Valiant

[w2amr]

In another Boatanchors thread I remarked that I got hold of an FR-101. We can add a transmitter (FL-101) to that, and early Saturday morning I managed to score a YO-101 monitor scope.

The TX was inspected, cleaned out and prepped for service over the weekend. Still have to wire the transceive cable and the accessory plug for filament power, RX mute and amplifier switching then test it. Tubes don't look like they've been abused (fingers crossed).

The YO-101 is going to require a little work to make it fully operational before being placed into service. At that time I'm going to change my center operating position to accommodate all the Yaesu pieces. Don't know if 15w AM carrier is going to be doable or not on 75 between us but we can give it a try.

The Yaesu Station sounds pretty cool. Post some pictures when it's all together. I used to run 5 watts with the old GRC-9 military rig and it did pretty well on 75.

[N8YX]

The Yaesu Station sounds pretty cool. Post some pictures when it's all together. I used to run 5 watts with the old GRC-9 military rig and it did pretty well on 75.

It's all cleaned up and in proper order now - transmitter, receiver, scope and speaker. Even made a bunch of connecting cables up yesterday. One thing left to do is to drag out an antenna tuner/switchbox so I can hook the slopers or the 10-12M vertical to the setup as desired; the one I have in mind (Kenwood AT-230) needs a slight modification to accommodate 3 coax-fed antennas plus a dummy load.. I wish Yaesu would have offered a matching 101-series tuner/switchbox and I'm tempted to reuse the SP-101 speaker cabinet to roll my own. Even have all the knobs in the parts stash to make it look "factory".

Will try to get the setup together this weekend and post a pic or two.

[WZ7U]

Even have all the knobs in the parts stash to make it look "factory".

You said knobs, heh heh

[w2amr]

You said knobs, heh heh

those were the days.

[N8YX]

The Yaesu Station sounds pretty cool. Post some pictures when it's all together. I used to run 5 watts with the old GRC-9 military rig and it did pretty well on 75.

Just got it all done this weekend. The scope needs another CRT, as there's a bit of burn-in around the center. No big deal as I'm going to redesign the thing and add a panadapter module w/ new front panel controls.

The D-104 in the pic sounds very good on AM with this setup. I also fixed the speech processor and wired a Shure 450 to it. That mic can be used as-is with my Cubic Astros - same wiring on the plug. It's a good choice for "punchy" SSB.

Time to build a 101-style tuner for the station. I had the AT-230 on hand and converted it for 3 coaxial feeds plus a dummy load, rather than the 2 coax + 1 random wire arrangement it was shipped with. ANT1 and 2 are connected to a pair of Alpha Delta DX-SWL slopers at SE/SW orientation, and the ANT3 connection goes to the switchbox which routes my 10-11-12M vertical to the various rigs.

IMAG0738.jpg

[w2amr]

Just got it all done this weekend. The scope needs another CRT, as there's a bit of burn-in around the center. No big deal as I'm going to redesign the thing and add a panadapter module w/ new front panel controls.

The D-104 in the pic sounds very good on AM with this setup. I also fixed the speech processor and wired a Shure 450 to it. That mic can be used as-is with my Cubic Astros - same wiring on the plug. It's a good choice for "punchy" SSB.

Time to build a 101-style tuner for the station. I had the AT-230 on hand and converted it for 3 coaxial feeds plus a dummy load, rather than the 2 coax + 1 random wire arrangement it was shipped with. ANT1 and 2 are connected to a pair of Alpha Delta DX-SWL slopers at SE/SW orientation, and the ANT3 connection goes to the switchbox which routes my 10-11-12M vertical to the various rigs.

IMAG0738.jpg

Nice looking set up. How much power does the Yaesu transmitter make on AM?

[N8YX]

Nice looking set up. How much power does the Yaesu transmitter make on AM?

Depending on band, 10-15w carrier. Yaesu specifies no more than 150ma IC when transmitting AM and I usually run it a bit less than that.

[w2amr]

Depending on band, 10-15w carrier. Yaesu specifies no more than 150ma IC when transmitting AM and I usually run it a bit less than that.

What does it use in the final?

[N8YX]

What does it use in the final?

2x 6JS6C, just like the FT-101/B/E/F series.

There are modification articles wherein the PA is converted to a 6146/S2001 but that's reported to have its own set of problems.

Comes the day I cannot get tubes for the rig any longer, I plan on committing the ultimate heresy and converting the PA to solid state. Looking at the pre-driver/driver/PA section of the FT-301 (Yaesu's first solid state HF transceiver) one sees a number of similarities...including a gang-tuned Preselector/Drive control. I'm pretty sure I can engineer a swap.

These tubes are at or near full output and appear to be the originals. I don't beat on my gear and won't run them in full-carrier modes like FSK - my solid state rigs are a better choice for that. Thus, for low duty cycle voice and CW usage I suspect the PA devices will last for a while.

Regardless, I'm going to lay in a few spare sets. If I can find them for less than the price of the transmitter itself.

[kc4umo]

Very nice looking setup. Well done! I really like those rigs.

Checked the price of the YO-100 CRT? Just bought one for a repair/ $129.00. Done a YT video of the repair but not uploaded it yet.
Thought about doing an upgrade to a LCD screen.