Heathkit DX-40 Part 2

[@Capecodham]

I am able to put YOURS on the air because I have yours! You never tested AM but I did and it works. You are a GENIUS.

[@SMShannon55]

Last year I got a call from the son of a silent key. “Are you interested in this stuff my dad had? Otherwise it’s going to the dump.” The SK was apparently mostly interested in CB, but he had a Viking II with the matching Johnson VFO, a DX40 with the matching VFO, a Knight receiver, a 10/11 meter Pal amp, and assorted other stuff. I don’t see any extra holes drilled in the front or rear so I am optimistic they’re nearly stock. I’m saving your videos for the days when I work on the Heathkit DX40 and VF1. Thank you!

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Its amazing but true. Those old timers are leaving for the hamshack above, and the boat anchors are too heavy for the trip.

[@ken415]

MERCI BIEN JE TROUVE TES REPRÉSENTATIONS TRÈS INTÉRESSANTE VOUS PRENEZ EN MAIN LA FAMEUSE HISTOIRE TECHNIQUE DE LA RADIO

[@ianliston-smith7921]

Thanks for covering the UK version.

[@jim874]

Hi Mike. 3 years after you made this video I just discovered your channel. When I was a teenager in the '60s I started with the HR-10 and a DX-20. After a while the DX-20 was retired and was replaced with an Apache. A friend came into a source of free 6146Ws and gave me some for the Apache, They ran great except for one problem... I could not neutralize them to save my life. It drove me up the wall. After college and a stint in the military, I bought a new Drake TR4C at Dayton and the Apache was moved next to the DX-20 and HR-10 on a shelf. YEARS later, I was rag-chewing on 20 one night and Apaches came up. I mentioned that I could never neutralize mine and the guy I was talking with asked what version of 6146 I was using. I said W's and B's and he said that was my problem. The B's and W's required a totally different neutralization circuit than what the 6146 and 6146A required. He said his Collins gear had the same issue. And when RCA announced the 6146B, there was no mention of that. I even went back and found an RCA ad in an old QST, and he was right. RCA said it was a direct replacement. Eventually I put some A's back in the Apache and it worked great. 73 de WA8SDF

[@MIKROWAVE1]

The neutralization issue root cause is the limited range on the circuits which were designed to handle the original cap values. These circuits can all be modified to accept the various types. But who wants that extra work?

[@jim874]

@@MIKROWAVE1 I guess you could do that, but like you said a lot of work for not so much gain. I was more honked off at RCA when I found out, but years later I doubt if they even realized what was going on. I just binge watched more of your episodes. Really liked the Command set series. We had one at the radio club in high school (1961-1966) but none of us had a clue as what to do with it. We were a radio club with no Elmer!

[@johncherish7610]

Love your channel, brings back early memories of getting my Ham license back in 1971 and finally achieved in 1996. I had a Heathkit DX60B an HR10B and the HG10 VFO all which I built from kits... Brings back memories KB3QHD

[@Mil1806]

Great video and nice QSO. My older brother has a copy of the radio handbook, he told me when I was a kid that it was the Bible of radio and electronics. Now thanks to him I'm a electronics entusiast.

[@danielsteele7544]

Thanks Mike ,you teach me and inspire me,thanks for being my u tube Elmer.Sometimes I watch your vids 3or4 times so I get all I can.If any one personifies ham radio it's you Mike.

[@stephenwilliams5201]

At the tv factory. We would PINCH. Weak. 6dq6 and later the factory went solid state power supply's. And the 5u4s were on the trash heap. Just love learning about tube systems. Tks. Kv4li

[@XPFTP]

your videos keep me from sleeping...HaHaHa lol.. ive learned a fair bit.. thank you for takin the time. 73 oldman.

[@EUC_Senior]

Just got a Heathkit DX-40 off of EBay yesterday. There are two versions. An earlier one and a later one. Mine happens to be the earlier one. I can tell because of the electrolytics. Question…..Should I update this transmitter to the latest schematic or should I leave it according to the earlier schematic?

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Wow, congratulations on scoring a Heathkit! Many times the updates were not as much to correct a technical deficiency, but more of a response to parts availability. I would just replace the big electrolytics and leave it be. Be carefull HV!

[@EUC_Senior]

@@MIKROWAVE1 ok! And yes I understand about being cautious about high voltage. I work with 400-3000 volts daily at my job working on switching power supplies. Always keep one hand in your pocket! Mark (N2DMI)

[@glenngoodale1709]

Thanks for sharing your journey

[@СтаМилАлас]

Ovo je super.kuoio sam d v e 6146 pre 35 god . planirao sam da ovo pravim ali još Nisam završio nisam imao šemu

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Dobri stari 6146 može se malo zloupotrijebiti, ali ponekad odete predaleko!

[@W4BIN]

I think he needs to put some frosty plastic sheeting behind the dial in the VF1 so the lamp is more than a tiny spot. Ron W4BIN

[@daviddavidson1372]

Love all your videos.

[@MoTown44240]

Ah, Greg Latta. FB Enjoyed these videos about the DX-40. 73 KB8AMZ

[@PapasDino]

Nice job Mike, thanks for sharing! 73 - Dino KL0S

[@laseraddict777]

Nice job, Mike...I enjoy your videos and love the classic gear. I have the same gear you show in this video. There.s just something about using this nostalgic gear and the feeling it evokes. Now we just need better band condx and more hams operating the gear! Keep up the great videos. 73’s de W B 3 B I Q.

[@K1ZEK]

Thanks for the memories nice video lots of fun. 73...leo

[@joeblow8593]

Thanks

[@Capecodham]

"we?" I don't see anyone else there? How did you avoid the chirp on the VFO? J-38 key, same as I use since 1959.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Well yourself and yours truly at least.

[@Capecodham]

@@MIKROWAVE1 Take another look I did add to my comments

[@VintageTechFan]

Subscribed .. you need at least 20dB more subscribers ;)

[@berndb.5097]

Hi Mike, Can you tell me something about the 6146W JAN? What is hidden in this numbering? Is the tube also directly compatible with the 6146 (A or B)? I have one and want to use it instead of the 6146B. 73 Bernd

[@MIKROWAVE1]

the 6146W JAN types were rugged versions of the best available 6146's. Before 1964, they were equivalent electrically to the 6146A, and after 1964 till "today" the 6146B. So really just more physically able to withstand abuse, not electrically better.

[@Lawnmowerman02346]

I'm understanding a lot more about radio from your videos . But still stuck on crystal sets , been tinkering for 15 - 20 years . I read a little schematics , understand basic components but loose it when looking at the real thing because I can't recognize stage make up . I'm a mechanic an can't see the way the gears fit . Built a great 10 & 11 meter ground plane , did all the math an got lucky . Had an old ham give me a treasure trove of old stuff ( tubes , power supplies and other ) .Have an old BC-603-DM tank radio I'm afraid to plug in, don't want to smoke it . Other local hams have looked at it but said it didn't work . Can you help ? Steve

[@MIKROWAVE1]

I brought back a BC-603 to working condition that a buddy gave me. These were used in the Sherman's after D-Day. They are basically a wideband FM receiver. They were converted as Fire Station monitors, kind of like a scanner in the 50's but were of very little Ham use. I ended up getting rid of it. Find an old 3-6 MHz Command set Receiver to play with.

[@dalependleton6420]

You have the final loaded too much. It needs to be around 125 MA when you dip the plate tuning. Back off on the loading control.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

I am punishing the radio's final! Actually I moved that station to my friend K1OIK, Burt to play with

[@СтаМилАлас]

73 yu 1 qg