Hints and Kinks for the Radio Amateur Editor Robert Schefgen, KU7G Contributing Editor David Newkirk, WJ1Z Cover design by Sue Fagan Production work by Shelly Bloom, WB1ENT Jodi Morin, KA1JPA Joe Shea Deborah SfrzfJskowskl Published by • The American Radio Relay League, Inc. Newington, CT 06111 Copyrighte 1992by TheAmericanRadio Relayleague,Inc. CopyrightsecuredunderthePan-American Convention InternationalCopyrightsecured ThisworkIspublicationNo.10oftheRadio Amateur'slibrary,publishedbytheleague. All rightsreserved. Nopartofthiswork may bereproducedinanyformexceptbywritten permissionofthepublisher.Allrightsof translationarereserved. PrintedinUSA QuedanreservadostOdoslosderechos ISBN;0-87259-385-1 ThirteenthEdition Second Printing,1993 $9.00InUSA Foreword========= Are you looking for fun in Amateur Radio? Many QST readers say they need look no further than the monthly Hints and Kinks column. Each month, Hints and Kinks brings QST readers the most creative ideas of other resourceful hams. Every few years, the best of the recent SUbmissions are gathered up and reorganized into a convenient reference volume. This edition of Hints and Kinks is the thirteenth in a line that stretches back almost 60 years! A ham stepping out of a time machine from 1933 would scarcely recognize any of our modern equipment. We have whole transceivers that are smaller than some vacuum tubes of that time! He or she might recognize little in a '90s ham shack. One anchor is QST, but even that has changed: Inside are articles about digital techniques and microwave projects. Many columns have come and gone, but one the time traveler would recognize immediately is Hints and Kinks. There is a reason for such long-lived popularity. Coming up with a better idea-to meet a challenge, either making your station more competitive or just a bit more comfortable-is fun. We all love it, because it brings Amateur Radio to life for us. Even better is seeing your idea published in Hints and Kinks. This book holds ideas from many hams-good ideas for any shack. Enjoy them, but don't stop there; come up with something better. let's see your idea in the next edition. David Sumner, K1ZZ Executive Vice President Newington, CT May 1992 Preface========== This book is a compilation of material that originally appeared in the OST Hints and Kinks column from January 1987through December 1991. Authors' addresses have been left as published in OST. Some of the addresses may have changed since publication. If you wish to write to an author, check the latest Radio Amateur Gal/book for a current address. All suppliers mentioned in this book appear in a Suppliers List at the back. The addresses in the Suppliers List were verified at the time of publlcation. Contents========= Units of Measure and Equivalents Schematic Symbols 1 Equipment Tips and Modifications 1-1 AEA Ameritron Collins Drake 1-4 Heath 1-12 ICOM 1-19 Kenwood 1-25 MFJ Radio Shack Ten-Tee 1-29 Yaesu 1-32 Home-Built 2 BaUerles and Generators 3 Mobile Stations 4 Portable Stations S Construction 5-1 Design Hints 5-10 Tools and Techniques 5-18 Parts e Test Gear 7 Antenna Systems 7-1 Feed Lines 7-11 Supports and Construction Techniques 7-20 Rotatable