[Heath] SB-303 / SB-401 LMO, HET and BFO interconnection cables

[Robert Myers]

Question about the SB-303 / SB-401 interconnection cables *required* for the
HFO, BFO and LMO.

As I am sure most are aware, the SB-303 and SB-401 manuals call for the
following cables to be connected between the various SB-303 oscillator
output sockets and the corresponding SB-401 oscillator input sockets:

SB-303 ‘BFO OUT’ -> 24” RG-62/U  -> SB-401 ‘RCVR BFO’
SB-303 ‘HFO OUT’ -> 24” RG-62/U  -> SB-401 ‘HET OSC’
SB-303 ‘LMO OUT’ -> 24” RG-174/U -> SB-401 ‘RCVR LMO’

It seems to me that the designers, for some reason, decided to incorporate
the various cable capacitances (that result from their specified lengths)
and their characteristic impedances, along with the input impedances of
those various oscillator inputs of the SB-401, into what amounts to
‘essential operating circuitry’ of the corresponding oscillators based on
the SB-303.  (But why?  To save money?)

Is the requirement for 'cable weirdness' due to the various oscillators’
output circuitry within the ‘303, or is it due to the requirements of
various oscillators’ input circuitry within the ‘401?  Or is it a
combination of both?

I mean, if the ‘303 requires a particular capacitance ‘hanging off’ the
LMO’s output socket (such being provided by exactly 24 inches of RG-174/U)
in order to function properly, as well as a 50 Ohm load (inside the 401
during transceiver), would it not have been better to do something like
provide all those necessities *within* the ‘303 (right at the LMO
oscillator) and follow that by an isolating buffer/voltage-follower (still
inside the ‘303) with a 50 Ohm output impedance?  You could do the same for
the HET, and BFO oscillators’ circuitry as well – thus allowing for
arbitrary lengths of, say, RG-58/U cables (not different cables) for
interconnection of the HET, LMO, and BFO sockets between the two units.

Is there a fix for this cable 'weirdness,' allowing the cables to be the
same type (say, 50 Ohm RG-58 since you need that for the antenna
connections, for sure), and their lengths to be not critical?

Thanks,
Rob Myers, VE3JQL