To see the tube photo -- go to googe.com type in "829B tubes"
Select IMAGES not web.

I recall these in Military Aircraft of the 50's --- I believe ARC-27 -- a
UHF Transceiver by Collins Radio

The ARC-1 Transceiver used a smaller rounded version 832B -- we called them
door knob tubes -- see google

So would make a VHF/UHF power output stage maybe 10 watts or so

--
73- Cambio - Keyboard To You (:-)
-----------------------------------
"Dave" wrote in message
news.com...
Hi all,

I just found several 829B tubes - believe it or not in my garage - I
must have got them in a box of stuff at a ham fest at one time.
A check on Ebay shows they're pretty much worthless for the sake
of dollars, but they're so COOL! With the two plate caps that are
actually just stiff pins, they look like little Martians.

I put a pair on my office credenza just to look geeky cool. Fresh
out of the box as NOS they look amazing - just like they were made
yesterday. It's a pity they have no value - maybe as a homebrew
project??

So can someone tell me what they would have been used for?
Something tells me they're a VHF power tube.

Any application as a one-tube QRP rig of any sort? Any stories
about using them in the past? I've built a lot of little rigs over the
years, but never knew about the 829

Thanks,

Dave

In UcPUb.7963$IF1.3703@fed1read01 (rec.radio.amateur.boatanchors), Cambio wrote:
To see the tube photo -- go to googe.com type in "829B tubes"
Select IMAGES not web.

I recall these in Military Aircraft of the 50's --- I believe ARC-27 -- a
UHF Transceiver by Collins Radio

The ARC-1 Transceiver used a smaller rounded version 832B -- we called them
door knob tubes -- see google

So would make a VHF/UHF power output stage maybe 10 watts or so

They were the final in the TX of the AN/ARC-3, too. I never got
mine lit up, as I went into the USAF not long after I got mine --
surplused (or something) from the Civil Air Patrol, way back in
1964.

--
Any research done on how to efficiently use computers has been long lost
in the mad rush to upgrade systems to do things that aren't needed by
people who don't understand what they are really supposed to do with
them. -- Graham Reed, in a.s.r.

In UcPUb.7963$IF1.3703@fed1read01 (rec.radio.amateur.boatanchors), Cambio wrote:
To see the tube photo -- go to googe.com type in "829B tubes"
Select IMAGES not web.

I recall these in Military Aircraft of the 50's --- I believe ARC-27 -- a
UHF Transceiver by Collins Radio

The ARC-1 Transceiver used a smaller rounded version 832B -- we called them
door knob tubes -- see google

So would make a VHF/UHF power output stage maybe 10 watts or so

They were the final in the TX of the AN/ARC-3, too. I never got
mine lit up, as I went into the USAF not long after I got mine --
surplused (or something) from the Civil Air Patrol, way back in
1964.

--
Any research done on how to efficiently use computers has been long lost
in the mad rush to upgrade systems to do things that aren't needed by
people who don't understand what they are really supposed to do with
them. -- Graham Reed, in a.s.r.

Dave wrote:

I just found several 829B tubes - believe it or not in my garage...

So can someone tell me what they would have been used for?
Something tells me they're a VHF power tube.

You've gotten some good responses from some others in the NG.
The most unusual application for the 829B that I saw was their
being used to drive the magnetic-core memory modules in the
Whirlwind I computer racks on display in the Computer Museum
in Boston. The sockets may have originally been designed for
832's and "upgraded" to 829's for more drive or longer life.

Jim Bromley, K7JEB
Glendale, AZ

they are 2 ea 6l6 tubes in 1 envelope and were used for a lot of vhf
transmitters you get 40 to 60 watts in a class c fm transmitter.
"Dave" wrote in message
news.com...
Hi all,

I just found several 829B tubes - believe it or not in my garage - I
must have got them in a box of stuff at a ham fest at one time.
A check on Ebay shows they're pretty much worthless for the sake
of dollars, but they're so COOL! With the two plate caps that are
actually just stiff pins, they look like little Martians.

I put a pair on my office credenza just to look geeky cool. Fresh
out of the box as NOS they look amazing - just like they were made
yesterday. It's a pity they have no value - maybe as a homebrew
project??

So can someone tell me what they would have been used for?
Something tells me they're a VHF power tube.

