), or an oNffe type OBEE pentode sa relatively type OBZ8 pentode isa relative quiet. tube "and "probably “reprecents Sle“highest noise level im the receiver ‘his it in contrast to most tezeivers hae the nha, gaan a noi ieneraly generated by the mixer stage Rowe noise RP amplifier tube much fs © General Blectrie 665 shadow grid hear pentode could have ben use, but Shir dhe not seem worthwhile at. the frequencice at" which this receiver ates. The SCS produces less noise the OBZ6 tube" and would bean txeelient choice for a receiver operating fn. the Sik or. Led-megncyele. amateur anda, Even with the B26. tube. the CS receiver has sch low nolse that ie ie Uattcue "to "realiee hat ifs Operating unt) signal is tuned in, he rest wingn —"The first mixer stage ‘tres a rather ndstal eathode-coupled hou, The fiest section of the BDIO tele triode (Van) act as cathode ollower, tainting the senal impst fram the’ crystal onclitor injection signal Signal voltage is coupled anos the cathode of Vat via a eammon cathode fesistor (BR). The second section, Vat, fc ar a mixing trode with the local fniazn” sigma being injected nto its ferid. The temaining’ triode ection of fhe GD10 vabe (Vac) is the cryatal con- ‘tolled fiat conversion oscillator Very low mixing noise is. achieved with a thiode mixer, and. the eiveuit Allows" "triode to ‘be sed without hedtraliantion. Because of the ‘stual cathode “restr there “ia a certain mount of selfing ‘when strong Signals are received, making wneses Sy" ACE control of the ampiier stage to prevent overloading, In order {o'prodace linear mizing in this clruit ‘he'value of the transerduetanee’ (Gm) oF Vin sl be lane compared (the transconductance of Van, Consequettly, te supply. voltage for" Van is approx: ately 140 ote while the-sapply volt ge for Vat th reduced to approximately GO'volte, Phe advantages of the cathode. Coupled mixer esreuit ean be wilzed in {hie recelver with single 6D10 triple ‘inde compactron if conventional tubes Stay a twin trode, plus a single triode ‘ere Used in thi eee to. Pubes are necessary and a large chassis area foe the mixer circuit is Fequted ‘Since the ersstal controlled first oseil- lator operates higher in frequeney than« [NEATHESS AND SIMPLICITY of font pone ofthe receiver i eppara this vaw, Vernar scale on runing knob bor 100 division, bot cle "rte can be opplies over i CConcenmie ype everoneters are ered. sn RF and AF goin control. owing 25:locyco ler 8 anderd Genera! Clecre DWT“ by WEES the incoming signal on all tuning ranges, the resultant subtraction in the mixer produces a first TF sigeal in the S- Ingacycle region. ‘The eryatala for the Abe and. T-megacycle bands operate in tive fundamental mode, while the six crystals for the higher-frequency ranges Sperate in the thinbovertone mode. If @'tatched set of crystals’ is obtained for ¥; to Ys, vaning dial calibration fwil romain virtually the same for all ands. The erysta-controlie first oscil lator provides the advantage of high abit’ orer a Sanable Het oscar ton the bands above 14 megacyeles where Wis needed. gs SHcOND mixEk— The output of the frst Inixer in fed into Ts, The tracking cir- cuit, composed of Gra, Caudy Case Cap fan! Cya, together withthe secondary of Ty, tune the variable I frequency Tage of 9400 to 2008 Riloeycion. The Tunable oscillator (Vsa) output voltage {applied to the cathode of the 8US-A pentade section (sa). second. mixer The BUSA. tube is good. choice for he “comnation “etetoaclon be feause of its low partition noise, oo Conversion "gain characteristic, “and Tow. uri-plate interelectrode capaci- tance. By tsing cathode injection, inter fetion between he signal and oscillator fegunimiael The tke athode rete ig), Bresents ‘essentially a constant foat?on the VEO, a "A “constant filter with Tow pass characteristics ie composed of Las) Lax fand Crp. This filter effectively attena- ates harmonies of the VFO. ‘The