Topic 30 of 53: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Mon, Nov 22, 1999 (09:03) |
Paul Terry Walhus (terry)
Do you have an old Collings KWM series? Or an Atlas 210x? Or some other
exotic radio(s)?
122 responses total.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 1 of 122: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Mon, Nov 22, 1999 (09:22) * 9 lines
That should be Collins not Collings above.
I have an Atlas 210x with the drop in base. And I have a (not classic)
MFJ tuner to go with it. It's the backup for my Yaesu FT-100, FC-20
combo. I got my G5RV antenna up this weekend and it works like a champ
on 20 and 40, haven't tried the other bands yet. Oh, and I got on 80
meters at night and was able to talk to folks around Texas pretty well.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 2 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Nov 22, 1999 (13:49) * 6 lines
I had for amany years an HRO (National) with all of the bands in separate "drawers" which plugged into a large slot at the bottom (these were big units!)
This was my Dad's primary tranceiver. It was a lovely piece of equipment.
Also had a war surplus AVR war surplus for which my Dad had built a metal box to house it. This went to college with me and I snaked an "invisible" antenna out the window on my dorm room and got called on the carpet for it. But, from central Pennsylvania, I could get the world!
Terry, are you ever on when it is night in Hawaii? I'd love to hear you sometime... I have had no success in getting you in the afternoon, and in the morning I cannot turn on my gear at 3am when I share the room with a guy who already thinks I am far too interested in Texas as it is!!!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 3 of 122: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Mon, Nov 22, 1999 (22:55) * 7 lines
I don't get on during the day much, I'm on 3825 (80 meters) right now
talking to a guy in Houston in a mobile. If I get on during the day, it
will be on 21.332 (15 meters); that was our old Farm frequency for talking
to Guatemala when we were running medical supplies and soy products to the
Huichol Indians.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 4 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Nov 23, 1999 (13:24) * 1 lines
The higher bands are just too noisy for me to hear you during the day - even in the dawn/dusk period. I have entered the two frequecies into the memory of my sw radio, and will be monitoring...(Was not able to get on last night. Try again, please, when it is dark here!)
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 5 of 122: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Wed, Nov 24, 1999 (11:53) * 2 lines
I was on 3.825 last night for about an hour talking to Ed in a mobile near
Houston.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 6 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Nov 24, 1999 (12:19) * 1 lines
About what time? If it was before about 10pm your time, I cannot hear you for all the QRM.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 7 of 122: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Wed, Nov 24, 1999 (14:34) * 6 lines
It was at various times though the night, there were quite a few folks on
that frequency, mostly around Texas.
Tell me a frequency you can hear sometime and I'll get on there and talk.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 8 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Nov 24, 1999 (14:56) * 2 lines
Give me an hour and I will try for a frequency. Propagation is miserable this cycle and there is an uncommonly high amount of 'noise' even in the evenings.
The 14MHz band was open at this hour 10:40am HST (2:40 Austin), but there is still a huge amount of QRM. 21.375 was and 21.393 was coming in but I could not understand either one of them. Perhaps farther into the winter we might have more success?! In order for me to hear the mainland with any clarity at all it has to be late afternoon or later, depending on the day.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 9 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Nov 24, 1999 (15:04) * 2 lines
With the Rockies and the Sierra in the way it is sometimes very difficult to hear mid-America. Can hear Florida ok sometimes... Have you ever heard Hawaii?
Our local ham net is on 7088 daily at 0200 zulu (4pm here). I guess if you cannot hear them I cannot hear you.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 10 of 122: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Wed, Nov 24, 1999 (15:27) * 3 lines
What time is that here.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 11 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Nov 24, 1999 (16:06) * 1 lines
You are four hours ahead of us so it is 8pm in Austin.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 12 of 122: cosmo (aa9il) * Thu, Jan 6, 2000 (21:14) * 15 lines
Howdy Terry and Marcia and all
Classic gear on this end is:
Collins R390A (main station receiver)
Hammarlund SP600 (backup)
Plus an S Line and KWM2A kicking around
Lots of AM activity around here in the Great Lakes region with
plenty of boatanchors on the air. Hope to put the Heathkit DX100
back on the air or better yet, get hold of a 400 watt T368
military transmitter to burn up the ozone.
mike aka cosmo
AA9IL
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 13 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Jan 6, 2000 (21:34) * 2 lines
Oooh, Mike, good stuff! I should post the updating solar image here so you can check out the sunspots and figure out whether you are gonna get some good DX or just QRM... Come and check often - as I said, it updates automatically. Aloha!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 14 of 122: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Fri, Jan 7, 2000 (15:50) * 1 lines
That's cool, the sunspots. How's the activity level on hf now and what's the prognosis for the next month or so? I see a lot of sunspots anyway.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 15 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jan 7, 2000 (16:25) * 2 lines
I'll check for you (have lots of places to check) and get back to you and post it here. Actually I could post that daily or semi-daily or weekly, even and make it a regular post. I am just as interested as you are. Today it is a little better than it has been for some time. The 14 MHz band is open but there is a bit of QRM. 18 MHz band is terrible but I can understand the discussion.
the 13 M band is so quiet I cannot hear anyone using it. SW non the 13 M band is the clearest and no QRM at all. I will try later - it is noon here now and not the best time to try. Off I go to get the prop numbers and forecast.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 16 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jan 7, 2000 (17:10) * 126 lines
From: http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/2000-arlp001.html
2000 bulletins:
General
· DX
· Keplerian
· Propagation
1999 bulletins:
General
· DX
· Keplerian
· Propagation
1998 bulletins:
General
· DX
· Keplerian
· Propagation
1997 bulletins:
General
· DX
· Keplerian
· Propagation
1996 bulletins:
General
· DX
· Keplerian
· Propagation
1995 bulletins:
General
· DX
· Keplerian
· Propagation
ARLP001: Propagation de K7VVV
SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP001
ARLP001 Propagation de K7VVV
ZCZC AP01
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 1 ARLP001
From Tad Cook, K7VVV
Seattle, WA January 7, 2000
To all radio amateurs
SB PROP ARL ARLP001
ARLP001 Propagation de K7VVV
For the first propagation bulletin of the new year, we will review
some of the solar numbers for 1999.
Currently we are moving toward the peak of solar cycle 23. Activity
is not as high as we had hoped, and current projections place the
broad peak of the cycle some time later this year.
We can see a broad progression of the current cycle by reviewing
annual solar flux averages. The average daily solar flux in 1996,
1997 and 1998 was 70.8, 80.9 and 117.9, and for 1999 it was 153.7.
The average daily solar flux for the four quarters of this year were
136.7, 145, 157.6 and 175.2 for the quarter just ended. This
indicates a steady upward trend. Monthly averages of daily flux
values for September through December were 135.7, 164.8, 191.5 and
169.8.
So what does the short term outlook say? Projected solar flux for
Friday through Sunday is 150, 155 and 160, and the projected
planetary A index is 10, 8 and 12. Beyond the weekend it looks like
quiet geomagnetic conditions for January 10-19, moderately unsettled
around January 20 and 21, then quiet again until January 26 through
the end of the month. The most active days should be around January
27 and 28 due to recurring coronal holes. Solar flux should rise
until January 16 and 17, peaking around 205, the drop below 150 by
January 25.
