Hi guys

Attended a swap today with a couple of ham buddies. One of them picked up a "FM Deviation Meter" made by Radio Specialty Mfg Co. Seems to be a model 1163-61-1. He plans to part it out but I begged him to let me play with it a while first. I carefully cleaned and inspected it, tested the tubes, and powered it up (dim bulb tester) and when I applied full voltage, got a nice trace.

Problem is, I do not know exactly how to use it. Anyone know anything about this sweetheart or better yet, know where I can get a manual. My friend only paid $3.00 for it so really do not want to spend a lot of money on a manual. (yea I know, I'm cheap!)

Will try to attach photo, but have had trouble doing so in past.

Thanks for the help

Dave

It's one of the best FM deviation meters ever made. For two-way radio service. Basically, you set the calibration so that the scope horizontal lines will be at 5 kHz above and below the center line and then you tune in an FM carrier with no modulation so that it's directly on the center line on the scope. You then set the transmitter deviation so that it does not exceed + or - 5 kHz. It's also possible to set calibration for whatever deviation maximum you wish.

They date from 1963-70 more or less and once were in every mobile radio service shop which had good test equipment.

I can't exactly remember how to set them up. I think you pull out the cal knob and then set the marker to + 5 and adjust the trace on the mark you want to indicate 5 kHz above center, then check with the marker on -5, then leave the marker in the center position. Then push the cal knob back in and tune the desired signal in so that it's centered on the scope. The deviation will be displayed when the transmitter is modulated, and you adjust it to not exceed the lines you previously set with the markers.

Radio Specialty seems to have been unable to transition into the transistor age and went out of business about 1981. They were in Portland, Oregon and got their start making radios for forestry agencies.

When right, these scopes have about 2-5 Microvolt sensitivity and can do most off-air measurements. They can be used as a receiver of sorts.

This one has been modified and there seems to be a pot in the phones jack. One aggravation is that they use a 5AR4 rectifier tube, which, thanks to audiophools, has become pricey.

Thanks for the help Geoff. What you told me makes a lot of sense and gets me started. Don't know if I will ever have any real use for this thing, but plan on having some fun with it anyway. It is just too cool to part out!

73

Dave

My late husband WOJZY (Leo) has this exact same Deviation Meter except there is a tag on the back that read US-CE-C, 67-47, St. Louis, Mo.. Unable to find any more info. Looks like a lot of the hams build something that does not represent a Sherman Tank. He had on a roll around cart with a power supply and Ohms meter all very handy. He was a builder of 10 meter equipment and some repeters. Can any tell me if this is worth saving? Thanks for any info.

Hi MRG

As I stated, I paid $3.00 for the meter, and there were no other interested people at the swap. While trying to figure out the controls, an oil filled capacitor exploded, covering my test bench with oil. First time I have ever seen this happen. I promply cleaned up the mess and parted out the set.

You may find someone who is interested in the meter but I doubt it would be worth very much.

Hope this helps

Dave