I want to thank everyone for your feeback. It was informative and
appreciated.

I decided not to buy the receiver, even though the price I guess was right
a tad over 500.00? The seller said it was in perfect working condition even
though none of the pics I had showed the unit running.

I'll wait and look for a Harris or a Racal. There is a Harris on Ebay now
that's not working. Something about the " frequency standard module
defective".

Thanks again.
Rick



"Mark S. Holden" wrote in message
...
Rick wrote:

Mackay 3041A
Does anyone one know anything about this receiver? I have a chance to
buy
one and wanted anyones opinion on what they are like. I couldn't find
much
online about it.

--
73's
Rick

Drake R8 R8B
ICOM R75
Yaesu 7700
Hammarlund SP-600-JX-17

"When in doubt, mumble."

A friend has the 3031a.

The audio is harsh, but I suspect he could fix that easily enough if he
replaced the audio caps.

He has a variety of radios, and uses his 3031a primarily for RTTY. He
feels it's exceptionally well suited for that. (He uses a WJ for AM, and a
Harris 550 for sideband, and a Cubic 3030 to fill a hole in the HF rack.)

Build quality is quite good, and it's very stable.

The Mackay was apparently used primarily on ships.

As a general rule, it does make sense to get a service manual when you buy
a rack mount radio. The ones I have for my Harris and WJ equipment are good
enough that someone with a very basic understanding of electronics could
perform just about any repair
if they had the right test equipment. My experience with the service
manual for the Racal 6790 wasn't as good. I don't know if my friend has a
manual for his Mackay so I can't comment on how helpful it might be.

Regards,

Mark

Rick wrote:

I want to thank everyone for your feeback. It was informative and
appreciated.

I decided not to buy the receiver, even though the price I guess was right
a tad over 500.00? The seller said it was in perfect working condition even
though none of the pics I had showed the unit running.

I'll wait and look for a Harris or a Racal. There is a Harris on Ebay now
that's not working. Something about the " frequency standard module
defective".

Thanks again.
Rick

"Mark S. Holden" wrote in message
...
Rick wrote:

Mackay 3041A
Does anyone one know anything about this receiver? I have a chance to
buy
one and wanted anyones opinion on what they are like. I couldn't find
much
online about it.

--
73's
Rick

Drake R8 R8B
ICOM R75
Yaesu 7700
Hammarlund SP-600-JX-17

"When in doubt, mumble."

A friend has the 3031a.

The audio is harsh, but I suspect he could fix that easily enough if he
replaced the audio caps.

He has a variety of radios, and uses his 3031a primarily for RTTY. He
feels it's exceptionally well suited for that. (He uses a WJ for AM, and a
Harris 550 for sideband, and a Cubic 3030 to fill a hole in the HF rack.)

Build quality is quite good, and it's very stable.

The Mackay was apparently used primarily on ships.

As a general rule, it does make sense to get a service manual when you buy
a rack mount radio. The ones I have for my Harris and WJ equipment are good
enough that someone with a very basic understanding of electronics could
perform just about any repair
if they had the right test equipment. My experience with the service
manual for the Racal 6790 wasn't as good. I don't know if my friend has a
manual for his Mackay so I can't comment on how helpful it might be.

Regards,

Mark

The price you mentioned is a good one for the Mackay.

On the Harris rf=550 on ebay, it would be good to make sure the problem isn't really the high band PLL module - it runs in the 170 mhz range, and it's probably the toughest module to work on.

Radio Esoterica has ones that have been tested and burned in for 24 hours for $695.

http://www.radioesoterica.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=12

My only connection with them is I bought my 550 from them a few years ago. Their detailed description of the 550 has some factual errors - for example the SSB filter is 3.2khz, not 6.

The 550 remains my favorite radio for listening. If you get one, I'd be happy to explain how to use the sync detector - (Harris calls it AFC) It's one of those things that could take hours to figure out, but once you know the trick, it's easy as can be.

