[Elecraft] Mojo

Mon Jan 27 11:19:01 2003

You got it! 

I think that most of us who feel that we need to tinker with radios must
have some sort of experience like that in my background. 

I like your quote about being a "fool" too! I heard a line in a play
that stuck with me, "A Wise man is just someone who has had the guts to
ask all the foolish questions." 

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin B. G. Luxford [mailto:[email protected]] 
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2003 3:42 AM
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Mojo

Ron,
Thanks for your very full answer complete with several examples.

I too have experienced it when newly licensed (VK6UI) in Perth, Western
Australia around 1979.  I used to work on my glowbug CW xmitter at night
and listen to a couple of old night owls on 2 mx.  At 3 am I broke in,
much to their amazement that some other insomniac fool was on the band
at that hour.  They asked me what I was doing.  Told them I had just
finished wiring up the Class C amp for my 4 tube xmitter.  Asked me when
I was going to test it.  Told them probably in the morning.  "No time
like the present, son," one of them said.  So I fired the rig up while
the pair listend for grunts, growls, whistles, clicks and harmonics.
They reckoned it OK at about 4 am.  I sent a few test Vs and a station
ID, then nearly died when a JA called me.  "What will I do?" I said into
the 2 mx microphone.  "Reply to him, you silly b*****d."  (We Aussies
are address each other in such affectionate ways).  Anyway first contact
was on CW with a glowbug at about 4:10 am.  VFO a Geloso signal shifter
- 6CL6 oscillator, 5763 driver, 0Ax regulator followed by a 6146 PA.

Now I know what mojo is.

Tnx es vy 73
Kevin
VK3DAP

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ron D'Eau Claire
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2003 3:15 PM
To: 'Kevin B. G. Luxford'; [email protected]
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Mojo

Hi Kevin:

You've already gotten a number of more knowledgeable replies than I
could give you about "mojo". 

I never knew the word before bumping into the Elecraft reflector. 

But I know there is something...

I first experienced it when I found the "sensitive" spot on the galena
crystal and heard the faint sound of a "big band" coming from KFXM nine
miles away from my home back in the 1940's. 

I know I felt it inside when my Dad beamed with pride listening to
signals on a regenerative receiver that I built all by myself. 

I know it was there when I got my first answer as a Ham to a signal from
my 6V6 oscillator. 

I know that it is addictive. Very addictive.

 I keep looking for ways to make it come back. Get what people so aptly
describe today as another "rush" when that unknown thing works its
spell. 

I have a hunch that a LOT of people building K-rigs got it when they
first heard signals and when they first made contacts with them. 

I did. I felt it - whatever it is. 

All these years, since I strained to hear Benny Goodman's band on the
crystal set when I could have turned on the big Philco console in the
living room, there has been something special about a radio that I built
that went far beyond simple reason.  Searching for it, whatever "it" is,
is why I mess about with radios at all.

And I have a hunch that you know just what I am talking about, Kevin! 

I thought that maybe THAT was what folks here were calling "mojo". 

Ron AC7AC

PS. There are no "dumb questions". 

A dumb question from downunder, Ron:

What is mojo?

Thanks
Kevin
VK3DAP

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