Any application as a one-tube QRP rig of any sort? Any stories
about using them in the past? I've built a lot of little rigs over the
years, but never knew about the 829

Thanks,

Dave

Many thanks to all who replied, both here and by email.
They sound like a great tube for LOTS of purposes. My
favorite suggestion was building a regen, using each
half in place of the 6AQ5's called for in the ARRL handbook
design from the 50's!

How about an oscillator / amplifier for HF, running low
plate voltage for a relatively low RF output? Seems they
should be able to do that - and having a separate oscillator
stage it wouldn't be prone to runaway and exessive crystal
current. And it would look VERY cool!

What sort of plate caps were used? There are just pins, and
it looks almost as if there would have been a ceramic gizmo
like a tube socket to have bridged the two of them....

Again, thanks for the info!!

Dave

In .com (rec.radio.amateur.homebrew), Dave wrote:

What sort of plate caps were used? There are just pins, and
it looks almost as if there would have been a ceramic gizmo
like a tube socket to have bridged the two of them....

On the transmitter for the AN/ARC-3, the plate leads just had push-on
clips with a little bit of spring-loading, much like the contacts in a
tube socket.

--
You haven't lived until you've seen the households Great Hunter
Panther^wtomcat cowering in terror under a bush after being
caught in an instant thunderstorm on a sunny day.
-- Lionel, about his owner, in the Monastery

(Mike Andrews) wrote:

: In .com (rec.radio.amateur.homebrew), Dave wrote:
:
: What sort of plate caps were used? There are just pins, and
: it looks almost as if there would have been a ceramic gizmo
: like a tube socket to have bridged the two of them....
:
: On the transmitter for the AN/ARC-3, the plate leads just had push-on
: clips with a little bit of spring-loading, much like the contacts in a
: tube socket.

In the RSGB Amateur Radio Handbook 3rd Ed. they went so far (full
construction details) as to give details of a drilled and tapped (for grub
screw) 3/4" x 5/16" brass rod, for QQV06-40 / 5894 (has thicker pins)!

You might consider using the brass inserts from terminal connector blocks,
which already have grub screws and come in at least a couple of sizes.

Since the anode tank circuits then often used flexible copper strip to
possibly more brass rod in these British circuits, a bit of heat-sinking
would be taking place as well, I think. May as well use a heavy contact.

The 829B needs external neutralising, unlike 5894 with it built-in.

I could scan the few pages of the 1947 ARRL I have showing 829B, but you
might want to find the few years following for more, maybe improved ones.

Well to answer the replacement question - according to GE Industrial Tube
Products Guide - (Dated 9-79)

You can replace an 829 with an 829B.

You can replace an 829A with an 829B or an 3E29.

You can only replace an 829B with another 829B.

Why? I don't know, that's what GE says.


Now what an you use an 829B for? Well I got one, it was a spare from a GE 6m
Prog Repeater our club had on the air. The replaced it with a nice Moto. The
Prog was up for grabs but no one wanted it and was about to be hauled to the
landfill so I took it.

It lasted about two days in my house working fine. Then I put it out of it's
misery and parted it out. It had lots of juicy power transformers, tubes and
sockets, XTAL holders and so on. Most ended up in other projects or repaired
rigs except for the 829B.

What to do with it ???

I decided to build a one tube 40 Meter CW transmitter.

Nothing special about that - all of us have built 6L6's or 117L7GT, 6V6,
6C4, 6GW8 or you name it peanut whistlers. Nothing more than an oscillator
connected to a string (antenna) blasting out a few watts.

But how about a SINGLE tube transmitter pumping out 100 to 115 Watts !!!

With minimal parts count to boot!

I got the idea from QST - June 1940 (page 26) in which Fred Sutter W8QBW
describes a transmitter using -TWO- 6L6's in push-pull supposedly outputting
100 watts to an end-fed Zepp.

I'd take the 100 Watt claim with a little grain of salt... but it's still
not too shabby for 12 parts and 2 tubes not counting the power supply.

The 829B can replace the two 6L6's and the circuit can be adjusted
accordingly. The output tank circuit will be PI instead of link which was
common back then. I also have a nice power transformer that looks like it
can do 700 mils at 750 VAC so I have plenty of head room to crank out more
power if it can handle it and the XTAL doesn't shatter.

