Marconi H2540 receiver and H1700 drive - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

rosgraer · 11th Sep 2020, 7:49 am

Hi All- I wonder has anybody got any info on the Marconi Synthesised HF receiver H2540 and Marconi HF Drive Unit H1700. This is commercial or government communications equipment from the 1980s, Online searches produce almost nothing. I would like to get this equipment operational again rather than consign it to the shed. Thanks in advance Karl

Radio Wrangler · 11th Sep 2020, 8:53 pm

Marconi commercial stuff is pretty rare in private hands. The company controlled it, most was hired out on contract then brought back for scrapping. They didn't want second hand stuff taking any of their market. Service info went back with it. Government/military stuff got bought by governments and they fully owned it and sold it off as surplus when it suited them.

Good luck!

I once had an H2900 receiver, one of the prototypes.

David

Julesomega · 11th Sep 2020, 9:32 pm

Good luck Karl - I'd love to see some pics of these

majoconz · 9th Dec 2020, 4:27 am

Wrangler said:

Quote:

The company controlled it, most was hired out on contract then brought back for scrapping. They didn't want second hand stuff taking any of their market.

So that's what happened to all the marine stuff when GMDSS came in - some lovely stuff there that went into the scrap bin. I'll bet that there some excellent ham stations around Chelmsford with vaguely recognisable gear!

trh01uk · 9th Dec 2020, 9:49 pm

Karl,

I would start investigating some of the resources on this page.

There is mention of "The Marconi Heritage Group", "The Marconi Veterans Association", "Chelmsford Science and Engineering Society", The Marconi Society......and lots more. You may need to be extremely persistent in following up these possibilities - but I suspect somewhere, someone has managed to sneak out documents on products like these into their "personal museum". They may provide copies, if asked nicely - or failing that, paid lots of money!

Richard

John KC0G · 28th Jan 2021, 3:12 am

This is a tough one. You really need service manuals.

The H2540 receiver dates back to around 1976. You can find some background information and block diagram in:
A. Yates, "A New Synthesized Digital M.F./H.F. Receiver", Communication and Broadcasting", Vol. 4. No. 1, Autumn 1977, pp 12-19.
The references are two articles in the Summer 1976 issue, including one on the H1540 drive unit which was the basis for the receiver. You can find scanned issues via: https://themarconifamily.pbworks.com...and%20Journals

I am unable to find any reference to the H1700 drive unit. Earlier there was a H1700 series of log periodic antennas.

73 John

11th Sep 2020, 7:49 am	#1
rosgraer Diode Join Date: May 2019 Location: Navan, Co. Meath, Ireland Posts: 1	Marconi H2540 receiver and H1700 drive Hi All- I wonder has anybody got any info on the Marconi Synthesised HF receiver H2540 and Marconi HF Drive Unit H1700. This is commercial or government communications equipment from the 1980s, Online searches produce almost nothing. I would like to get this equipment operational again rather than consign it to the shed. Thanks in advance Karl

11th Sep 2020, 8:53 pm	#2
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,869	Re: Marconi H2540 receiver and H1700 drive Marconi commercial stuff is pretty rare in private hands. The company controlled it, most was hired out on contract then brought back for scrapping. They didn't want second hand stuff taking any of their market. Service info went back with it. Government/military stuff got bought by governments and they fully owned it and sold it off as surplus when it suited them. Good luck! I once had an H2900 receiver, one of the prototypes. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

11th Sep 2020, 9:32 pm	#3
Julesomega Nonode Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 2,105	Re: Marconi H2540 receiver and H1700 drive Good luck Karl - I'd love to see some pics of these __________________ - Julian It's good here

9th Dec 2020, 9:49 pm	#5
trh01uk Octode Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 1,652	Re: Marconi H2540 receiver and H1700 drive Karl, I would start investigating some of the resources on this page. There is mention of "The Marconi Heritage Group", "The Marconi Veterans Association", "Chelmsford Science and Engineering Society", The Marconi Society......and lots more. You may need to be extremely persistent in following up these possibilities - but I suspect somewhere, someone has managed to sneak out documents on products like these into their "personal museum". They may provide copies, if asked nicely - or failing that, paid lots of money! Richard

28th Jan 2021, 3:12 am	#6
John KC0G Hexode Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Posts: 278	Re: Marconi H2540 receiver and H1700 drive This is a tough one. You really need service manuals. The H2540 receiver dates back to around 1976. You can find some background information and block diagram in: A. Yates, "A New Synthesized Digital M.F./H.F. Receiver", Communication and Broadcasting", Vol. 4. No. 1, Autumn 1977, pp 12-19. The references are two articles in the Summer 1976 issue, including one on the H1540 drive unit which was the basis for the receiver. You can find scanned issues via: https://themarconifamily.pbworks.com...and%20Journals I am unable to find any reference to the H1700 drive unit. Earlier there was a H1700 series of log periodic antennas. 73 John