track- Ing of the mixer and VPQ 18" accom. ‘lay meant of Ca, Cat te Ktoriated capacitors, ais eslaned fo fetch within several kiloeyelen tosh: bat th ban By probes choi of hee ‘Sroponents the taming ie nearly neat ‘hrowhout ¢he useful ranges By na ‘combinaiion of grid Teak has (Rie find” Ca) together with cathode bias TR) on’ the mice, a Tenaoneble flat Goetiaton gan catl be achieved with ‘moderate eManges in the olla: infer toate: TUNARLE OSCKLATOR — The triode section tthe USA (Von) in taned-grd cir hit in moet for the tonable naslato, We dlivets good stability and an sary Method of obtaining saclaton witht putting plate voltage seroes Coy Adi Bomally.'all power consuming. compa- norte (Rew, Ho and Ryy) are mounted ciow the chassis so thatthe heat doer ig ook” meter wih not dissipate into the VFO-mixer eom- Paztment ree rovision wag originally made for a voltage regulator tube f Plate voltage but it was not neces for moderate changes. in line voltage. 2 checks showed a feequeney change of ‘approximately’ 250 eyeles for a voltage change between 105 to 128 volts. In Jocations where this voltage range might be greater, or where very low line volt- gen enedantared might be wae 2 Si an OA2 190-volt rerslator tube. ‘The’ sevond. oscillator, tunes back warts. For example, onthe Soto 40. Inegacycle Tange the ‘oscillator tunes from, 4.04. to. -ZS4-megacycles rempes: ively. The combination of the erystal first oscillator and. tunable second Outillator frequencies were chosen {0 frinimize spurious beat Frequencies. By five of the frequency” combinations the lowest spurious frequency occurs on 7 ‘megacyeles with the fourth harmonic of the tunable oscillator and the first har- fnonle of the crystal oscillator. Since the attenuating filter network affec- izes the fourth harmonte of iilator this signal sex tremely weal Ceramic tube sockets and low dvift capacitors are used in the tunable osci- fator which ie built into a rigid com- Parkment of fa own, Heat disipating Components of this. stage are mom below the chassis and out of the com- artment, thus minimizing heat trans Fer to eritieal parts, Ir ampurieRs — "The output of the second mnixer is fed ditectly” into. a Collins mechanical Pilter (FL) which is tuned to retonance on the input side by Car nd Gq, and’on the output side by Cay, plus the Input capacitance of Ve. 1 the receiver is to be used principally for SSB reception, a Zi-Klloeyele band: width filter (Collins F455J-21) is recom Inended, ‘However, if good, AM recep- tion is important, then the $,1-Kiloeyele bandwidth filter (Collins Fa95J-31) is recommended no, that the ABE carrier nd one mideband will pass through the fliter, Other types of mechanical titers the Colting "Ys" or new. low-cost SPAM series filters — also are suitable, tbat will require different mounting than fhe Sim socket used on the “JF type ‘iter ‘A G11 twin pentode compactron (Vs) —eaeh section ia similar. to a 6EW6 ‘miniature pentode — operates as a to- stage IF amplifier, The GJ11 is ideal TOP VIEW of the receiver chow ticle i driven trom lorge plastic pulley mounted on upper end of Shaft of Cry. Tonle oulotor (V3) Is ‘ower worafocmer tah Pit orcioor ca (3 to L7ph oe all Rowied ox Between copecior ond ‘Coats layout slagrm ‘or this applieation, since ith ind saves considerable 8 the only be controled by the negative AGC bias vol he receiver, since. all pre ‘ous stages have constant gain. Resistors, Rap and Ro together, with capacitor Cas provide effective decou- pling in the’ AGC: elreult between the fantiln grid of the fat and ton famplifier stages. Because 0 extremely high ain of these. tubes (Es Looy a “neutraliing cenit ‘Was included, Tt consists of Can, Cer and ‘ccouphing eireult Ras, Cum and Rey. ‘The Stmeter circ “monitors. the cathode voltage of Vas and compares t Ggainst 9 constant voliae across, Ris. By using the S meter in the cathode Cieutt of the second TF stage, low