Antennas 7-24 Fixed Antennas 7-29 Vertical Antennas e Operating Techniques 9 Around the Shack 9-1 Voice and Other Modes 9-12 CW 9-18 Packet 10 Electromagnetic Interference (RFI/EMI) Abbreviations List Suppliers List Index Units of Measure and Equivalents======= MUltiply - Metric Unit = Conversion Factor x U.S.Customary Unit .. Divide Metric Unit + Conversion Factor = U.S.Customary Unit Conversion Conversion = = Metric Unit Factor x U.S.Unit Metric Unit Factor x U.S.Unit (Length) (Volume) mm 25.4 Inch mm3 16387.064 in3 cm 2.54 Inch cm3 16.387 in3 cm 30.48 foot m3 0.028316 ft3 m 0.3048 foot m3 0.764555 yd3 m 0.9144 yard ml 16.387 In3 km 1.609 mile ml 29.57 II 02 km 1.852 nautical mile ml 473 pint (Area) ml 946.333 quart mm2 645.16 Inch2 I 28.32 ft3 cm2 6.4518 In2 I 0.9483 quart cm2 929.03 ft2 I 3.785 gallon m2 0.0929 ft2 I 1.101 dry quart cm2 8361.3 yd2 I 8.809 peck m2 0.83613 yd2 I 35.238 bushel m2 4047 acre km2 2.59 mi2 (Mass) (Troy Weight) g 31.103 02 t (Mass) (Avoirdupois Weight) g 373.248 Ib t grams 0.0648 grains g 28.349 02 (Mass) (Apothecaries' Weight) g 453.59 Ib g 3.387 dr ap kg 0.45359 Ib g 31.103 02 ap tonne 0.907 short ton g 373.248 Ib ap tonne 1.016 long ton U.s. Customary - Metric Conversion Factors International System of Units (SI) - Metric Units U.S. Customary Units Prefix Symbol Multiplication Factor Linear Units exa E 1018 = 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 psta P 1015 = 1,000,000,000,000,000 12 inches (in) = 1 foot (ft) tera T 10'2 = 1,000,000,000,000 36 inches = 3 feet = 1 yard (yd) giga G 109 = 1,000,000,000 1 rod = 5/2 yards = 16/2feet ' ' mega M 106 1,000,000 1 statute mile = 1760 yards = 5280 feet kilo k 103 1,000 1 nautical mile = 6076.11549 feet hecto h 102 = 100 deca da 101 = 10 Area (unit) 100 = 1 1ft2 = 144 in2 deci d 10.1 = 0.1 1 yd2 = 9 f(2 = 1296 in2 centi c 10.2 = 0.01 1 rod2 = 30Y. yd2 milli m 10-3 = 0.001 1 acre = 4840 yd2 = 43,560 ft2 micro I' 10-6 = 0.000001 1 acre = 160 rod2 nano n 10.9 = 0.000000001 1 mile2 = 640 acres pica p 10.12 = 0.000000000001 femto f 10.15 = 0.000000000000001 Volume atto a 10.18 = 0.000000000000000001 1 ft' = 1728 in' 1 yd' = 27 ft' Linear 1 meter (m) = 100 centimeters (em) = 1000 millimeters (mm) Liquid Volume Measure 1fluid ounce (fl 02) = 8 fluidrams = 1.804 in' Area 1 pint (pt) = 16 fl oz 1 m2 = 1 x 10' cm2 = 1 x 106 mm2 1quart (qt) = 2 pt = 32 fl oz = 57'4 in' 1 gallon (gal) = 4 qt = 231 in' Volume 1 barrel = 311/2 gal 1 m' = 1 x 10. em' = 1 x 10. mm' 1 liter (I) = 1000em' = 1 x 10. mm' DryVolume Measure 1 quart (qt) = 2 pints (pt) = 67.2 in' Mass lpeck=8qt 1 kilogram (kg) = 1000 grams (g) (Approximately the mass of 1 liter of water) 1 bushel = 4 pecks = 2150.42 in' 1 metric ton (or tonne) = 1000 kg Avoirdupois Weight 1dram (dr) = 27.343 grains (gr) or (gr a) 1ounce (oz) = 437.5 gr 1 pound (Ib) = 16oz = 7000 gr 1 short ton = 2000 Ib, 1 long ton = 2240 Ib Troy Weight 1grain troy (gr t) = 1grain avoirdupois 1 pennyweight (dwt) or (pwt) = 24 gr t 1ounce troy (oz t) = 480 grains 1 Ibt = 12oz t = 5760 grains Apothecaries' Weight 1grain apothecaries' (gr ap) = 1 gr t = 1gr a 1dram ap (dr ap) = 60 gr 1oz ap = 1 oz t = 8 dr ap = 480 gr 1 Ib ap = 1 Ib t = 12oz ap = 5760 gr Schel118.tic SyDlbols l FIXED VfARIArBLE \\PHOTO fiXED PONLAORNIZ-ED SP-L1IT-JSTfAT~OR rAYIR-CJOR(E) A~DJUSTABlE FE-RR-I-TEGBE-AD -'\/IIv- -'\/IIv- ~f- -If- IRON-CORE OR METERS ADJUSTABLE TAPPED THERMISTOR FEED- rYJ() rYfl 0 ~ ~ -'\/IIv- ELECTROLYTIC VARIABLE THROUGH t· ~f± * -0---0- TAPPED *-V, T rYfY' RESISTORS CAPACITORS INDUCTORS mv, A,rnA,~A + h or= =p SPST SPOT NORMALLYOPEN BATIERIES 0/'0 ~ 0--L.0- )2 .t.jf=- .