07-07-2012, 02:28 PM
Glad to hear you will fix your signal generator. I'm sure my old rellic was properly aligned when it left the factory in 1956, but has drifted a bit since then.
Oddly enough even a cheap digital frequency counter will get your signal spot on, or close enough for radio work. I have an ancient Hickok digital model, probably from the 70/s, paid $20 delivered on Epay. Again check your frequency with modulation off. Then turn it back on and proceed. Old signal generators become stable as they will get after being on for a half hour or so. So make it so.
Yes, you will have less output as you reduce signal. Point being you don't want to much interaction of AVC line. So long as you have a readable voltage, you can peak. the IF's and later on the RF section. Sometimes this is an iterative process, i.e. go through a couple of times, depending on a possible golden screwdriver job done in the past. If not, usually not more than half turn to make it right. Also beware of harmonics, they will be all over the place, but once set right should be strongest on the IF frequency the set was designed for. VTVM is ideal for this kind of work. Digital meters are torture!
Oddly enough even a cheap digital frequency counter will get your signal spot on, or close enough for radio work. I have an ancient Hickok digital model, probably from the 70/s, paid $20 delivered on Epay. Again check your frequency with modulation off. Then turn it back on and proceed. Old signal generators become stable as they will get after being on for a half hour or so. So make it so.
Yes, you will have less output as you reduce signal. Point being you don't want to much interaction of AVC line. So long as you have a readable voltage, you can peak. the IF's and later on the RF section. Sometimes this is an iterative process, i.e. go through a couple of times, depending on a possible golden screwdriver job done in the past. If not, usually not more than half turn to make it right. Also beware of harmonics, they will be all over the place, but once set right should be strongest on the IF frequency the set was designed for. VTVM is ideal for this kind of work. Digital meters are torture!
