[CR220]

I have a 39-116 Philco with the mystery control. One question, how strong of a signal should the remote make when activated? I tuned a longwave radio to the 355KC frequency, and was able to receive it at about 4 feet away, but it was weak. I have verified that the remote is tuned. The remote has a number 5 stamped on it, as well as the back of the radio chassis itself. The radio plays very well and the remote is in good condition, parts check out-coils, etc. The remote will activate the radio when placed a foot away from the secondary coil made into the radio. I think the remote is not making a strong enough signal for the radio to receive.

[CR220]

Update:
The type 30 tube plate in the remote is supposed to have 45 volts. Using a battery eliminator I applied 90 volts to the plate and the remote started operating the radio. Could this mean that the remote’s type 30 tube is weak?

[Ron Ramirez]

Hi,

Since no one else has chimed in I will try to help.

> Could this mean that the remote’s type 30 tube is weak?

Possibly. If you access to a known good tube tester, check it and see how it reads.

Also - there is a .05 uF paper capacitor, part (127), inside the remote control unit. Has it been replaced? There is also a 500 ohm resistor, part (128). Have you checked it to see if it is still within 20% tolerance? If not, replace it.

Service info for the 39-116 may be found here:
https://philcoradio.com/library/download...20Book.pdf

[CR220]

Thanks Ron! The cap has been replaced and the resistor is still within tolerance. I checked the amperage of the tube’s plate while the remote was transmitting and noticed that within a few seconds of it being on, the amperage started dropping. This is why I started suspecting the tube.

[CR220]

Has anyone ever determined how strong of a signal that the radio itself needs to activate the remote control side? I have a heathkit signall generator that I can control the radio with from 6 feet away with a loop of wire that the alignment instructions calls for.

[CR220]

I hooked the remote to an arbe 3 battery eliminator and wired the control to put out a constant RF. I set the filament voltage at the voltage that the tube called for, and left the plate voltage at 45. The remote puts off a weak signal at just a few feet away, but when I attached a random length of wire to the tuning condensor, the remote sent out a very strong RF signal that I had no trouble receiving at 20 plus feet away. This leads me to believe that there is something amiss with the output coil of the remote, and the random wire antenna was taking its place and making it work again. I have ohmed out everything in the remote and none of the coils came up open. The cap and resistor are spot on, and the little mica cap across the tuning condensor checks out fine also.

[Chas]

I have ohmed out everything in the remote and none of the coils came up open.

Re-solder every connection, all of them. Any mechanical electrical connection, loosen and wiggle and re-tighten. This may or not improve things... Also, try a new or good used substitute capacitor for the 200pf unit.

GL

Chas