I've been an Amateur Radio license holder since 1968. My Station has evolved over the years. But major Station hardware has stabilized somewhat recently.
Mostly because I'm retired and "living on a fixed income". But, if I'm honest, I have pretty much everything I need. Now, want is a different beast!
For some reason I consider myself an "Icom person". I like the user interface, the menu system, the equipment capabilities, and the performance. So my station lineup is Icom-centric.
Currently my station includes:
Icom IC-7610 HF-6 meter transceiver
Icom IC-7300 HF-6 meter transceiver
Icom IC-746 HF-6 meter+2meter transceiver
Icom IC-735 HF transceiver
Icom ID-4100 VHF/UHF D-Star transceiver
Icom ID-52 handheld VHF/UHF D-Star transceiver
Icom ID-51 handheld VHF/UHF D-Star transceiver
Kenwood DM-700 VHF/UHF Packet transceiver
Heathkit SB-201 HF Linear Amplifier
Heathkit SB-221 HF Linear Amplifier
W0LED is my Amateur Radio station callsign. The FCC-issued license I earned several years ago (Amateur Extra Class) is a station license as opposed to an operator license. Confusing?
I have a few older radios that I am restoring. I'm drawn to Heathkit rigs and I have a DX-40 and two AT-1s.
The DX-40 is in good overall condition but I will be re-capping it soon to improve it's electric performance. The DX-40, intended as a Novice-class transmitter, has quartz crystal frequency control. After upgrading to a General class license the operator could use a VFO (Variable Frequency Oscillator) which allowed much greater flexibility in transmitter output frequency.
I also have the matching Heathkit VFO. (I can't recall the number -- maybe VF-1?) It needs some TLC.
The AT-1s need a little work before they are ready to put on the air. They will both need re-capping, one needs a crystal socket and a variable capacitor. Initially I'll scavenge a few parts from one to make the other operational quicker.
Files coming soon.
I've been trying to make some progress in cleaning up this website, adding some features and scrapping others.
I want the general theme of this blog to be my Amateur Radio activities: operating, kit building, radio hints and kinks, radio restoration, station changes and updates, and so on. I can't guarantee I won't slip in a few bits of personal philosophy or rants based on my notions of good and bad and right and wrong.
Copyright © 2022, 2023. Clay Bartholow. All Rights Reserved.
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