[Heath] Improving the GR-81?

[Guy Giacopuzzi]

Well, when checking the tubes, the 50C5 came up "leaky" (whatever that 
is..).....I scrounged around in my garage for an hour--found a lone 
50C5...tried it in and the the radio woke up dramatically....got WWV at 
5, 10 /and/ 15 mc... and a ton of stations above 11...I was just 
wondering if there were any other tricks someone's tried to up the 
sensitivity/rf/af gain....funny thing though...I remember when I was in 
7th grade I was hoping for a GR-64 for xmas, and praying that my parents 
would go the few extra dollars (about 20 at the time...) for the GR-64 
over the GR-81...they did...and the difference between the radios is 
amazing ( I bought the 81' at a flea market about 10 years ago...tried 
it...got very little...and put it away)  If fact, the GR-64 seems to out 
perform most 6 tube sets on just four tubes....
Guy

On 1/5/2014 4:13 PM, Mark Johnson wrote:
> Hello Guy,
>
>> From my experience with one, you need a great deal of patience and 
>> need to 
> learn to adjust the regen control to the sweet spot. That comes with 
> practice.
>
> Also, as per the manual, there is quite a difference depending on 
> which antenna lug you select. Long ant, short ant. You also have to 
> juggle the regen control with the bandspread control while tuning in a 
> station.
>
> My radio worked fine but practice and patience are 
> required...also..there are limits given its simplicity...
>
> Mark
>
> VE3LU
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Guy Giacopuzzi" <gggdds at js-net.com>
> To: "heathkit listserve" <Heath at puck.nether.net>
> Sent: Sunday, January 05, 2014 12:20 PM
> Subject: [Heath] Improving the GR-81?
>
>
>> Is it just my unit, or has anyone else noted the lackluster 
>> performance of the GR-81 regenerative shortwave receiver?  Looking at 
>> the schematic, does anyone have any ideas to improve it?  Mine 
>> "works" and get's reception, but it lacks sensitivity and audio 
>> gain.  I've checked the wiring, and it's perfect...will check tubes 
>> next.  Any other ideas? Regeneratives are suppose to be incredibly 
>> sensitive and otherwise, loud...mine is anything but....
>>
>> Guy
>> -- 
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Heath mailing list
>> Heath at puck.nether.net
>> https://puck.nether.net/mailman/listinfo/heath
>>
>
>

-- 
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