./CX/Feb02NewsLtr.htm000064400025770001750000001517270756741502700153700ustar00CX-testdev-web00000400000004 FEBRUARY 2002 CX NEWSLETTER

CLASSIC RADIO EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER February 2002 CX

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HIGHLIGHTS

EQUIPMENT REPORTED USED: TRANSMITTERS and RECEIVERS

SCORES

INDIVIDUAL REPORTS

W8KGI
Jim

N6KN
Rocco

K9VKY
Brian

WQ8U
Mac

W5TVW
Sandy

N5AIT
Al

WB2AWQ
Howie

K3ZX
Mark

W7ID
Jeff

NE1S
Larry

KC8JX
Larry

WA4HLV
Jeff

K2TOP
Rob & gang

K1LKY
Roy

K8BVJ
Jack

K8NU
Carl

FEB 2002 CX HIGHLIGHTS

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

In the September 2001 CX Newsletter, Al, N5AIT, announced he was passing on the responsibility for organizing and reporting the CX events. Al had been responsible for the mechanics of the CX in some way since its inception and had been its backbone for a number of years. He did a tremendous job and deserves a big thank you from all of us who benefited from his untiring effort and enjoyed this great event. Jim, W8KGI, and Mac, WQ8U, agreed to become co-sponsors and keep CX rolling. This newsletter is the first output of that effort. Howie, WB2AWQ, stayed on as the announcement coordinator and Marty, AA4RM, is hosting the website. At the suggestion of some CX regulars some changes were made for the upcoming September 22nd CX including longer hours, 160 meter frequencies, and 10 meter AM frequencies. The CX website has also been rejuvenated and includes prior CX newsletters, a history of the CX, a rogues gallery showcasing classic stations and operators, and awards. Hopefully these changes will add to the enjoyment of CX for all involved.

HIGH SCORERS - HOW IT’S DONE

Jim, W8KGI, is the hand down champion CXer! His score of 7,793,310 is really something - and he claims he even took time out to have dinner with his XYL! His station (actually there are two - one for summer and one for winter) was nicknamed the “BA switchboard” because of his ability to rapidly switch from rig to rig to rig to … If you have worked him you have probably experienced the “QRX while I put another rig on.” Rocco, N6KN, is no slouch in that department either. Unfortunately being in CA is a slight handicap that limited his score to a mere 3,691,776. He also claims a handicap because his son’s Nintendo can’t stand up to his Johnson Desk KW. .Howie says”...had to tell Rocco I had a sked, otherwise he might have kept up switching rigs until the cows came home”. Rocco used 17 rigs that had a total age of 704 years. In third place was Brian, K9VKY, with a score of 3,190,880 earned with a stable of 17 rigs working 5 bands. Check out the Rogues Gallery for some impressive collections of BAs.

INTERESTING RIGS AND QSOs

Scores, number of rigs, and the age of the gear are not really all that CX is about. It is the joy of getting those classic old rigs on the air again and reliving the joy (and pain) they bring. Jeff, WA4HLV, got out the rig he used as a novice in 1974 and put it on the air at the last minute just to get into the fun. He claims it did not have the chirp back then. Jeff, W7ID also has his novice rig on DX-20 & SX-110. Mac, WQ8U, qualified a recreation of his novice rig: Heathkit AT-1 and Howard 435A. Larry, NE1S, used a 1936 RAL which was a commercial design that continued to be used in marine applications into the ‘60s; Sandy, W5TVW, also qualified one; and Howie, WB2AWQ claims he actually operated one on a ship in Hackensack, NJ (Is there that much water in town?). The Globe Scout rigs in various colors continued their participation: Al, N5AIT, with his Burnt Orange (BOGS), Jim, W8KGI with his Blue-Green (BGGS), and Jeff, WA4HLV, with his Rusty Grey (RGGS). Homebrew rigs were numerous - and old! Howie, WB2AWQ, qualified a 1932 HB superhet and a 1928 HB push-pull Hartley with 211s. Sandy, W5TVW, qualified a 1929 design ‘10 Hartley and claims the possible first CX 160 meter two-way QSO with Hartley oscillators when he worked AC5AM. Mark, K3ZX, did so well with his B&W 5100B, he reports he has picked up a B&W 5100 to keep it company.