±.jIIf-= CONDUCTORS CONDUCTORS SHIELDED WIREORCOAXIALCABLE TOGGLE 0 or SCINEGLLLE MCUELLTLI- NOTJOINED JOINED NORMALLYCLOSED IIIi ~ 00/ GROUNDS ---0 c.l..o t TERMINAL ADDRESSORDATA MULTIPLECONDUCTOR rh * WIRING BU-S.- CABLE SMWUILTTCIPOHIENTS MOMENTARY THERMAL CHASSIS EARTIiaA--DAINGAITLAOLG ~ ADJUSTABLE ADJUSTABLE ~ L£D (OS,) * ~E4 uAI.R.CuOR.EJ IN~DUCTANCE ~ 'YANTENNA ZENER TUNNEL -lDf- -..A~ ---.r- ~ rYJ() <> HANDKEY QUARTZ DIODE/RECTIFIER VVAORLITAABGLEE -$ uWf.n-.luCO.RJE WIWTH LINK ~ CeRYSTAL I Z I CAPACITOR rYJ() rYJ() ASSEMBLYOR 3-PIN CERAMIC MODULE DIODES (01) BRIDGERECTIFIER TRANSFORMERS RESONATOR MOTOR (OTHER THAN IC) MISCELLANEOUS NPN P-CHANNEL P-CHANNEl P-CHANNEl P-CHANNEl P-CHANNEl .AoND - NAND B-©C E-eJ=BZ G2=@=D ::D- Bl G-@: G-@=: Gl S G-@=: E OR NOR PNP N-CHANNEL N-CHANNEl N-CHANNEL N-CHANNEL N-CHANNEL :::L>- :::D-- E~B2 B-©C Bl G-@=: G-@=: GGl 2=®=DS G-@=: ::X)ODR - I-NViER>TER- E BIPOLAR UJT JUNCTION rET SINGl£-GATE DUAL-GATE SINGLE-GATE SCHMITT I I DEPLETION-MODE--- ENHANCEMENT-MODE .IT OTHER ~ -@Y-". MOSFET MOSFET LOGIC (U,) A GENERAL TRIAC G THYRISTOR (SCR) tAM>PLIFIER a COCNONMECMTOIONNS PHONEJACK PHONEPLUG t-- D~ o----r- TRANSISTORS ---/ LABEL ~ --D- CONTACTS R COAXIALCONNECTORS 0-S-P-S.-TJ- 0SP3OT tOf>' AMP MAL-E7 >FE-MALE FE"ALE~ ~"AL£ CflLil ---.t INTEGRATED THERMAL CIRCUITS SOLENOIDS RELAYS CONTACTS (U,) MMOULVTAIBPLLEE. ( A ) ( '" ) 24'01VFEMALE ~.~ ---ruBE ELEMENTS--- ...l..- ANODE (') HEATER OR FMIXUELDTIPLE, I '" I I y I --- III FILAMENT --- GRID • FEMAL£ "AL£ "ALE TRIODE PENTODE CRT GASFILLED HOT~EU~HOT CHASSIS-MOUNT I"' CATHODE ? COLD 120V 120V 1H20VOT?NEUT rNCANDESCEN~EON (AC) TUBES CATHODE ::ID (051) • LAMPS (V" --< >-DEFLECTIONPLATES GND CGNODNNECTORS GND CHAPTER 1 EquipDlent Tips and Modifications SIMPLER CW/RTTY MODE keeping the PK-232's PTT output high CHANGES WITH THE AEA PK-232 BANO. CATHODE regardlessofwhetherthePK-232isinCW o AfterI'dsortedout various optionsfor transmit or CW receive. This allows the U37 U39 U38 equipment control and interconnection, IC-75IA'ssemi-break-infunctiontohandle 7406 741..504 7406 CW and RTTY operation with my Ad CW TR switching functions. When the .E1-Btl'N vanced Electronics Applications PK-232 PK-232 is in the RTTY mode, the CWN multimodecommunicationsprocessorand line is high and the '232 works as if the IC-75IAtransceiverwentwell-exceptfor diode isn'tthere. Note: Ihaven'tyettried ~@) onesnag. Iprefertocopycodeaurallyand 10 myPK-232onAMTORorpacket; Iassume usethePK-232onlytotransmitduringCW @) @) that the diode will not affect operation operation. To do this, as the PK-232 of the PK-232 in those modes.