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Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Retro QRP Rigs of the 1960's, 70's, and 80's -- Video by Mike WU2D


It is time to put aside (again!) all of the heated ideological arguments about the power level that defines "low power."  Just sit back and enjoy this wonderful trip down QRP memory lane. 

Mike's description of the simple, single-transistor QRP transmitter was really nice.   I recently made something similar: https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2023/02/first-qso-with-high-school-receiver-100.html  And Mike does a nice plug for our beloved Michigan Mighty Mite.  Go CBLA! 

The modular idea:  words to live by my friends. 

40673!  TT2!  And G3RJV's PW Severn - indeed, bow your heads!

Wow, the Ten Tec Power Mite (or Might!) -- I still want one.  Same for the Argonaut -- what a great name (sounds like a "magic carpet), and with SSB to boot!  I want to join the Argonaut cult! 

I have both the HW-7 and HW-8 (the HW-8 is heading to the Dominican Republic).  This video makes me want to fire up the HW-7.  Maybe on 40.  

My 40 meter homebrew rig (Digi-Tia) has in it the filter from that old Yaesu FT-7 rig.  The filter was given to me by Steve "Snort Rosin" Smith.  https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2015/05/bitx-digi-tia-build-update-2-installing.html  


Thanks to Mike for including me in the credit roll at the end.  What a great group of people -- it is a real honor to be listed with those folks. 

3 comments:

  1. Really enjoyed this! I still have my Ten-Tec PM-2A Power Mite. I bought it new in 1972, and have used it for almost 50 years! - Stan WB5UDI

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  2. Per the consumer price index calculator, a $70
    HW-7 in 1973 would be $475 today -- Yikes!
    Walter KA4KXX

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  3. Great video with lots of memories. Altho a lot of these rigs never sold in VK3. Of course we always had ARRL publications. The only one I own is an HW8, which just appeared at a Melbourne Hamfest a few years ago and didn't leave my hands until I'd passed over the cash. It's basic, but useable, and I've made some good QRP to QRP CW contacts with it on 80m, VK3YE and VK2CCW come to mind. Paul VK3HN.

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