AWARDS

The most noteworthy award is the “Best Excuse” Award which is presented this year to the gang at K2TOP - the Garden State Top Band Club. Their newsletter report gives all the gruesome details about how they deny responsibility for the power outage and the child labor activities that bolstered their score. Actually, it sounds like they were well planned and off to a great start to set records as the first multiple operator CX entry - that is until Rob went for pizza - the downfall of many a good team.

The “High Score” award goes to Jim, W8KGI.
The challenge has been issued!

The "Lowest Score" award goes to Roy, K1LKY.
He made one contact and fully reported the details plus a close up picture of his intense operating posture. From the looks of it, he may need that flame proof key next CX.

The “Wait Until Next CX” award goes to Jeff, WA4HLV.
He made a last minute appearance using his original Novice rig (Rusty Grey Globe Scout 65-B and BC-348) and managed 3 QSOs. Obviously a dedicated CXer who is set on improving his score - he got a Viking Valiant for the next CX.

The “Worst Signal Not Noticed By An Official Observer” Award was not presented this year because of obvious insufficient participation by the OOs. There were just too many potential awardees and no OO postcards were reported.

The "Most CX-like Quotation" Award goes to Rocco, N6KN.
He reported on a recent acquisition and provided his philosophy:
"This one was pretty rough when I managed to acquire it and required a lot of work. However, it works great now and is one of my favorites. The case is beat up, but I tend to leave most of my cases that way - the "patina" makes them more valuable, right?... "

STAND BY FOR SOME UNUSUAL PARTICIPANTS

Check out this web site for another version of the CX announcement.
Russian CX Announcement

WHAT ABOUT CHANGES?

The CX is first and foremost a fun event. It has as its real purpose the reactivation and operation of those classic old rigs that hams had so much fun with, were so proud of, or just really wanted some time ago. Keeping in that spirit, we need to continue to adjust the CX to meet the needs of the CXers who build / rejuvinate and operate those wonderful old rigs. Some of the suggestions previously made have been incorporated into this upcoming CX. Other suggestions have been made, such as extending the time for the contest, adding another day, making one day voice and the other day CX. These and other ideas need to be surfaced and discussed. At the same time, we need to keep in mind the objectives of the CX and the other organizations with companion objectives and their contests. Please send your suggestions and thoughts via e-mail to Mac, WQ8U or Jim, W8KGI.


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EQUIPMENT REPORTED USED: TRANSMITTERS and RECEIVERS

TRANSMITTERS


B&W: 5100B, 6100
Central Electronics:20A, 100V
Collins: 32S-1, 32S-3 (2), 32V-2, 32V-3 (2)
Drake: 2-NT, T-4X (2), T-4XB (2), T-4XC (2)
E.F. Johnson:Viking Kilowatt Desk, Adventurer, Navigator (2), Ranger I (2), Ranger II, Valiant (2), Viking I, Viking II
Hallicrafters: HT-18,HT-32B
Harvey-Wells: TBS-50C converted to TBS-50D, TBS-50D
Heathkit: AT-1, DX-20 (2), DX-40 (2), VF-1 (2), DX-100 (2), Apache TX-1, Marauder HX-10, SB-401
Home Brew: 1928 p-p 211s Hartley; 1929 design '10 Hartley; 1929 UX-219 TNT; 1934 p-p 801s TNT; 1936 p-p RK-34 Osc / p-p RK-34 final
Lettine 240
Lysco 600
Meissner: 1941 Delux Signal Shifter; 1948 Signal Shiftger EX
Millen: 90800/90711; 90800/90881
Multi-Elmac: AF-67
Surplus: CBY52209 (Navy BC-457), Navy Collins TCS-12, BC-459
WRL/Globe: Globe Scout 65B (Rusty Grey),Globe Chief 90A, Globe Scout 680 (Blue Green), Globe Scout 680 (Burnt Orange)