volt- See operation results whiek cuts down on the wattage rating of Roo and the ero ‘set potentiometer (Ry). The $ Ineter therefore reads the complete tube Current of the second TF amplifier as GC is applied to its control grid in a falue whieh changes in proportion to Tie 'signal strengel: On single wide bara and GW operation the AGC clreuit is faken rom the first audio amplifies fo that the 8 meter follows. the audio» Strength rather than the RE strength, fs isthe ease with AMI reception. fhm pericror— The output of the TF Gansformer, (To) is fed into. am inte rating diode AM detector and also fh the single side ‘band ‘product. de- tcefor, The integrating. diode, detector, ing of both sections of @ GALS fwin diode tube (Vs) reduces distortion by presenting a expacitance load to the Sutput tranaformer” winding on_ both the positive and negative IF signal peaks. "With positive peaks the output fr in cabineh showing postions. of antenna’ Tock, headphone jock rain board, few holder ond AC power eotd fonvvcar of chats, Receiver thawed In Bea"GR 40 Shadow Cobinl” 14g. inves Wide, €inoter gh, and 10 Inches dee.forepsrw oe os 1 : E 9 rome on 10100 pt. per see ‘Wammoriond MCD.I00-) lahtsine variable z aerotemperaiure et lent (Conroe 82287), Gr, Cr2y Cin, Cie, Cis Ci C13, Cras Esp, Cols Cane Coes Soe ‘aetetomperolie. coin! ceramic Sn aloes leer 588. receplion (Colin type FASSi-7 {ite used ia is rcalrePh _l-empare midge! convidge Tote, yBe 3AG, and holder CH fo hy 400-el peak Invert, 750.miliempere sileon rectirs Ge ines. 33° eloved cei type phore jocks TEI135-0N vnivenet wound coil) primary, J. W. Miler No, 42A154 ‘Cb, secondary, 15 tre, No, 28 SE wie, rondom wound Minch tong ane snchapocing trom primery Laz. 1z) 47H BF Choke, prvound col (ational 819980, 134.-485:Ke tapped oxeilatr cl midge! Type Mller 5489-0), Mj O—1-miiompere, 2Vcinch square ponel meter (General Electric ‘DW, Gat No. 513322), opto trot section Na CF26 wih SF12 thf ane BUS bothing). R4y-2000-0hm, welt potentiometer, Si éipole, Section 212 postion Neate totory tap wich, stop tal fr 8 postion SoSpole, Tsecton, S'perition 25 pst lection, postion shorting colry tap switch T)Adsocyle IF input transformer UW. Miler 12.) rele IF utpet wansformer (J. W lor 12-C2- ‘300-kiecyle IF inpe! Manstormer, modified (ler 13.61). Te Power tenstormer” 115/135:oH secondary, 200 illompare, 63 volts of 55 ampere, 11S0at primary ied R738) Ten-Audio ouput ronstonmer, 400-chm primary, 32-0hm secondary, 3 wots (Soncor 43328). Y; to Yes-Generel Elec receiving tubes, types Inglcated in ig. 2 YitoYy. Quattro, E29 type holders sew TABLE ITCOIL DATA, Yor trequencie.” Ry gearts erp FT-249 holder, A562 tilayces, for lower si ond reception Yipquorte ryt, F-23 holder, 453.9 Aileeyeas, for upper Bend recaption, Yj) 10Dsioeycle Hondard frequency quarts eral, HCS/U holder Tew mig, Ca type HI-ICO: wh, oO per = rhe aT MAIN SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM of the KCS receiver Parte rege: fre devcribed in TABLE I—PARTS UST, ot TABLE I--COW'DATA. Ravistncer ore given im ohms, Y-Wat ating, ‘TABLE II—COIL DATA ple martes for higher wattage icrotoreds (UF, role types of the copadion ° mer sciences ore ia plolorod ‘Cepaciors wih polarity md wologe rting specified. PRIMARY “SECONDARY, ‘cavstat Terme Wire Length Space Tons Wire langih aller Call Tanath Mller No, Freg, Pi omar apauriader oy Ne Ne. Ke oh th . 