Wednesday, March 1, 2017

"CQ Transistor" -- The 1958 Mighty Milliwatt


I think it is time that we get back to our QRP roots.  Perhaps under the influence of the wizard of Newbury Park (N6QW), we've all been drifting into the world of high power.  It starts innocently:  you hook up a second gel cell to the IRF-510 and suddenly you are at 20 watts out from the BITX.   Before you know it, you have an uncontrollable urge for 3-500Z's.   Here is a story that will get us back on the QRP track:

It was September 1958.   On the 14th of that month I began my first orbit of the Sun.  Band conditions were VERY good.  OM Don Stoner was on 10 meters with a homebrew solid-state milliwatt rig calling CQ TR, CQ TR (CQ Transistor).  Jarno PA3DMI in Amsterdam sent me the link to a Radio News article by Don Stoner.   The article (and the entire magazine) is a lot of fun.  Check it out.  The QRP fun begins on page  51.    Thanks Jarno!  
http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Radio-News/50s/Radio-News-1958-09-R.pdf

7 comments:

  1. Nearly as nuts as this
    https://hackaday.com/2017/02/24/ham-goes-nuts-for-tiny-transmitter/

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  2. But Bill, it also has to be painted blue and have glowing numerals with a Si5351

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  3. I thought you were going to recommend a 100 watt amplifier!

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    Replies
    1. 0

      Here is the missing zero for your amplifier :)

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  4. Thank you for sharing the "Mighty Milliwatt" enjoyable reading for any Qrp enthusiast. Written by non other than the "father of OSCAR".

    May every circuit your soldering iron graces, perform flawlessly! 73 de AL7JK

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