If you want to graph data from these bulletins, you should try
WA4TTK's graphing program. The solar flux and sunspot database has
just been updated, so it now covers 11 whole years, from January 1,
1989 to December 31, 1999. You can download the software and the
data from http://edge.net/~scraig/sol.htm. Then starting with this
bulletin and for every bulletin after this, you can use the WA4TTK
freeware to import the data automatically from the bulletin text and
display it graphically.
Sunspot numbers for December 30 through January 5 were 88, 91, 69,
69, 77, 102 and 100 with a mean of 85.1. 10.7 cm flux was 135.6,
130.1, 129.9, 132.9, 133.1, 134.7 and 136.5, with a mean of 133.3,
and estimated planetary A indices were 8, 27, 27, 14, 13, 12 and 15,
with a mean of 16.6.
Path projections for this weekend are to Japan for the JA
International DX CW Contest.
From Seattle, WA, 80 meters 0700-1730z, 40 meters 0600-1830z, 20
meters 2030-0430z, 15 meters 2200-0200z, 10 meters 2230-0030z.
From Salt Lake City, UT, 80 meters 0700-1600z, 40 meters 0600-1700z,
20 meters 1530-1630z and 2100-0430z, 15 meters 2130-0130z, 10 meters
2230-0030z.
From Omaha, NE, 80 meters 0700-1500z, 40 meters 0600-1630z, 20
meters 1500-1630z and 2100-0200z, 15 meters 2130-0030z, 10 meters
2230-2300z.
From Dallas, TX, 80 meters 0630-1430z, 40 meters 0600-1500z, 20
meters 2000-0300z and 1430-1530z, 15 meters 2130-0130z, 10 meters
2200-0000z.
From Newington, CT, 80 meters 0700-1330z, 40 meters 0600-1400z, 20
meters 2030-1030z and around 1630-1730z, 15 meters 2200-2300z.
From Miami, FL, 80 meters 0700-1300z, 40 meters 0530-1330z, 20
meters 2100-0100z and 1230-1300z, 1430-1530z and 1630-1700z, 15
meters 2130-0000z, 10 meters around 2230z.
From Cleveland, OH, 80 meters 0700-1430z, 40 meters 0530-1600z, 20
meters 2100-0130z, 0600-0900z and 1500-1700z, 15 meters 2130-2300z,
10 meters possibly around 2200z.
NNNN
/EX
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 17 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jan 7, 2000 (17:16) * 1 lines
I also subscribed to their bulletin via email service so I can be more prompt with the information posts.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 18 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jan 7, 2000 (17:26) * 38 lines
This web page has specific charts for specific areas of the US
http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/
FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY
05 - 31 JANUARY 2000
SOLAR ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM LOW TO MODERATE LEVELS DURING MOST OF
THE PERIOD. OCCASIONAL TO FREQUENT C-CLASS FLARES AND ISOLATED M-CLASS FLARES
ARE LIKELY THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. IN ADDITION, THERE WILL BE AN INCREASED CHANCE FOR
ISOLATED MAJOR FLARE ACTIVITY DURING 08 - 26 JANUARY WITH THE EXPECTED RETURN OF OLD
REGIONS 8798 (S13, L = 171) AND 8806 (N19, L = 115).
THERE WILL BE AN INCREASED CHANCE FOR A PROTON EVENT AT GEOSYNCHRONOUS ORBIT
DURING 08 - 26 JANUARY.
THE GREATER THAN 2 MEV ELECTRON FLUX AT GEOSYNCHRONOUS ORBIT IS EXPECTED TO BE
AT MODERATE TO HIGH LEVELS THROUGH 05 JANUARY. NORMAL TO MODERATE LEVELS ARE
EXPECTED DURING 06 - 27 JANUARY. FLUXES ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO MODERATE TO
HIGH LEVELS DURING 28 - 31 JANUARY.
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO BE AT QUIET TO UNSETTLED LEVELS THROUGH
26 JANUARY, BARRING AN EARTH-DIRECTED CME. ACTIVE TO MINOR STORM LEVELS ARE
EXPECTED DURING 27 - 30 JANUARY DUE TO RECURRENT CORONAL HOLE EFFECTS.
3 DAY FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY
(AS OF 2000 Jan 06 2210 UT)
Solar Forcast:
SOLAR ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO BE LOW.
Geomagnetic Forcast:
THE GEOMAGNETIC FIELD IS EXPECTED TO BE QUIET TO UNSETTLED.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 19 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jan 7, 2000 (17:30) * 5 lines
http://hfradio.org/propagation.html was the source of the above post.
If you want to see solar images under all conditions and filters:
http://umbra.nascom.nasa.gov/images/latest.html
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 20 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jan 7, 2000 (18:41) * 3 lines
For today's (every today) propagation report in full with images and links to various interesting and pertinent sites:
http://hfradio.org/propagation.html#today
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 21 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jan 7, 2000 (20:05) * 1 lines
I'm sorry, Wolfie, I did not know this was linked to your conference and I posted lots and lots of stuff which I should have kept in the radio conference. I promise to do better!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 22 of 122: Wolf (wolf) * Fri, Jan 7, 2000 (20:10) * 1 lines
it's ok!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 23 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jan 7, 2000 (20:19) * 1 lines
At least you know today's solar flux and how to find it in the future...*grin*
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 24 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Mar 21, 2000 (16:06) * 1 lines
There is God in Heaven! An old Ham-buddy of mine just presented me with my very own boat anchor - a Hammerlund HQ - 100 Communications Receiver - and the owner's manual for same! I am delighted out of my mind and cannot believe I again have a radio which is worthy of the 60' trap dipole on the roof. Happy Me.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 25 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Mar 21, 2000 (16:08) * 6 lines
Oh...and propagation is off the scale (realtively) - just in:
SFI=231 up from 210 | A=3 down from 4 | K=2 down from 3 at 2100 on 21 March. SAF: moderate, GMF: quiet to unsettled Aurora Level: 3
More: http://hfradio.org/propagation.html
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 26 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Mar 21, 2000 (21:55) * 3 lines
The newest "Boat Anchor" in my life - my Hammerlund HQ 100A - is now captured for posterity on the net - but it is someone else's Looks the same, of course, but the size is deceiving. It is 9" deep X 9 1/2" high X 16" long and is in a sturdy metal box the top of which is perforated to allow for cooling of the 10 tubes inside (yes, tubes!) Next comes the smoke test...!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 27 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Mar 21, 2000 (23:15) * 1 lines
Oh, yes, this lovely instrument is a tranceiver. That means I can send as well as receive - but one must have a license to send and I do not have one for these frequencies. Good old KH6ORS (old rusty submarine)! Bless his kind heart for getting this rig up and working well enough for me to operate. Take a bow, Corky!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 28 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Mar 21, 2000 (23:17) * 1 lines
I wonder if he ever got the National HRO which I inherited from my Dad on the air...*sigh* If anyone could, he could!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 29 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Sat, Apr 1, 2000 (23:42) * 18 lines
Fine business on the new boatanchor!
Good luck with the HRO as well - I have an HRO 50-T1 needing some
touch up work on the front panel and also a re-alignment. One
thing to remember with the old gear is that you might have to
replace the bypass caps and resistors. Thats in the queue....
Right now, rig number 1 to get the 'works' will be my Collins
R390A - Its in reasonably good cosmetic shape but stands to
get a re-alignment and some mechanical work - right now, the
rig works great but I want to do the complete restoration.
