Vintage Comms Equipment

VINTAGE COMMS EQUIPMENT

Kenwood TS 830S
Kenwood ts-830s

This piece of radio art arrived from my friend John K2JRB, it is undergoing restoration so that it could be in the air again. First of all, I rewired trafo to 230V power source - easy job - just followed the Manual.

Heathkit HW 22A and HW 12 single band SSB transceivers
These two old pieces of the famous SSB single-band transceivers were found by chance in Salesian's Catholic Mission's scrapyard in Lungi (Sierra Leone).
As I noticed from the signs on the backside on the #2 they were donated by: "K5ORF ; A. B. Elliott " (see photo).
The first one is HW-22A (Serial No:647 8887A) for 40 meters and the second one is HW-12 for 80 meters - as it is written on the back "#1 40m sister".
HW-12 covers 3.8 to 4.0 MHz and HW22A covers 7.2 to 7.3 MHz, the phone bands when these radios were originally designed. RF power input - 200 watts P.E.P for both.
HW 22A and GH-12 microphone

heathkit hw22a

back of the HW22A, note the 11 Pins plug for power supply.

HW22A has some modifications done: inside, the final shield has additional big round whole made supposedly to increase cooling ability of the final tubes. On the back you can see modern antenna socket mounted in the place where normally information tab about power connections is placed.

In origin this tab signs:

POWER CONNECTIONS
1- -130V
2- GND
3- +250V
4- +800V
5- GND (RELY)
6- 12.6V FIL
7- FIL COMMON
8- NC
9- POWER SWITCH
10- POWER SWITCH
11- RELAY (NO)

heathkit hw12

HW 12 - 80 meters band SSB transceiver, note 8 pins plug for power supply..

The HW-12 is the 80-meter version of the line of amateur band SSB transceivers known as "mono-banders" because of their single band design. RF input was 200 watts P.E.P. using a pair of 6GE5 tubes. This line was introduced in June 1963. The HW-12 and its "cousins", the HW-22 (for 40 meters) and HW-32 (for 20 meters) were powered by an external power supply- the HP-23 - an AC supply or the HP-13 a DC mobile supply. Notice the difference in knob style for "A" an updated version, and its a front panel microphone connector. The HW-12 microphone connector is on the rear panel.

Having reconditioned and operationalized a mobile power supply unit HP13A, I decided to check both transceivers. After some cleaning works the only high voltage 20 mikroF capacitors in both units were replaced by new ones. Connected loudspeaker, antenna, and power supply - and here we are - after a minute for warm-up radio is alive!! So many years in an African scrap yard and is still operational. The next step is the transmitter.... will keep you informed.

The HP13A power supply The HP13A DC "Mobile" Power Supply was found in a quite good conditions - came with its original cord.

HP 13A unit and its interior....
power supply hp13a

SpecificationsInput voltage: 12 to 14 volts DC. Input current: 25 amperes maximum with full load. High voltage output: 800 volts DC, no load; 750 volts DC @ 250 ma. AC ripple, less than 1% @ 250 ma. Duty cycle, 150 ma continuous: 150 to 300 ma @ 50%. Low voltage output: (High Tap) 310 volts DC, no load; 300 volts DC @ 150 ma. (Low Tap) 265 volts DC, no load; 250 volts DC @ 100 ma. AC ripple, less than .05% @ 150 ma. Continuous duty cycle to 175 ma. Adjustable bias voltage: 40 to 130 volts DC @ 20 ma. max. Duty cycle, continuous. Dimensions: 7 3/8" W x 71 L x 2 3/8" D. All voltages referenced at 13 VDC input.

In 2020 I refurbished this unit and it is fully operational at the moment. Before you start repairing or reconditioning this power supply, reading this paper is strongly recommended.
Firstly, all electrolytic capacitors were replaced. The new ones were inserted into cardboard capsules so that they have an old fashion look - HP13A after. Special attention was given to C6 capacitor - the original 100 mikroF was replaced by 4700mikroF. Next, all diodes were replaced by modern 1N4007 type, and parallel to diodes in a high voltage rectifier, a shunt voltage equalizing 470 kOhms resistors were added. Tests showed that HP13A is working well within specification.
After that connection cable was checked and I made some provision so that it may be used with HW22A and HW12 transceiver. To the original cord with 11 pins socket for HW22A an 8 pins socket for HW12 is connected (see photo).

TURNER PLUS THREE

Another piece of the old comms equipment.....
Specifications for +3 microphone in PDF format.

amplifier view...

interior view, behind the switch I found an empty white shell?....

battery compartment..

To play with Turner microphones the following Turner Wiring Booklet may be useful.

ASTATIC UG8 Stand

Shining famous Astatic UG-8 Stand type D-104.......

The Astatic model D-104 was introduced in 1933. The original D-104 was the stand with the Astatic only "Grip-to-talk" key bar placed next to the vertical stand. The first D-104 used the crystal mic element only (no amplifier). This crystal element provided high output voltage and a high-frequency response which resulted in a very specific highly readable audio. This mic could be directly connected to the grid input circuit in the tube radios era since its impedance was on the 50-100 kOhms level. Astatic ceased D-104 and its family production in 2001.