Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020
So far this week, I’m batting .333 for my efforts to check in on my CW traffic net. Every night the band seems to go long at 9 p.m. Eastern time, and I can copy Texas, the upper Midwest and southern Florida, but not a station closer than 800 miles — which includes every NCS on my traffic net.
Yesterday the non-existent propagation was made worse by the SKCC Sprint that was taking place at 9 p.m. I could barely tell the NCS was there, so even without the sprint stations, I couldn’t have checked in. The situation tonight was much the same, minus the sprint stations.
CW FILTER NABBED! I was finally successful in my effort to land an original CW filter to install in my Heathkit SB-102. My external Daiwa audio filter works well; the problem is it still isn’t a good as an IF crystal filter. The Daiwa is a good replacement, but I kind of prefer the original forward-firing speaker in the SB-600 speaker/power supply. The Daiwa has a comparatively small built in speaker with good output; I might open the unit up so I can port the audio output to feed the original speaker.
Once the filter arrives, I’m going to get it installed ASAP; I’ll also remove the filter switch knob off the SB-102 on the bench and put it on the one I’m using. I finally found some scans of how the SB VFO dial and knob are properly assembled. A fellow restoring some SB 300/400 gear had some great scans from the manual and his own comments on tearing the VFO down and reinstalling the parts correctly. I have another SB-102 that had the bushing so dry the VFO wouldn’t turn; I pulled on the knob and I think the knob pulled out of the track it rides in on the VFO dial.
When I can get the SB-102 off my desk, I would like to take a look at the Swan 350 that receives well but has no transmit. I need to check some voltages, relays and maybe some tubes to track down the problem. It’s probably something simple — or so I hope.
WAITING FOR USPS. I’m still waiting for my Amphenol 2-pin connector, and I also picked up a complete assembly manual for an SB-101 (simply to have assembly instructions to properly reassemble the VFO dial and knob assembly.
On a whim, I also ended up with a successful low-ball offer on a Kenwood TS-520SE. I borrowed one of this rigs very early in my ham radio career, and thought a great deal of that radio. I’ve always wanted to have one, but passed by a great many good deals. This radio is a bit worse for wear, the cabinet really needs repainting. The front panel looks good, however. There’s also a VFO 520 currently on eBay, and I wouldn’t mind picking it up to go with the TS-520SE.
The rig is supposed to arrive by the weekend … but there’s no tracking offered, so I’m skeptical it will arrive on time. As cheap as I purchased the radio, if it is a basket case I can put it back on eBay and most likely make most or all of my money back.
73 es CUL … de KY4Z … SK … SK …. (dit dit) ….