Second on the list will be the SP600 which will need all the
paper bypass caps replaced - some of which are very challenging
to get to.
These old radios are great to operate and nothing sounds like
AM on a tube rig. Im still looking for some heavy iron for
transmitting.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 30 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sun, Apr 2, 2000 (00:03) * 10 lines
Fine Business, yourself, Mike. There is a glow and the aroma of a tube set (providing it is not of melting Bakelite) which evokes a sentiment like Mom's home cooking. Very satisfying and almost visceral in enjoyment. The sound has to be experienced to be appreciated.
To me, there is no better rig than then HRO with those "drawers" for the bands, and fine tuning with a knurled knob which has not been excelled. That is one sweet transceiver, and was the one my Dad used every morning for a cw sked during my entire life at home as I was growing up. He took care of it amost better than he did his kids (...not really, but we never went near it unless he was there.)
Cosmetics is always difficult on those black crinkle-finished boxes. This Hammerlund has what looks like cast aluminum - matte dark gray. No finish to be cosmetic. Not even any corrusion!
I post ARRL current propoagation and DX information Radio topic 32 just in case you left your issue somewhere but you have your laptop on your next DXpedition.
How "heavy iron" are you talking? What is your fantasy Rig (providing you can get a spare transmitter tube for less than your house cost)?
73's and 88's
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 31 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Sun, Apr 2, 2000 (19:09) * 32 lines
Hi Marcia
Those black crinkle HRO's are nice - knew a guy that had one
for sale a long time ago - I bought the HRO 50 T1 from him
which has the hammer-tone gray body. Out of curiosity, is
your radio an HRO 5?
As far as dream radios go, Im looking for a T368 which is a
400watt transmitter (am and cw) - this rig is about 800lbs
and was a replacement for the old BC610. For a while, Fair
Radio in Ohio was selling them for about $700. They have
become very popular with the AM crowd and their price has
gone up - I saw one advertised for $1600 which is kinda
silly but Im sure the guy sold it....
Here in the Great Lakes region, there is alot of AM on 3885
and you will hear everything from Johnson desk kilowatts and
Collins KW1's to homebrew rigs. Winters are the best time
to listen to 75 and 160 around here when the OF's rag chew.
Still planning on using the R390A for the main receiver. That
rig is rock stable and sounds good too. Its a pain to tune
around though with a mechanical MHz and KHz knob - not exactly
good for spinning up and down the band. The SP600 is good for
band touring with a big weighted flywheel tuning configuration
that makes it easy to zip around the bands.
Anyway, good luck with with all the new toys.
73 de Mike
AA9IL
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 32 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sun, Apr 2, 2000 (21:03) * 10 lines
Believe it or not, when the HRO was delivered to me after my father's death it was not in working order. An old friend was given it - power supply, drawers and rig - the entire lashup. I knew if anyone could get it working again and would appreciate it, he would. He returned the favor by giving me this Hammerlund which is not as intimidating. I do not recall the model of the HRO, but I will ask KH6ORS when next I see him.
If you are in the Great Lakes area, you can set up the water as a ground plane like we do here on peninsulas for field day. They get remarkable results using that method while waiting for the antenna riggers to get the long lines into the palm trees.
I hope you succeed in getting your dream rig. But, talk about an boatanchor...! It figures out to about $1/pound. How big is it and are we talking rack and all? Cannot imagine an 800 pound tranceiver...so I am going to hunt it down on the net and see what I can find. E-Bay sells a load of antique and newer tube Ham radios. Have you checked there (of course, you have!)?
I know about pains to tune. I also bestowed my old AVR on KH6ORS...yanked out of a WW2 boat or plane and sent to college with me years later. It had NO dial so I had to learn the position of the butterfly condenser to know where the stations were I wanted to hear. *sigh* The good old days...!
73
Marcia
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 33 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Sun, Apr 2, 2000 (22:40) * 18 lines
Not sure if I have ever seen an AVR receiver. One of the old radios
that I searched for was an ARC 5 receiver. It was about as basic
as they came and required the gain and bfo to be built into a press-
in accessory box. It ran off of 28 volts which powered a dynamotor.
These sets covered 190khz to 550khz, the am broadcast band, 160meters,
80 meters, and 40 meters with each set covering one range. These sets
were used in military aircraft (WWII vintage) - after the war, they
were perfect novice rigs. Back in the 'good old days', there were
whole city blocks of stores that sold ARC 5's, ART13's, BC348's
BC610's and tons (literally)of other military surplus radios for
pennies on the dollar. Of course, this was long before I got into
ham radio but I was able to find my set(s) at ham fests and word
of mouth. These sets are fun to operate and there is nothing like
firing up a 50+ year old radio and making a contact.
73 de AA9IL
Mike
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 34 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sun, Apr 2, 2000 (23:01) * 4 lines
This old AVR (I am sure of the initials but will check on the net for more info) had a long square bar on the lower left which was pushed in or yanked (Yup!)out in three steps to change from low to medium (am broadcast) to high band (that was how it was designated then)...and a bfo and volume and one tuning knob with 119 turns from pin to pin. I counted them one long night of listening with an old headset which just about covered my entire head. I could get the entire world on it and learned the fine art of dx-ing and keeping logs with it. I thought I had invented a new hobby Hi! It also had two antenna terminals on the front. They were push-in affairs which opened little holes into which you inserted the antenna wire. One for the lowest band (on which I never heard anything - ever!) and the other for the two upper bands. The first time I was handed my son's Sony digital SWR I thought it was a joke. But, he was my son and the grandson of my dad, so I knew it wasn't a joke. However, as you say, gim
e a solid old tube set and fire it up to make contact. That is still a thrill. I hate when a signal comes in poorly on a digital and there is nothing to tweak. Gotta have at least 10 knobs to fiddle with before I am happy!
73
Marcia
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 35 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sun, Apr 2, 2000 (23:04) * 2 lines
The AVR did not have a "case" as it ws built directly into the front panel of the aircraft (I am pretty sure they were used for aircraft). My dad took sheets of crinkle black finished metal and fabricated a box for it, drilled cooling holes in the lid (which I was instructed to leave ajar if I was to listen to it for any length of time) and holes for the various knobs and toggle switches.
Suddenly, I am overcome with nostalgia!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 36 of 122: Wolf (wolf) * Mon, Apr 3, 2000 (16:10) * 1 lines
hey, what's with all the numbers and stuff before your names? are those radio call signs? (like ham radio operators--or is that what we're talking about?)
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 37 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Apr 3, 2000 (18:08) * 4 lines
Do you mean 73's and 88's? 73 = best regards; 88 = Love and Kisses.
It is shorter when sending code to use those than spelling it all out.
Mike's call sign as a Amateur Radio Operator is AA6IL
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 38 of 122: Wolf (wolf) * Mon, Apr 3, 2000 (20:29) * 1 lines
yup, that's what i meant!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 39 of 122: terry (sprin5) * Wed, Apr 5, 2000 (06:17) * 1 lines
My callsign is ka6atn, the 6 means I got my ticket (license) in Calfornia, it doesn't mean I'm *from* California. I get that sometimes when I give my call around here (where there are 5 calls), "oh, what part of California are you from?"
