[HBR] HBR 2006 and a question

[Don]

Jim, Walt,

Thanks for the answer to my question. I guess I knew the answer but
figured I'd get a more technical answer. Never could find anything in my
literature addressing the use of the capacitor. Some other time I'll
explain why I asked. It involves a tuned speaker cabinet among other
things. I used a capacitor but across the secondary. 

Jim, I thought I recognized your call from the Glowbugs website. I
looked at your website and your station a long while back. I always
wanted a good detailed explanation of your station. You mentioned on the
glowbugs about Southgate receivers? That is new to me. Your station
reminds me of the station K0IYE has on QRZ. Modular and very homebrew
looking.

I can't add to anything anyone has said about the "Oldtimers". I still
think they were very clever. I see it somewhat different. Overall, there
were perhaps many better commercial receivers and transmitters during
the 50 and 60's than the ones presented in the Handbooks and QST.
However, consider the resources the major vendors had at their disposal.
They could design and manufacture custom parts and purchase at large
volume prices. You fellas can relate. The work (fun) involved in
designing and building even a modest receiver can be quite extensive if
you do it right. The major vendors had design teams. In addition, they
were often in more than one business with amateur radio supplementing
military and other commercial production.

Some of my favorite books are the SSB for the Radio Amateur series. When
I read them I get all these irreverant ideas on how to do it better with
some more modern parts. I actually used the book Experimental Methods in
RF Design, a solid state book, for a lot of my last tube receiver
design. The crystal filters, band pass filters, interstage matching and
low pass audio filter ideas came from there. Goes to show RF is RF no
matter what the active device is. 

I gotta say "ouch" to Walt though. All my tube stations are made for CW.
I can't find any reason for including AM and little for SSB. I know that
makes my tube receivers much easier to build. Working CW on a HB station
is so much fun for me. I love cold winter nights with a heater on in the
shack. The lights are down low and I'm working CW on my tube station. I
used to fall asleep in my dads shack some nights while he would be
enjoying the same experience. I guess it is hereditary.

It is funny to see how homebrew designs have evolved from the tube era
into the solid state era. Most of the SS homebrew and kit designs are
now single band as opposed to the old handbook designs which were
usually two or more bands and often included AM. The fact that there are
more designs for complete single band transceivers might be a factor. 

Well I am rambling and I like the discussion on the good, better and
best of the old tube receivers. Wish I had more of the 1950's QST's. I
don't like CD versions. Just not the same as reading those yellowing,
musty old pages. Sometimes one 1950's QST had more interesting stuff
than a year of the current QST's. Even the component ads were
informative. Not bashing, its just that special interest sites like the
AmQRP and Norcal have drawn some of the homebrew away from ther ARRL.
Rambling again.

K5UOS