-Guy manual says, you must "disconnect your FRONT+PANEL Olbrechts, NY70, 4809 Jl6th Ave SE, microphonecable from the PK-232to the Bellevue, WA 98006 radio so that the radio does not hang in ELECTRONICBIASSWITCHINGFOR transmit."I The culprit isthe PK-232-to Fig 1-GuyOlbrechts solved his THE AMERITRON AL·1200 transceiverPTT-lineconnection,which, in PK-23211C-751A compatibility problemwith my setup, must be present for RTTY this modification. Addition ofa diode, D. o Adding electronicbiasswitching(Fig2) operationbut absentduringCWoperation. disables the PK-232'sPTToutputduring to theAmeritronAL-1200grounded-grid Withoutthis connection, the PK-232can CWoperation, allowing the transceiver's 3CX1200A7 amplifier allows noiseless keyedVOXcircuitry to handleTR not switch the IC-75IA into RTTY trans break-in when an electronicTR switchis switching. DIsasilicon switching diode mit; with this connection, the IC-75IA (1N914, 1N4148and others suitable).See used. Becausethis circuit biases the tube transmits a continuous carrier when the text. off in the absence of excitation, it can PK-232 is commanded to transmit CW! The need to plug andunplugthis connec 56• tion-orinstallaswitchinthePTT line 2W seemed to bean unnecessarycomplication , 1N4007 ofanotherwiseelegantPK-232/IC-751A1PC system. There had to be a better way! Thereis.Lackingtheprogramdocumen 56 k 2W tation necessary to figure out a suitable 1~0::' software PTT switch, I looked for an automatichardwaresolution.The PK-232 schematic shows signal lines labeled CW and CWN. I suspected that the state of Exceptu lndlcat«l,declmllVllulllof capacltll'lC8If8inmlcrolarads(,iF);OIhlrl these lineswould indicate whether or not 1111inplcolara(pf);mlsllllCeSIreIn ohms:k_ 1000. the PK-232isinthe CW mode. Tests con firmed my hunch. Armedwiththisinformation, Idisabled the PK-232's CW-mode PTT output by adding just one component-a silicon 01 switchingdiode-tothe'232.Iinstalledthe diodebetween U37pin 12andU38pin 10, with its cathode at U37 pin 12 on the R1 R2 PK-232circuitboard (seeFig I). U37and uZ.W.!. 1N914 25W6k ..ZaWJ!. U38areclosetogether, allowingthediode leads to be soldered right to the IC pins. Thismodificationworksasfollows:The L-__~ ~----'''''''''_''''''06 fifth sectionofU3g(U38 pins 10and II) is in series with the '232's PTTN line. Fig2-HankGarretsonadded electronic biasswitching to hisAL-1200withthis circuit. PTTNislowwhen the '232's PTToutput The 12-pF,O.01-j£F andO.015-j£F capacitors areceramic. Connect Terminals 1and 2to goes low to switch the associated trans 120V acatthe primary ofthe AL-1200's heatertransformer, Terminal 3 tothe center tap ceiverintotransmit.ThesignalatU38pin ofthe AL-1200's heatertransformer, andTerminal 4to the RF·INterminal onthe AL-1200's 10ishighinthis situation. With the diode ALC/PowerBoard AR-574;do notchange the AL-1200's wiring forthese steps. Breakthe installed, however,the'232's CWNline white wire betweencontact Aof RLY1andthe RLY terminal on Meter Board AR·545in the AL·1200. ConnectTerminal5tocontactAofRLY1 onthe AL-1200, and Terminal8to low when the PK-232 is in CW mode the RLYterminal of the AL·1200's Meter BoardAR-545. pulls U38 pin 10low tbrough the diode, 01, 02-2N5855. Alternatives: 2N5658,2N5657,2N4055.2N4056.NTE 157.MJE3439, MJE3440, MJE9741,MJE9742. T1-lsolation transformer, 120-Vprimary and secondary(twolow-current