Thanks for the information, Bill! I have accumulated multiple early era rigs. I just finished recapping and aligning a Heath kit HW 16 yesterday. Definitely doesn’t compare to modern radios but still a lot of good memories. I’ll probably go Crystal controlled on 40 meters. Of course one difference nowadays is I will be transmitting on a two element beam at 150 feet.

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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Bill Priakos via ADXA <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2025 2:16:15 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [ADXA] Classic Exchange Winter-Spring CW 2025

Years ago in the 70’s, dear friend, W5JM, Tom (SK) and I discussed the Classic Exchange – I was intrigued but only had one “older” radio, my Johnson Viking Ranger, that would qualify. He was intrigued, as well, and started buying old gear from the “yellow sheets” (remember those, old timers?) ….and buying…and buying and buying ….. and making sure they worked. By the time the event came around, he had twenty five or so combinations of older transmitters and receivers, some dating back to the 30’s. His challenge was to get them working and “pair them up”. My challenge was to operate them for the required 3 QSO’s each and then…..MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PAIR TOM HAD SET UP AND READY. We did that three years in a row and scored records for the “CX” that I don’t think have ever been eclipsed. It was great fun using these old classics! I will have a few of mine own for this event – Viking II, Viking Adventurer, Heath AT-1, and R L Drake C twins - on for this event…join us for some “bug” fun!

See below….

73! Bill

Bill Priakos - W5SJ

10 Free Ferry Heights

Fort Smith, AR 72903

479.461.8368

Classic Exchange CW

The Winter/Spring 2025 Classic Exchange CW is set for Sunday Mar 30 1300Z to Mar 31 0700Z and Tuesday Apr 1 1300Z to Apr 2 0700Z.

The CX is a no-pressure contest celebrating the older commercial and Home Brew equipment that was the pride and joy of ham shacks many decades ago. The object is to encourage restoration, operation and enjoyment of this older Classic equipment. You need not operate a Classic rig to participate in the CX. You may use any rig in the contest although new gear is a distinct scoring disadvantage as your multipliers are directly related to the age of the equipment you use! However, you can still work the "great ones" with modern equipment.

There are two (2) entry categories per mode:
►Three or fewer receiver-transmitter pairs
►Four or more receiver-transmitter pairs.

There will be CX recognition for high scores in Phone and CW as well as overall.

Classic Exchange Spotting Page: http://qsopartyhub.com/classic-exchange-spots.php

Suggested CX Frequencies Khz (+/- QRM)

CW 160M 80M         40M 20M         15M 10M         6M         2M
          1.810 3.545      7.045 14.045 21.045 28.045 50.095 144.100
               And
               7.100-7.125

New: 7.100 to 7.125 Mc to avoid contest congestion!

Listen up and down 5 to 10 Kc for crystal controlled stations

Bonus Points: Homebrew radios! The age is when the design was published. If a non-published design, then the actual age built. 500 points per radio; max bonus points is 1500. Transceivers score as separate receivers and transmitters of equal age; in other words, age times 2. To qualify to be counted in the CX Multiplier, each piece of equipment must be used in a minimum of 3 complete QSOs for the claimed mode.

Full details at: http://classicexchange.org/announcments/CX_Rules.pdf

Questions? [email protected]

Or contact me!
73, Howie WB2AWQ/7
[email protected]