I'll use forced air cooling because the 829B socket is already designed for
it. Was gonna go with a fancy blower but I noticed the XYL is not using the
small Dirt Devil handVac I gave her for her birthday. Will cut a small hole
in the chassis and placed a PVC pipe and attach the air hose to that. RCA
Manual says the MAX glass temp is 235 F so hopefully, the plastic vac can
handle it.

For a Glass Chimney, I took a drinking glass and cut off the bottom with a
glass cutting wheel. I was rinsing out the dust in the sink when she spotted
me. I told the XYL I had just taken out the glass from the hot dishwasher
and poured a little bit of cold water and the glass cracked and the bottom
fell out. I hoped she didn't notice the ends were nicely smoothed.

You should have seen her face. Classic...

It's the same look I get when I bring in another hamfest surprise and
promise it's the last radio I'll ever buy because my radio collection is
complete - excuse.

Well anyway - A single Tube 100 Watt CW Transmitter - that's my 829 project.

Have all the parts - now waiting for the weather to warm up so I can get to
work in the Garage.

You just know if she sees that tube chimney and her Dirt Devil, I might just
have to sleep there too.


-Biz WDØHCO

I posted a picture of my 829B on alt.binaries.pictures.radio for those who
have never seen one.

Well to answer the replacement question - according to GE Industrial Tube
Products Guide - (Dated 9-79)

You can replace an 829 with an 829B.

You can replace an 829A with an 829B or an 3E29.

You can only replace an 829B with another 829B.

Why? I don't know, that's what GE says.


Now what an you use an 829B for? Well I got one, it was a spare from a GE 6m
Prog Repeater our club had on the air. The replaced it with a nice Moto. The
Prog was up for grabs but no one wanted it and was about to be hauled to the
landfill so I took it.

It lasted about two days in my house working fine. Then I put it out of it's
misery and parted it out. It had lots of juicy power transformers, tubes and
sockets, XTAL holders and so on. Most ended up in other projects or repaired
rigs except for the 829B.

What to do with it ???

I decided to build a one tube 40 Meter CW transmitter.

Nothing special about that - all of us have built 6L6's or 117L7GT, 6V6,
6C4, 6GW8 or you name it peanut whistlers. Nothing more than an oscillator
connected to a string (antenna) blasting out a few watts.

But how about a SINGLE tube transmitter pumping out 100 to 115 Watts !!!

With minimal parts count to boot!

I got the idea from QST - June 1940 (page 26) in which Fred Sutter W8QBW
describes a transmitter using -TWO- 6L6's in push-pull supposedly outputting
100 watts to an end-fed Zepp.

I'd take the 100 Watt claim with a little grain of salt... but it's still
not too shabby for 12 parts and 2 tubes not counting the power supply.

The 829B can replace the two 6L6's and the circuit can be adjusted
accordingly. The output tank circuit will be PI instead of link which was
common back then. I also have a nice power transformer that looks like it
can do 700 mils at 750 VAC so I have plenty of head room to crank out more
power if it can handle it and the XTAL doesn't shatter.

I'll use forced air cooling because the 829B socket is already designed for
it. Was gonna go with a fancy blower but I noticed the XYL is not using the
small Dirt Devil handVac I gave her for her birthday. Will cut a small hole
in the chassis and placed a PVC pipe and attach the air hose to that. RCA
Manual says the MAX glass temp is 235 F so hopefully, the plastic vac can
handle it.

For a Glass Chimney, I took a drinking glass and cut off the bottom with a
glass cutting wheel. I was rinsing out the dust in the sink when she spotted
me. I told the XYL I had just taken out the glass from the hot dishwasher
and poured a little bit of cold water and the glass cracked and the bottom
fell out. I hoped she didn't notice the ends were nicely smoothed.

You should have seen her face. Classic...

It's the same look I get when I bring in another hamfest surprise and
promise it's the last radio I'll ever buy because my radio collection is
complete - excuse.

Well anyway - A single Tube 100 Watt CW Transmitter - that's my 829 project.

Have all the parts - now waiting for the weather to warm up so I can get to
work in the Garage.

You just know if she sees that tube chimney and her Dirt Devil, I might just
have to sleep there too.


-Biz WDØHCO

I posted a picture of my 829B on alt.binaries.pictures.radio for those who
have never seen one.