Welcome to the Virtual Shack! Here with my main Second Op BamBam at our primary position. Located in the basement with a window for atmosphere. Cool in the summer with plenty of tube gear to stay warm in the winter.
The main position is all Kenwood TS-830S vintage. Even the HC-10 clock, HI! A venerable Heathkit SB-221. Into a multiband fan dipole.
First licensed about 1964 in KC as Novice WN0GYF. Like many I let that call lapse but became active again as KC3BM. After another inactive period I became active again about 4 years ago. Now with my fathers old call W0MPM. Extending W0MPM call for 60+ years in the family.
A vanity call now; but I think W0MPM must have been the first call I ever used probably around age 5 if not before! I have a vague memory of sitting on Dad's lap while he operated in the laundry room on E83rd St Terr in Raytown Mo. We know Dad held W0MPM at least by 1954 or 52. If anyone has records before that please share! Thanks. I don't know how active Dad was (not very) but I dimly recall briefly visiting a field day by the Wilcox hams and once going to visit a 'Lee' on the 'Kansas side' being amazed by his tower. Dad was an electronic engineer for Wilcox - they did aviation ground and airborne stuff.
After WWII there were Americans licensed in Okinawa. Thanks to Russ K0VXU for finding this excellent website by Ryota "Roy" Motobayashi, JJ1WTL (Russ was also licensed in Okinawa): Americans in Okinawa Here's the 1949 authorization(s) for KR6BR:
The shack floor is popular especially in summer. There's a bit of free space; need another dog.
BamBam. Multilingual (Dog and English) technical consultant and squirrel, rabbit, goundhog population control expert.
Fang. Head of Pack discipline and Hamshack Monitor. Fang will spend as much time in the shack necessary so long as he's with me. Very occasionally he goes upstairs for just a bit.
Demi. Meal schedule monitor.
As the newest equipment here is circa 1980s equipment tends to become projects and projects equipment. I've become a 'vintage gear guy' finding the refurbishment of classic equipment is a great way to enhance my technical understanding.
When I got active again about 4 years back the first think was to get voltage measurement going. I pulled out the RCA WV-98C purchased 20 years before at a the Berryville Hamfest. Paid, I think, $10. Soldered in a new D cell. Cleaned up the contacts and off and running. I still like to use this poking around in tube stuff especially. It's always on which I believe is the best thing for the longevity of the 2 tubes (they are not worked hard at all). Especially on tube (high voltage) the 1500VDC and 4000VAC ratings are nice. Albeit it certainly does not meet modern CATIII standards. And the VTVM probe isolation is nice. Everyone should (still) have a VTVM!
My goal was to do some serious learning/experimenting. So next up an Heathkit ET-3100 bought years ago and never used. I discovered these 'are what they are'; but that's not bad for something to get going with minimum fuss. AC and DC +/- variable power supplies, breadboard, and a rudimentary signal generator. Poorly filtered and regulated but perfectly fine for basic learning/experimentation. I still recommned if you can find for reasonable prices (not the inflated 'vintage collector rate).
Read more Heath ET 3100All I needed now was an oscilloscope. This came up locally and it was functioning. Shipping can be a major expense for scopes because of their size and the requirement to package well. Local is better. And the gentleman I bought it from introduced me to the world of vintage antique radio which has involved joining clubs going to museums etc etc. Serendipity.
The Tektronix 900 series is, I think, the 'Rodney Dangerfield' of Tek scopes. But at the right price they are a good little scope certainly good for audio and vintage and useful also at low HF. They are easy to work on. No special components. Not built like a 'real' Tek; but then not much is. The square shape can be easier to fit on the bench. The 935 does 30Mhz and has delayed sweep.
Read more Tek 935When I got the Tektronix 935 scope there was an old 'Art Deco' tombstone radio on the floor barely visible. I remarked that I had always like the appearance of the old radios. Next thing it was in the car next to the scope! Thanks Randy.
This is my first effort with truly 'vintage' radio. 1936. This project is still only partially done. And now I'm lukewarm about these old AM sets because while they look nice there is - in my opinion - almost nothing on AM to listen. Many of the collectors run 'vintage' music through them from iPods or the like using various means.
Read more RCA 6T
An early acquisition figured fixing would be educational. It was. Spent lots of time 'padding' out the old resistors and replacing caps. Learned the basic irony of cap testors you need a tester to refurb the tester. Or just replace em all (almost).
Read more Sprague TO-4A gift that sat on the shelf for years. Note the knobs are identical to the Voltohmyst 98C. A pleasant little project and it works fine.
Completly useless! But cute
A freebe at the antique radio club meeting condition unknown. I wanted to clean it up take a peek and then return it to the club to donate for the auction. Appeared used and obviously had been apart by the usual tell-tale signs on this kind of chassis where the face inserts into the box interior. Yet it still has the remnants of the store-tag hanging from the handle. The string is very delicate and parted; had to tape the tag back to it. Radio Museum has a picture of the tag and it was $34.50. Not especially cheap in 1953! Serial number 143938. The included manual is dated 1953.
Read more Sprague KT-1 Kwik-TestGot this little guy with his friend the Tek 321. Stated as not functional. Can't have that. Now he's all better. This is him now at 15Mhz.
Kenwood TS-830 VOX Schematic and operation of the VOX and TR switching. Had one 830 with inop VOX so used another to trace correct operation.
Kenwood TS-830 Final Amp Tracing the final is just about impossible on the oem schematic even with excellent large scale version. I try to put it all in a linear schematic.
HP-8640B Signal Generator The last of the analog. Two major recurring issues addressed. Switch fingers and gears.