035 4 22 WM O76 6 20 6 A2AI06CBl Ly 23 17 28% 4503 Y, 32695) Bec. x 03s 4 422 +4 W076 6 20 W <2Al0eCel 4, 24 17 28 v4 4503 Yy 92,195) vce se Voc-me2= 8 035 4 22 MM O76 8 70 % A2Al0ECBl \y 25 17 28 M4 4503 Ys 31,695 27 vec. se T5210 Wt oa 5 22 Hw 1A 8 20 % G2AI0S@D iy 35 73 30 M4504 Ya 24,495 as pee, = wooMe— us 040 5 24 WW 20 2 22 W «azece ty 4323 30 4 A303 Vy 17,95 145 pce. & a70— a7 8 Wm 6S a) 28% A2A0860H ty 70 93-92 Me ASS WY 10495 ves ure Fa wns 251080 «W186 UNvRSAL—ZATISCEY ty 110 40 36M ABO, «0.995 40 WOUND. s Wwi97s-a 10 6 28 we % a6 16 24 W A2AI06G Im 94 UNIVERSAL 4307 Ye 19,265 1025 be occ ‘WOUND. Nores Induconce volves given are thoig 2c. Enameled wire used on all col Al coils wound on J. W. Mller ceramie sv Pent No, 424000081, Y:lnch someter, 1 All ole losewo tualy i ciet nls spected.bisa _. ‘transformer load ia essentially Cs, while fon negative peaks, the output load sees the capacitive reactanes of Cx in pa lal sith the AGC resistors. Audio fi fering is provited by Rap and Tea, while oy and Eos Zor the change tne cn tant network, During discharge of the AGC cireut, Cau, Her and Rex provide a charge tine constant of 0.18 Seconda ind discharge time constant of 0.18 ronda. A. slight. delay voltage a ab Dlied to the AGC line due to contact potential in the GAL.O tube. This delays Application of AGC voltage until a Sena of approximately 20:microvts ‘The GALS tube could be replaced by ‘wo IN34 diodes diectly with no changes In‘the elreuit, This would reduce the receiver complement to. seven tubes; however, the: diodes. would. provide no delay and result im slightly’ more dis: fortion "and less gain than ‘the tube ertuivalent. SINGLE SIDE BAND PRODUCT DETECTOR — The Unique characteristics of the General Blectric FHS double-plate sheet: beam ‘tube (Vs) are utilized in an excellent performing product detector eireult. The ‘ood separation possible with this tube fakes it ideally suited for single side hand product detector applications. It requires low oseillator injection voltage, and. has. freedom from. spacecharge Coupling. effects which ‘are present. in Gual-control pentodes and heptodes. Tt delivers relatively linear output volt- ‘ages, and is relatively Inscnaltive to ide Tange of variation in oscillator Amplitude. "The cireuit makes use of a single sued blanco lesan, with the tala Ing voltage on the deflectors provided by the resistance bridge Rey amd Res. The audio outpat signal emerges from one “dleior and audio seclions in compara IF amp 588 proouct ye oe (hy 10 Lg) ond RF (Ly to Lah cols "wotmgear drive from the funing knob ‘tthe ight Location of Yor the plate through the filtering resistor Rss ‘The oscillator. which ie" erystal cot trolled by Yo or Yyo for lower side band ‘or upper side band, respectively, injects its voltage between the control grid and cathode of the tube, Tn order *o elim nate a trimmer capacitor, Gyo is speci= is plus or minus 1 percent value, A‘INS¢ diode (Cz). protects the shuct ‘beam tube from positive grid bias by shunting positive voltages £0 ground, AUDIO. AMPLIFIERS — Audio output from the AMT or single sideband detector 1s {iret amplified in a conventional triode audio amplifier (Vea), The % GALI udio output tube (V;x) provides about 234 ‘waite of useful output power. The coupling networks ‘between the two fudio slagug tend. to produce. slightly Righer cutoff frequencies than’ might normally. be expected when using a ‘mechanical Titer. Resistor Rgo provides ome additional attenuation of the low Frequencies so that the audio output has a crisp, sharp, rather pleasant quality ‘without ringing or excessive bass boom ‘The use of the CALI1 compactron (V5), which is essentially a GDS com. bined With a GAQ5, allows the 100- Kiloeyele crystal calibration oscillator to be put into" the same envelope. ‘The erystal calibrator ie on only when the {funetion ‘switeh (Ss) is turned to cal- brate. The output of the crystal oscil Intor is fed directly into ‘the antenna, to give a signal every 100 kilocycles feross the tining range. ‘Audio voltage from both AM and SSB detectors is also applied to the ingle side band. automatic xin” con” trol gate triode tube (Vén). his ia the ‘second section of the audio. amplifier fube-—a GAGLI four-seetion eompactron Ressentially a 12ATT twin triode, plus GBWS diodes with separate cathodes. AGC voltage then runs through the AGC diode” (CRe)_ and one diode sec- tion of Vic. ‘The