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26FB113 Profile
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Freebander

Registered: 03-2009
Location: Worcestershire UK.
Posts: 45
Karma: -1 (+0/-1)
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TX of channel :-(


Hi, I have an old Stalker IX. I've had reports that on SSB my TX is off frequency. I run the rug mobile & had my wife listen in on a SW radio, it appears to be out by about 500Hz.
Any ideas how to go about getting the old thing back in tune? Or any Rig Docs out there willing to take a look?


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73's Ken 26FB113.
Home QTH - Kenwood TS430S - Homemade 11m Slim Jim, Full size G5RV for lower HF.
Campervan - Kenwood TS50 - Inverted V wire dipole for lower HF.
9/Apr/2009, 1:59 pm Link to this post Send Email to 26FB113   Send PM to 26FB113
 
John193 Profile
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Freebander

Registered: 11-2008
Location: South Glos
Posts: 260
Karma: 3 (+3/-0)
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Re: TX of channel :-(


Ken, this is the oldest one in the book. They drift if knocked on installation.
The job is usually a ten minute one in a workshop. It sounds like you have an understanding misses you can act as freq checker, so here's the easy "no workshop" proceedure.
Open the case, set all shift and clarifier knobs to center. set to usb on stalker set receiving radio as accurately as possible to a any channel in top band( 20 is ideal here). tx in to a dummy load, talk or count in the mic (you need to modulate the ssb)with your spare hand place your finger ontop of the three tuning cans (these are very close together front right in pcb). One of these will be live with band of operation so it will make a noticable tone change when touched by your earthy capacitive finger. Using a non metalic screwdriver or slug adjuster(same thing) turn the tuning slug a quarter of a turn clockwise and listen for result. if its worse then go back(anticlockwise) slowly passed the starting point and a bit more. check again. adjust in small increments until it SOUNDS right.
Leave it at that because the remainder of the retune needs counters and meters and more kit OK. If possible drip a small blob of candle wax on the tuning slug to keep it from creeping off again. Good luck. emoticon John193
10/Apr/2009, 10:05 am Link to this post Send Email to John193   Send PM to John193 MSN
 
26FB113 Profile
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Freebander

Registered: 03-2009
Location: Worcestershire UK.
Posts: 45
Karma: -1 (+0/-1)
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Re: TX of channel :-(


Hi John,
Thanks for that. Good to have a quick QSO with you Saturday, it confirms how far out the rig is. I'll look into this as soon as I get a dummy load.
I did find calibration procedures & schematics on the web for the stalker. [If anyone needs a copy, give me a shout] But as you say it requires freq counters etc. If this will do it, then great job! emoticon

---
73's Ken 26FB113.
Home QTH - Kenwood TS430S - Homemade 11m Slim Jim, Full size G5RV for lower HF.
Campervan - Kenwood TS50 - Inverted V wire dipole for lower HF.
12/Apr/2009, 10:34 am Link to this post Send Email to 26FB113   Send PM to 26FB113
 
John193 Profile
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Freebander

Registered: 11-2008
Location: South Glos
Posts: 260
Karma: 3 (+3/-0)
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Re: TX of channel :-(


You'll be glad to know that it can olso be done on air when its quiet obviously. I did this the other night with a chap called Lance up in warwickshire somewhere, once the tx is on it will increase the operating pleasure a hundred fold ken. If you want to try the telephone route and on air retune pm me and i'll give my tel number ok. will take about 20 minutes at least on air.regards John193
12/Apr/2009, 3:55 pm Link to this post Send Email to John193   Send PM to John193 MSN
 
26FB113 Profile
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Freebander

Registered: 03-2009
Location: Worcestershire UK.
Posts: 45
Karma: -1 (+0/-1)
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Re: TX of channel :-(


Hi John,
I've finally got my hands on a dummy load, so hopefully next weekend I'll get around to tuning it.
Thanks for the offer of joining me on frequency for a tune-up, I'll let you know how I get on.