RECEIVERS:

Breting: 14
Collins: 51S-1 (2), 75A-1, 75A-3 (2), 75A-4 (4), 75S-3 (2)
Drake: 2-B (3), R-4A, R-4B (3)
Hallicrafters: SX-28, S-40A, SX-100 (2), SX-101A (2, SX-111, SX-115
Hammarlund: HQ-110, HQ-129-X, HQ-170 (3)
Home Brew: 1932 design Superhet Howard: 435A
National: FB-7, HRO (2), HRO-5, HRO-50, HRO-50R1, NC-173, NC-200, NC-303
Multi-Elmac: PMR-7
RCA: 8506B (2)
RME: 45, 69 (2)
Surplus: BC-454/BC-453; BC-455/BC/453; Navy RCA RAL-7, RCB, RBB, R-388, R-390 (3)

TRANSCEIVERS:

Collins: KWM-1
Collins: KWM-2, KWS-1
Hallicrafters: FPM-300, SR-150 (2); SR-400 Cyclone (2)
National NCX-5
Swan 350

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT:

Code Training Unit AN/GSC-T1 (see K2TOP)


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SCORES

STATION

OPERATOR

SCORE

W8KGI Jim 7,793,310
K6KN Rocco 3,691,776
K9VKY Brian 3,190,880
WQ8U Mac 1,396,570
W5TVW Sandy 1,190,400
N5AIT Al 1,044,888
WB2AWQ Howie 614,250
K3ZX Mark 224,112
W7ID Jeff 174,720
NE1S Larry 108,438
KC8JX Larry 83,880
WA4HLV Jeff 636
K1LKY Roy 261

NOTE: K2TOP was the first Multi-Op CX participant. Operators were: K2WI, Rob; WB2WCO, Jeff; WW2Y, Peter and his harmonic Grace.


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REPORTS

W8KGI, Jim

Wow, what a CX! The bands were jumping, even the 40 meter jingle bells were penetrable, a lot of guys showed up, and I managed to qualify all twelve transmitters and receivers. [Only 12 Jim? Slowing down to give others a chance?]

Of course there were a few problems along the way. The Lettine 240 was skittish on 40 when I tuned it up on Saturday, and it absolutely refused to put out 40 meter RF on Sunday. It was making RF somewhere, but the SWR indicated it sure wasn't where the antenna tuner was set. With a little extra time on my hands before dinner, I went out to the garage and borrowed an 80-meter coil from the Globe King, and doggone if the Lettine didn't settle down on its 3548 crystal and work just fine. So I paired it with the HQ-170A and made three QSO's just before Kathy called me to come and eat. [Jim obviously not only knows his rigs but also his priorities.]

Twenty was especially good this time. I managed to break through the din into K2TOP's AR8506B before their lights went out. Their Millen 90800/90881 sounded great. I couldn't resist working F5RFS in France and EA7FI in Sevilla, Spain along the way. Not bad for a 32V3 from New Mexico running into a 4 wavelength center-fed Zepp!

I worked Al, N5AIT, on 20, 40 and 80 - a CX "Hat Trick" - we haven't done that in quite a while if ever. Al used his BOGS on 20 and I countered with my BGGS on 80 (that's "burnt orange Globe Scout and blue green Globe Scout respectively). He had his TBS50D on 40, shades of the very first NX in 1975, and I had my TBS50C/D on 80. I worked you (WQ8U) on 40 and 80 too, but that's just "old hat" for us. Dennis, W5FRS, had a 1937 Meissner Signal Shifter, the very first one, driving a pair of 808's on 80 meters and slamming 599 into New Mexico. I promised to send him info on the 40 and 20 meter coil sets, so look for him to put that rig on the higher bands in the future.

