[Lowfer] Need Homebrew Help---$$$

[Les Rayburn]

Mitch,

I do remember that reception! Of all the versions of "XMGR" that I built 
over the years, the one at my home in Helena, AL was probably the best 
engineered. I was able to use an elevated counterpoise ground system, 
and a very large, low loss litz coil.

Lyle built the exciter, and I cobbled together a high efficiency final 
amp. It was all peaked with a litz variometer, and I could measure the 
RF current directly at the base of the antenna. Peaking it was as simple 
as walking out onto the deck and adjusting the coil, all at eye level!

I was amazed at how much local conditions such as humidity would affect 
the antenna current, and I usually peaked it just prior to sunset every 
night. That beacon was logged at over 1,100 miles on a couple of nights.
Great fun!

Now I want to try my hand at a serious Medfer beacon, even though the 
X-Band stations have killed some of the joy of that band. A 10 foot 
antenna is much more manageable then a 50 footer!

Ten years? Wow....I remember Vince Pinto (VP), and many, many others who 
got me active in the early 1980's when I was stationed in Kittery, 
Maine. New England was a hot bed of Lowfer activity and the band was so 
quite back then....amazing fun. "The Lowfer Letter" was read word for 
word over and over---and I still have a collection of those newsletters.

Could it have been nearly 30 years?

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
XMGR


Les Rayburn, Director
High Noon Film
130 1st Avenue West
Alabaster, AL 35007-8536
(205) 621-7500
(205) 621-7505 FAX
(205) 253-4867 CELL
http://www.highnoonfilm.com


On 11/23/2011 5:02 PM, Mitch Powell wrote:
> Good day Les:
> Still remembering Spectrogram - and finding your 1 watt from the deep South in the wee
> hours of the morning.......   Do you realize that 10 years have passed !
> Seems to me that you were mounting your antenna on the deck in the back yard  ??
> Here is the capture !
>
>
>
> On 2011-11-23, at 10:59 AM, Les Rayburn wrote:
>
>> Yes, I'm for real.
>>
>> Even though I've been in the hobby since the early 1980's and have built
>> perhaps a dozen Lowfer transmitters--I simply don't have time to gather
>> components and put it all together. My workbench is already filled with
>> kits to get on 2.4 GHz and laser; hopefully before the January VHF Contest.
>>
>> So the last thing I need now is another project that I don't have time
>> to finish. But i hate to lose the whole Winter DX season, and would like
>> to get a Medfer beacon on the air now that I have the space.
>>
>> So...yep, I'm for real. Let me know if anyone is interested, and has the
>> time.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Les Rayburn, N1LF
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 11/23/2011 4:22 AM, Lee wrote:
>>> As Rocket J. Squirrel would say. "Are you for real man"!
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Les Rayburn<les at highnoonfilm.com>
>>>> Sent: Nov 22, 2011 8:49 PM
>>>> To: lowfer at mailman.qth.net
>>>> Subject: [Lowfer] Need Homebrew Help---$$$
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> After a long absence from the Lowfer/Medfer scene, I finally have a spot
>>>> at my office where I can erect a Medfer installation. My current home is
>>>> HOA and deed restricted, so the work site is best.
>>>>
>>>> My enemy now is time. We're covered up at work, but I'd really like to
>>>> get something on the air before the end of Jan.
>>>>
>>>> So, here's what I'm looking for:
>>>>
>>>> Someone willing to homebrew a Part 15 Medfer transmitter that operates
>>>> on the high end of the AM broadcast band, around 1704.8 or so. The ideal
>>>> transmitter would incorporate a programmed E-PROM keyer that would
>>>> alternate between regular CW ID's and QRSS ID's.
>>>>
>>>> The ID would be "XMGR".
>>>>
>>>> In a fallback, I can dedicate a computer to handling the keyer to make
>>>> things easier. I'd like it to be rugged build, and weatherproof.
>>>>
>>>> Happy to pay any reasonable fee, and not looking for a bargain. Please
>>>> don't flood my inbox or the lists with suggestions about how I could
>>>> just do "______________________" and it would be easy to get on the air.
>>>> I simply don't have time.
>>>>
>>>> Can pay via Paypal, Fedex you a cashier's check or USPS money order.
>>>> Serious offers only.
>>>> Thanks!
>>>>
>>>> 73,
>>>>
>>>> Les Rayburn, N1LF
>>>>
>>>>
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