[hpsdr] Ancient device.

[Chris Smith]

Hi All

Many thanks to everyone who responded to my query.

Hans-Petter LA9UI identified it as a 1N21 as did Doug W6DSR and Terry N4TLF. Terry had memory of changing these devices after lightning strikes on the microwave receivers on the CBS affiliate in Washington D.C.

Lee K9WRU didn’t know what it was but was sure he had at least one in his junk box.

Michael W9AAM thought it might be a 1N34.

The link Hans-Petter sent was to a museum site which had a photo of the device which matched my memory of it.

So it was either a Germanium or Silicon point-contact diode used in microwave mixers/detectors for radar/microwave receivers in all probability.

I may now be able to sleep at night now!

Thanks again.

73 Chris G4NUX



> On 4 May 2020, at 10:39, Chris Smith <chris at wealdencottage.co.uk> wrote:
> 
> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
> 
> Hi
> 
> I know this is off topic as it is an enquiry about (historic) electronic components, but ...
> 
> Many years ago, before my junk box disappeared during one of my many house moves, I had in that junk box a small device marked (I think) Westcotector. This was, I believe, an early example of an encapsulated semiconductor diode. It was about .5 to .75 inches long with metal ends and a flange on the, I assume, anode end.
> 
> Google has failed me on this occasion.
> 
> Does anyone have any info on such a device? It probably came out of WW2 surplus equipment which was readily available in the late 1940s, '50s and early ‘60s.
> 
> Thanks in advance and apologies if this is so far off topic it needs to be removed.
> 
> Cheers & 73
> 
> Chris G4NUX
> 
> 
> Chris Smith
> chris at wealdencottage.co.uk
> 
> 
> 
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Chris Smith
chris at wealdencottage.co.uk