[HBR] Testing the 1929 Rig---Results!

[Ed Swynar]

Hi Gang,

Well, the 80-meter band was just as smooth as a sheet of shiney glass last night---I swear, with the almost complete & utter absence of atmospherics, you could practically hear the proverbial RF pin drop in Oshkosh...! Yes, it was one of those nights...

The 3 x 227 MOPA fired-up with a shade under 5 watts output---the HB "QST Super-12" 1929 superhet was all peaked-up & raring to go. My first QSO was with Tim (K3XI), in Virginia, on one call...he was a 579, as was I. Next up was QRP'er Chris (NG3W) from Pennsylavnia...his 5-watts got him an honest-to-goodness 599, & I received a 589. Again, one call did the trick.

Last but not least was an especially enjoyable rag chew with OT aficianado George (K9JDC) from Wisconsin...his 1930's MOPA 5-watts got him a 5-7/9-9, whilst I got a 579. George is a very intersting guy---his receiver consisted of a single tube Doerle regen! We both remarked how magical it was indeed that the two of us, separated by hundreds of miles, could so comfortably & casually (almost effortlessly!) exchange our thoughts & feelings using the very simplest of equipment, such as we had...is it any wonder we continue to hunch over our work benches like we do, making that solder flow...?!   :>)

I was reminded again last night of the effectiveness of a regenerative IF stage(s) in a superhet receiver. Fellas, I'm NOT just saying this, or espousing the idea, merely because *I* incorporated into my own rig---but seriously, if you have a simple HB set-up, or some entry level  commercial receiver that's lacking in the selectivity / gain department, you ABSOLUTELY OWE IT TO YOURSELF to beg, buy, borrow, or steal yourself a copy of the FIRST edition (1963) of the ARRL's "UNDERSTANDING AMATEUR RADIO"...pages 142 and 143 detail how you can quickly & easily add regeneration to your IF stage(s) for a genuine notch up in performance.

I tell you, I was amazed all over again last night how weak signals would literally jump out of the 'phones when that proverbial sweet spot in tuning was hit. I could make the CW signal I was listening to actually ring like a bell if I wanted to. If you don't have a Q-multiplier, & do NOT want to even think about retrofitting a crystal IF filter into your receiver, then this is for you...and perhaps best of all, the ONLY extra part you'll need is a potentiometer!

BTW, I added the same technique to my Multi-Elmac PMR-6 mobile receiver---believe you me, it works...

I hope to continue getting on for more QSOs, right on up to the day of the QSO Party...to-day (Wednesday) my intention is to work 40-meters with the MOPA in the daylight hours, & (again) 80-meters after dark...have a listen for me, & do please call if you hear me! For 80-meters I'll be using the full-wave rectangular loop...on 40-meters I have the option of utilizing either a full-wave triangular loop, or a 5-element Bobtail array.

~73~ Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