Regards,

Mark

SNIP
The price you mentioned is a good one for the Mackay.

On the Harris rf=550 on ebay, it would be good to make sure the problem
isn't really the high band PLL module - it runs in the 170 mhz range, and
it's probably the toughest module to work on.

Radio Esoterica has ones that have been tested and burned in for 24 hours
for $695.

http://www.radioesoterica.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=12

My only connection with them is I bought my 550 from them a few years ago.
Their detailed description of the 550 has some factual errors - for example
the SSB filter is 3.2khz, not 6.

The 550 remains my favorite radio for listening. If you get one, I'd be
happy to explain how to use the sync detector - (Harris calls it AFC) It's
one of those things that could take hours to figure out, but once you know
the trick, it's easy as can be.

Regards,

Mark

Mark,
Thank you for all your input, it's been a real help and very informative.

I contacted the sales dept of radioesoterica.com. They currently don't
have more Harris rf-550 in stock and was told they are hard to come by and
sell out almost immediately when they get them in.

So now what do I do? I could wait until they have one in stock or I could
buy the Harris RF 590 or buy another receiver. I'll probably drop sales a
line and ask them if they could let me know when one was available. (If they
will.) What do you think? Do you have any suggestions?


Regards,
Rick

Rick wrote:

SNIP
The price you mentioned is a good one for the Mackay.

On the Harris rf=550 on ebay, it would be good to make sure the problem
isn't really the high band PLL module - it runs in the 170 mhz range, and
it's probably the toughest module to work on.

Radio Esoterica has ones that have been tested and burned in for 24 hours
for $695.

http://www.radioesoterica.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=12

My only connection with them is I bought my 550 from them a few years ago.
Their detailed description of the 550 has some factual errors - for example
the SSB filter is 3.2khz, not 6.

The 550 remains my favorite radio for listening. If you get one, I'd be
happy to explain how to use the sync detector - (Harris calls it AFC) It's
one of those things that could take hours to figure out, but once you know
the trick, it's easy as can be.

Regards,

Mark

Mark,
Thank you for all your input, it's been a real help and very informative.

I contacted the sales dept of radioesoterica.com. They currently don't
have more Harris rf-550 in stock and was told they are hard to come by and
sell out almost immediately when they get them in.

So now what do I do? I could wait until they have one in stock or I could
buy the Harris RF 590 or buy another receiver. I'll probably drop sales a
line and ask them if they could let me know when one was available. (If they
will.) What do you think? Do you have any suggestions?

Regards,
Rick

Sorry to hear they're out of them. They were a good source at a reasonable price.

I've never tried a 590.

Someone who mentioned owning a 550 and a 590 said he preferred the 550, but individual tastes vary.

Based on my experience, I'd get on the waiting list - or look for another source. I know of two other sources who frequently seem to have them - but at higher prices.

I also know of someone who a "spare" that might be available, but it has the slide switches instead of the much more desirable rf-583 up/down carry/borrow paddles for tuning.

If you'd like to follow up on this, please email me directly.

Regards,

Mark

Rick wrote in message
...
I want to thank everyone for your feeback. It was informative and
appreciated.

I decided not to buy the receiver, even though the price I guess was
right
a tad over 500.00? The seller said it was in perfect working condition
even
though none of the pics I had showed the unit running.

I'll wait and look for a Harris or a Racal. There is a Harris on Ebay
now
that's not working. Something about the " frequency standard module
defective".

Thanks again.
Rick

Howdy Rick...

Very wise choice not to get it... I used them for years and they were not
the best to be sure---I simply was not impressed.. My R-71A's out performed
them hands down. In more than one instance the R-71A pulled out a signal
that the 3031 couldn't hear. Close in to port they were easily overloaded
by AM broadcasters---even with the preselector.

Using the service manual and tracing the wiring diagram from page to page
was an act in frustration. I often read of heated comments written in the
service manual by others servicing the radio---I added my own!

