NBTV TRANSMITTER FOR TEN METRES

by Klaas Robers, PAKLS

In NBTV Newsletter Vol.12 nr.2. Dave Sumner described a small transmitter with electron tubes, especially
designed for NBTV signals. It generated 1W peak RF output power on the 10 metre band and the circuit diagram was
simple but interesting. Dave also gave drawings of how he has built it and there was a photograph of the transmitter
on the photopage of Newsletter Vol 12 nr.1. The nice and small aluminium chassis and the glass tubes on it arose
nostalgic feelings and at the same moment (1986) I knew that one day I was going to build it. A few years ago I reread
the article and decided to start. Happily quite some components from the tube era were saved, so I expected no
serious availability problems.
Dave used three tubes ECC81 and made 1W peak sync with it. When I looked at my transformer it was clear
that just one watt output was too light a task for it. So I expanded the circuit to get more power. In the sixties the EL83
was used for driving large PA tubes and the characteristics showed me that 10W peak sync output would be feasible.

Transmitter section (see circuit diagram top left)

One half of an ECC81 is used as a cristal oscillator, driving the EL83 output tube in class C. Neutralisation of
the EL83 is obtained by means of a piece of bare wire, length about 35 mm standing up against the glass bulb of the
EL83. Adjustment is done by clipping the length and some bending to and from the tube. See photo 2.
Coils are given in the format: number of turns, diameter of the copper wire in mm, diameter of the coilform in
mm (19mm is " plastic electricity tube), length of the coil in mm. The 15 turns coil in the output circuit gives a solid
DC path to ground for the antenna connector. If this coil is not added the 50pF tuning capacitor must be set to its
absolute minimum, giving practically no tuning range. With the coil mounted it can be adjusted in its centre range.
Video modulator (see circuit diagram bottom left)
The other half of the ECC81 is an inverting video pre-amp, the 47k potentiometer in its anode circuit adjusts
the modulation depth. The EL84 is used as a series modulator tube. Dave noted: "This is the most efficient method,
providing true anode modulation in spite of the fact that the PA looks 'above' the modulating valve". The screen grid
voltage is stabilised at 150V by a chain of zener diodes. Clamping is obtained by grid current of this tube. When no
video signal is present the EL84 is fully 'on' and peak output results. The zener diode in the cathode circuit provides
"Sync Stretchting". Adjusting the 470 ohm potentiometer optimises the video/sync ratio of the HF output signal.
Auxilliary circuits (see circuit diagram bottom centre)
The RX is fed via a cathode follower pre-amplifier, which also works as a T/R switch as it biases itself back
beyond cut-off on transmitting. A 400Hz tone oscillator is provided to give a sinusoidal signal (MCW) for calling and
identification using morse code. Its output 'TONE' can be switched to the modulator pre-amp input.
Metering circuit (see circuit diagram bottom right)
Additional to the Dave Sumner transmitter is a meter that indicates the functioning of the transmitter. The five
'settings' are (range): 'Ig1' (2,5mA), 'Ia' (50mA), 'Va' (500V), 'Mod' (500V), 'RF-out' (10W). At the setting 'Mod' the
meter indicates the peak voltage across the modulation tube. The modulation level should be set such that for a white
picture this indicates slightly less than Va, so some carrier remains in the whites.
Power supply (see circuit diagram top right)
A traditional power supply for tube circuits. The switch 'Stand By-Net-TX' is a dual pole 3-position miniature
ON-ON-ON switch. One section activates the RF-oscillator in the modes 'Net and 'TX', the other section applies the
power for the PA and modulator in the mode 'TX'. The 18k, 100k and 150k resistors guarantee an almost invariable
+250V in all three modes. These resistor values are found by experiment.

Chassis building (see front view and top view)

The same size of chassis was made as Dave Sumner described in Vol.12 nr.2. At first an empty chassis of
175x150x60 mm was made from a sheet of aluminium. Then components were arranged, holes were drilled and the
components mounted. In this way stage by stage was built and tested.
Important are two small neon lamps below the chassis that indicate the presence of the mains and the Va
supply voltage for the tubes. These voltages should be treated with great respect, as they will bite you when they can.
Don't fear them, but handle with care. Use only one hand when you need to do adjustments in the working system.
Allignment
Mode switch in 'Stand By'. Heat up the tubes for at least half a minute. Meter switch to 'Ig1' and mode switch to
'Net'. Adjust the 30pF trimming capacitor for maximum Ig1, while the oscillator restarts reliably after switching to 'Stand
By' and back to 'Net'. The meter should indicate about 1mA of grid current.
Neutralisation has to be set only once. Unsolder one filament connection to the EL83. Switch mode to 'Net'.
Monitor (oscilloscope) the carrier feed through to the output connector. Adjust the output pi-filter to maximum. Bend
the neutralisation wire to and from the EL83's bulb and find the position with minimum feed through. Caution, the wire
is at +250V. Switch off and resolder the filament connection.
Connect a 50 ohm dummy load. No video input signal. Set mode to 'TX', meter switch to 'RF'. Adjust both
capacitors of the output pi-filter (Tune and Load) for maximum output.
Apply video input signal with lots of white, e.g. checker board. Switch meter to 'Mod'. Increase modulation level
until the meter reading stops increasing. Now it will give you the same reading as 'Va'. Now decrease modulation level
to the point where the meter reading has gone back about 10%.
The output power reading is strongly dependent on the contents of the video signal. It is normal that it reads
'only' two watts on real video signals. Connect an oscilloscope to the RF output or to the 'RF-det.out' connection point.
Adjust the 470 ohm potentiometer for an optimal 30/70 sync/video ratio. Only when using an RF-oscilloscope the real
peak sync power can be measured, i.e. 62V peak-peak RF for 10W PEP.
Left: Foto 1.
General view of
the transmitter.

Right: Foto 2.
The RF output
tube EL83 and
the modulator
tube EL84.
Mark the thin
vertical wire
running along
the bulb of the
EL83, acting as
a capacitor for
neutralisation.