Colt black shadow ssb help

[65]

I picked up an old Colt black shadow SSB
I have heard that they produce great audio, but I am not getting any. I get very little modulation at all.
Just wondering what pod is the modulation on this radio so that I can check to see if it has been turned all the way down.
65

[**GRUMPY**]

Jun 25, 2008 13:28:45 GMT -5 65 said:

I picked up an old Colt black shadow SSB
I have heard that they produce great audio, but I am not getting any. I get very little modulation at all.
Just wondering what pod is the modulation on this radio so that I can check to see if it has been turned all the way down.
65

I had one of these also but can't find the mod for it here in my files. Get in touch with Spitfire441 here on the forum, I believe he has one and should be able to help you. Just click this link and send him a message!
grumpy.proboards11.com/index.cgi?action=viewprofile&user=spitfire441

[65]

thanks for the help Grumpy....PM sent

[Sandbagger]

Jun 25, 2008 13:28:45 GMT -5 65 said:

I picked up an old Colt black shadow SSB
I have heard that they produce great audio, but I am not getting any. I get very little modulation at all.
Just wondering what pod is the modulation on this radio so that I can check to see if it has been turned all the way down.
65

If I remember correctly, the Colt uses the same Cybernet board as the Lafayette Telsat SSB 80/120/140. In that case the modulation limiter pot is labeled RV12.

That radio has a pretty basic audio section. There are no mic pre-amps, your mic audio is pretty much dumped right into the audio chip. So there isn't much that can cause low modulation. Check your carrier power. There is a 10 watt wirewound rheostat in there that adjusts the carrier power on AM. If someone turned it all the way up, the radio will put out about 10 watts carrier, but will not have nearly the modulation to drive it to 100%. You need to back it down to 4 watts, or even less. Jumping the wirewound rheostat with a 100uF cap can give a little kick to the audio as well.

Also check your receive audio. If it's weak (like you have to turn the volume over half way up to hear normally), you may have a bad audio chip, or an open or leaky cap connected to the output. The best way to verify that is with a scope.

Also, check your mic. It might just have a bad element.

Hope that helps....

[65]

Thanks guys...... it was a bad element in the mic.

I am trying to wire my d 104 or shure for this radio.
Anyone know the wiring for it?

I believe its the same as Royce/Regency

I would still like the info on am power and modulation.

65

[**GRUMPY**]

Try this for the mic wiring!

1-MOD
2-SHIELD
3-RX
4-TX

If I remember right that is a four pin

[Sandbagger]

Jun 25, 2008 17:37:15 GMT -5 65 said:

Thanks guys...... it was a bad element in the mic.

I am trying to wire my d 104 or shure for this radio.
Anyone know the wiring for it?

I believe its the same as Royce/Regency

I would still like the info on am power and modulation.

65

And who said free advice can't be helpful.

I gave you the limiter and power pot already........... sheesh ;D

[65]

Grumpy that is the correct wiring.
With the d104 and shure it should be
1 white mod
2 shield
3 black RX
4 red TX

I tried it this way and the stock mic works like that, but not the other two......

Sandbagger, you didn't sound too certain in your post so I wasn't sure if that was correct or not....... I didn't want to start turning stuff in the radio if I didn't know for sure.
And do you know what the rheostat is labeled for am power?
Thanks again guys.

[Sandbagger]

Jun 25, 2008 19:05:38 GMT -5 65 said:

Grumpy that is the correct wiring.
With the d104 and shure it should be
1 white mod
2 shield
3 black RX
4 red TX

I tried it this way and the stock mic works like that, but not the other two......

Sandbagger, you didn't sound too certain in your post so I wasn't sure if that was correct or not....... I didn't want to start turning stuff in the radio if I didn't know for sure.
And do you know what the rheostat is labeled for am power?
Thanks again guys.

I'm 90% sure the Black Shadow is the same board as the Lafayette. If so, the markings on the board should be the same. The rheostat is mounted to the chassis, is about the diameter of a 50 cent piece 1/2" thick and made from white ceramic. There's only one of them and it's nearly impossible to miss. But there is no label on it, other than on the schematic.

I also apologize if I came off a bit cocky before. I thought you were the "65" Joe, who's local to me and I know fairly well and I was just busting stones a bit. But after I talked to him last night and asked him about the Black Shadow and he said "What the heck are you talking about", I thought, Oh-crap........

[hillbilly1987]

I also apologize if I came off a bit thingyy before. I thought you were the "65" Joe, who's local to me and I know fairly well and I was just busting stones a bit. But after I talked to him last night and asked him about the Black Shadow and he said "What the heck are you talking about", I thought, Oh-crap........[/quote]

hahaha thats happen to me befor also it was prity funny to

[65]

No problem Sandbagger. You really cant have thin skin and enjoy this hobby.

I guess I don't need any help with the wiring or the tuning anymore. I got the hand mic to work and talked on the radio for about 15 minutes when a local I knew about 15 years ago keyed up. It turns out he is getting back into radios and didn't have a base station. He just had to have the Colt. With him being an old radio friend and hoping to build a local group again, I gave him a really good deal on the radio and he picked it up.
Thanks for all the help
65
Probation Officer

[Deleted]

65, I re-wire everything for 4 pin Cobras. I can't have a separate mic for every radio I own. It make's it easier.