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 40 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Apr 5, 2000 (15:23) * 1 lines
I wondered about that...but there are so many retired military out here with home calls that I was not surprised at yours.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 41 of 122: (sprin5) * Thu, Apr 6, 2000 (06:36) * 1 lines
Yeah, I can see a lot of Calif folks migrating to Hawaii.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 42 of 122: terry (sprin5) * Thu, Apr 6, 2000 (06:38) * 1 lines
with their 6 calls. What is the number designation for Hawaii?
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 43 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Apr 6, 2000 (16:28) * 5 lines
Usually 6. We are in Region 13 which for novice class = KH6 or WH6
Technician/general = KH6, NH6, or WH6; Advanced Class = AH6
Extra Class = AH6, KH6, NH6, or WH6
I note by your call that Mike (aka Cosmo) is AA6IL means he has an advanced class license. My information is a few years old so this might be a little different now. I also know those who retain their old call even though they qualify for advanced class and higher calls.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 44 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Apr 6, 2000 (16:37) * 1 lines
However, Looking through my log book for the local hams I know, there are N6, H6, WA6, K6, KB6 (military)WA6, KJ9U (a guy on Oahu), A6J (a guy down the street) and an occasional KA6. You would be right at home here with your call, Terry. I suspect those anololies are old calls which came to Hawaii with the retirees when they moved here. Btw, it is the young generation which leaves, like my son, to get a good job which pays a living wage.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 45 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (19:52) * 33 lines
Hi Marcia and gang
My old call from my novice days was KA5WOT which I kept even when
I passed my Advanced (in Texas during my college years...). When
I moved to Illinois, I passed the Extra and got AA9IL - now-a-days
people can request vanity call signs but AA9IL was luck of the
draw - I do have folks come up to me after hearing my call and
asking how did I manage to get that call while living in Illinois.
I joke that if I lived in Wisconsin, I would have to wait for AA9WI
for my new call.
Yea, its nothing like having lots of controls to mess with when
tuning in a station. The R390A has mechanical MHz and KHz tuning
knobs with a mechanical counter display. When you turn the knobs,
a bunch of gears and cams turn on the inside which move coil slugs
up and down and also tune the oscillator - mucho fun for the gear
heads....
I wish I could find a RACAL RA17 which is a UK boatanchor in league
with the R390A - it clocks in over 90lbs and has a unique tuning
system as well. The RCA AR88 was another big heavy receiver that
is quite rare here but would be fun to have to hold the table down.
These radios have which todays modern solid state boxes
just dont stack up to. I do like modern govt surplus surviellance
receivers though mainly because of their 'covert spook' heritage.
Something quite fun listening to VHF/UHF bands on a radio that
came out of a govt listening post.
BTW, just got back from a visit to Austin for a week of business/
vacation. It was nice to be home and even take in the Bob Marley
fest at auditorium shores which made me feel like I was in my
slacker days of old....
73 de AA9IL
Mike
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 46 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (20:01) * 3 lines
Can you even get good gov't surplus nowadays that does not have the guts all rearranged so you cannot hear the "good stuff"? I have heard enough interesting stuff with an old scanner in the middle of the night in the Los Angeles area. Overheard two guys planning the removal of many TRW files from the building nearby. I had no idea where it was at that time, but never heard anything about it later. I guess they do not announce these things if they can help it - or perhaps it has not yet been discovered...!
I am envious of your trip to Austin...*sigh*
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 47 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (23:32) * 28 lines
Hi Marcia and gang
You can find mil surplus radios quite often at the local ham
fests. In most instances, the gear is complete but sometimes
it is 'demil-ed' which means boards, EPROMS, CPU's, etc have
been removed or damaged. For the most modern radios, this
pretty much makes them inoperable and good luck finding any
documentation or even a company that will fess up to building
the set especially if it was made for the 'agency'.
Modern, exotic, surviellance receivers are available on the
surplus market but they can add up to several thousand dollars.
These sets were made by Watkins Johnson, Racal, Harris, etc.
Many times these sets are purchased surplus via govt auctions
or DRMO sales - these sets will probably increase in price
by a couple of hundred percent when they reach the surplus
dealers. Most of the sets I have are 60's and 70's era
hybrid radios that are manual tuning and comprise of tubes
and transistors. The frequency range covers 20-1000mhz
and some sets include a spectrum display to show a frequency
span around the center frequency. Neat stuff but the Icom
PCR1000 can do all the things the modern sets can do and
then some - plus they do not cost $20-$40000 new.
The 60's era sets are not too expensive and they still
fall into the boatanchor category.
73 de AA9IL
Mike
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 48 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (23:47) * 3 lines
Thanks, Mike. Really interesting. I would not be surprised if you would not find some interesting people calling on you if you did manage to get one of the top-of-the-line surveillance equipment into your ham shack. Even more likely if you had a tower in the back yard. Gotta hand it to our military. Only the best manufacturers will do - at our expense, of course!
I am all to aware of the gutted modern stuff out there. Worthless. Not even good for parts.
Wouldn't we all like an Icom 1000 under the tree this Christmas (or for Mother's Day, for that matter!) *wishful thinking sigh*
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 49 of 122: terry (sprin5) * Mon, Apr 24, 2000 (07:18) * 1 lines
Next weekend is Belton, Mike, are you going?
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 50 of 122: (sprin5) * Mon, Apr 24, 2000 (07:58) * 1 lines
And what should I be looking for in the way of classic gear?
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 51 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Apr 24, 2000 (13:55) * 1 lines
What is Belton? (or is it a Where?)
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 52 of 122: terry (sprin5) * Mon, Apr 24, 2000 (17:38) * 3 lines
It's a town North of Austin where they have a swap meet.
See http://www.repeater.org (our website) for details.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 53 of 122: Mike Kana (aa9il) * Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (20:57) * 25 lines
Greetings Marcia, Terry, et.al
Nope, was in Austin last weekend - if I could have only
scheduled my trip for this week then I could make Belton.
As far as gear goes, you cant go wrong if you find a
nice big rig like a National HRO, Hammarlund SP600, or
a Collins rig. R390A's are nice but, like classic Jaguars,
you either need to be very mechanical or know a guy
that did field depot repairs on them during their stint
in the military. Hallicrafters are nice rigs too, and more
common than the above and, for casual listening, are just
fine. Collins and Drake are good rigs but you will have
to either luck out and find a 51S1 which covers shortwave
and the ham bands or be ready to buy a bunch of crystals
since the rigs only cover a section of the band based on
what crystals are plugged in them.
Regarding the spook radios, I think my neighbors would be
a bit suspicious if I put up a tower with a bunch of log
periodic and discone antennas so the house would look
like an embassy listening post....
73 de Mike
AA9IL
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 54 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (21:07) * 1 lines
Oh yeah...you could get a few life-sized GI Joes armed at the four corners to make them truly paranoid...
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 55 of 122: ka6atn (sprin5) * Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (21:29) * 1 lines
Is the 51S1 a Drake or Collins? What Drake rig is the ultimate classic Drake?
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 56 of 122: Sparks (MarciaH) * Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (21:37) * 1 lines
OOoh, My faves, Drake!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 57 of 122: 77's and 88's (MarciaH) * Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (21:41) * 1 lines
Have any boat anchors, ka6atn?
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 58 of 122: 77's and 88's (MarciaH) * Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (21:43) * 1 lines
uh...Mike...we're really alright. We are just having attacks of Spring Fever...
