Dean,

This is one reason we have problems attracting newcomers. The incessant
flames. The fact is once you mention "tubes", folks should realize that the
thing may indeed not be well tuned. I'm trying to think if it is the GE
Master II ... but it is a VHF rig and the cavities used to grow "crystals"
in 'em and detune 'em. One guy showed me a quick way to fix it (yes, you
can go in with a q-tip). He picked the radio up and banged it on the bench
about 3 or 4 times. Suddenly, it no longer took 4 uV to get a decent
signal. It was down to 0.25 uV. I did have to clean my shorts out the
first time I saw it, however

I was given an old SP-600 which had been under salt water for a brief period
of time (I got the radio in 1968). I ended up replacing most of the
components in the whole front end as it could barely receive local broadcast
stations. It worked fine after I did that, but it was a real mess. Easier
to buy a new receiver these days (prices are reasonable and if you figure my
time, I was probably making about twenty five cents per hour fixing that
slug!). Of course, that was back in the late 60s. Figure a grand buck and
a half an hour in today's wages It was a good learning experience,
however.

73 from Rochester, NY
Jim

"


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that was semi-official repair policy for apple II computers in the
minnesota education system... turn it off, lift it up a foot or two, and
flat-foot slam it back on the table. oxidation and heat popping on the
tin-socketed chips, you understand, and the machine was well enough
built so you could get away with it.

Jim Hampton wrote:

Dean,

This is one reason we have problems attracting newcomers. The incessant
flames. The fact is once you mention "tubes", folks should realize that the
thing may indeed not be well tuned. I'm trying to think if it is the GE
Master II ... but it is a VHF rig and the cavities used to grow "crystals"
in 'em and detune 'em. One guy showed me a quick way to fix it (yes, you
can go in with a q-tip). He picked the radio up and banged it on the bench
about 3 or 4 times. Suddenly, it no longer took 4 uV to get a decent
signal. It was down to 0.25 uV. I did have to clean my shorts out the
first time I saw it, however

I was given an old SP-600 which had been under salt water for a brief period
of time (I got the radio in 1968). I ended up replacing most of the
components in the whole front end as it could barely receive local broadcast
stations. It worked fine after I did that, but it was a real mess. Easier
to buy a new receiver these days (prices are reasonable and if you figure my
time, I was probably making about twenty five cents per hour fixing that
slug!). Of course, that was back in the late 60s. Figure a grand buck and
a half an hour in today's wages It was a good learning experience,
however.

73 from Rochester, NY
Jim

"

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Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.512 / Virus Database: 309 - Release Date: 8/19/03

-- If it's a "new economy," why do they want my obsolete old money?

On Fri, 29 Aug 2003 13:00:12 -0500, Scott Schrader
wrote:

that was semi-official repair policy for apple II computers in the
minnesota education system... turn it off, lift it up a foot or two, and
flat-foot slam it back on the table. oxidation and heat popping on the
tin-socketed chips, you understand, and the machine was well enough
built so you could get away with it.

But the skill is in where and how hard to hit it ;-)

Worked with a piece of production equipment I dealt with, with a relay
which stuck occasionally, no matter how many times it was replaced
(Note: never buy serial # 0001 of anything).

It was far simpler to kick it in just the right spot.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom