How Low Can We Go, With a VXO?

The announcement of a building contest for Pacificon, 2002, set off a chain of experiments in my shack that, so far, has produced a very nice 10 Meter transceiver, using a 20 Meter VXO as its signal source, two entries to the VXO contest that tuned from above the basic crystal frequencies to frequencies well… Continue reading How Low Can We Go, With a VXO?

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Solid State VXO, Buffer Amplifier and Keying Circuit For Tube Rigs

The accompanying circuit details should provide anyone who has a small parts bin with a very useful accessory, allowing the use of smaller, modern crystal types to control and provide drive for tube rigs. In addition, a Mosfet switching circuit is included so that an electronic keyer can be used to key the rig. I… Continue reading Solid State VXO, Buffer Amplifier and Keying Circuit For Tube Rigs

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The SMK-1 on 20 Meters

A One Watt Mod has been added above the PA section of the main board. A 10 DB RF preamp for the receiver is built on the inside of the left panel of the PC board case. The circuit on the underside of the lid is an active audio filter. Difficult to see in this… Continue reading The SMK-1 on 20 Meters

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A Crappie Portable Antenna

“Are you going to use this for fishing or ham radio?” asked the sporting goods salesman. “I’m a fisherman,” I said, “but this is for ham radio.” “Well,” he said, “I’ve sold lots of these, and I haven’t sold one yet for fishing.” Obviously I’m not the first to use a telescoping crappie pole for… Continue reading A Crappie Portable Antenna

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Yaesu FT-4XR Review

Yaesu is one of the best radio companies in the world for good reason, and the Yaesu FT-4XR is proof that you don’t have to overpay to get a high-quality, reliable 2-meter HT (Handheld Transceiver). This rugged little radio can take plenty of abuse and keep on truckin’, and has a powerful transmitter, great speaker,… Continue reading Yaesu FT-4XR Review

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Icom IC-V86 Review

If you’re looking for an affordable ham radio handheld transceiver (HT) with a durable design and a surprising amount of power and features, the Icom IC-V86 may be a worthy addition to your radio collection. With a chunky, solid construction, up to 7W of radio output, and a loud, punchy speaker with 1500 mW of… Continue reading Icom IC-V86 Review

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