Ham Radio Station – W1LJN – All Collins
Dr. Leonard J. “Joe” Nyberg, Jr.
Grafton County, New Hampshire

Green Mountain Net meets daily (except Sunday) at 1700 hrs local time on 3933 kcs - SSB Cracker Net meets daily at 1900 hrs local time on 3921 kcs - SSB
Gray Hair Net meets Tuesday evenings at 2000 hrs local time on 1945 kcs - AM

W1LJN is a member of the following organizations:

Green Mountain Net
Cracker Net
Gray Hair Net
Collins Collectors Association
Collins Radio Association
Quarter Century Wireless Association
American Radio Relay League
AM International
Ten-Ten International

Favorite Bands: 160 Meter AM; 80 Meter AM; 75 Meter SSB; 20 Meter SSB; 10 Meter AM

W1LJN is a volunteer examiner for the ARRL and WY5I Testing Groups.

Equipment List:

“A-Line”

32V-3 Transmitter – AM 80 through 10 meters

This transmitter arrived on the ham radio scene in 1951. The dimensions are 12-7/16” high, 21-1/8” wide and 13-8/9” deep. Weight is 110 pounds. Frequency range is 80, 40, 20, and 15 meters. Plate power input- 150 watts CW; 120 watts AM. When new this transmitter cost $475.00.

75A-2 Receiver

This receiver appeared on the market in 1950. Its dimensions are similar to the 32V-3 but the weight is about one-half at 50 pounds. Frequency range is 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 11, and 10 meters. Mode is AM and CW. Cost new was $420.00.

370G-3 Speaker

This speaker was made for the 51J series and was a 10” diameter, 4 ohm permanent magnet loudspeaker in a 10-5/8” x 15” x 9” metal cabinet. Original cost was $22.00.

KWS-1 Transmitter – AM, CW, SSB 80 through 10 meters

This transmitter was first introduced in 1955 in the March issue of QST. It essentially marked the end of the AM era and introduced Single Side-Band (SSB). The transmitter came in two units – the upper unit was the RF unit (50 Pounds) and the lower unit housed the power supply (175 pounds). It is estimated that about 1,600 units were manufactured between 1955 and 1958. Mode is AM, CW, SSB. Plate power input is 1,000 watts. Price new was $1,995.00.
75A-4 Receiver

This receiver, consisting of 22 tubes, was also introduced in 1955 and paired with the KWS-1 was referred to as the “Gold Dust Twins”. The size of the receiver is about the same as the KWS-1 RF unit but the weight is only 35 pounds. Mode is SSB, AM, CW, and MCW. Price new of this unit was $495.00. When paired with the KWS-1 the total cost, with speaker, was just about $2,500.00. Interestingly enough collectors currently pay much more than he original cost to acquire the pair in good working condition.

312A-1 Lighted Speaker

Not the most rare of speakers but very difficult to find in good workable condition. This unit consists of a 10” loudspeaker in an 11-1/8” x 15” x 9-1/8” metal cabinet that has a hinged front and a Lumaline lamp with a chrome hood. Sold originally for $39.50 and now brings up to $1,000+ for a unit in pristine condition.

30K-4 Transmitter

The 30K-4 was the commercial version of the 30K-1 which was introduced to the ham community in 1946. Referred to by many as a “boat-anchor” when it eally should be called a “battleship-mooring”. Its height and weight pretty much reduces its portability. The overall dimensions are 66-1/2” high, 22” wide, and 16-1/2” deep. Weight is 600 pounds. Although original mode was 80, 40, 20, 15, 11, and 10 meters this unit was modified to also transmit on the 160 meter band. Input power is 500 watts CW and 375 watts AM – output is about 275 watts on 160 meters and 300 watts on 80 meters. Price of this unit new was $1,450 and included a 310-A exciter.

310C-2 Exciter

This unit, like the 310C-1, was designed to drive the 30K series transmitters, the only difference between the two being that the 310C-2 had an internal power supply. Since the 30K transmitters were crystal controlled the 310C-2 exciter was useful in providing more versatility and flexibility. The unit is rather small- 8” high, 14” wide, and 8-1/4” deep; weight is 18 pounds. Price new was $100.00.

