Hadenough
Well-Known Member
Anyone know what these are? Acquired with my other boat in an envelope marked "Spare CH26 Crystal". It has an elderly pre DSC Icom VHF.
View attachment 49202
View attachment 49202
CH 26 Crystal?
- Thread starter Hadenough
- Start date
prv
Well-Known Member
I'm assuming the Icom, though elderly, isn't ancient enough to have separate tuning crystals?
Perhaps they were for some other piece of equipment that the previous owner didn't sell with the boat?
A quick google suggests that radio control systems (for model cars, boats, etc) use removable crystals exactly like that, and "CH 26" might be Channel 26, one of the frequencies used for that purpose.
Pete
Perhaps they were for some other piece of equipment that the previous owner didn't sell with the boat?
A quick google suggests that radio control systems (for model cars, boats, etc) use removable crystals exactly like that, and "CH 26" might be Channel 26, one of the frequencies used for that purpose.
Pete
Hadenough
Well-Known Member
Thanks. The Icom is probably 30 years old (no manual) so it may well be a tuning crystal [whatever that is 
]. We only found it clearing the boat out because we are selling on. I'll put it the spares box and leave it aboard.
]. We only found it clearing the boat out because we are selling on. I'll put it the spares box and leave it aboard.
Big John
Well-Known Member
They are probably out of a "Scanner" before the more modern variety that are now synthesised and do not require a crystal for individual channels.
VicS
Well-Known Member
At one time VHF RTs had crystal controlled channel frequencies. I am talking 1970s era
Each radio had a limited number channels ( IIRC 6 maybe 12) The available channels required the appropriate crystals to be installed.
If your radio is that old and only has a limited number of channels these are probably crystals for that radio.
Channel 26 is two frequency ( duplex) channel hence two crystals.... one for the transmit frequency and one for the receive frequency.
If your radio has all the common 57 or so channels on it it is more modern and the crystals are obsolete.
If you really have a radio that old save your pennies for a new one!
Edit Ch26 was used by various cost radio stations in their day. It is now, AFAICS, only used by Anglesey Terminal Amlwch and the Irish CG
Each radio had a limited number channels ( IIRC 6 maybe 12) The available channels required the appropriate crystals to be installed.
If your radio is that old and only has a limited number of channels these are probably crystals for that radio.
Channel 26 is two frequency ( duplex) channel hence two crystals.... one for the transmit frequency and one for the receive frequency.
If your radio has all the common 57 or so channels on it it is more modern and the crystals are obsolete.
If you really have a radio that old save your pennies for a new one!
Edit Ch26 was used by various cost radio stations in their day. It is now, AFAICS, only used by Anglesey Terminal Amlwch and the Irish CG
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doug748
Well-Known Member
So you had to agree which appropriate channel to move to after establishing contact.
There was the cartoon in PBO of a tattered old sea dog in his converted lifeboat speaking to a passing ship.
Old yachtsman:
"Queen Elizabeth, we need to move to a working channel. What channels do you have?"
Ship's master, in a withering tone:
"We are not short of many sir"
Not so funny now, looks rather Victorian. Like your crystals
There was the cartoon in PBO of a tattered old sea dog in his converted lifeboat speaking to a passing ship.
Old yachtsman:
"Queen Elizabeth, we need to move to a working channel. What channels do you have?"
Ship's master, in a withering tone:
"We are not short of many sir"
Not so funny now, looks rather Victorian. Like your crystals
VicMallows
Well-Known Member
Production yachts were certainly still being fitted with crystal based VHF radios as late as 1984. I recall this well because that is what Sadler fitted as standard at the time I bought my S29! (The sets typically came with Ch 16/67/6/8/and maybe a ship-shore channel. Extra channels cost £10-£20 per channel). IIRC synthesized yacht radios first appeared around 1983 (at a high price) and crystal based ones had completely disappeared from the market by late 1985.
I fitted a Sealine II which was one of the first of the synthesized. It has worked faultlessly to this day. (A great advantage over current microprocessor based sets is that you can with a couple of diodes add any 'private' channels you choose
)
I fitted a Sealine II which was one of the first of the synthesized. It has worked faultlessly to this day. (A great advantage over current microprocessor based sets is that you can with a couple of diodes add any 'private' channels you choose
)
Hadenough
Well-Known Member
Thanks all. Must be from an older VHF, the existing Icom, although old has all the "modern" channels. In the bin then unless anyone wants them.