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 59 of 122: terry (sprin5) * Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (21:48) * 1 lines
ATlas 210x and drop in base.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 60 of 122: 77's and 88's (MarciaH) * Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (22:33) * 1 lines
That'll suffice very nicely...
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 61 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (22:57) * 16 lines
The 51S1 is a Collins rig - they go from $600 up.... if you
can find one....
For Drake equipment, look for an R4C - it is a ham bands rig
but you can plug in different crystals to get other bands.
This is the same as the Collins S line. There is a neat
trick you can do with the Collins receiver with ham band
only crystals - the radio uses a preselector for peaking the
tuning - on some bands, if you tune the preselector at odd
places, you can hit the right image and listen to short wave
broadcast bands.
3's and 8's
de Mike
Radio Free Cosmo
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 62 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (23:12) * 6 lines
Back to sanity for my name...
Do you know how long-lived crystals are? I have some old scanners and the crystals which go with them. It has been absolute ages since they were used.
Hmmm...not familiar with the 3's but I am checking (book across the room)
*sigh* My Big Drake was stolen and it is through the kindness of KH6ORS, the Hammerlund replaces it - but this is a whole nuther kettle of fish.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 63 of 122: 73's & 88's (MarciaH) * Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (23:15) * 1 lines
Ok...where did I get the 77?! 73, of course...*head on keyboard*
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 64 of 122: 73's 'n' 88's (MarciaH) * Tue, Apr 25, 2000 (23:19) * 1 lines
I appreciate your subtlety, Mike. I might have left that up there for an embarrassingly long time...*sigh* See? I told you all Amateur Radiomen were Gentlemen! Every last one of them! *hugs* and Mahalo...
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 65 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Wed, Apr 26, 2000 (21:44) * 21 lines
-grin-
no problem....
Regarding crystals - they should age and possibly detune over
time - thats why radios that use crystals sometimes have a
small trimmer capacitor to tweek the xtal back on frequency.
Oy, I only have 3 more weeks of school then I'll have some
time to fire up the R390A for long periods of time to listen.
I need to fire up the SP600 too since its been dormant after
I got the '390. Although, spring is finally here up north
and Im gettin the hankerin to do some microwave contacts
across Lake Michigan. Too many interests in this hobby....
Plus, there are some ham fests coming up as well. Time
for more new junk....
3's and 8's
de Mike
AA9IL
Radio Cosmo International
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 66 of 122: 73's 'n' 88's (MarciaH) * Wed, Apr 26, 2000 (21:57) * 3 lines
That sounds great. I post the prop and dx reports weekly as arrl sends them to me let me know some time what freq's you use and I will try to hear you - even though you'd have to be up in the middle of your night - 1am your time before I could hear you (7pm our time)...but you are not in Texas, huh?! No matter how big they say it is, it is not big enough to see Lake Michigan from there!!!
3's 'n' 8's
Marci
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 67 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Wed, Apr 26, 2000 (22:42) * 24 lines
Actually Lake Michigan is just a bit north of Dallas (we Texans
call it the Red River, tho....)
WARNING! TX BS rising to dangerous levels! WARNING!
Anyway,...
If I am on HF, I would be found on 30 Meter CW around 10.115
to 10.125mhz or 20 Meter CW near 14.060Mhz. With the sun
spots coming along, there should be good DX conditions in the
early evening through the morning - plus you have to stay up
late after the East Coast goes to sleep or get up real early
when the west coast is asleep to work the exotic stuff.
Actually, Im looking forward to Amsat P3D which should provide
good DX windows to the Pacific when the satellite is parked
over there.
During the winter months, I hope to be running good old
AM on 75 meters with the rest of the Great Lakes crowd
around 3885khz.
3's n 8's
de Mike
AA9IL
Radio Free Cosmo
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 68 of 122: 73's 'n' 88's (MarciaH) * Thu, Apr 27, 2000 (12:51) * 3 lines
Not going to be able to determine much about you if you just use CW other than if yor ar QLF (which I seriously doubt. You should talk to Terry via CW to get his speed up enough to to upgrade to advanced. Ever do EME stuff?
How deep is the TX BS getting? And can one tell the difference between that and the normal TX stuff? Or the normal BS ?
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 69 of 122: terry (sprin5) * Thu, Apr 27, 2000 (13:31) * 1 lines
Bob called a bit ago, we're going to Belton on Saturday monring for the swap meet (see http://www.repeater.org) and we're taking my van so we can bring back a new antenna for our 442.15 repeater. I'll be on the lookout for classic gear.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 70 of 122: 73's 'n' 88's (MarciaH) * Thu, Apr 27, 2000 (16:19) * 1 lines
Sounds good, Terry! Say Aloha to Bob and get him posting again! We have repeaters all over the coasts and across the mountains on the islands. Line-of-sight is just about local only with these mountains. Have fun and remember stuff so you can tell us swap-meet deprived and we can dream.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 71 of 122: terry (sprin5) * Thu, Apr 27, 2000 (20:21) * 2 lines
Sure, I'll try and remember stuff.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 72 of 122: 73's 'n' 88's (MarciaH) * Thu, Apr 27, 2000 (20:27) * 1 lines
Happy Hunting!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 73 of 122: terry (sprin5) * Thu, Apr 27, 2000 (20:29) * 1 lines
thanks, I'll keep an eye out for bargains.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 74 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Thu, Apr 27, 2000 (22:56) * 28 lines
Hi Marcia and gang
TX BS is a special grade above just normal old BS
Regarding CW, you can tell quite a bit about a brass pounder
(or a bug twitcher as the case may be....) by their 'fist'
Of course, nothing beats good ol' AM - 100% modulated (plate,
naturally) out of some heavy iron....
For CW, I want to master the use of my Vibroplex Blue Racer bug
and get to the point where I can copy 35 - 40 wpm while drinking
coffee and playing poker like the Radiomen of old.
My regular key will be a an early 1900's era spark key that I
will be restoring - it has a firm feel to it although my
WWII era British Admiralty key has a distinct sound all of
its own.
Good luck at Belton and get some neat toys - I missed you and
Bob on the repeater when I was in Austin - maybe next time.
Also, Marcia, hope you can find a good swap fest on the Islands!
3's n 8's
de Mike AA9IL
Ah, to be monitoring the traffic on 500khz on a tramp freighter
off the Canary Islands....
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 75 of 122: 73's 'n' 88's (MarciaH) * Fri, Apr 28, 2000 (00:09) * 2 lines
Your oldie - is it a sideways contact or like my Dad's old brass key from when he was in college - looked like a stapler to me but nothing came out when I tried to staple something once in my callow youth (shh...don't think he knows.)
You wanna be one of those guys like the old farm wives who could churn milk with one foot, rock the cradle with the other and nurse a third while watching that supper did not scorch. Good reflexes and lots of practice is all it takes...!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 76 of 122: 73's 'n' 88's (MarciaH) * Fri, Apr 28, 2000 (00:11) * 4 lines
In can monitor traffic from under a palm tree and hear both the freighter and anything else I care to grab out of the air, propagation permitting!
