[Elecraft] Tony CW transceiver for socially isolated kids

[K8TE]

While getting somethings on my shopping list at Wired Communications
yesterday, I found a $5.00 40m transmitter kit.  It is a through-hole kit
with a pair of transistors and a crystal on 7023.  The card on the box
indicated it runs 150 mW, reminding me of a similar transmitter I built with
two transistors for 80m.  This kit with similarly inexpensive receiver could
fill the bill as Wayne describes it.

Yes, kids, with the right Elmers, get a kick out of this kind of thing.  No,
I'm not writing about my experiences in the 1960's, but those with Scouts
and other kids in the last ten years.  I watched Eric spend a lot of time
yesterday demonstrating the K4 to what looked to me to be a 13-year-old who
is already licensed, probably thanks to his dad who also has a ticket.

The typical grumpy old ham who operates 75m each morning and evening (let
the flames begin) is not the one who will spark enthusiasm in anyone, but
especially kids, for ham radio.  Heck!  They're the same ones who ignore
visitors to their own club meetings.

We need ideas like Wayne's, but more importantly, enthusiastic, active,
engaged hams who are willing to share their time and love of our avocation
with others.  Most new hams today are middle-aged and come to us via EMCOMM. 
We need to share the mystery and excitement of HF with them and not belittle
them for purchasing their cheap HT’s but help program them and invite them
to visit our shacks to work some DX and enter a QSO party.

Time for a shower and maybe breakfast before the day begins at Pacificon. 
It looked busy yesterday and will likely be busier today.  Monday, we'll
stop by Watsonville to deliver a damaged KPA500 and K3 from my RV trip to
and from Dayton earlier this year.  Then, I'll get ready for next weekend's
CQ WW DX SSB Contest with a friend in Gallup NM.

Get active.  Get engaged.  Get on-the-air!  73, Bill, K8TE




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