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Vintage Amateur and Military Radio Amateur/military receivers and transmitters, morse, and any other related vintage comms equipment. |
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9th Nov 2020, 4:25 pm | #1 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Gloucester, Glos. UK.
Posts: 2,149
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What's this? (transmitter)?
I found this in an old toolbox of mine today, i know it dates from about the mid 80s from the other contents of the toolbox ,but for the life of me ive no idea where it came from .
Im guessing its a transmitter of some sort? maybe im wrong though. Maybe someone can shed some light on it please.
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9th Nov 2020, 4:45 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK.
Posts: 8,923
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Re: Whats this?(transmitter)?
Possibly a Tx or a pre amp.
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9th Nov 2020, 5:56 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK.
Posts: 11,484
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Re: Whats this?(transmitter)?
FM 'Bug' possibly? Is there a printed circuit coil on the underside?
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9th Nov 2020, 6:05 pm | #4 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Gloucester, Glos. UK.
Posts: 2,149
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Re: Whats this?(transmitter)?
Here are two pictures of the underside PCB
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Oh I've had that for years dear!! |
9th Nov 2020, 6:10 pm | #5 |
Nonode
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK.
Posts: 2,013
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Re: Whats this?(transmitter)?
Does that say Pantec? FM Pantry Transmitter has to be high on the list surely.
Same tech as an FM Bug but without the high audio gain... |
9th Nov 2020, 6:37 pm | #6 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Gloucester, Glos. UK.
Posts: 2,149
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Re: Whats this?(transmitter)?
It says Pantec No1
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Oh I've had that for years dear!! |
9th Nov 2020, 6:40 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK.
Posts: 11,484
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Re: Whats this?(transmitter)?
That nice printed coil makes it almost certain to be a low power VHF transmitter. Maybe the 3.5mm 3-wire input is meant to be from a source with a stereo headphone output (Walkman, etc) - so, pantry transmitter as Jon says.
Unfortunately, it seems to have lost one of its RF transistors. (T4). |
9th Nov 2020, 11:44 pm | #8 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Tintinara, South Australia, Australia
Posts: 2,324
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Re: Whats this?(transmitter)?
It is indeed an FM transmitter, Pantec were big into this sort of stuff.
Early electronics mags used to have quite a bit of advertising for them. If you do a google search for Pantec no11, it will show the upgraded version. I don't know if I still have any of my early Pantec paperwork, but will have a look if you like when it cools down a bit outside. |
10th Nov 2020, 6:06 am | #9 |
Pentode
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Devon, UK.
Posts: 151
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Re: What's this? (transmitter)?
Ah yes, Pantec. I built one of those.
The oscillator & PA was a couple of 2N3866 or similar, as a multivibrator. There should be a heatsink on each one. Output was more squarewave than sinewave. Lots of spurious emissions. The audio sounded quite good. An Italian firm, IIRC. It was often said that the Italian authorities were rather more relaxed in their approach to RF spectrum regulation and protection than ours in the UK. Last edited by Pfraser; 10th Nov 2020 at 6:20 am. Reason: Details |
10th Nov 2020, 6:57 am | #10 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Gloucester, Glos. UK.
Posts: 2,149
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Re: What's this? (transmitter)?
Well. thats quite interesting ,ive googled Pantec No11 and found a bit of info on it, bu8t found nothing about the No1 kit.
Thinking back now , i may just have acquired it at an Army surplus store in Oxford back in the early 80s as i used to get a lot of ex army sets and other radio associated products there. Shame its just languishing in a tool box so will stick it on the offered thread if anyone wants it.
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Oh I've had that for years dear!! |
11th Nov 2020, 12:18 am | #11 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Tintinara, South Australia, Australia
Posts: 2,324
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Re: What's this? (transmitter)?
If memory serves me right, there was not a lot of difference between the No1 & No11 circuit.
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11th Nov 2020, 12:47 am | #12 |
Pentode
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 229
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Re: What's this? (transmitter)?
Hi,
I remember these. They were advertised as 'professional FM transmitters' claiming an output of 3W! In actual fact they are just power oscillators, stability is non existent and the spurious emissions, as mentioned are horrific. I would certainly not advise trying to power one of these up if you come across one, they can generate a substantial amount of very nasty rf Best regards Stu |
12th Nov 2020, 3:40 am | #13 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 510
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Re: What's this? (transmitter)?