3's and 8's
Marcia
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 77 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Sun, Apr 30, 2000 (22:43) * 21 lines
Hi Marcia
The bug is a semi automatic sideways key that generates dots
and manual dashes. The old spark key is the traditional
pump type key. I rescued the spark key at an antique
store on Portobello Road in London - the previous owner
'tried' to clean the key with a steel wool pad and pretty much
ruined it as a collectors item - I decided to clean up
the brass properly and buff out the scratches - when Im
finished, I will have a classic old key that looks good
and is functional as well. Then the key will once again
send signals into the airwaves.
Nothing beats sitting under a palm tree. I like the old
maritime radio op stuff - must have done that in a previous
life.....
3's n 8's
de AA9IL
Mike
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 78 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, May 1, 2000 (00:00) * 4 lines
In the evenings when the frangrance of the night blooming jasmine scents the air for miles and the breezes come down off of the heights of our twin 13,000-foot mountains, it is lovely, indeed. A tall cool one in the non-functioning hand and a brass pump key in the other on a sturdy table beside the boat anchor of your dreams...life can be sweet, indeed! My dad had a fine fist, indeed, and I miss old W2CWR on the air every morning at 6am to have a hal-hour sked with his college buddy W3RM. It kept them both up on their speed though they seldom used it with anyone else. My dad could read the crickets at night (or pretended to us that he could!)
3's n 8's
from Hilo
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 79 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, May 1, 2000 (02:04) * 13 lines
Aloha Mike,
You might have some really interesting DXing mid week due to the following:
It should make the propagation numbers rise dramatically! Look for Aurorae too.
Space Weather News for May 1, 2000
A coronal mass ejection (CME) from a small sunspot group was recorded
by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory on April 30, 2000. If
material from the eruption is heading toward Earth, as animations
of the CME suggest, then the shock wave will probably arrive
late on May 2nd or sometime on May 3rd. Forecasters estimate a
30% chance of active geomagnetic conditions at middle-latitudes
on May 3, 2000.
For more information, please visit http://www.spaceweather.com
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 80 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, May 1, 2000 (02:11) * 6 lines
I post this stuff daily in Geo conference - usually topic 24 - and in New conference topic 36. I don't like to post duplicates, but lots of people think reading stuff in Geo is gonna be deadly dull. Well, I'm not, and neither is it!
In fact, I have updating weather maps for all over the world in Geo 14, Earthquake maps which update, too, and solar image direct from NOAA
http://tvnight.org/yapp-bin/restricted/read/geo/24.41
In fact, there are very few conferences here I have not written in - just sometimes a little naughtier in some and more serious in others.
3's n 8's
Marci
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 81 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, May 1, 2000 (02:31) * 7 lines
Me again Mike. I created a new Geo topic just for Hams and those to whom solar propagation is important
http://tvnight.org/yapp-bin/restricted/read/Geo/33/new
Btw, anyone want me to post the Keplerian Data which I get from ARRL every so often?
3's n 8's
Marci who is going to bed!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 82 of 122: ka6atn (sprin5) * Mon, May 1, 2000 (08:51) * 1 lines
Sure, post it!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 83 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, May 1, 2000 (12:09) * 1 lines
Will do so when the next set arrives. I will post it in the DX topic unless someone perfers it elsewhere...?
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 84 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, May 1, 2000 (18:25) * 1 lines
The next set of Keplerian Data is due tomorrow, but I posted last week's in DX Information - Topic 32 of this conference. If you'd like it elsewhere or not at all, please let me know!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 85 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Mon, May 1, 2000 (22:05) * 22 lines
Hi Marcia
This is a bit of a stray from the boatanchor thread but another
interest of mine is in VLF, ELF, and down. There is an interesting
club called the LWCA (Long Wave Club of America) - there is a
'Sounds of Natural Radio' section which deals with sferics,
whistlers, dawn chorus, etc. There are some experimenters who
monitor the SLF frequencies for signals generated by Mother Earth
(earth quakes, the magnetosphere, etc...) This is much more
suited for the Geo section where I can move this thread to.
The only radio I have that goes down that low is a Watkins
Johnson set that tunes down to 6khz. Have never heard anything
down there except for Omega navigation. There is also FSK and
CW signals from the Navy which uses the low frequencies to transmit
to subs. I think there was once an ELF transmitter in Wisconsin
who's antenna covered lots of miles. There are man made signals from
1khz down to 1hz no doubt but you do not read about them in
the paper...
3's and 8's
de secret agent mike
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 86 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, May 1, 2000 (22:38) * 3 lines
Oooh! Great stuff, Mike! you can also hear distant lightning as it strikes the ground, with the right frequency terraphones. Love this thread and no one has discussed anything like it in Geo, though that is why I set up Geomagnetism (topic 27) wanna continue there? I'll paste these two posts there and continue.
3's n 8's
Marcia, who's delighted...
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 87 of 122: ka6atn (sprin5) * Tue, May 2, 2000 (07:24) * 1 lines
Great material. I'd never heard of long wave natural signals like this before. Fascinating.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 88 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, May 2, 2000 (12:58) * 1 lines
We're taking the conversation to Geo 27 when Mike can get online again (this evening, perhaps?!) That is what the GeoMagnetism is about when you asked me what it is. A whole topic full of good stuff awaits your perusal!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 89 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Tue, May 2, 2000 (22:16) * 9 lines
Greetings Marcia and all
Ok, moving the whistler stuff to Geo. We will now return to the
vintage radio hour, already in progress.....
3's n 8's
de Mike
AA9IL
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 90 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, May 2, 2000 (22:21) * 3 lines
*tweaking* *ooching fine tuning*
Thank heavens for old time radios one could look into and understand. Geo had her control file eradicated and I (and a magician behind the scenes)am trying to get my buttons back on and my wallpaper! Scary to have all of that programming disappear. (Spring was frozen for about 2 hrs)
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 91 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, May 2, 2000 (22:22) * 1 lines
*hugs* Mike! It is good to see you!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 92 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, May 3, 2000 (23:09) * 4 lines
Aloha Mike,
Reading over your posts, I neglected to follow up on your comment about marine ops. I have followed two kinds for years, the scanner CG channels. They berthed the QEII on channel 16 while I listened and stood 20 feet away from the dock edge. I also watched as a Russian freighter set out to sea. They hauled down the hammer and sickle and raised a hand-sewn new Russian flag and listened to them tell about it! It was the day of the revolution and they had gotten word of it. It was incredible! We cheered them on as they steamed away.
I have listened to my dad dx the marine operators along the Eastern Seaboard, too. My sisters and I used to hold our noses and say "Wilmington Marine Operator" just the way they did. I can still hear it inside my head. Are they still in operation? Or are you talking about Ham bands with which the ships converse at sea with home base? I am most interested in any of these transmissions. I listened to the two Coast Guard Cutters as they traversed the North Pole (am I remembering correctly - not sure where my log is right now!)
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 93 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Thu, May 4, 2000 (22:36) * 23 lines
Greetings and back to radio...
Regarding marine radio ops - these are the ops who handled
maritime traffic in the 600 meter band (500khz). There were
also shore stations which handled traffic with the ships
and also monitored the international distress frequency. On this
frequency, there were mandatory silent periods to listen for
distress signals. I have read in email posts that an interesting
exchange would take place between the shore stations and ships -
a radio op would send a single 'dit' where another op would respond
with a 'dit' - soon there were a flash flood of 'dits' which would
then disappear as quickly as it started. Those were the days of
the real radio men. Now-a-days, its all modern satellite stuff -
efficient but not very exciting. Although I completely missed
that era, I try to recreate it a little bit with the classic radio
collecting and operating.
