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Hi all,
I picked up a Ramko DC38 10S broadcast console at a ham fest and need to find the schematic. If you have any idea where to start, I’d grately appreciate it. Thanks
The unit is in fair to to good condition and there are no missing plugin boards and no sign of alteration or damage. I figured I could not lose for $60 given the all the components inside.
Altough I’ve been a licensed amateur for some years and started on the air with AM and CW, the attitude on the ham bands of late has been less than friendly to old time AMers. I’m happy to see an alternative like this where one can come and play around with broadcast technology without concern that others think one is hogging too much of the spectrum.
I also manage the electronics exhibit at our local Saxonburg Museum where we have the original “dog house” and loading coil for the KDKA transmitter and antenna that was located here in Saxonburg for many years (1929 – 1939). We have a lot of old pictures and other documents pertaining to the first commercial broadcast AM station in the country and are always finding more to grace the museum.My wife’s technician callsign just happens to be K3DKA. We have quite a large collection of early radio receivers here at home and I always had the idea that I would like to build a mini broadcast station to play into them as I restored them.
Many thanks for any help you give regarding the Rmako DC38. I just need a place to start.
Jim Sorenson
W3BH
Saxonburg, PA
Total posts : 45366I have here the manual for Ramko DC-5S and DC-8S from my studio of the 1980s.
I have what’s left of the console following a lightning strike and some scavanging.
My scanner is down, but if I get it running I’ll upload what I have.
Total posts : 45366Did you also manage to get the power supply too or was that built into the board?
Very nice board by the way.
Total posts : 45366Many thanks Carl,
I think the DC-8S would be very helpful at this point. What would it take to scan and post? I would cover costs if there are any significant ones. I’m really flying very blind at this point, but at least given that it’s 80s technology, one can easily access everything and work on it.
Thanks again for the offer.
Jim
Total posts : 45366This situation is the boost I’ve needed to go the final mile to get my scanning back in operation.
I have a deluxe size HP Scanner from the 1990s when we were an Amiga based audio/video service, everything used SCSI connections, which are now considered old technology.
This scanner also has the earliest form of USB connector, but unfortunately my XP computer fails to take command of the scanner by USB, and HP stopped supporting this model years ago.
So I went on eBay and bought a SCSI card, except that the scanner is not close enough to the computer and I may need a cable I don’t have.
Is this boring yet?
Tonight after my radio stream signs off I will re-arrange furniture in an attempt to get the scanner hooked up.
Meet back here tomorrow for an update.
Total posts : 45366Something about Ramko
Total posts : 45366The previous link about Ramko Research from the Old Radio Archive mentioned that the assets of Ramko were acquired by RDL, so you might learn something by talking to someone rhere…
Total posts : 45366Thanks Carl,
Things are picking up for me on the Ramko front. I will let you know how it goes.
Appreciate the support.
Jim
Total posts : 45366Thanks Barry,
It does have an oboard power supply that plugs straight into the AC. I’m not even going to dare trying to fire it up till I’ve found the schematic and see what I’m dealing with. At least it’s all accessible and straight forward 80s tech.
Thanks
Jim
Total posts : 45366Wow – it seems like you would be a
really interesting guy to talk to!
I can’t get on here much – as of late –
but your post is interesting.
The KDKA doghouse and coil – my gosh,
that is a BIG deal.
There is a station in Vermont – WDEV 550 kHz –
which is more of a local station than most on the
AM band. They have a completely restored 1935
truck that has the WDEV callsign painted on the side.
I’m sorry that AM on the ham bands is not as accepted
as it was. I’m surprised to hear that.
I am not too far from the ARRL’s W1AW.
There is a guy named Joe Walsh – who donated
an absolutely gorgeous vintage AM ham set-up for
W1AW some time back.
This Joe Walsh guy was a guitar player for
“The Eagles.” A great band that we all know.
I did some AM on 40 and 75 with a DX-60A and also
a DX-60B. Not much, I know, but I grab the
little bits of ham gear when I can.
Your board is beautiful. Have fun with it.
Best Wishes,
Bruce
Total posts : 45366Glad to hear that other avenues of help may be opening up.
