Johnson Viking II frequency question

[Crambone]

I had acquired 5 non working Viking II’s and after a bit of time I was able to produce 1 working transmitter.
My question involves moving / changing frequencies in a given Band.

1) Say I tune up in 40 meters I’m now on a fixed frequency, how do I move up and down that Band with just a single crystal for 40 Meter in the radio?

2) I know a VFO would make this easier.
Even with a VFO when you move to a new frequency do you need to retune the radio?
I’m new to this Boat Anchor Gear so it’s been a bit of a learning curve.

 

[nomadradio]

You don't move with a crystal. You're stuck on the frequency it gives you. And that's the whole reason for a VFO.

The farther you move away from the frequency where you tuned up, the more you'll see the power drop off. How far you can move without retouching grid and plate tuning is a try-it-and-see sort of proposition. The higher the band frequency the farther you can move without retuning, as a general rule.

73

 

[Crambone]

You don't move with a crystal. You're stuck on the frequency it gives you. And that's the whole reason for a VFO.

The farther you move away from the frequency where you tuned up, the more you'll see the power drop off. How far you can move without retouching grid and plate tuning is a try-it-and-see sort of proposition. The higher the band frequency the farther you can move without retuning, as a general rule.

73

Ya I figured it was crystal frequency dependent. I have a Johnson 122 VFO but it’s not working. That will be my next new topic!

 

[BJ radionut]

I am confused: Crystals are great for fixed frequency work, but always found the Johnson internal VFO's pretty stable.
Getting old.... the VII's needed the VFO 122 I guess...guess never own one...always had Ranger series with internal.
The Ranger series VFO were quite stable after a few minutes warm-up.

I had several 122's VFO's but those worked well on the Johnson Adventurer and some early Heathkit rigs with ONLY crystal control.
All the Best
Gary

PS: The Heathkit VF-1's were almost identical. Easy to work on...either one

 

[BJ radionut]

Johnson Viking II Manual.pdf (edebris.com)

Nice complete manual>

Assembly "KIT" manual for VF-122 below:
vik-vfo.pdf (edebris.com)

vfo-122-users.pdf (edebris.com)

 

[Crambone]

Johnson Viking II Manual.pdf (edebris.com)

Nice complete manual>

Assembly "KIT" manual for VF-122 below:
vik-vfo.pdf (edebris.com)

vfo-122-users.pdf (edebris.com)

Ya I followed the build manual for the VFO to verify wiring and checked EVERY component inside, cleaned wafers and checked for continuity. I think it may be a voltage/ current issue either at the VFO power plug on the Viking II but not sure what voltages I should be seeing at it.

 

[BJ radionut]

Maybe your aware...maybe not:

7.100...40 meters xtal also equals... 14.200 MHz / 21.300 / 28.400...+/- xtal drift or slight variation of fundamental...
3.5 MHz = 7.0 / 14.0 / 21.0 / 28.0 ...etc
Xtal size does not matter as long as you can fit them to socket. extending the "legs" of the smaller size will tend to "shift" frequency some what.
You can still find adaptors for those Big socket to small xtals!!
The "fundamental" is the is the key...then multiply from there.

 

[Crambone]

Maybe your aware...maybe not:

7.100...40 meters xtal also equals... 14.200 MHz / 21.300 / 28.400...+/- xtal drift or slight variation of fundamental...
3.5 MHz = 7.0 / 14.0 / 21.0 / 28.0 ...etc
Xtal size does not matter as long as you can fit them to socket. extending the "legs" of the smaller size will tend to "shift" frequency some what.
You can still find adaptors for those Big socket to small xtals!!
The "fundamental" is the is the key...then multiply from there.

Ya I seen the chart in the Viking II manual, I really want to use the VFO 122 so I can easily move around Bands.

 

[BJ radionut]

Viking II but not sure what voltages I should be seeing at it.

One of those manuals, has the voltage chart for that ...pretty sure I saw that.
If that was a "KIT" build VII...it may have never had that socket wired!!!

 

[Crambone]

One of those manuals, has the voltage chart for that ...pretty sure I say that.
If that was a "KIT" build VII...it may have never had that socket wired!!!

No it was a factory wired V II from what I can see it has the Viking emblem on the chassis

 

[Crambone]

OH ya it kind of works in the 160/80/40 position but when moved to the other 2 it’s dead?

 

[BJ radionut]

JOHNSON VIKING | F6HOY

More VFO info..about half way down page!