3's and 8's
de AA9IL
Mike
dit dit.....
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 94 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, May 4, 2000 (22:38) * 4 lines
Aloha Mike,
How about generating your own lightning and amazing the kiddies on your block. Build a VandeGraf generator. They had a huge one in the British Museum of Science on Cromwell Road, and it made such a loud noise it scared my 14 yr old son until he discovered what it was. Then he wanted one of his very own. It would make a nice addition to your Foucault Pendulum and Spielhaus Space clock when you include the Tesla coil and other goodies you are planning. A room-sized orrery would be nice too. In the ceiling, of course. And, a good-sized telescope with a dome to house it in on the turreted third floor?! Sounds wonderful!
3's n 8's
Marcia
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 95 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, May 4, 2000 (22:45) * 1 lines
You slipped your comment about marine radio in under my fanciful thinking. You are still a little kid, then?! Is all marine ops other than the ones I mentioned done with cw? No wonder it went out of favor. I miss the person to person quailty of my early childhood (could ony hear it on vacation when we were at the shore.) You are close enough to the Great Lakes you should be able to pick up some marine voice traffic. There is still a lot out there but on the standard Ham bands or just outside of it as is the Aircrafe traffic over the Pacific. That is good listening, as well.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 96 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, May 4, 2000 (22:47) * 1 lines
Gotta get off the University computers and attend this banquet. People are beginning to read over my shoulder. Aloha, Mike - I'll be back tomorrow!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 97 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Fri, May 5, 2000 (22:27) * 26 lines
Hey Marcia
Better watch out for the shoulder surfers - great way to get
passwords though....
Regarding radio traffic on the great lakes - there is still
plenty of signls to be heard with all the shipping traffic.
An interesting magazine that has alot of coverage of vintage
gear is called 'Electric Radio' - there was even a story
the end the use of CW for marine radio traffic.
There is an email list called 'boatanchors' which has alot
of good exchanges about vintage radio operating. I have
been on this list since '94 or '95. There is also a neat
magazine I have been reading titled 'Great Lakes Cruiser'
which has plenty of history of all the shipping in the
Lakes as well as the ports and maritime lore.
Neat for us armchair sailors - maybe I can find an
ice breaker or light ship on the surplus market dirt
cheap....
3's and 8's
de Mike
AA9IL
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 98 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, May 6, 2000 (11:56) * 7 lines
Aloha Mike, (and all other owners of massive humidity-arcing big rigs of the wheel-less kind...)
Are any of those 'zines online? I really do not need another subscription, but it sounds fascinating. My cousin was a captain on the Great Lakes (and a gratuate of New York Maritime Academy)
Yup! Know about shoulder surfers - but thanks for the heads-up. They were mostly intrerested in what I was telling your about my experiences with Marine radio - but it is disconcerting and really rather rude...
Just what you need to go with your boat anchors - a real boat. Even the smallest of them will take up a huge amount of room in your back yard, or if you berth it, vast amounts of money while it deteriorates. However, I think your comment was more fanciful thinking than planning. It Would be fun to have one, though!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 99 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, May 6, 2000 (12:02) * 3 lines
...and when you get your ship, make sure the Radio Room is completely stocked with the good old glow in the dark tube type radios. Gotta keep Mike busy and Happy! Let us know what happens along these lines and how the Tesla coil is coming...*grinning eagerly*
3's n 8's
Me in Hilo
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 100 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Sat, May 6, 2000 (22:10) * 27 lines
Greetings Marcia and shoulder surfers
Well, the lightship is a bit fanciful thinking but I have had
ideas of parking a boat off shore from Chicago and doing a
pirate radio program in the tradition of Radio Caroline,
Radio Newyork International, etc.
As far as radio gear goes, most likely will have the latest
marine SSB stuff - probably SGC which also transmits on
the amateur bands as well. I guess for old times sake, I
could have a small boatanchor radio in the corner as
well - I would have to have a rather large ship to hold
the really big radios I would like to own - plus they
would have to be welded down so as to not tip over in the
high seas (or rough Lake Superior for that matter....)
The Tesla coil project is in queue for the moment, right
now, the primary projects is the assembly and integration
of some 2, 3, and 5 ghz transverters so I can do some
propagation studies over Lake Michigan - that way, I can
combine radio with a day trip to the local state beach
near Wisconsin.
3's n 8's
de AA9IL
Mike
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 101 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, May 6, 2000 (22:52) * 11 lines
Aloha Mike,
The shoulder surfers have backed off 1) they do not have a clue of what we are talking about and 2) they have noticed that they have been discovered and that it is considered rude by certain people who are the prime user of the surfed screen...*grin* Actually, one older guy was just looking as he had never seen anyone use a computer, let alone a woman, let alone one he things is a babe. What can I say?!
With Tesla technology can't you move your Nantucket Light Ship (midwest) to another place like Philadephia - or have you not read all about that? (betcha have!) Pirate radio... Yesssss!!!! Please email me or whatever when you get on the air. I love this stuff! (yesh, my email in here works)
Weld them down so confiscating them in raids will be more difficult! Make the FCC work for their money!
3's n 8's
M is sunny and balmy Hawaii
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 102 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, May 6, 2000 (22:55) * 1 lines
Man! Can tell I was in the sun all day at Baseball. Musta burnt my brain. Sorry for the mistypings!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 103 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Sun, May 7, 2000 (18:34) * 17 lines
It was hot here too - must be Summer...
When I was in college, you did not cruise the comp sci or engineering
building looking for babes - my, how things have changed.
The pirate radio gig is a bit aways - need to get a ship first.
Yep, have heard about the Philly Experiment - another topic to
add to Geo.
Well, gonna fire up the R390A for a while to burn the cobwebs
out. Might get to do some listening too once I get my silly
work finished.
3's n 8's
de Mike
Radio Free Cosmo
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 104 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sun, May 7, 2000 (18:49) * 3 lines
I think the Philly Experiment would fit nicely into the semi-lunatic fringe collection of Earth Mysteries, which is where the serious and taken seriously are discussed when they are not posted elsewhere... I still think we need a Sonic Earth or whatever. Would you like to create a topic which would encompass your ELF and SETI and other listening projects? Please?
3's n 8's
Marcia in HOT and sunny Hawaii - summer is definitely here!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 105 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Sun, May 7, 2000 (22:12) * 13 lines
Hi There
I guess I can put together something related for geo - like
natural radio signals or somesuch - not quite sure if SETI
would fit in there or if that is more of the science/physics
or radio territory. We could group the whole thing into geo
as well. Could try it there and see what the reaction is.
(If it was pure radio astronomy, I would place it in the
Astronomy or Radio section)
3's n 8's
de Mike
Radio Free Europa
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 106 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sun, May 7, 2000 (22:25) * 4 lines
There is no astronomy conference but I do have topic 24 which is Beyond Planet Earth where I post everything extra-terrestrial... You sure you don't want a topic which is inclussive - like Auditory Earth or something which implies the Earth is emitting radio waves which can be detected...
HAve at it - My conference is at your disposal and I am delighted you are interested! Eager, even!
3's n 8's
Marcia the eager host in Geo
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 107 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Mon, May 8, 2000 (20:06) * 7 lines
Ok, hows this for a topic name: "Gaia Magnetosphere"
Kinda tribal rave-y with scientific overtones....