The bottom line is 59 QSO's, an age multiplier of 1295 years, and a total score of 7,793,310.

On to September, and 73,
Jim Hanlon, W8KGI

Equipment on the air at W8KGI:

RECEIVERS:
BC-454/BC-453, BC-455/BC-453
Collins 75A-4
Drake R-4B
Hallicrafters SX-28
Hammarlund HQ-170A
National FB-7, HRO, HRO-50, NC-173, NC-200
RME-69

TRANSMITTERS:
BC459, CBY52209 (Navy BC457)
Central Electronics 100V
Collins 32V3
Drake T-4X
Globe Scout 680 (BGGS)
Harvey Wells TBS50C converted to D
Heathkit DX100
Johnson Viking Valiant
Lettine 240
Meissner Deluxe Signal Shifter, 1941
Millen 90800/90711

Click here to see Jim in his Summer shack (In the garage)
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Click here to see Jim's Winter shack (Inside where it is warm)
Will that mug fall off the BGGS before the next CX?
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N6KN, Rocco

Ten meters hung in there for the Feb activity, although the Sunspot cycle is waning. I made most of my contacts on 10 am using the Apache and 32V-2. I did not use the Viking Desk - it wipes out Ch 2 and my son's Nintendo on 10. Too bad, because it really attracts qso's on 10 am. [Rocco, if you can't operate it, a number of us would be glad to keep it warm for you :-) ] Twenty and Forty CW were also productive, although by the time I was down there, most of the East Coast and Midwest were on 80 or having 807's or something. However, I did work most of the regular suspects. Thanks to W8KGI for hearing my pitiful low dipole on 80, hich allowed me to squeak in qualifying my DX100 and B&W 6100.

New for Feb was the B&W 6100, which is one of my more Interesting acquisitions. This one has very few hours on it. I found some problems when I went through it and managed to get it working more or less up to spec, although the drive is still a bit low for my tastes. However, it really is a deluxe transmitter and fun to operate with the three "Kilocycles" control knobs. Also new for this contest was my second beat up SX 115. This one was pretty rough when I managed to acquire it and required a lot of work. However, it works great now and is one of my favorites. The case is beat up, but I tend to leave most of my cases that way - the "patina" makes them more valuable, right? Also, I am lazy about painting.[Again, another CX'er with good priorities.]

Looking ahead to September - I have not been hearing much on 10 am, although the fall conditions could be better. If 10 am is open, I will start there (near 29.00, and thanks for including that freq in the suggested phone freq list.) If no propagation on 10, I will be on 20 CW at the beginning of the activity. I have been pondering how to generate more interest in CX. Ten am is great for that, because I can chat with the stations who want to understand what it is, if they are unfamiliar with it. This is tough to accomplish on CW in a short time. I may try some 20 SSB and 40 SSB, just to see if I can get some activity going. If anyone wants to try this with your own classic SSB equipment, let me know. I can hear most of the country on 20 SSB at the beginning of the contest. The Cyclone III really penetrates the QRM. [Rocco is nominated for our on air activity development chairman]

I will send some pictures of my "Wall O'Radios" and other Operating positions via a second E Mail, because the attachments are long. Not sure if they will make it in one package - may have to break them up

Anyway, hope to hear you in September!

