On 12 Dec 2006 09:54:50 -0800, julian814 wrote in . com:

Yukio YANO wrote:
TUBES!! Tubes? Off of Battery, 6 Volt?, Vibrator? Inverter? 12 Volt B+
tubes ? Not since the 1950s ?
Am I reading too much between the lines ?

Yes, tubes. I have some that were pulled from circa 1960's television
sets, and I thought I'd use them, hoping that they'd be EMP resistant.
Been on kind of a survivalist kick, lately. Doesn't mean I'd be opposed
to using more modern equipment, though. One thing I saw that I liked in
one of the books I purchased was a loop antenna that uses transistors
to amplify the signal. Thought it might be easier than stringing up a
lot of wire. ;-)

But the transistors almost certainly will be fried by EMP. If that's
not a concern, then by all means try it -- and share the design and
results with us, please!

--
Mike Andrews, W5EGO

Tired old sysadmin

julian814 wrote:
Yes, tubes. I have some that were pulled from circa 1960's television
sets, and I thought I'd use them, hoping that they'd be EMP resistant.
Been on kind of a survivalist kick, lately. Doesn't mean I'd be opposed
to using more modern equipment, though. One thing I saw that I liked in
one of the books I purchased was a loop antenna that uses transistors
to amplify the signal. Thought it might be easier than stringing up a
lot of wire. ;-)


Ralph Glatt

Andy writes:

If we have an EMP attack, who will you use the radio to listen to
???


Andy W4OAH

I'll admit that the idea of a tube receiver is partly based on looks
than EMP survivalbility. (I managed to find eight wonderful old
headsets at a school sale. Bakelite earpieces and cloth wrapped wire!)
I thought it might give me more of a 50's era Cold War feel. I'm sure
I'm not the only one who likes using tubes as well! ;-)

As far as using solid state, I wouldn't be opposed to it, especially if
I could figure a way to shield the parts from EMP. The main reasons I
wanted to adapt a car's AM radio was because they're cheap (I know for
a fact there's one at the local resale shop) and have a certain amount
of shielding, plus they run on 12 volt DC. I've discovered they have
plans for a shortwave converter in another of the Impoverished Radio
Experimenter's books, so I might look into that. There is also a bit of
that post-apocalyptic feel of using "junk" to listen to the airwaves.

I'm seriously considering getting a ham license. So far, the only thing
holding me back is learning Morse code for CW.

Thanks to all who have posted with suggestions, advice and comments.


Ralph Glatt

julian814 wrote:
I'm seriously considering getting a ham license. So far, the only thing
holding me back is learning Morse code for CW.

Do a search on Code Quick. I think the URL is www.codequick2000.com or
something like that. It's a combination audio/visual/tactile system
that teaches you how to copy morse code as if it were words and not
beeps.

Worked great for me, I tried for 29 years and never was able to get anywhere
near 5 wpm. With code quick I was able to pass the 13wpm test and at my
peak copy at 35wpm.

Best $50 I ever spent on the hobby.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838
Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/

Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
julian814 wrote:
I'm seriously considering getting a ham license. So far, the only thing
holding me back is learning Morse code for CW.

Do a search on Code Quick. I think the URL is www.codequick2000.com or
something like that. It's a combination audio/visual/tactile system
that teaches you how to copy morse code as if it were words and not
beeps.

Worked great for me, I tried for 29 years and never was able to get anywhere
near 5 wpm. With code quick I was able to pass the 13wpm test and at my
peak copy at 35wpm.

Best $50 I ever spent on the hobby.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838
Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/

Heck your hot mail dont work my links dont work. so try nj7p's tube
data web page I'm sure it has a link to an RCA tube manual. In the back
of the RCA tube manual is many a circuit an the older the manaul the
better the tube circuits are or were. I recall a converter or two back
in the day, all tube radio, on a points/distributor ignition system
car, yeah vibrators those were the days. You know the trick to clean
the contacts on a vibrator 100 watt light bulb in series with the coil
and plug it into the mains

Then just about the time tung sol invented the 12VDC plate voltage
tube, transistors took over.
I even know how to make a tube out of a dual filament car taillight.
Now there's a real tube.

ray
N8ZU/e0

Hey I like to know what country has a code requirement to get your
ticket.

I'm seriously considering getting a ham license. So far, the only thing
holding me back is learning Morse code for CW.
===========================
You currently only need to do a 5 wpm morse (receive only) for the
highest class of licence ,giving you all the privileges available to a
licenced radio amateur.
So you can start with with getting licences with not all the privileges
and enjoy operating before you go for the Amateur Extra class of licence.

Frank KN6WH / GM0CSZ

ray13 wrote:
Heck your hot mail dont work my links dont work. so try nj7p's tube
data web page I'm sure it has a link to an RCA tube manual. In the back
of the RCA tube manual is many a circuit an the older the manaul the
better the tube circuits are or were. I recall a converter or two back
in the day, all tube radio, on a points/distributor ignition system
car, yeah vibrators those were the days. You know the trick to clean
the contacts on a vibrator 100 watt light bulb in series with the coil
and plug it into the mains

Sounds good, I'll have to check it out.


Then just about the time tung sol invented the 12VDC plate voltage
tube, transistors took over.
I even know how to make a tube out of a dual filament car taillight.
Now there's a real tube.

I wouldn't mind knowing how to do that myself. One of the really good
radio books from Lindsay tells how to make your own vacuum tubes and
transistors. I'm thinking of picking that up as well.


ray
N8ZU/e0

Hey I like to know what country has a code requirement to get your
ticket.

I've been told that "real" hams know code. For now, I'm mainly
interested in listening to news from outside the US and possibly any
Civil Defense frequencies. Would definitely be interested in listening
into any frequency that plays old time radio programs.


Ralph Glatt

I even know how to make a tube out of a dual filament car taillight.
Now there's a real tube.

I, too, would like to see a circuit which demonstrates that "tube"
did something useful. Is it just a diode (i.e., rectifier), or
can it also amplify?

--
--Myron A. Calhoun.
Five boxes preserve our freedoms: soap, ballot, witness, jury, and cartridge
NRA Life Member and Rifle, Pistol, & Home Firearm Safety Certified Instructor
Certified Instructor for the Kansas Concealed-Carry Handgun license

All right, I think I've found what I'm looking for, but I'll need some
help. I found something on textfiles.com that looks to be close to what
I need, but there are some things that aren't quite clear.

http://www.textfiles.com/hamradio/convert.txt

If anyone can help me with the schematics and parts list, I'd
appreciate it.


Ralph Glatt

julian814 wrote:
Yukio YANO wrote:
TUBES!! Tubes? Off of Battery, 6 Volt?, Vibrator? Inverter? 12 Volt B+
tubes ? Not since the 1950s ?
Am I reading too much between the lines ?

Yes, tubes. I have some that were pulled from circa 1960's television
sets, and I thought I'd use them, hoping that they'd be EMP resistant.
Been on kind of a survivalist kick, lately. Doesn't mean I'd be opposed
to using more modern equipment, though. One thing I saw that I liked in
one of the books I purchased was a loop antenna that uses transistors
to amplify the signal. Thought it might be easier than stringing up a
lot of wire. ;-)


Ralph Glatt

Tubes can be fun. Just be careful not to get zapped by the high voltage
power supplies..that isn't fun.

EMP? If your radio is subjected to one of those you won't be needing a
radio.

Have fun with the tubes and 73,

Bill KU8H