310B-3 Exciter

This unit is similar to the 310C-2 with the exception of size- 8” high, 19” wide, 10” deep. The 310B-3 included antenna tuning whereas the 310B-1 did not. Price of this unit when new was $190.00.

270G-1 Speaker

This speaker is an 8” diameter 4-ohm permanent magnet loudspeaker in a 10-1/2” x 13” x 6-5/8” metal cabinet. This speaker was originally sold with the 75A-1 receiver. This speaker has the Collins winged logo on the top and chrome strips whereas the 270G-2 and 270G-3 have no logo and the metal strips above and below the flocked metal grill are painted. The only other speakers with the logo are the 312A-1 and the 312A-2.

302C-1 Wattmeter and Directional Coupler

This meter goes with the KWS-1 and measures both forward and reflected power in two ranges – 0 to 100 watts and 0 to 1,000 watts. Original cost was 89.00.

“S-Line”

32S-3 Transmitter

This transmitter first appeared in the November, 1958 issue of QST magazine. The transmitter had the capability of being coupled with its companion receiver, the 75S-3, and gave the operator the flexibility of having a “transceiver” rather than having to operate two separate units. This pair is powered by a 516F-2 power supply and controlled by a 312B-4 station control. The transmitter sold new for $750.00, the receiver $680.00, the station control $185.00.

KWM2-A Transceiver

This unit actually combined the circuits of the 32S-1 transmitter and the 75S-3 receiver into one self-contained unit. Weight was 18 pounds and the overall dimensions are 6-9/16” high, 14-3/4” wide and 13-1/4” deep. Mode is SSB or CW and power output is about 100 watts. Price new was $1,250.00 and current prices are about the same for a unit is good operating condition.

312B-5 Station Control and PTO for the KWM2-A

This unit is essentially the same as the 312B-4 but with the additional feature of a PTO which connects to the KWM2-A in order to give the operator the opportunity to work split frequency operation – similar to having the 32S-3/75S-3 combination. Original cost was $350.00 – currently similar units in good condition bring anywhere from $600 to $1,000.

30L-1 500 Watt Linear Amplifier

This is a table-top amplifier appeared in 1961 and consisted of a solid state power supply and four 811A triodes. The physical size is essentially the same as the KWM2-A with a weight of 38 pounds. Original cost new was $520.00.
30S-1 1,000 Watt Linear Amplifier

This amplifier became available in 1959 and with 80 watts of driving power will deliver up to 1,300 watts PEP output. It is a floor model and far from ortable with a weight of 160 pounds. Price when new was $1,556.00; currently, a unit in good condition will bring $2,000.00 or more.

DL-1 Dummy Load

This unit is a 100 watt resistive dummy load used while tuning up the transmitter before attaching the transmitter to the antenna.

SM-2 Microphone

This desk “mike” was manufactured by Turner for Collins. Frequency response is 50 to 13,000 cps. There is no push-to-talk switch on this unit. Original price was $48.00.

SM-3 Microphone

This desk “mike” is a dynamic microphone with a push-to-talk switch. Frequency response is 200 to 3,000 cps. Original price was $65.00

Antennas:

1. Horizontal wire dipole approximately 360 feet long up about 85 feet for 160 Meters.
2. Inverted “V” about 135 feet long – feed-point up about 85 feet for 75 and 80 Meters.
3. **“Force 12” beam – tower section located in third floor attic with mast fed through a “back-vent” installed in the roof.

URC32

At our summer residence I have a Collins URC32 transceiver. This rig was built by Collins for the U. S. Navy and used on submarines and perhaps other vessels during the 1960’s. It features continuous coverage from about 2.0 to 30 mc and has an output of about 600 watts. The audio is “communications quality” and it is useful for breaking up “pileups” on DX contacts. It weighs about 450 pounds and when fired-up sounds like a Hoover vacuum cleaner because of the air-flow that ventilates each module on the rack.

Not shown in photos:

35C-1 Low Pass Filter for the 32V- Series.
180S-1 Antenna Tuner
212G-1 Broadcast Console