From 1977 until about 1979, we used WD4NFU's location, largely because I did
not have the property to construct those huge 80 metre antennaes. So
all our building and most of our operating went on at Ron's house. ( Ron,
pictured holding the D-104 was WD4NFU. I am not pictured because . . . well . . . . .
I am taking the picture.)
The station compliment was (clockwise) the Drake 2b, HT-40, HomeBrew 6146 90 watter, Heath HW-8 (our only new rig), and just barely showing on the extreme right, a converted CB rig, to which the D-104 is actually connected. Ron is wearing a pair of Brandes Hi-Z headsets. And the bottle ? Taste that beats the other's COLD!
Not showing, but is there anyway is a Knightkit VFO and an Eldico (Collins knock-off) receiver. And, of course, our A-line Collins equipment (NOT!!)
As novices, from 1977 to 1978, we had one xtal between us, on 3737kc. With that one xtal, we worked over 6 countries and 49 states. Not too shabby. How many newbies would put up with that today?
Funny thing is . . . even after we got our General, we still could not go out and buy new rigs ( well, I eventually got a TS-520 SE ) so we just kept on using what you see in this picture until I moved away to Orlando three years later. Plus or minus a few receiver changes. The last time I laid eyes on Ron's QTH, he had upgraded to a Heathkit Apache . . . he never did get a "modern" rig.
Good for you, Ron !!
(Ron is now KA4USN)
SMILE !!