For me, this has prompted the re-energizing of a long dormant project of either getting my SCSI scanner working, or replacing it.
Last night was re-evaluation of the physical location of all my radio/computer related components and cables, and a study as to how I can locate the scanner without removing a wall.
Today I got it down to the question of a cable, and realize I need a particular cable that I don’t quite have to complete this stage of the process.
I am generously giving myself until Monday to identify and locate the cable needed to complete this stage of things.
My radio station is off the air for this special event.
Meanwhile, my Ramko board is in the basement where it’s been since a lightning strike crippled some of its functions. Maybe I should do hospital and rehab the thing.
One thing I recall, the audio quality was superb! The transient response was instant across the entire audio band. Very live sounding.
One downside was that the fader pots did not take the signal out completely. It was always possible to continue hearing anything that had been faded down. The audio source had to be stopped completely or switched off, but that was not a “smooth fade.”
The Ramko people told me they were aware of that problem and were looking into it.
Total posts : 45366Today I summoned up the enthusiasm to finally stop over at the computer shop a few streets away, only to be told they do not have a SCSI cable and my only hope was Ebay.
It is my plan to connect my great HP ScanJet so I can copy a Ramko Manual for kjsorenson, and I will not stop trying.
There is always a SCSI cable somewhere within a 10-mile radius, and I will find it.
Carl Blare never stops moving sideways.
Total posts : 45366Not to worry Blare. Thanks. We’re making some progress here. I did manage to find a post on a radio site where someone had supplied an image of the DC38-8 back panel connections. I’m going to try and post it for you so you can keep it in the archives in case somebody needs it in the future. I can’t post there for another week, so I can’t yet contact the guy who posted it about a manual. it was a few years ago, however.
Although that page will help me greatly at some point, as of now I can’t turn the thing on because the former owner cut all the connections from the START buttons on the front panel and there is no clue as to where they actually went in the unit, nothing? The three switches have 3 leads each for lamp power and 2 each for on/off, red and black.
At some point if you could kindly look at the schematic for me and let me know where those wires go, I’d really appreciate it. I will attach an image of them. What I can guess is that if I just knew where wire 3 and wire 6 (black and red) went in any of those 3 push switches, I could probably turn it on and get started at debugging the unit.
A switch layout is available at: http://w3bh.com/ramko.html
This is no huge priority for me, so if you can’t find the answer in the schematic you have, just let it go for now. Eventually there will be an answer.
Many thanks Blare.
Jim
Total posts : 45366Hi kjsorenson:
The Ramko boards I have seen do not have “start” or “stop” buttons for associated devices, i.e., cartridge players or tape decks.
I am thinking those buttons you notice on your Ramko were added by a previous user, and are not part of the Ramko (official) circuitry.
But I will keep tuned for further developments.
UPDATE: my brain is beginning to think about a new scanner, while also trying to resurrect the old one.
If I am a total success I’ll have two scanners!
Total posts : 45366Thanks Blare,
I’m going to challange myself to find out how to turn the unit on before a schematic eventually makes it clear. I’ll start following the PS distributiion wires from the three supplies and see what I find. You’d think that a guy with over 50 years of electronics experience could find the on/off switch……………LOL
Again, no hurry. This project is going to take a long time anyway. I truly appreciate your efforts with regard to the schematic. If you don’t need an A3 scanner, A4 scanners are included in most all printers these days and I see lots at flea markets for practically nothing or free which are USB compatible. What I’d like to find, though, is a working large format scanner – something larger than A3 that will handle larger maps without splicing. I can’t resist hamfests, flea markets, junkyards, old attics, curbside drop offs or Craigslist when it comes to free or very cheap cast away electronic gear. HP is the best for quality spare parts. Needless to say my garage and basement are full of the stuff and my wife, even though she’s a ham too, is threatening another dumpster to be delivered to our driveway to support another massive cleanout.
Good luch with the cable and I’ll let you know how I am progressing with the Ramko. At least the next person who acquires one will be able to come here and find what needs to get it working again.
All the best and thanks for the effort Blare.
Jim
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