resulting DC voltage {s"applied “across the charging. time constant composed of the forward re- sistance of Voc and Cea This provides a very fast attack voltage for the AGC. ‘Tho release voltage time constant. ic provided by Ras, Gye and the back re- ‘stance of Vee and Hg ‘This network provides a release time of approximately 5 seconds. ‘The single Side band AGC voltage follows audio Signal strength; ‘however, bocause of the time constant involved, 1 does not rapidly fluctuate ‘with instantaneous changes of audio level. Sinee only. one of the GAGII ‘compactron diodes I Used in this receiver, it Would be. pose sible to use the unised “diode section ‘83 a noise limiter if the constructor felt desirable, PoweR supety — ‘The power supply eon- nao full_wave bre reetifir System using General Electric type IN16%5 "750-milliampere silicon. reeti= fiers. The semiconductor reetifivrs mi mize apace requirements in the power supply" compartment.” ‘The p-seetion ‘itering ‘components (Cia, Cris and (GH) "Nore chosen fo rou ina very low ripple voltage of 0.01 percent, which ip barely discernible with the ‘Sudio volume control wide open. Because Gf the high capacitance of the input capacitor & current surge Limiting re- Sistar (Rss) Was provided to limit cui Font through the diodes during the first charging evele Nite that ait tude heaters are eon: nect=d together by means of twist ‘wire and-are grounded at only two points. ‘There is'a ground at the power transformer (Ts), and also on pin 5 of the 6JHB tube (Vs). In order to Feduee hum inthe single side band Product detector it was necessary” to round pin 5 diruetly.to the chassis. This pin ia ala connected. to. the in ternal shie'd and focusing electrodes of this tube, Rather than a single heater- wire and a direct chassis ground for the ther sie of the heater ereult, the twisted. pair of wires. reduces “any tendency of hum pickup in the audio output, This extreme may not be neces: sary; however, other methods were not trig dterine it superionic. Note that ewitch Sy isa shorting awiteh or make-before-break. type rotary. switch “which lows tho next Ghreuit to be energized before the pre- ious cireutt is disconnected. ‘This pre- vents “transient. voltages from being roomores ar mp Serna $0THE LOADBOX — A POWER-INDICATING DUMMY ANTENNA By Philip, Motte, WGK? WOK-QUALITY SIONALS from amatens transmitters are more important toda Shan ever before, but "with today's crowded amateur band. conditiont, on- heals testing is frowned upon. Thus, fs dummy-antenna, load ie necessity in fhe amtatenr station ‘The LOADBOR is 4 moderninal ver sion of one of the. dummy. Toads ae: feribed in an earlier isaue of GE HAN News". Tt teatures complete shielding to reduce radiation and”an internally tountal RF ammeter to allow compar. tive power readings Tele bule in a 48x6-ineh aluinam utility, box An “unpainted ‘box was tsed,” since. good contact betwean ‘the toy’ of the box andthe covers. il tecfeate unwanted. radiation, The overs furnished with the’ box were Feplaced by. eovers eit trom perforated Aluminum shest (Reynolds ome Aloe iminum) to asnat(n coling the resistor sembly. Additional sheetametal serews Were sed to assure. good contact Do {ween the covers and the body ofthe bs "Phe renistor arsembly consists of tr, nom-inductive,wirewoud, BO, 10 ‘ati resistors conneeted in. parallel to five a nominal resistance of 0 ohms ‘Eo ‘copper disks” (vee. photos) ‘were Used fo" parallel the restore. Copper onnectioh straps were fastened t0 tho fcnter of the dake with nachine screws Sind solder before the tealnar assemly ‘was “made. "The resistor leads” were ipped through the holes arotind the ‘ge of the disk, soldered, and eipped Gne strap was’ yeed. to” connect the Fesistor asgembly to the bottom of the ‘iuminum box ard the other connect {othe RF ammeter, as shown in the tehematic diagram, "The RF amipeter is mounted of sup ports inside