[ADXA] w/New Xtal

Fri Dec 22 21:54:48 EST 2023

Yeah, I did that when I was xtal controlled as a Novice and very new
General - used Comet to raise the frequency and rubbed solder or pencil
graphite to lower it.  The graphite wasn't very stable.  Strangely enough,
I did a bunch of this 2 or 3 years ago.  A friend got a big load of
crystals that were above and below the 40 meter range and I had fun playing
with them.  I used Bar Keepers Friend to raise them, and I don't remember
what I used to lower, but I know there was some experimentation involved.
I also adapted some tiny crystals to FT-243 holders.  Most of them worked
OK.  These were the cheap crystals you can buy on ebay for the little
Chinese QRP rigs.  I figured they would fracture but the 2NT seems to work
with them OK.  Of course, this isn't something I spend hours and hours on
the air with, though..

Dennis

On Fri, Dec 22, 2023 at 5:45 PM Stan Stockton <wa5rtg at gmail.com> wrote:

> How many of you did this.  I had sone crystals that were either not in the
> novice band or I didn’t like the frequency.  I would take them apart use
> just a little comet and rub them on a piece of glass, reassemble to see
> where the frequency was and do it again if needed.  Probably ruined 1 out
> of 3 doing that.
>
> Stan, K5GO
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Dec 22, 2023, at 5:08 PM, Jay Bromley <jayw5jay at cox.net> wrote:
>
> 
>
> HI Guys,
>
> When I was working, the holidays is when I did my QSL and log upkeep.  I
> remember spending a lot of time doing that during Thanksgiving and
> Christmas holidays!  Yesterday, I checked LOTW for my last application and
> it was done.  I sent my stats to Pat.
>
>
>
> Then asked Kathy WQ5T to check her log and do the same.  I knew she was
> getting close to DXCC on 80m, right behind Mr Dennis Tune W5DM.  So Kathy
> now has WAS and DXCC on 80m through 10m.  She has been a slacker this year
> as she is on fire for CW and taking every CW class she can via zoom.  Even
> getting her to make a few of those on the air contacts via that mode.  Very
> proud of her and Dennis!
>
>
>
> Today on DXLabs did a sync with LOTW to compare logs.  Kathy had a lot
> more work to do so I let the computer do the work or updating any
> discrepancies.
>
>
>
> My log is bigger so I tend to do these manually as I don’t want my
> computer tied up so long.  Kathy it only takes a few minutes, where my log
> takes overnight.
>
>
>
> We are now done for the year and it only took a few hours of time!  I look
> back fondly on the old days, but glad we can do so much in a very short
> time frame.
>
>
>
> Yea I got many new crystals in this week and the last one just now, hi.
> It has been a great week so far!
>
>
>
> Happy Holidays very one! 73 de jay/w5jay..
>
>
>
> P.S.  I still have the mint condition Icom 7610 for sale if anyone is
> interested.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> *On
> Behalf Of *Dennis Schaefer
> *Sent:* Friday, December 22, 2023 3:35 PM
> *To:* w5znjoel at gmail.com
> *Cc:* adxa at mailman.qth.net
> *Subject:* Re: [ADXA] w/New Xtal
>
>
>
> 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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