Volksempfaenger DKE38

1938

Condition and performance:

	Cabinet	80%
	Reception AM	50%
	Sound Quality AM	60%

Features:

	P.U. Entrance:	No
	Tape Recorder Entrance:	No
	Extra Loudspeaker Output:	No
	Loudness:	No
	Treble Control:	No
	Bass Control:	No
	Tone Register Switches:	No
	AM Bandwidth Switch or Control:	No
	Tuning Indicator:	No
	Build-in Antenna:	No
	Build in Ferrite or Window Antenna:	No

Technical Specifications (Partially measured):

	Tubes:	VCL11, VY2.
	Wave Bands:	LW, MW.
	Intermediate Frequency (IF):	None.
	Loudspeaker:	17 cm diameter, carton basket.
	Resonance Frequency Fs:	?
	Frequency Range Power Amplifier:	?
	RMS Output Power at 5 Ohms:	?
	Cabinet:	Bakelite, dark brown.
	Dimensions:	24 x 24 x 14.5 cm
	Mains Power Voltages:	110, 150, 220 Volts AC/DC
	Mains Power Consumption	15 Watts
	Retail Price	DM 35,00

Description:

The DKE38 is the cheapest radio of Germany in 1938. The cheap price makes this radio affordable for all the German citizen.
The principle is a regenerative receiver with a controllable positive feedback.

Repairs:

The DKE38 is basically repaired, regarding to the schematic diagram below.

A series network of 1K8 10 Watt and a BY127 diode, which was connection parallel with the anode and cathode of the VY2 is removed.
Reason: This isn't necessary, since the high voltage is sufficient.
A resistor of 2K2 5 Watts, which is parallel connected to the heater of the VY2 is removed.
Reason: The heater current of the VCL11 was too high.
10 nF capacitor is replaced by 10 nF 630 Volt.
Both 0,25 µF capacitors are replaced by 220 nF 1000 Volt capacitors.
5 nF capacitor was missing and is replaced by 4700 pF 1000 Volts.
Reason: This ensures a virtual ground and reception of broadcast stations is now possible without the need of a ground connection.

After repair, the DKE38 radio works quite well and meet now the factory specifications.
The high voltage is 235 Volts DC which is sufficient. Originally it should be 275 Volts DC.

Performance:

The reception of the broadcast stations is quite weak. with a good antenna, you can receive many MW broadcast stations.
The reception of the LW broadcast stations is still weak.
The audio quality is quite well, but isn't loud, just enough to listen to the radio until normal volume.

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