[ADXA] Fwd: w/New Xtal

Mon Dec 25 12:06:42 EST 2023

Most of my operating as a Novice was on 80 and 40M.  I had one XTAL for 80 and two for 40M.  My elmer, Hank, K5APA, helped (did all the thinking!) me build a 6AG7/807 rig that did about 15W.  I had a shorting wire with an alligator clip to short out part of the L in the Pi output network.  I eventually tinkered with it enough to get on 15M.  It was QRP I’m sure but seemed to work well.  I also tried the tooth paste powder and lead pencil procedure to move XTALs.  One other Elmer, Luther, W5TLC, gave me a couple of 40M XTALs.  I was able to move one into the Novice band but killed the other one.  I got my General in January, 65, and ordered a used Heath VF1.  My parents had given me a Vibroplex “Original” Bug for Christmas so I went from XTAL controlled with a straight key to a VFO and Bug…..big upgrade!  The 807 rig was replaced by a DX-40 (QRO) at some point in the progression. 

I’ve managed to work VU4N on 40 and 30M FT8.  On forty yesterday I found that he couldn’t hear me until I was receiving him at -10 S/N ( all relative…my background noise, etc) or better.  I also noticed he would call twice with a sig report when he decoded someone.  Then he would reply to another (new) station with a sig report.  I just kept on calling with my R -10 report for about five cycles and he finally sent a RR73.  I think he was trying to keep a queue of folks he was copying to fill in for cycles when he didn’t decode anyone new.  Saw the same sequence with several US stations. I was running 1499W to my SteppIR DB18E with 2 folded elements on 40…about like a Shorty Forty. Between his noise and my noise I don’t think we would have ever completed on CW.   North Northwest is uphill for a bit and not my best takeoff.  Dennis, RZ, I don’t think I could have made it with your 2.7W and 48” radiator!

73 and Merry Christmas

Pat, W5VY/WN5KAK

From: adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Nick Kennedy
Sent: Sunday, December 24, 2023 8:17 PM
To: ADXA <adxa at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [ADXA] Fwd: w/New Xtal

OK, I made the old mistake of hitting ‘reply’ instead of replying to ADXA. So Dennis gets two copies.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Nick Kennedy <kennnick at gmail.com <mailto:kennnick at gmail.com> >
Date: Sun, Dec 24, 2023 at 8:15 PM
Subject: Re: [ADXA] w/New Xtal
To: Dennis Schaefer <dennisw5rz at gmail.com <mailto:dennisw5rz at gmail.com> >

I guess I gotta get in on this crystal business. I had two crystals for my novice TX - a one-tube circuit built by my Elmer from the ‘57 Handbook. One crystal was on 3737 - sounds reasonable, but the 40 meter one was marked 7040 which had been scratched out and ‘7152’ scratched over that. So someone had done the scouring powder trick and theoretically I was just barely within the novice band.  I’m just not sure how anyone could measure to within 2 kHz accuracy back then.

This summer (fall?) I bought a Johnson Adventurer at Mena. I’ve made a few QSOs chirping away with my crystals. I’ll probably put it on the air on SKN, which is New Year’s Eve and day and often features classic rigs.

73

Nick, WA5BDU

On Fri, Dec 22, 2023 at 8:55 PM Dennis Schaefer <dennisw5rz at gmail.com <mailto:dennisw5rz at gmail.com> > wrote:

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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net>  <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> > On Behalf Of Dennis Schaefer
Sent: Friday, December 22, 2023 3:35 PM
To: w5znjoel at gmail.com <mailto:w5znjoel at gmail.com> 
Cc: adxa at mailman.qth.net <mailto: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 <mailto: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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