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Johnson messenger 223

pswalleye

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have not used in years , turned on found that the swr meter goes down below 0 , does anyone know what to look for?
 

kc2asb

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The 223 was our base radio in the 70s. We used an Avanti As trip lane as an antenna. We could get out to all of the north and northwest suburbs on into southern Wisconsin with it. I can still recall that "tube" smell you get from tube sets.
That smell is unmistkable. One of the intangible benefits of using my old boatanchor Hammarlund and National receivers!
 

K9KLC

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The 223 was our base radio in the 70s. We used an Avanti As trip lane as an antenna. We could get out to all of the north and northwest suburbs on into southern Wisconsin with it. I can still recall that "tube" smell you get from tube sets.
In the late 70's and 80's I got one for my mom for a CB, quite a radio in its day. I remember that tube smell. We took the rectifier tube out and put diodes in place of the 12 BW4 to get a little more power out, about 1-1.5 extra watts. Seemed to up the modulation a little bit too. great radios!
 
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