[Novice-Rigs] 2009 A.W.A. 1929 QSO Party

[Edward Swynar]

Good Day All,

What with the wet, cold, miserable weather visiting us all of late, now is
as good a time as any for everyone to seriously start thinking about
participation in the 2009 running of The Antique Wireless Association's
"Bruce Kelley Memorial 1929 QSO Party"...

It's slated to be a two weekend affair again this year, as always, i.e.
Saturday 5th December-Sunday 6th December, and Saturday 12th December-Sunday
13th December. To the unitiated, there are power restrictions, and you're
limited to 80- and 40-meters---CW only. No crystal control, either...

But the real joy in this exercise is the fact that your active
device(s)---a.k.a. your choice of "toobs"(!)---is limited to just those
bottles / jugs that a Ham could acquire in the year 1929, and earlier.

A homebrewed transmitter built along these restrictions is a VERY liberating
experience, believe me: no worries about shielding (it's all QRP anyway),
and as for bending metal...? Who cares! Ninety-nine per cent of the rigs
used are built atop foundations of wood!

You're in for a real treat if you've never listened-in on the activities
before: signals can range in quality from the proverbial & modern-sounding
T9X, all the way down to a wheezing buzz saw whose blade is having
difficulty cutting through a knotty pine! It's a lot like being able to go
back in time---seriously.

If you love homebrewing, and have a soft spot in your heart for "...ye good
ol' daze", then this QSO party is for you. Best of all, if the competitive
urge to win dominates your "A"-type personality, you can easily do so with
as little as some 60 QSOs in your log---and you'll have two weekends to do
it all in, too...!

The event is ably MC'ed by Scott (WA9WFA), who is sure to post further
detailed announcements as the Party approaches on the calendar...I couldn't
resist putting in this plug ahead of time, though, in advance of the autumn
Hamfest season, when all of your needed parts & tubes can be acquired,
readily and inexpensively, UNDER the display tables...!

~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