[Heathkit] My first station

[RAY FRIESS]

With the T60 I just loaded the end fed wire for max meter reading on the front panel and went for it.  No idea what the swr was or how much power was being put out of the pi network final or getting radiated.  Might have been a 10 to 1 swr and 5 watts radiated for all I knew.  My dad was also licensed as a novice with me and we kept racking up the contacts.  Especially at night on 80 and 40.  I remember my first dx contact ...  a VE7 straight up the map from utah.  It was over the U.S. border so it was dx.  My friend got his license the same day as i did.  His dad gave us both the test as he was a general class.  I had a great time bragging to my friend about getting dx before him.

> From: bcarling at cfl.rr.com
> Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2015 13:19:02 -0400
> To: rbethman at comcast.net
> CC: heathkit at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Heathkit] My first station
> 
> VSWR?? You checked VSWR? 
> 
> Well WE had it tough. 
> We had to guess the antenna length by cutting length of old rusty wire with a bent ruler and then tune 't rig for maximum shock when hold oop a wet index finger near 't antenna and our fathers would jump oop and down on our receivers until they died, while singing hallelujah!
> 
> (With thanks to Monty the Python)
> 
> Best regards - Brian Carling
> AF4K 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > On Apr 22, 2015, at 12:58 PM, rbethman <rbethman at comcast.net> wrote:
> > 
> > Buck,
> > 
> > Whether it was '50s, '60s, '70s or even '80.
> > 
> > I imagine we were all amazed to get on the air and *really* work anyone.
> > 
> > Everyone made their own antennas.  It was always a guessing game with an antenna!  You went by the formula, cut it long, then began the process of trimming and adjusting until the VSWR fell within the operating frequency range you were going to use.
> > 
> > Even today, more of the same.  Unless you obtain one of those fancy antenna calculators that ties to the end of the feed line.
> > 
> > I just finally bought *ONE* last year.  I picked up a 40mtr Double-Bazooka.  It is the only time that I ever bought one.  I decided to go to one of them, but I didn't really want to go through making the center balun and cutting coax to a certain length, along with the extensions after the coax.
> > 
> > I don't regret it one bit.  I used to work Lucky, WA4EZN, for a number of years.  He was pushing everyone to go that way.
> > 
> > Now it seems that this design is all over.  It originated at MIT IIRC, in the radar work done there in the '40s.
> > 
> > Regards, Bob - N0DGN
> > 
> > 
> >> On 4/22/2015 12:37 PM, Buck via Heathkit wrote:
> >> First station way back in the 50's. . .
> >> 
> >> Heathkit AT-1
> >> Heathkit AR-3
> >> Heathkit QF-1
> >> 
> >> Not sure how I ever heard or worked anything in those days!
> >> 
> >> Buck
> >> W0LC
> > 
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