Sig Gen Advice - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

PsychMan · 16th May 2018, 12:12 pm

I have a fair few sets now that could use some alignment, I've not ventured this far yet but understand the concepts and it looks fairly simple for some sets with the right kit.

Unfortunately the only signal generator I have is an AVO unit but the lowest it goes is 2 MHz, not much use for domestic stuff far as I can tell. I was given it for free via this forum, and if its not much use to me I will likely offer it back on here to someone who can make better use of it.

Anyway, What is the cheapest way of getting a basic generator good enough to align typical domestic sets? Any recommendations would be appreciated. The new cheapo Chinese stuff seems to also be far higher frequency ranges than I need.

Station X · 16th May 2018, 12:13 pm

Are you looking to align FM sets as well a AM ones?

PsychMan · 16th May 2018, 1:24 pm

Hadn’t thought of that. While it would be nice the only ones that definitely need alignment are A.M. so I can live without FM

ms660 · 16th May 2018, 1:30 pm

You could do worse than obtaining an Avo All-Wave Oscillator.

Lawrence.

Station X · 16th May 2018, 1:33 pm

For a aligning AM domestic receivers. I'm a fan of Advance signal generators. They use valves and are nice and easy to fix. There are generally several available on eBay.

If you like you can add a cheap Chinese frequency counter.

Techman · 16th May 2018, 2:07 pm

Absolutely! The Advance E2 is all that I use. Had it for years. It does drift a bit for the first hour until it warms up. There must be hundreds out there for a tenner or so.

MrBungle · 16th May 2018, 2:10 pm

Also look out for Leader signal generators. I've had a couple of them over the years and they are pretty reliable. They don't drift at all after about 5 minutes and it's possible to get the dial spot on as well. Think I paid £30 for my current one, a 17A

Bazz4CQJ · 16th May 2018, 3:11 pm

Some of the old Taylor models were very sound workshop models; I have a 68A which is quite handy.

B

PsychMan · 16th May 2018, 7:18 pm

Thanks all, seems like plenty of options. I see a few Advanced models on ebay for not too much

ms660 · 16th May 2018, 7:30 pm

Just two suitable for you so far as I can see unless I've missed some, not confusing RF with AF are you?

Lawrence.

Diabolical Artificer · 18th May 2018, 7:01 am

I have two Advance sig gen's, even I can fix them. Once I'd replaced a few caps they work well. They come up on here quite regularly, so if you sit tight something will turn up. Alternatively pop a post on the wanted thread.

Andy.

PsychMan · 18th May 2018, 11:44 am

Of the 2 elligible advance ones I managed to miss the cheaper one so will post a wanted thread and very soon will offer the avo unit I have FOC

PsychMan · 11th Jun 2018, 2:30 pm

I managed to pick up a nice Advance E1 sig gen and found the schematics on here. Unfortunately no leads with the unit, could anyone suggest some appropriate cable and plugs that would fit? I suppose coax for the cable?

ms660 · 11th Jun 2018, 2:40 pm

Post a photo of the sockets because sometimes they might have been changed at sometime.

Lawrence.

peter_scott · 11th Jun 2018, 2:57 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsychMan

could anyone suggest some appropriate cable and plugs that would fit? I suppose coax for the cable?

I think it just uses a normal Belling-Lee female socket as used on most television aerial connections so just make up a cable using TV aerial cable and male plug and terminate the other end possibly in croc. clips.

Peter

PsychMan · 12th Jun 2018, 10:54 am

Attached a picture of the unit and the type of socket on it , thanks

ms660 · 12th Jun 2018, 11:05 am

75 ohm TV antenna plug aka Belling-Lee plug:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IEC_169-2.jpg

Plenty of suppliers out there.

Lawrence.

PsychMan · 12th Jun 2018, 11:26 am

Thanks Lawrence, I did google belling-lee connectors, but it looks like the socket needs a plug where the pin protrudes from the plug to make the connection

Unless I'm missing something

TonyDuell · 12th Jun 2018, 11:33 am

It's not an old-style car aerial plug, is it? Sometimes called a 'Motorola plug'.

ms660 · 12th Jun 2018, 11:48 am

They might be the car radio antenna type then, hard to see properly from the photo's, BNC is a common mod for the sockets.

EDIT: Post crossed

Lawrence.

16th May 2018, 12:12 pm	#1
PsychMan Octode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Fleet, Hampshire, UK Posts: 1,764	Sig Gen Advice I have a fair few sets now that could use some alignment, I've not ventured this far yet but understand the concepts and it looks fairly simple for some sets with the right kit. Unfortunately the only signal generator I have is an AVO unit but the lowest it goes is 2 MHz, not much use for domestic stuff far as I can tell. I was given it for free via this forum, and if its not much use to me I will likely offer it back on here to someone who can make better use of it. Anyway, What is the cheapest way of getting a basic generator good enough to align typical domestic sets? Any recommendations would be appreciated. The new cheapo Chinese stuff seems to also be far higher frequency ranges than I need.