Just to change out a defective audio gain control required the front panel
to be stripped (ripped) off---it's stuck on with contact adhesive or
double-sided tape---I had to do this in a war zone! I was able to remove
the panel without bending it too much but I am certain that any front panel
controls that need changing will also require a new front panel. After I
replaced the pot I found the part numbering in the service manual was
incorrect for the part I changed out and I had to put the old one back in!
Fortunately I had Sailor HF set up and a spare receiver.

Spare parts from Mackay? You could expect to pay a small fortune that would
shock a salty sailor! I never did find out how much those meter lamps cost
for the 3031 but I sure had to hang a little bag of them on the rear
panel---they were changed out at least once every six weeks. I remember
ordering a 2 inch nylon caps to cover the hole where the crank handle was
fitted on our lifeboat radio---Mackay wanted $75.00 each! A pair of caps
off an Amphenol connector did the trick instead.

Yup... it's all modular construction... so how do you repair it without a
test fixture to plug the module in to---to get at the components? I just
don't recall if extender boards were available for this receiver---I never
saw them in my spares lockers on any of the ships I sailed on.

RG

On Mon, 22 Dec 2003 19:16:38 +0000, RadioiGuy wrote:


... it's all modular construction... so how do you repair it without a
test fixture to plug the module in to---to get at the components? I just
don't recall if extender boards were available for this receiver---I never
saw them in my spares lockers on any of the ships I sailed on.

I'm not sure we're writing about the same radio.
The Mackay 3031A doesn't employ extender boards because
the modules are connected by ribbon cables to the rest
of the radio. You can remove an entire module several inches
away from the radio and it will still function because
it is connected electronically.

After several years, I've not had to replace the
lamp -- only the memory battery.

--
================================================== =======================
Bob Parnass, AJ9S GNU/Linux User http://parnass.com

SNIP

Howdy Rick...

Very wise choice not to get it... I used them for years and they were not
the best to be sure---I simply was not impressed.. My R-71A's out
performed
them hands down. In more than one instance the R-71A pulled out a signal
that the 3031 couldn't hear. Close in to port they were easily overloaded
by AM broadcasters---even with the preselector.

Using the service manual and tracing the wiring diagram from page to page
was an act in frustration. I often read of heated comments written in the
service manual by others servicing the radio---I added my own!

Just to change out a defective audio gain control required the front panel
to be stripped (ripped) off---it's stuck on with contact adhesive or
double-sided tape---I had to do this in a war zone! I was able to remove
the panel without bending it too much but I am certain that any front
panel
controls that need changing will also require a new front panel. After I
replaced the pot I found the part numbering in the service manual was
incorrect for the part I changed out and I had to put the old one back in!
Fortunately I had Sailor HF set up and a spare receiver.

Spare parts from Mackay? You could expect to pay a small fortune that
would
shock a salty sailor! I never did find out how much those meter lamps
cost
for the 3031 but I sure had to hang a little bag of them on the rear
panel---they were changed out at least once every six weeks. I remember
ordering a 2 inch nylon caps to cover the hole where the crank handle was
fitted on our lifeboat radio---Mackay wanted $75.00 each! A pair of caps
off an Amphenol connector did the trick instead.

Yup... it's all modular construction... so how do you repair it without a
test fixture to plug the module in to---to get at the components? I just
don't recall if extender boards were available for this receiver---I never
saw them in my spares lockers on any of the ships I sailed on.

RG

RG,

Well I'm sure glad I didn't buy it now. I don't need that kind of a
headache. I'm fairly good with electronics but not to the extent where I'm
going to have to do surgury on the radio just to make a simple repair. I am
also not interested in bank rolling some supply company just for a few spare
parts. The price of the radio wasn't bad but I think I'd be paying dearly in
the long run.

I do want to purchase a "Premium Receiver", I'll just have to keep looking
and maybe shell out a little more cash to get one that is more reliable.
I've been leaning towards the Harris, so when one becomes available I'll
probably purchase it.

Rick