AaronJ wrote:

Just for fun, try a kludge BFO. Place an AM broadcast band radio (non-digital)
as physically close to the S38 as you can get it. Tune the broadcast band radio
until you hear a beat with the AM or CW signal you are listening to on the S38.

Actually, I already did that but it's a pretty academic exercise.

After all is said, seems like there should be some way to control the
feedback to both provide a beat and optimize the gain/selectivity.

I have no interest in CW or sideband with this radio but I do need some
way to set my ranger on the station I am listening to.

Any thoughts on an outboard tweak?

js

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Jack Schmidling ) writes:
AaronJ wrote:

Just for fun, try a kludge BFO. Place an AM broadcast band radio (non-digital)
as physically close to the S38 as you can get it. Tune the broadcast band radio
until you hear a beat with the AM or CW signal you are listening to on the S38.

Actually, I already did that but it's a pretty academic exercise.

After all is said, seems like there should be some way to control the
feedback to both provide a beat and optimize the gain/selectivity.

There's no control for it? That seems odd.

The trick is to make the cathode resistor variable, and use that to
control the level of regeneration.

I have no interest in CW or sideband with this radio but I do need some
way to set my ranger on the station I am listening to.

Any thoughts on an outboard tweak?

js

Don't put it on transmit, but key the oscillator? Old rigs often
were set up that way, so you'd have a weak signal from the transmitter
to set the receiver to.

Or, they'd have some spotting function specifically for it.

Michael VE2BVW

The simplest way I can think of is to go over to the shelf of test equipment
and grab the old Heath signal generator and attach a foot long wire close to
the S-38. Then tune the generator to 455 kc (whoops, that is kHz). You
will have a nice beat note.

Like the others have said, convert the if stage into an oscillator - then
reduce the feedback to get it to stop oscillating. That will then be sort
of a Q multiplier while in the feedback but not enough to oscillate stage.
You would need a control to put in and out of oscillation. A pot, a
variable capacitor or a switch.

Or, just a hum a few bars into the Ranger mike and tune for best audio.

73, Colin