The R208 Receiver
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Below is a complete example
of the R208 "Sputnik Special" so called because it
was sold by government surplus dealers as the ideal set for listening
to the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1. A hole in the front
panel needs to be filled with a meter of some sort. Adding a
meter was a useful modification when first introduced to the
SWL market. A spare set of valves is included in the tray above
the receiver panel. Below the first picture is the set with its
protective cover (carrying the circuit diagram) in place.
Then after this is a set of
pictures taken much later when I got round to fitting a meter
into the unsightly hole in the front panel.
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An advert from the RSGB
Bulletin in the early 1960s
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R208 Circuit diagram
(click to see PDF)
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I finally got round to
fitting a meter in the hole cut in the front panel. The last
owner of the receiver must have decided to salvage the meter,
maybe when the set started acting up. We'll see when I attempt
to power it up later... |
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As you can see above the last
owner made a bit of a mess of the panel. The most suitable replacement
meter in my junk box is smaller than the original so requires
a sub-panel to fit it, seen opposite. This is made from a piece
of scrap steel from an old computer power supply case. The hole
is cut by drilling a series of small holes before the thing is
cut from the scrap metal to minimise distortion.. The ring is
then cut using metal snips. Once cut I emery papered the surface
to remove the plating then cleaned it with a grease solvent before
spraying with a grey undercoat which is a fair match to the front
panel.
Below, the new meter screwed temporarily
in place. The screws not only hold the meter in place, but (see
below) with the addition of washers and solder tags secure the
sub-panel to the front panel. |
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Below, before and after
fitting the meter. I also filled the hole below the meter which
may have had a fine-tuning control fitted by the previous owner,
but now removed. It could also have been perhaps a meter switch
for selecting either HT voltage or signal strength? |
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Below are various views
of the receiver. The 6-volt 4-pin vibrator and its spare are
missing as is the AC/DC switch and wiring, but otherwise the
receiver looks original. Usefully there is a mains power supply
which by the notes on the top of the transformer is designed
to work from virtually any AC mains voltage from 100 to 250 volts.
Note the metal HT rectifiers rather than valve rectifiers. |
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Now some front panel details
showing that further repair work is necessary to put right modifications. |
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Above the receiver, mounted
in the case, is a box carrying accessories and various spare
parts, including valves and an operator's manual. |
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