[Hallicrafters] Ham radio operation.

[Greg Gifford / KG4MMY]

Hey Skip, I read your post with great interest, and would like to attempt to
answer your questions from the viewpoint of a  relatively new Ham, having
only been licensed for about two years now. To answer your first question,
YES!, CW is well worth bothering with! There are multitudes of CW ops out
there just chompin' at the bit to be able to work you! Don't worry about
your code speed at all, your 5 wpm will garner you as many contacts as
you'll want :-)) Also, as time goes on, and you get experience, your code
speed will naturally increase. I started out at 5 wpm and am now in the
neighborhood of 15 wpm after just a little while on the bands! I would very
much recommend that you join FISTS, which is the Morse Code Preservation
Society. You can visit their website at www.fists.org  The motto of FISTS is
"Accuracy Transcends Speed". This is well worth taking to heart when
operating CW. I have had several contacts with other ops who seem to think
that speed is the ultimate goal of code work. Always remember that speed
means nothing, if the other op can't understand what you are sending!
Concentrate on developing a good "fist",(sending style), speed will come on
its own. The FISTS organization also runs a program called the "Code Buddy"
program. If you ask, they will pair you up with another op who is more
experienced than you, so that you can rapidly build your accuracy and speed.
It's a great program, and a great organization! I think that everyone who is
interested in code at any level, ought to be a member of FISTS! It's akin to
belonging to the NRA if you're a gun owner!
    In recommending a transmitter to go with the SX-42, one has to keep in
mind that Hallicrafters never made a companion transmitter specifically to
go with the SX-42, but the HT-32 series of transmitters are a fair cosmetic
match to the 42. I would go for the HT-32A or B over the plain 32 simply
because they offer more options. The plain HT-32 is a 20 tube AM-CW-SSB
transmitter with an output of around 100 watts on SSB and CW, and around 25
watts on AM. It has full bandswitching, metering, filter-type SSB, VOX, and
here's something you'll really like, full break-in keying! The transmitter
also has a built-in, calibrated VFO. A 12BY7 is used as a driver and the
finals are a pair of 6146's. The HT-32A offers all of the above, plus
provision for a phone patch, FSK and a push to talk microphone circuit. The
HT-32 B model offers all that the "A" does, and has a separate socket for
each 10 meter crystal that is band switch selectable. If I'm not mistaken,
the going price for the HT-32 series is in the neighborhood of $200 to
$350.00 dollars, with many going for much less on eBay. Now, if you're not
hung up on cosmetics, and still want to stay with a Hallicrafters
transmitter, (and who wouldn't!), let me recommend the little HT-40. It puts
out around 75 watts on CW, which is plenty, and also does AM! It will do 80
through 6 meters, and uses a 6CS8 as the Oscillator and Buffer, a 12AX7 as
the Microphone pre-amp and 1st audio, a 6DE7 as the 2nd Audio and Modulator
and a 6DQ5 as the Final. The rectifier and voltage doubler are silicon
diodes. The greatest factor in favor of the HT-40 is that you can pick them
up, at times, for well under 100 dollars! You have to keep in mind, though,
that this transmitter will require either crystals, or an outboard VFO,
which will add to the price. If you go with the HT-40, I would highly
recommend getting a VFO.
    In the matter of band selection I would say wander far and wide! explore
them all! (But be sure to stay inside your class allocation!). I find that I
spend a great deal of time on 20 meters these days, but can also be found
lurking on the Novice subbands on 80 and 40!
    Ham radio is a hobby for a lifetime. It's a hobby that, no matter how
much you learn, you'll NEVER be able to learn it all! It's also a hobby that
has so many specialties that everyone can find something that suits his
fancy! (you, my friend, are already on the right road to your niche, antique
communications equipment!) Get your code test out of the way and jump in,
the water's fine!
73's

Greg Gifford / KG4MMY
----- Original Message -----
From: "Waldo Magnuson" <magnuson at mac.com>
To: <hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net>
Cc: "Waldo Magnuson" <magnuson at mac.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 9:30 PM
Subject: [Hallicrafters] Ham radio operation.


> I'm looking for suggestions, comments, and advice:
> I'm a long-time graduate electronics engineer (retired) and grew up
> listening to CW on the Hallicrafters S-41G my father gave me for
> Christmas in 1946.  I went to college when vacuum tube technology was
> 80% of the curriculum but quickly became "transistorized and
> computerized" on the job.  Well, after retirement I've kind of returned
> to vacuum tube roots and have been repairing Zenith Transoceanic radios
> and Hallicrafters radios (S-38, s-41, & two SX-42s).
>     A few months I got a Ham license (finally) and am (I think) ready to
> take the code test.  My questions revolves around CW operation.  I
> don't have a particular desire to use AM or SSB voice and have always
> enjoyed the idea (or mystic) of code operation.  Yet I hear very little
> CW now days.
>     So my questions are:
> 1)  Should I bother with CW - are there enough people out there who
> would respond?
> 2)  Would a 5 -> 7 wpm beginner be welcomed (if I can make contact)?
> 3)  What transmitter would you recommend (Hallicrafters of course) to
> go with my SX-42 receiver?  I do all of my own maintenance, rebuilding,
> etc.
> 4)  I live in Spokane, Washington - what band would be suggested?
> 5)  There are lots of other questions - but this should do for now.
>
> Welcome back Duane.
>
> Thanks,   Skip Magnuson  KD7VRM
>
> _______________________________________________
> List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF **for assistance**
> dfischer at usol.com
> ----
> Hallicrafters Collectors International: http://www.w9wze.org
> ----
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hallicrafters
>