Hello to All, I have build the Heil Pine Board project on a metal chassis.
Setting up the transmitter for CW the watt meter fluctuates as expected. However, on 80 AM the power meters shows 4 watts out even if the mic is not connected.

I can be heard on a receiver and can here myself with a powered Radio Shack speaker. All sound good.

I have checked the wiring, parts placement etc. No luck.

This is my first time building an AM transmitter.Is this normal or do I have a problem>
73,
Mike
N1CHP

Since this is an AM transmitter. it generates a constant carrier signal level. When you hook up the mic, you should see variations in power in sync with voice peaks. If it were SSB, the carrier is suppressed, so you see output only on voice peaks.

Rich

Hi Rich and thank you.
I am using a D104 mic. I understand what you are saying about the constant carrier. I do not see any meter movement when I talk. I can see some variations when I hook up to a scope.

So maybe I am ok with the watt meter not moving?
Mike

I put a scope on the PA/EQ input and output. I can see the variations in the scope pattern when I talk.

The watt meter does not move. Maybe I am ok?
73,
Mike

Yes you are fine.

For AM the wattage won't change much if at all.

May I ask what you are going to use as a receiver? I'm planning to build the Pineboard myself, but am now sidetracked in building receivers for it first.

Just curious.

Dave

Tube Radio, Thank you for the feed back. You and Rich were a big help. I learned a lot about radio in general via this project.
73,
Mike

For receivers, I'll try a few. I'll get back to and I'll dig out some information. Some have said that using a Regen would be very good. I'll post some information later to day.
Mike

You're welcome.

This is the receiver I will use with the Pine Board Transmitter for 40 meter CW.

Got it from Lindsay Publications many years ago. They seem to be out of business.

Here is a link from another seller. Some people want $46 for the same book. This $10.

https://freckleface.com/shopsite_sc/sto ... ct627.html

I tried to get as many antique parts as possible.

I'll be using a G5RV antenna inverted for transmit and receive. Putting a manual switch in between.

Heil has mentioned building an amp for the transmitter and he may have mentioned a receiver.
I did all mine on a metal chassis that my neighbor gave me

For 80 and 40 AM, I'll use my Hallicrafters Sx 110. Very nice receiver.

Good luck.
73,
Mike