filament 'PK·232Operating Manual. p4-4. transformers connected back-to-backwill alsowork), Equipment Tips and Modifications 1-1 lengthen the lifeof your 3CX1200A even BETTER SSB FOR THE COLLINS at approximately 1802kHz (1825 - 23), if you don't operate break-in. R-390A RECEIVER-REVISITED Ifyoufindan 1802-kHzsignal,turnoffthe The circuit is an adaptation of similar o Somereceiveraficionadosthinkthat the calibratortoseeifthesignaldisappearsat schemesbyClements-and Piuenger.? Two R-39OandR-390Aare identicalexcept for the same time. Spurs ofthe typediscussed parallelled 56-kilohmresistors (RI and R2) their method of IF filtering, (The R-390 in this hint disappear when the calibrator are placed inserieswiththestock AL-1200 uses LC IF filtering; the R-390A uses is turned off. biascircuit. With noexcitationapplied, Ql mechanical filters and is generally con Inmycase,thespursregisteredS5onthe and Q2(aDarlingtonamplifier) are turned sidered to be more desirable because of TR-7'sSmeter, whilethe 25-kHz markers off, and voltage drop across Rl and R2 .this.) The R-390Aisactuallyapared-down came in at 15 dB over S9. This "multi produces sufficient bias to cut off the R-390: It has one fewer RF amplifier and channel" response degraded my TR-7's AL-I200's 3CX1200A7. Excitation, recti two fewerIFamplifiers than the '390.This abilityto receiveweaksignals.O·ntransmit, fiedby01 and 02and filteredbyCI,turns seems to make the R-39O a little more otherhams heard meatseveralunexpected QI and Q2on, bypassing RI and R2and sensitive than the '390A, The '390 and places on the band-at reduced strength, applying normal operatingbiastothetube. 390Aalsodifferintheirpowersuppliesand but still quite readable. Mountthecircuitcomponentsonapiece tubecomplements. Thesedifferencesmake Replacing"C2108, a de-to-de converter ofperfboardand installthismoduleabove circuit modules and most parts non decoupling capacitor on the transceiver's the AL-1200 circuit boards (immediately interchangeablebetweenthetworeceivers. internalpower-supplycircuitboard(Fig2-23 behind the amplifier meters). Caution: My modification concerns the R-390's intheTR-7MaintenanceManual),reduced Voltages in the AL-1200 can kill you. AGC circuitry; the AGC circuits in the the spurs to S2. This is acceptable, but Unplug the amplifier and ground the R-390 and R-390A are similar. Both adding another pifilter section incascade 3CX1200A7plateconnection before work receiversuse12AU7/5814tubes forAGe with RFC2101/C2108 (Fig 3)pushed the ing on the amplifier.s-cHank Garretson, rectifierand AGC-time-constantfunctions; spurs into the noise. W6SX, 18831Capense FountainValley, however, the part numbers and tube-pin There's plenty ofroom on the back of CA 92708 referencesdifferbetweenthetwo receivers thepowersupply board to "kludgein"the forthecircuitrythatservesthesefunctions. new parts. The added filter inductor (Ll 2P.Clements,"AllSolid-StateaSKfortheHeath Anyone wishing to improve the SSB in Fig3)isa junk-box Y2-inch-ODferrite 8B·220," OST,Jan 1980, PP25·27. performance of an R-390A by trying my toroid filled with no. 24enameled copper 3J. Pittenger, "3CX1200A7 10 to 80-Meter Amplifier," hamradio, Aug1985,pp75-78,83, modification