3's n 8's
Mike
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 108 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, May 8, 2000 (20:47) * 3 lines
Love it - and it looks wonderful. I considered naming the entire conference Gaia, but thought it would be misunderstood. Welcome to Geo, Mike!
*Hugs* of appreciation!
M
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 109 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, May 17, 2000 (16:36) * 11 lines
Gentlemen, how high does this Solar Flux Index go? It bgan the week below 130!
SFI=262 up from 259 | A=21 up from 16 | K=2 at 2100 on 17 May. SAF: moderate, GMF: quiet to active, Aurora Level: 4
More: http://hfradio.org/propagation.html
3's n 8's
Marci
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 110 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, May 18, 2000 (00:34) * 3 lines
Putting this in here - if it updates, it goes in Geo 35 for mike
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 111 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, Jun 3, 2000 (20:07) * 1 lines
Nope, didn't ! Did not think it would considering what it is showing...*sigh*
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 112 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Tue, Jun 6, 2000 (21:00) * 51 lines
Regarding Silly Americans and Heavy UK radios
Just got back from holiday across the pond. Aside from
jet lag, I did manage to get a new boatanchor in the mail....
(currently gathering dust in some customs house...)
It all started after a night of fierce dancing at the Wag Club
near Picadilly Circus in London. Lots of cool old 60's Motown
and garage bands mixed into a phat and funky beat until 2:30am.
6:30am.... Oy - I get up and plod through cold and rainy streets
to the tube stop for the ride to Liverpool station. The station
is pretty empty with the exception of some clubbers making their
way home - got on the Great Eastern Line and made my way to
Ipswich for a radio rally/car boot sale. I was too wired to
sleep so I contented myself to watch the damp country side roll
by. It was still pissing rain when I was close to my destination
and I heard over my 2 meter radio that the boot sale was canceled
but the rally would still go on with a smaller bring and buy sale
inside. I put out a call for my friend Sam G4DDK to let him know
I had made the journey so he could pick me up and give me a ride
to the rally.
Ham fests and radio rallies are kind of neat since you dont really
know what kind of goodies are going to show up. Although this was
a subset of the planned sale, there was still some interesting items
for sale - saw an old ARC 5 receiver, a nice TCS6 receiver, and
a 'Tail End Charley' test set (whatever that was...). I snatched
up a 70's era Racal Squadcal military backpack radio. Of course,
the prize of the trip was a Racal RA17 hf shortwave receiver in
storage at Sam's QTH. After a nice visit, a drive by the BT
research facility, and a viewing of Bawdsey Manor (airbourne radar
R&D during WWII), the RA17 and me were dropped off at the
Ipswich train station for the trip back to London. Now, comes
the fun part - lugging back a 44 kilo (67 pound) tube radio. Lucky
for me I brought along a luggage cart which simplified things
somewhat but it was still a challenge hauling the #&%!@ heavy
beast up and down stairs in the various tube stations. Finally,
after a long train ride, multiple tube transfers and a half a mile
walk back to the hotel, the death march mercifully ended.
The radio was hooked up to the mains and fired up - it came to life
and I listened to some shortwave for a few minutes. The RA 17
is a classic tube set that uses a unique tuning system. (subject
of another post) Of course, its big and heavy and has lots of
knobs to fiddle with. I called up the shipping company to arrange
pickup, fainted from the sticker shock, and bid my new toy farewell
for its journey across the sea. When I see the big wooden crate
at the front door, the R390A and SP600 will have to move over a
bit for the new boat anchor.
73 de AA9IL
Mike
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 113 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Jun 6, 2000 (21:25) * 4 lines
Oh Mike! If it had been anyone but you, I'd be envious out of my mind about your trip across the pond to the Sceptered Isle. How amazing that your Boat Anchor fired up straight away - and without a lot of snapping and zapping as the humidity is driven out of the contacts. So, a ruptured disk later and possibly a hernia as well, wans't it worth it?! Good Business! What have you discovered about the rest of the goodies you got?
3's and 8's
Marcia
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 114 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Jun 6, 2000 (21:26) * 1 lines
Been at this too long today.......make that Fine Business and I am going back to Geo....*sigh*
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 115 of 122: terry (sprin5) * Wed, Jun 7, 2000 (10:08) * 1 lines
I'm looking forward to hearing about this "unique tuning". Great scores, Mike!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 116 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Wed, Jun 7, 2000 (21:32) * 26 lines
Hi All
Ok, rather than me make up some stuff, here is the description from
"ShortWave Receivers Past & Present" Second Edition by Fred Osterman:
Racal RA17 description p 259
"Ranges: 1-2, 2-4, 4-8, 8-16, and 16-30Mhz. The left tuning knob is
for khz and the right tuning knob is for Mhz. The kHz dial is a 6 foot
35mm film scale yielding very high accuracy (+/- 1khz). Stability
improved in later production. First communications receiver to use the
famous Barlow-Wadly loop drift cancelling system. Heavy duty cast
aluminum chassis. Light battleship gray."
I will have to dig around the RA17 web sights for more detailed info.
I do have a jpeg of the monster that can be added to this thread
- is it a matter of copying and 'dropping' into the response box?
A little bit more detail on the tuning - you set the MHZ knob to
the desired range, then peak a preselector for max noise. The
khz tape move across a window to indicate frequency - this type
of tuning readout is similar to some of the Watkins Johnson
receivers I have that use a film tape for frequency display.
Last check on the tracking number is that the radio has not
left the UK so my guess is its still gathering dust in some
customs warehouse. Kind of reminds me of the government warehouse
seen at the end of "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
73 de Mike
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 117 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Fri, Jun 9, 2000 (22:06) * 8 lines
Its Here! Its Here!
67 pounds of hunka-hunka radio. What a boatanchor.
Tomorrow, the conversion from 220v to 110v then
fire it up. Details to follow.....
73 de AA9IL
Mike and the Racal RA-17L
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 118 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, Jun 10, 2000 (00:26) * 1 lines
Awesome, Mike!!! Light that sucker and listen for Aurora even if you can't see it....lotsa noise, as I recall!
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 119 of 122: _cosmo_ (aa9il) * Thu, Oct 26, 2000 (21:06) * 10 lines
Hot Dawg!
Two radios away in the queue before I can send the R390A in
for full factory restoration. Next come the RA17 and SP600.
Three tube radios will keep the room warm during winter.
(3 tube radio night....)
73 de AA9IL
Mike
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 120 of 122: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Oct 26, 2000 (22:00) * 1 lines
*sigh* there goes the 700MHz computer...
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 121 of 122: Harry Joel (Bavarian29) * Sat, Oct 19, 2002 (22:07) * 1 lines
Hello , I just purchased a National HRO-50T1 (Table Top) that looks nearly new but I an sure that a little tune-up and replacing weak tubes would make it better than it already is. I use it mostly for short wave DX-ing (sniffing out rare stations). I would like to find another HRO-50 owner to compare notes.
Topic 30 of 53 [radio]: Classic Amateur Radio Gear
Response 122 of 122: KA6ATN Paul (terry) * Thu, Aug 26, 2004 (08:16) * 3 lines
http://www.camuw.demon.co.uk/web_site/g3ynh/Racal/ra17.html
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