[Boatanchors] "The Rollins Rocket" Lives!

[Ed Swynar]

Good Afternoon All,

Well, it pleases me to no end in announcing that my 1923-style push-pull 2 x 211/203A Colpitts oscillator-transmitter "The Rollins Rocket" is finished --- at long last! --- and is now ready for its on-the-air "...shakedown cruise"...!

I put out a brief test carrier this afternoon, just to confirm that all is well...it's chomping at the bit, a-rarin' to go...

Listen for me this evening --- and all this week, for that matter (time here permitting) --- on, or about, the frequency of 3550-KHz (+/- QRM)...please be advised that I'm limited to just some 60-watts' of input (about 20-watts output), due to the poor condition of the tubes I'm using (LESS than a hop, skip, & a jump away from "...display case" category! Hi), and the limited voltage that I'm putting on the plates. 

My antenna is a corner-fed full-wave loop (in a vertical plain), & I'll be listening for you guys to-night on my venerable old Heathkit SB-301 receiver...

I'll call "CQ AWA" in hopes of generating some action...to you uninitiated (and shame on you!), "AWA" stands for the "Antique Wireless Association", stalwart champions of the annual "Bruce Kelley Memorial 1929 QSO Party", amongst many other wonderful things pertaining to radio's heritage (SHAMELESS  PLUG DEPARTMENT: this year's running of the '29 QSO Party is December 2-3, and again on December 9-10, starting at 2300 UTC, and finishing at 2300 UTC for both periods...remember, you heard it here first!).

I've christened my rig with the name "The Rollins Rocket", in deference to JOHN  ROLLINS  (W1FPZ), perennial & tireless organizer of this fun event. John has been, by times, absolutely the SOLE participant using a Colpitts --- out of respect for his work & track record in this regard, I thought I'd give him a bit of notoriety with my small project in 2005...I hope when/if you fellows might hear the thing, you'll agree that it was well worth the effort...

So...QRX...QRZ AWA...? 

de  Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ~73!~