16th May 2018, 12:13 pm	#2
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,286	Re: Sig Gen Advice Are you looking to align FM sets as well a AM ones? __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

16th May 2018, 1:24 pm	#3
PsychMan Octode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Fleet, Hampshire, UK Posts: 1,764	Re: Sig Gen Advice Hadn’t thought of that. While it would be nice the only ones that definitely need alignment are A.M. so I can live without FM

16th May 2018, 1:30 pm	#4
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Sig Gen Advice You could do worse than obtaining an Avo All-Wave Oscillator. Lawrence.

16th May 2018, 1:33 pm	#5
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,286	Re: Sig Gen Advice For a aligning AM domestic receivers. I'm a fan of Advance signal generators. They use valves and are nice and easy to fix. There are generally several available on eBay. If you like you can add a cheap Chinese frequency counter. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

16th May 2018, 2:07 pm	#6
Techman Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 5,000	Re: Sig Gen Advice Absolutely! The Advance E2 is all that I use. Had it for years. It does drift a bit for the first hour until it warms up. There must be hundreds out there for a tenner or so.

16th May 2018, 2:10 pm	#7
MrBungle Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: London, UK. Posts: 3,687	Re: Sig Gen Advice Also look out for Leader signal generators. I've had a couple of them over the years and they are pretty reliable. They don't drift at all after about 5 minutes and it's possible to get the dial spot on as well. Think I paid £30 for my current one, a 17A

16th May 2018, 3:11 pm	#8
Bazz4CQJ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 4,934	Re: Sig Gen Advice Some of the old Taylor models were very sound workshop models; I have a 68A which is quite handy. B __________________ Saturn V had 6 million pounds of fuel. It would take thirty thousand strong men to lift it an inch.

16th May 2018, 7:18 pm	#9
PsychMan Octode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Fleet, Hampshire, UK Posts: 1,764	Re: Sig Gen Advice Thanks all, seems like plenty of options. I see a few Advanced models on ebay for not too much

16th May 2018, 7:30 pm	#10
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Sig Gen Advice Just two suitable for you so far as I can see unless I've missed some, not confusing RF with AF are you? Lawrence.

18th May 2018, 7:01 am	#11
Diabolical Artificer Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK. Posts: 7,657	Re: Sig Gen Advice I have two Advance sig gen's, even I can fix them. Once I'd replaced a few caps they work well. They come up on here quite regularly, so if you sit tight something will turn up. Alternatively pop a post on the wanted thread. Andy. __________________ Curiosity hasn't killed this cat...so far.

18th May 2018, 11:44 am	#12
PsychMan Octode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Fleet, Hampshire, UK Posts: 1,764	Re: Sig Gen Advice Of the 2 elligible advance ones I managed to miss the cheaper one so will post a wanted thread and very soon will offer the avo unit I have FOC

11th Jun 2018, 2:30 pm	#13
PsychMan Octode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Fleet, Hampshire, UK Posts: 1,764	Re: Sig Gen Advice I managed to pick up a nice Advance E1 sig gen and found the schematics on here. Unfortunately no leads with the unit, could anyone suggest some appropriate cable and plugs that would fit? I suppose coax for the cable?

11th Jun 2018, 2:40 pm	#14
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Sig Gen Advice Post a photo of the sockets because sometimes they might have been changed at sometime. Lawrence.

12th Jun 2018, 10:54 am	#16
PsychMan Octode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Fleet, Hampshire, UK Posts: 1,764	Re: Sig Gen Advice Attached a picture of the unit and the type of socket on it , thanks Attached Thumbnails

12th Jun 2018, 11:05 am	#17
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Sig Gen Advice 75 ohm TV antenna plug aka Belling-Lee plug: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IEC_169-2.jpg Plenty of suppliers out there. Lawrence.

12th Jun 2018, 11:26 am	#18
PsychMan Octode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Fleet, Hampshire, UK Posts: 1,764	Re: Sig Gen Advice Thanks Lawrence, I did google belling-lee connectors, but it looks like the socket needs a plug where the pin protrudes from the plug to make the connection Unless I'm missing something

12th Jun 2018, 11:33 am	#19
TonyDuell Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK. Posts: 5,208	Re: Sig Gen Advice It's not an old-style car aerial plug, is it? Sometimes called a 'Motorola plug'.

12th Jun 2018, 11:48 am	#20
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Sig Gen Advice They might be the car radio antenna type then, hard to see properly from the photo's, BNC is a common mod for the sockets. EDIT: Post crossed Lawrence.