Last weekend and again this weekend December 7-8, 2300 GMT start and finish
times, 3550-3580 kc. Transmitters are
limited to 1929 or earlier types of self-excited oscillators and MOPA's, 10
to 20 watts maximum, straight keys encouraged.
This makes fascinating listening. Last Saturday evening, that portion of the
band was filled with signals from those rigs.
Unlike the sterile machine-perfect ultra-stable CW signals heard from the
plastic radios of today, the band segment was alive with signals with
various degrees of chirp, buzz, hum, drift, and operator fists. It gives you
a good idea of what 99% of the ham frequencies must have sounded like in
1929, when the vast majority of hams were limited to low power CW. Some of
the rigs were amazingly stable to be simple self-oscillators. I didn't
participate (don't have an appropriate rig) but I monitored for hours. Part
of the exchange consists of a description of the station. Very enlightening
for anyone interested in the heritage of amateur radio. I encourage everyone
to take a short break from AM this weekend and spend a few minutes enjoying
the rare opportunity to hear the sounds of those signals.
Don K4KYV
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