This sounds like the "Jostykits" receivers for VHF that were a simple super - regen on 100-200 MHz that dumped QRM on the signal that you were trying to receive. Drove taxi controllers silly with >chirps<
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worried about the electrons entering the circuit and the smoke leaving Andrew |
13th Nov 2020, 1:53 am | #14 |
Dekatron
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 18,676
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Re: What's this? (transmitter)?
Not as unwelcome as on the "Spectators Terrace" at Ringway et al.
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16th Nov 2020, 10:53 am | #15 |
Octode
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Bath, Somerset, UK.
Posts: 1,033
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Re: What's this? (transmitter)?
Hello all - I'm the new owner of this little device - the kind owner electronicskip has passed it on to me. Thanks again.
I need advice on how to go about a few things: 1. Drawing out the schematic (I cannot find one - so I'm drawing it to aid understanding). I've started on the circuit side (50:50 chance I have started right - or wrong!) and I'm finding it it difficult. Any tips? 2. I have no idea what voltage it should run at. Is it likely to be a 9v device and can that be determined by the layout and component values? 3. The No.11 version of this transmitter has spiky heat-sinks on the silvery transistors. I may have some somewhere, but if not I have some thick copper wire and was going to make a wound heat-sink with this - are there any known 'boy-scout' knots I should use for this? 4. Apparently this is quite a 'dirty' design, and may cause low power interference - so I want to tame this is possible. Is noise likely to be radiating from the circuit board, or the antenna. . . ? I can screen the circuit, but obviously there is no point if the antenna is broadcasting the interference. Transistor names I can read on this 4 transistor components are: BC550 (c 09) x2 black 'D' shaped encapsulation ?B555 silver round encapsulation possibly made by Motorola Missing transistor - yet unknown Thanks SEAN
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16th Nov 2020, 12:38 pm | #16 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Tintinara, South Australia, Australia
Posts: 2,324
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Re: What's this? (transmitter)?
Ok:-
#1 if you can work with a scanner and photo editing software - scan the track side and mirror it. Then scan the component side and in software make it as transparent as you can while still being able to identify components and pads. Then overlay one on the other and you should be able to trace the tracks to the components. #2 12 -15V from memory. #3 They get hot - proper heatsinks advisable. #4 Not likely that you will get it clean enough to be usable - they were basically a square wave multivibrator running at VHF - masses of harmonics. #5 usually 2n3866's for the ones with heatsinks, can't remember what the others were. I have to go out tomorrow if we haven't all been locked down again so will see if I still have any paperwork over the next day or so. |
16th Nov 2020, 12:39 pm | #17 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 510
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Re: What's this? (transmitter)?
As I remember the O/P transistor was a 2n3866 series NPN silicon medium power.
https://uk.farnell.com/solid-state/2...o39/dp/2101467 Should produce QRM up to 800MHz but not cheap at £12 each.
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worried about the electrons entering the circuit and the smoke leaving Andrew Last edited by Andrew B; 16th Nov 2020 at 12:49 pm. |
17th Nov 2020, 6:41 am | #18 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Tintinara, South Australia, Australia
Posts: 2,324
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Re: What's this? (transmitter)?
I've had a dig through the filing cabinets where I thought the info might be, but no luck, which means if I still have it, it will be buried in one of the hundreds of boxes down the back of the shed.
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18th Nov 2020, 9:31 am | #19 |
Octode
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Bath, Somerset, UK.
Posts: 1,033
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Re: What's this? (transmitter)?
Thanks for looking
It may not be vital as the layout is not huge. cheers SEAN
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There are only 10 types of people, those who understand the binary system, and those who don't. |
18th Nov 2020, 12:17 pm | #20 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ashby-de-la-Zouch (it's not by the sea)
Posts: 1,254
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Re: What's this? (transmitter)?
I felt sure that I had one of these, complete with assembly instructions, but can I find it? Nope!
I did at least find this advert in an Everyday Electronics mag circa late 80s ... (not that it's much help, sorry!)
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Now where on earth did I remove that from? |