"Bill" wrote in message
...
In message , Nigel M
writes
I've got two pairs of Pye Pocketfone 9 Series Transmitters & Receivers.
I want to put them on eBay, but I don't really know much about them.

They used to be used for studio talkback in a Commercial TV Studio in SE
London,
ITN used to use them as talkback many years ago.

but were replaced in a recent refurbishment. For security
purposes, the crystals have been unplugged, but I have managed to
acquire eight of them. The crystals are all colour coded green (as are
the 9Rs) and have values 470.1 470.2 and 470.4 - presumably MHz.

Please note that if by "crystals" you mean the plug in cube at the bottom
then this is more than just the crystal. The crystal is inside this unit,
without the plug in they are not much use. One BIG word of advice is if
you have the TX apart do NOT touch the PCB while it is powered up as this
can cause the PSU inverter to go over volt and blow all sorts of
interesting things!

I'd almost forgotten about PF9s, I used to make them many years ago.



Can anyone give me any more info? Are these of use to radio amateurs?

If you want short range simplex or live near a repeater they are great,
one advantage is that the RX had an RF sensor that would detect the TX and
mute the RX to stop feed back. There is also an earpiece socket on the
top, if you look closely two of the speaker holes are slightly different
and these take a two pin plug, as used on many pro' earpieces.
--
Bill


You don't happen to know why Pye went back to seperate TX and RX with the
PF9?
Presumably there must have been a demand for it from their customers, but I
can't
see the advantage over a transceiver, which is why I thought they did away
with
seperates after the PF1

One of the good things about the PF9 is you can run them on ordinary AA
batteries.
You don't need to find or rebuild nivads and chargers.

In message , Gordon Hudson
writes

You don't happen to know why Pye went back to seperate TX and RX with the
PF9?
The only alternative at the time was the PF70 which was rather large,
the PF8 which was also large and then the PF85. There was no other small
radio. The idea of having separates was good where surveillance
concerned as they were easier to hide. The big problem with the PF9T was
the previously mentioned PSU. If you detuned the TX PA by putting
something conductive near the aerial i.e. your hand then you could hear
the inverter whistle!! Not very covert! There were also tails of dogs
reacting badly to it.

Presumably there must have been a demand for it from their customers, but I
can't
see the advantage over a transceiver, which is why I thought they did away
with
seperates after the PF1
PF1s looked pretty on a spectrum analyser though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


One of the good things about the PF9 is you can run them on ordinary AA
batteries.
You don't need to find or rebuild nivads and chargers.



--
Bill

"Bill" wrote in message
...
In message , Gordon Hudson
writes

You don't happen to know why Pye went back to seperate TX and RX with the
PF9?
The only alternative at the time was the PF70 which was rather large,

They could have made a valve set in the same case!

the PF8 which was also large

And very fragile. The basic chassis was solid as long as the overall
screening plate was fitted, but the plastic shell was rubbish. The first
time they sustained a minor drop the screws broke through the case and the
base cracked under the weight of the batteries. Nice radio electronically,
rather advanced for their time, crap case, crap internal aerial. No earphone
or mic socket and single channel as well.
They have quite a following amongst fans of 'The Professionals' TV series,
and a pair can fetch £200.
I know because I sold a pair on Ebay!

and then the PF85. There was no other small
radio. The idea of having separates was good where surveillance
concerned as they were easier to hide. The big problem with the PF9T was
the previously mentioned PSU. If you detuned the TX PA by putting
something conductive near the aerial i.e. your hand then you could hear
the inverter whistle!! Not very covert! There were also tails of dogs
reacting badly to it.

Presumably there must have been a demand for it from their customers, but
I
can't
see the advantage over a transceiver, which is why I thought they did
away
with
seperates after the PF1
PF1s looked pretty on a spectrum analyser though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Were they dirty?

Dave

In message , Dave D
writes


rather advanced for their time, crap case, crap internal aerial.
Not as bad as the PF6, the metal sliding handle covered the PF5 style
aerial!


Were they dirty?
Very.
We were still making a few in 1975/6 until we got an analyser in the
dept. that put an end to tuning for max. RF on a diode detector at the
bottom of a rabbit hutch as most of it was no where near where it should
have been.


Dave



--
Bill

"Bill" wrote in message
...
In message , Dave D
writes


rather advanced for their time, crap case, crap internal aerial.
Not as bad as the PF6, the metal sliding handle covered the PF5 style
aerial!


Were they dirty?
Very.
We were still making a few in 1975/6 until we got an analyser in the
dept. that put an end to tuning for max. RF on a diode detector at the
bottom of a rabbit hutch as most of it was no where near where it should
have been.

Did you actually use this arrangement in the factory then? I always assumed
it was simply a repair shop bit of kit.

I made one from cardboard about the time I was first licenced- it was used
many times to convert PF1s.

I've still got a couple of PF1s in the loft I think- including one rx
converted to 2m.

--
Brian Reay
www.g8osn.org.uk
www.amateurradiotraining.org.uk
FP#898

In message , Brian Reay
writes
Did you actually use this arrangement in the factory then? I always assumed
it was simply a repair shop bit of kit.
Yes, I came in after PF1's were all but finished but we still had the
wire cage, seem to recall it stood about 4/5 foot high. Blooming long
time ago though.


I made one from cardboard about the time I was first licenced- it was used
many times to convert PF1s.

I've still got a couple of PF1s in the loft I think- including one rx
converted to 2m.
That must have been fun.
We used to make VHF PF5's for amusement though.



--
Bill

"Bill" wrote in message
...
In message , Brian Reay
writes
Did you actually use this arrangement in the factory then? I always
assumed
it was simply a repair shop bit of kit.
Yes, I came in after PF1's were all but finished but we still had the
wire cage, seem to recall it stood about 4/5 foot high. Blooming long
time ago though.

Don't recall it being quite 5 ft but maybe.


I made one from cardboard about the time I was first licenced- it was
used
many times to convert PF1s.

I've still got a couple of PF1s in the loft I think- including one rx
converted to 2m.
That must have been fun.
We used to make VHF PF5's for amusement though.

It wasn't two bad actually- bit deaf with the original 'plate' antenna but
with a 19" bit of wire it wasn't too bad.

Pye kit from that era was a delight to convert and there always seemed to be
loads at rallies.

--
Brian Reay
www.g8osn.org.uk
www.amateurradiotraining.org.uk
FP#898

1. Brian, OM, there was no response from you to my offer that you
should consider burying the hatchet.

2. You've stopped responding to me, despite that you were so happy
to talk to me at Didcot for the 5 minutes, or so, in total in 5 second
bursts
that we spent together on Sunday at Didcot. Have I done or said something to
offend you?

Coming on top of your frequent habit of sneering at ideas that you
whine are "bodges", your outburst below seems to be the Freudian
Slip of someone who may be quite _INSECURE_ and of a bullying
personality, do you not think.

"Brian Reay" wrote in message
...
I made one from cardboard about the time I was first licenced

Brian, are you sulking in the tradition of a Childish Broadcaster (CBer)?


"Airy R.Bean" wrote in message
...
2. You've stopped responding to me, despite that you were so happy
to talk to me at Didcot for the 5 minutes, or so, in total in 5 second
bursts
that we spent together on Sunday at Didcot. Have I done or said something
to
offend you?