the, box with “the. face Wisible through the screened hole on the front of the box. "The meter used in’ this model “has” a O—Lbampere Fange, whieh allows power inputs up {0 approximately 100 watt, ‘The front of the Box aleo carries the input couxtal connector andthe varie able capacitor used to compensate for herrenctance of the fesistorsasembl ‘The resistor assembly maybe con applied onto the primary of T. and thos producing excessive Gansient volt= geo the INA des Inthe Wide rectifier "The headphoue jack (Js) euts off the internal speaiger ~mouniad inside the top a the cabin "when eaphones {in extomual speaker so be connccted ta Seiominais 1 and Bon the terminal board Ponsated by connecting the Loadbox, Eirough an SW bridge, to a aounee of EF and, adjuming the variable capaci: tor on the front of the box for‘a mull indication on the SW bridge at the tonter of each band on which the Loa fois to be used Maries many be made fn the front of the box to allow reset {ng of the capacitor. Th operation, approximate power being dissipated. in’ the load. may’ be Calculated by squaring the reading of She RF smunceer and maliplysng by 90. However, the Loadbox is tort useful for dotetmining whether changes in & Piece of equipment increase or Gecrease the power output, This i difficult to do swith lightbu fond as most of Unable 29 “remember™ the inten lightbulb bntwoun este ‘The resistance of the model ius tented was measured from IT to 90 Me. The resulta are shown on the curve From this ican be eon that some errar in calculated. power” output wil Prevail a all frequencies if a resistance St" 50 ohms. assumed, but that the Grror will increase sharply: above 20 Imegucyeles. "However, this does not Btfeet the usefulness’ of the Loadbox fan Indicator of rslotive power at given frequency Arthough the nominal rating of the xesiator asuambiy is 100 Watt, powers Eerhigh a 00 watte may be disupated for hort intervat However, If this is done the RF ammeter” must Have the Droper range andthe overload should ote applied for" more ‘than one Iminute, fatlowed by a”fifteen minute cooling-off period.” Cooling may aimisied by sing a fan oF blower ‘0 Tove alr through the perforated covers othe box, For mutkimum convenience, the Load- box may by connected to. the trans: miter throveh one postion of coaxial fable selector ewiteh (B&W. ‘Model SHOA, or Waters Mfg, Co. Model 339) whieh lap selects the "live" antennas. So, whenever you test out your trans: mitter=veven for only a “minute or fo" connect it to" the Loadbox and Prevent needles interference: to other ations PARTS LIST—LOADBOX Inecouple tye. Can S—SO-ph miniature variable (Hammenund F.50, or equivalent 4..-.Ghontsype srtal cable jack (80-200) Ten 800-0hm, S.welt non inductive reitore ‘Sprague TON oxAlminon lity Box, 45x inches, covers ‘on fu6-nch tides Bod AU-1079) (7R))._ 1 remaina in operation even whet the headphones” are’ plugged in. ‘heme ‘cnnetions alo canbe tun Yo the speaker muting cireutt ine single fideband ranamiter with ‘which the Muting of the receiver while a com- anion tranamitter is. operating. 1s Secomplished by ‘opening’ the clrcuit Between ‘connections "2 and’ on the SIDE VIEW of the Lodbox, Ink of ressor i con Coliroted raving Yor the reutance-conaling ‘pact or differen bonds: Nol wire scree iB T ae I roomores hee slg member of ein it 3, terminal Yount and thus, basing the 6826 RP amplifier tube to cutoft by applying high positive voltage on the cathode. [MECHANICAL DETAILS —"The construction, alignment and operation of the KCS COMPACTRON amateur band receiver will be covered im detail in the follow ing issue of @-E HAM NEWS, Spring, 1958 (Vol. 18 No. 1)NEW MOBILE onsmiting whee by Gener! Eecrie ors lt fo right! B15 2Tewalt boom pentoce compacton; 108 beam pentose mul Plerdtivey 8102 ride pemtoge. for iping (Gnd mdvetingy and the type 7904 compatron ry capi lle “ically for relable end