VHF BoatAnchor Receivers

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Hallicrafters S36A Ultra High Frequency Communications Receiver

These were built during the Second World War and they were used in the UK to identify the beams the Germans used to locate targets by transmitting two directional beams. When the beans intersected they dropped the bombs on a target at night. The British put in other beams so the bombs were dropped where they woud do little harm. This one was built on the 24th February 1446.

I have had this receiver packed away in the shed for thirty years and I have never plugged it into the power and turned it on. 5th March 2012 I turned it on and watched the HT voltage and all was normal. Soon I was tuning in the local FM Broadcast stations. I could not see any Electrolytic Capacitors in it so I though it was worth the risk. The main filter capacitors in the HT supply are in a netal can and may be oil filled types, will have to find the manual I have and see what they are.

At first the sensitivity was low but after the band switch had been operated a few times and then given a blast of switch cleaner, that fixed this problem. The antenna input circuit was for a balanced line so I removed the two terminals and replaced them with PL259 and BNC connectors. I then used a 300 to 75 Ohm balum from an old television balum that was designed to plug into the Belling Lee (Pal) connector on the back of a TV receiver so a 300 Ohm line could be used. The first photo below shows this modification. I also managed to find some vintage coaxial cable to connect the sockets to the balun. I also fitted a IEC power connector as I do not like having attached power chords on such BIG heavy items, too easy to trip over the chord when carrying the receiver. The last phot below shows our old cat "Rocket" appreciates BoatAnchor radios, even if it is only to sit on so he is my height for more attention.

Eddystone 770R Receiver

This one has had several owners in the local HRSA group and each person has given up on it and given it away so someone else can have the frustration of getting it to perform as Eddystone intended. Poor sensitivity is the problem. After talking to Barry williams recently I have a new theory about what is wrong with the heavy little beast. He has found 6AK5 valves (tubes) to be very unreliable and perhaps as this receiver uses three of them in the front end that may be the problem.

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Written by and Copyright, Phil. Storr © Last updated 9th Spetember 2013