---
73's Ken 26FB113.
Home QTH - Kenwood TS430S - Homemade 11m Slim Jim, Full size G5RV for lower HF.
Campervan - Kenwood TS50 - Inverted V wire dipole for lower HF.
20/Apr/2009, 7:07 am Link to this post Send Email to 26FB113   Send PM to 26FB113
 
26FB113 Profile
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Freebander

Registered: 03-2009
Location: Worcestershire UK.
Posts: 45
Karma: -1 (+0/-1)
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Re: TX of channel :-(


Hi John,
I tuned the rig up the weekend [I think].
Found the 3 pots near the front. With the rig upside down & bottom lid off, the centre pot did the AM & the small red pot on the left trimmed the SSB.
I calibrated/zeroed in my SW receiver's Tuner/BFO to a BBC carrier wave first then tuned up to 27555. With the rig on a dummy load I tuned in the AM first, keying the mic with carrier only & the receiver on SSB & trimmed in the rig until I heard a zero beat carrier from the SW receiver.
On SSB I whistled a steady note into the mic, however the pitch on the receiver was much higher, so I trimmed the rig pot anticlockwise until the whistle pitch from the SW radio precisely matched my whistle into the Mic.

So towards the end of this week I'm going to go out static mobile & make some contacts & see how close I am.
I've since noticed I have some distortion on the audio though, not sure if it is power related when I'm running off the car battery.
Catch you soon.


---
73's Ken 26FB113.
Home QTH - Kenwood TS430S - Homemade 11m Slim Jim, Full size G5RV for lower HF.
Campervan - Kenwood TS50 - Inverted V wire dipole for lower HF.
27/Apr/2009, 11:10 am Link to this post Send Email to 26FB113   Send PM to 26FB113
 
26FB113 Profile
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Freebander

Registered: 03-2009
Location: Worcestershire UK.
Posts: 45
Karma: -1 (+0/-1)
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Re: TX of channel :-(


Hum, I had the rig on last night & I've now found that the receive is out. I have to turn the clarifier over to 4o'clock to tune in stations.

Looks like I'm going to have to turn those trimmers back to the settings they were before & go back to the drawing board !

---
73's Ken 26FB113.
Home QTH - Kenwood TS430S - Homemade 11m Slim Jim, Full size G5RV for lower HF.
Campervan - Kenwood TS50 - Inverted V wire dipole for lower HF.
28/Apr/2009, 7:59 am Link to this post Send Email to 26FB113   Send PM to 26FB113
 
John193 Profile
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Freebander

Registered: 11-2008
Location: South Glos
Posts: 260
Karma: 3 (+3/-0)
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Re: TX of channel :-(


Ah sounds like you may have found the source of the problem though. reset the slugs and adjust the VFO block, Its either a big orange or green block of plastic with a threaded tuning ferite in it, DONT touch that! find the trim capacitor close bye its a flat disc thingy with a small brass screw head on it . adjust that and you can use your reciever again to check it. Hope that helps. There is also a zero adluster on the clarifier if you find that easier it will provide the same result. Regards John193.
 emoticon
28/Apr/2009, 3:42 pm Link to this post Send Email to John193   Send PM to John193 MSN
 
26fb010 Profile
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Accomplished DX-er

Registered: 01-2009
Location: BLACK COUNTRY
Posts: 574
Karma: 3 (+3/-0)
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Re: TX of channel :-(


or buy a radio with a frequency counter and kc shift (magnum deltaforce) springs to mind, but there are many others. the stalker is definately a great rig, but this day and age everyone has 24 to 30 mhz, 25w, talkback etc,for the same price as your stalker.....(my first ssb rig) many memories.the good ol days!!
29/Apr/2009, 9:30 pm Link to this post Send Email to 26fb010   Send PM to 26fb010
 
26FB113 Profile
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Freebander

Registered: 03-2009
Location: Worcestershire UK.
Posts: 45
Karma: -1 (+0/-1)
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Re: TX of channel :-(


Doh, I might have been a prat here. For some reason I total forgot to mention that this rig had a mod on it before I bought it 20 odd years ago. Someone put a switch on it for an extra 20ch on lower block, I wonder if that has thrown the radio out? Come to think of it, I never use those lower channels anyway.
I'll take another look at this the weekend, thanks.

Are yes, a rig with a frequency counter would be nice. I've been looking on eBay but the bidding can be hot on stuff like this.

---
73's Ken 26FB113.
Home QTH - Kenwood TS430S - Homemade 11m Slim Jim, Full size G5RV for lower HF.
Campervan - Kenwood TS50 - Inverted V wire dipole for lower HF.
30/Apr/2009, 7:36 am Link to this post Send Email to 26FB113   Send PM to 26FB113
 


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