scoremies! equipment Inthe 175 Me, range of commerce common ‘tions, the 7984 and 4156 feture high power moderate ple voltage, compost sce, or ineal ods, motile Bae-pi_ connec tions tor postive RF groveding of cathode and sevan-grd. slomen, and 13.5-velheclers ‘hich operte dieecly trom Zero ‘eua’ elec rel stems. Complex or Simple? . FOUR NEW SMALL G-E TRANSMITTING TUBES ANNOUNCED RADIO AMATEURS who are planning to build new mobile equipment. will tind fro. new compactzons, and. two Spin miniature, tubes, Kea’ for. tranamliter CGreuits, All four mew tubes pietured 4 the left—have: been designed. ape- Eifically for reliable and economical tmobile communications at. frequencies ip.to 178 megacysles "The popular 6146 transmitting tube hhaa been compactronized in such fashe ion that if-delivers move power output in'the VHF range (at 179 megacyeles) ut at the same ime requires eae driving power. It bears the ELA desig hation of type 7984, and is rated for 46 ‘watts output, aa compared. with the ated a6 watts of the 6146 under similar conaltiont, Seated height is only 25 inches, as compared "with, the 25-inch seated eight of the G146. ‘The saving is gain bectuse the 7984 has neither a compost tion base, nor a top cap. Eliminating the top eap for the plate connection Im mobile equipment is) advantageous” be- ‘use i eliminates a long loose wire fend which is difficult to. keep. from vibrating or otherwise moving” about. Maximum ratings of the 1984 in intermittent mobile RE service, clase © telegraphy and FM telephony, are: DC Plate voltage, 750 v.; DC. screen-grid Foltage, 250 v.; DC grid No. 1 current, {0 ma} and plate dissipation, 95 watts. Typical operation as amplifier at 175. megacycles: plate voltage, 450 _¥. ‘Sereengrid, 195 v.; grid No. 1, —60°¥-) late current, 180 ma; sereen Pent, 12 ma ima. driving power, 2 wattss, output, 40 watts, ‘Another new compectron, type 8156, is a'madium power tbe with 1 watts Plate "dissipation. A new multiplier: iver tube, the 8106, ie rated at 6 ‘watts plate’ dissipation. ‘The 8106. ean double und. drive’ the 7984, can dsive twa 798s ik push-pull oF can double and drive a pair of 85's Por fre ueney tripling and FM modulator, the {Fiode-pentade 102 ‘miniature tube fs avallate ‘Other significant characteristics are: 8156—"Fhin ‘beam. pentode.compac: tron hag four ping for sonnet {he eithole andbeum Hates, thee plate ping and ‘two serectgrid Dinu, Ratings are: 600 volts ‘naxtmum’ DG plate, 250" volts screen grid, 100) ma. late’ current, 3. ma. comtrl-grid cur. ent, 15 watts plate dissipation, and BS wate srven arid dipation. In {ypleal operation “at 175" megacycies with 400 plate volts, 110 screen grid ‘olts, and minus 80 controlgrid voit, the tube draws 00 ma. piace current 10 mu. sereewgrd current, and 3 ma. gid current. With 1.0 wate of diving ower, the useful otpae in 21 watts 8106 — A 9-pin miniature beam pen- tode, the tube’ features three eathode- ‘ain ‘plate ping, and two screened ins. Maxintom ratings arer 490 plate Volts, 200 screen-grid volts, 6.0 watts Date dissipation, snd 40'm, DC cathe Sade curren 102A Spin miniature triode pentode, the tube has a large cathode Treas stction, and the ental sect ie"Tated to eamy 20" ma. cathode eur: ent Both plates are rated at 880 volta Tnasimum, and 29 watts dissipation, In typical operation at"129 volts, the plates Gtaw If and 13.0 ma respectively ‘These new tubes will bring higher efficiencies to "amateur radio mobile équipment, as they ara doing for com: Prolet, the consrcton ond alignment ore wall within the cope: Bites of the experienced radio ometwur, it enables omsteu with a good supply of parton hand to “slepup™ te 2 higher Pevlormance receiver at low cost The KCS rocever oho goldmine” of call and consntionl leon or the However, fr thove wh too, ike the LOADBOX in ths sve, ond tut provide belonced -= Available FREE from your G-E Tube Distributor Novensen.oecensen, 1962