[Heathkit] My first station

[Eddy Swynar]

On 2015-04-22, at 1:16 PM, Dave Thompson wrote:

> 
> My first station was a DX-35 that my Dad and I built and the receiver was a S-40B with QF-1 Q multiplier.  The secret to working out was having a decent antenna and I built the trap 102 foot 80 to 10 antenna described in a late 1956 QST.  Worked OK but you might get discouraged with working stations.  I remember Italians coming in loud on 15 meters an I finally worked a couple of VK's and ZL's who listened for Novices.  
> 
> That trap antenna is still a good bet even today.
> 
> 73 Dave K4JRB




You guys had practically a MILLIONAIRE'S station when you started-out, compared to mine here in 1971...!

First-off, I didn't even get on the air until 1972, a full year after getting my ticket (had no money!)---and even then the only "appliance" that I had was a $40.00 3rd hand Hallicrafters S-77A receiver that zapped me every time I touched a toggle switch with my stocking feet on the basement floor (yes, the receiver was AC/DC)...

My transmitter was a homebrew rockbound 6T9 set from the March 1971 issue of QST, with 50-cent surplus crystals from JAN Crystals in Florida (I had THREE different sockets on the front of the rig to accommodate three different kinds of surplus---and cheap---crystals!). The station was rounded-out with a homebrew "ultimate" transmatch (from "UNDERSTANDING AMATEUR RADIO"), a HB monimatch of dubious performance, a 99-cent made-in-Japan el cheapo plastic straight key, and a low dipole hung from the family TV tower...

I learned REAL fast that the antenna worked a LOT better with the lamp cord feedline that I originally had on it replaced with 75-ohm twin lead (yes, you actually used to be able to buy that stuff). Each & every QSO was excitement personified---I felt like a true blue latter day Guigielmo Marconi, and would eagerly boast to my parents & sisters of my day's conquests on the air...!

~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