should consult a schematic wire,-Mike Agsten, WA8TXT, 405 W 84·85, 87. diagram of the '390A for circuit details. Bogart Rd, Sandusky, OH44870 Please note that Ihavenotattempted this BETTER SSB FOR THE COLLINS modificationon anR-390A;thebasicidea USINGTHEDRAKETR-? AND TR-7A R-390 RECEIVER should be applicable to this receiver, TRANSCEIVERSWITHFULL-BREAK IN AMPLIFIERS D The Collins R-390 is a great receiver however,-Ken Johnson, N5US, PO Box except for its poor performance on SSB. 10063, Austin, TX 78766 o TheDrakeTR-7exhibitsacharacteristic The primary reason for this fault is an that makes it difficult to use with several improper signal versus BFO level in the CURING DC-TO-DC CONVERTER full-break-in (QSK) amplifiers on the detectorstage; withthe BFOasweak asit SPURS IN THE DRAKE TR-7 market(ETO modelsAlpha77,78and 86, TRANSCEIVER is, the '390'sAGC range isinsufficientto and theTen Tee425),The problemisthat ensure undistortedreception of strong SSB D Isyour TR-7transmittingandreceiving there is RF at the TR-7!7A's ANTENNA signals. The addition of a single 33-kO spurious signals 23 and 46 kHz above its jackbeforethetransceiver's VOXrelayhas resistor between the anode of the AGC tuned frequency? Checking this is easy. closed. This condition activates the rectifier tube (pin 6or 7of V51O) and the With a 50-ohm dummy load attached to amplifier's "hot-switchprotect" circuitry, grid of the AGC time constant tube (pin your TR·7's antenna jack and the trans causing the amplifier not to amplify the 7of V511)givestheAGCahelping hand, ceiverina narrowCW mode, turn on the first dot or, in the case of the Alpha 86, producing excellent SSBquality. TR-Ts 25-kHz CALibratorand tune inthe to triptheprotectionlatchand not amplify You can test this modification without 1800-kHzmarker. Now, tune for a signal at all. In SSB VOX operation, a similar removing the R-390's IF subchassis as follows: Extend the leads of a 33-kQ, 12-watt resistor by soldering a length of solid, insulated hook-up wire to each 21/10 resistor pigtail. Wrap the resistor and its +10 VDC:EGOUT leadswithinsulatingtape. Next,strip both ofthe extended resistor leads for 12inch. Remove tube V510from the R-390IFsub chassisandtightlywrapthebareendofone resistor lead around pin 6or 7at the tube Break 11 base. Reinstall thetube, beingcarefulthat RfC2101 Connection (See relit) the twisted resistorwireremainsinsulated from \ -- ='=, from the other tube pins and shield base Inverter +1 +1 + whenthe tubeisseated. Connecttheother C210a ci C2 resistor lead to pin 7of V511in the same ~220~F (Replace; ~220~F ~'0~F manner.ExcellentSSBperformanceshould 16V See Text) 16V 16V benoticed,withnoadverseaffectsonAGC time constant. A more permanentmodification would I r Jl r J involveplacingthe33-kOresistorinparallel Originol N•• with the series combination of resistors R556 and R557 inside the IF subchassls. -Ken Johnson, N5US, PO Box 10063, Fig 3-Mike Agsten reduced de-to-deconverter-related TR·7 spurs by replacing the rig's C2108 and adding three filter components (C't, C2and 11) asshown here. 11consists of Austin, TX 78766 no. 24 enameled wire wound to fill ajunk-box V2-inch-OD ferrite toroid. 1-2 Chapter 1