[ADXA] w/New Xtal
Trent Fleming
trent.fleming at gmail.com
Thu Dec 28 17:14:24 EST 2023
I too suffer from college gridiron fever.
Even when Hogs aren't playing.
73 and HNY!
Trent
N4DTF
On Thu, Dec 28, 2023 at 1:36 PM <w5znjoel at gmail.com> wrote:
> QSL Bill !!!!!!
>
>
>
> My issue with SKN is I’m a big football fanatic, regardless of who is
> playing, so New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are consumed with grid iron
> action !!!!!! 😊
>
>
>
> Unless, of course, P5 comes on the air then Arkansas could be playing in a
> national championship and I couldn’t care less………….I’ll watch the replay!!!
>
>
>
> As Clint Eastwood says, “A man’s got to know his limitations!”
>
>
>
> Happy New Year to All
>
>
>
> 73 Joel W5ZN
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Bill Priakos <bill at priakos.com>
> *Sent:* Thursday, December 28, 2023 11:05 AM
> *To:* w5znjoel at gmail.com; adxa at mailman.qth.net
> *Subject:* w/New Xtal
>
>
>
> Great comments, Joel. You are ALSO ready for SKN – I have *four rigs
> ready for SKN* BUT we will be in Southlake, TX with the kids and grands
> for “Texas Christmas”. Maybe next year.
>
>
>
> 73, all!
>
>
>
> *Bill Priakos – W5SJ*
>
> *10 Free Ferry Heights*
>
> *Fort Smith, AR 72903*
>
> *479.461.8368*
>
>
>
> *From:* adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> *On
> Behalf Of *w5znjoel at gmail.com
> *Sent:* Thursday, December 28, 2023 9:51 AM
> *To:* adxa at mailman.qth.net
> *Subject:* Re: [ADXA] Fwd: w/New Xtal
>
>
>
> I know everyone is not interested in reading the comments to my original
> post, but I greatly enjoyed the memories!! Tnx everyone.
>
>
>
> In fact, yesterday it prompted me to repair a little issue that popped up
> with my DX-60B xmtr I had as a Novice. I had three crystals, one each for
> 80, 40, and 15 meters. I don’t know what became of the 80 and 15 meter
> xtals but still have the 40 meter. In 1972 the Novice band was 7100-7150
> KHz so I figured 7125, right in the middle, would be good especially since
> the receivers in those days could hear pretty much everything plus/minus 5
> KHz !!.
>
>
>
> Anyway, the DX-60B is back in action along with the DX40 and 2NT so I’m
> ready for the Novice Rig Roundup beginning March 2.
>
>
>
> 73 Joel W5ZN
>
> NRR # 981
>
> WN5IGF 1972
>
>
>
> *From:* adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> *On
> Behalf Of *patw5vy at gmail.com
> *Sent:* Monday, December 25, 2023 11:07 AM
> *To:* 'Nick Kennedy' <kennnick at gmail.com>; 'ADXA' <adxa at mailman.qth.net>
> *Subject:* Re: [ADXA] Fwd: w/New Xtal
>
>
>
> 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>
> Date: Sun, Dec 24, 2023 at 8:15 PM
> Subject: Re: [ADXA] w/New Xtal
> To: Dennis Schaefer <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>
> 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> 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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--
Trent Fleming
My blog on banking topics:
www.bankinginsights.blogspot.com
My web site
www.trentfleming.com
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