New Technology Meets Old Technology!

Who would have thought a 65-year-old radio could do FT-8?


This is like Pacino and DeNiro having kids past their 70's! (It has to be in the Italian genes!)


FT-8 with a Collins KWM-1 S/N 954

One has to ask if Gene Senti (Father of the KWM-1) was Italian?

73's
Pete N6QW

Popular posts from this blog

Keeping Things Simple. Update 11-01-2023. Back to the 6BA6 Radio

Image
How About Building Something (HABS)?   Update 11-01-2023. The 6BA6 Parts Arrived Some of the parts included a panel meter that ranged from 0 to 30 ma and 2.5 Mhy RF Chokes. Back in the day you could fund these items in any decent electronics store but no more.  The meter was selected because the idle current on the 6BA6 will be about 3ma and at two watts the current should peak to 18ma. (about 2/3 scale). The panel cutout will present some challlenges but with the CNC short work. Pete N6QW Update 10-23-2023. It is indeed shirt pocket size. About two watts out and 60 kHz coverage on 20M.   My daughter took this photo and she asked who else has built a rig this size (mine is 16 cubic inches). I know of three including ZL2BMI and VK3HN and I think a DL station. Likely there are more but if you know of others please email me at my QRZ email address.  Of note this was built in 2011 so soon to be a teenager.  73's Pete N6QW  Update 10-22-2023. Some Clean up! I installed a 1pF NPO SMD cap
Read more

Update 12-31 2023 Rounding Out the Year

Image
Update 12-31-2023. The last day of 2023. What better way to finish the year than to think about older boat anchors and how they can be rejuvenated to work on today's bands. Spending a better part of each day at the hospital where the only TV service is standard TV with the stupid quiz shows and of course HGTV, you basically go nuts. Quite often the OL is asleep and so not much to do but think about how to replace the drifting and non-linear Analog VFO's in boat anchor radios. No time to build stuff but lots of thinking time. One of my favorite radios is the Hallicrafters SR-160 (right along with the SR-150 which I don't have). But it suffers from a drifting  and NON-Linear VFO.    Based on my success with the Triton II, I asked why can't we do the same with the SR-160 (or National NCX-3 or even a SWAN 240). Well I think it can be done!   The SR-160 used the old trick of a higher frequency VFO @ 9 MHz with a 5.2  MHz IF. Subtract the IF from the VFO and you get 75/80M LS
Read more

Ham Radio didn't start with an Appliance Box. Real Hams Build their Rigs! Update 5-13-2023 (XYL is in Hospital)

Image
Ham Radio used to be synonymous  with home constructed radios! This Project will soon be winding down! Listen to N6QW and his daughter Gina, discuss the music business. An easy listen and an opportunity to hear Pete discuss a subject outside of ham radio. Yes, he is a genius! https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/Giy1JZWD7xb Update 5-13-2023. XYL in Hospital No work being done on the 10M SSB right now as I spend a majority of my time at the Healthcare facilities attending to the care of the XYL. Last night well into the early morning hours I was at the local ER with the wifey. I only regret that I didn't wear my beret as I found that to be the #1 Chick Magnet.  But there are some interesting tools to be found in the ER like the no touch thermometer. Then of course there is this jewel. A unique Urine collection system! This is the equivalent to having a vacuum pump placed between the holidays with deference to the YL who named one leg Christmas and the other New Year. It may be a bit
Read more