[ADXA] w/New Xtal

[Dennis Schaefer]

I started in 1963 with a Knight T-60 that I assembled.  The receiver was a
Hallicrafters S-108.  My crystals were 7.161 and 7.191.  Late one night, I
was on 40 and someone knocked on the back door.  It was an inactive ham who
still listened  and he was bringing me two crystals to use for 15 meters.
I never worked any DX but it was fun working the coasts with good signals.
After 6 months as a Novice, I passed my General and bought a crystal that
worked on 14.036.  It doubled from 7.018, so I could go down in the General
band on 40.  I still had the T-60.  I worked my first 36 countries on that
one crystal!

Like Bill, I have two Drake 2-B receivers and also a 2-NT transmitter.  I
occasionally fire it up with for Novice Rig Night.  I don’t have a VFO -
just use crystals, but I have a bunch more than in the old days.  I also
occasionally listen to the Collins 75S1.  I told my wife to stop me if I
ever mentioned getting another Hallicrafters.  There are a few exceptions,
but the several I have had were bad.  Really bad.  I’ve never had a
National or Hammarlund, though……..

73,
Dennis/RZ - back in 5-land after a great time in the Branson area with kids
and grandkids.

On Fri, Dec 22, 2023 at 7:58 AM <w5znjoel at gmail.com> wrote:

> Greetings ADXA Folks,
>
>
>
> Every morning since long, long ago Jon, AA1K, is on 1820.6 KHz every
> morning calling CQ. The objective is to check DX propagation. Many of us
> listen to see what Jon’s trolling may attract as he has an amazing 160
> meter station at his Delaware QTH. Yesterday morning Jon was calling CQ on
> 1817.6 and we all assumed he had simply misread his dial but that was not
> the case. Jon moved a bit that morning because he had a birdie show up on
> 20.6.
>
>
>
> That prompted my buddy Dave, W0FLS, in Iowa to spot Jon on the DX cluster
> with the comment “w/new xtal” !! Several of us had a nice early morning
> chuckle out of that. Now, you old dog hams that remember the crystal
> controlled transmitter days know what that meant, and it got me to thinking
> about upgrading your station, something we discuss quite frequently within
> ADXA.
>
>
>
> Back in the “old days” buying a new crystal (xtal) or picking one up from
> a generous Elmer was a station upgrade! It provided flexibility and options
> for you; it gave you an all time new frequency to transmit on. Station
> upgrades are much more challenging today. Rigs are sophisticated,
> controlled by software, and just working through the menu structure can
> make you go cross-eyed. Spectrum pollution from consumer devices creates a
> significant challenge to receiving weak signals and a lack of interest in
> moving beyond an appliance operator by some people with an amateur license
> can wreak havoc on the bands.
>
>
>
> As we enjoy a time with family and friends over this Christmas celebration
> weekend and move into next week thinking about the new year and what our
> objectives in 2024 will be, review your station “to do” list and set target
> dates to complete the list items. We’ve had a lot of new ones on the air
> the past three months so while you’re updating your station to-do list also
> update your DXCC need list.
>
>
>
> Life is grand, amateur radio is great so get a new xtal and ‘GET IN THERE
> AND WORK ‘EM !!!”
>
>
>
> 73 Joel W5ZN
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