And here is my oft-repeated plea to begin CX earlier - such as 9 am EST, or even include Saturday (same hours). I like to spend time explaining and promoting CX to the new guys, but then I run out of time to work the regulars and qualify all the stations here. I know we would have much more West Coast activity, especially on 40, if we started early in the morning. 40 tends to be a great band to work up and down the West Coast in the mornings and afternoons - but it is really TOUGH in the evening, especially trying to handle the Midwest and east coast QRM with vintage receivers, low power, etc. The skip is just too long, and the broadcast stations tear it up. 80 cw is not very popular out here, for unknown reasons; 75 am is a good idea, but most activity tends to be in the form of vintage nets, which are not good for CX type exchanges. Another way to approach it is to try both Saturday and Sunday - perhaps phone only on Saturday (avoiding all the classic SSB nets on Sunday), and CW (or both modes) on Sunday. That would tend to concentrate the activity on the listed frequencies. The vintage phone only day would really help to promote CX, which deserves it, because it really is one of the most friendly and fun events on the air. Having CW on Sunday would tend to encourage folks to drag out the dusty Globe Scouts, DX 40's, and other low power junque that gets out better on CW. I am certain we would have many more vintage rigs on CX if we had two days. I know some people want to keep this low key and short, but why limit the fun? We need to encourage new guys and casual operators to try this, not make it difficult. I usually have several guys on 10 am work me, find out about CX, and then drag out another dusty rig or two just to see if they can work me again. If we some of this on Saturdays, we would undoubtedly have a bunch of guys show up on Sundays with the stuff they dragged out of the closet on Saturday. And that's the real fun, right? Two days - more hours. Please! [Good suggestions. Please let me or Jim know how the rest of you CX'ers feel we could make CX even better -Mac]

73,
Rocco Lardiere N6KN

Summary for N6KN:
57 Q's x (33 TX's + 34 RX's + 25 band-states) x 704 years CX = 3,691,776

My qualified stations:
1. Apache/75A4
2. 32V-2/R390A (Imperial)
3. Hallicrafters SR400A "Cyclone III"
4. Hallicrafters SR 150
5. National NCX-5
6. Heath SB401/SB301
7. Ranger II/Johnson Desk/75S-3
8. B&W 6100/SX115
9. DX100/NC300

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K9VKY, Brian

As always the CX is a good time, and the February 2002 edition was no exception. Band conditions were reasonably good, and it was great to meet some of the new guys to our hobby as well as the regulars. Hats off to W8ZR's fabulous sounding FPM-200, W9VC and his homebrew peanut whistle, and K2LMQ for having the presence of mind to move to Arizona! I was, however, disappointed to not work WB2AWQ's historical transmitters, W2LYH's all homebrew station, nor N5AIT's famous Burnt Orange Globe Scout. And, sadly, 30 minutes of trolling on 160 meters yielded nothing but white noise here in western Pennsylvania. [Can't do much about the QRN but, hopefully Sept 02 CX will have more CX'ers on 160]

Far from the efforts of years past, the 37 QSOs on five bands with 17 transmitters and receivers came up with a score of 3,190,880.

I may try to get a photo for you from the submarine USS Requin where we sign NY3EC if I end up in Pittsburgh on CX Sunday. Keep an ear out for both stations.

Here's hoping we can all get together again in the Fall CX---keep those rigs glowing!

K9VKY Brian

RIGS:
Hallicrafters FPM-200
1929 Homebrew UX-210 TNT transmitter
Collins 75A-3
Heathkit DX-20
National HRO-5
Johnson Viking Adventurer
Collins KWM-2
Collins KWS-1
Collins 75A-4
Collins 32V3
Collins 75A3
Collins 32S3
Collins 75S3B
Johnson Vikiing Navigator
Johnson Viking Ranger
R-388
R-390A

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WQ8U, Mac

The stars were all in alignment and T.O.M. was smiling on my shack. I got 10 rigs to come on the air when asked - that’s a first (that all the rigs I primed actually came on the air during CX). I have been studying W8KGI’s techniques and determined the trick to a real fun CX is to have a number of BAs warmed up and then try to convince them it would be fun to get out and play with their peers during CX. He does make it seem easy - Marty, AA4RM, has him tagged right “The BA switchboard in Albq.”

My best contacts were made with my Heathkit AT-1 and Howard 435A; these are the same models as I used in 1954 as a novice - without the VF-1 of course. I don’t remember the QRM being as tough then Hi. The “slight” chirp on several of the rigs folks were using seemed to help receiving them. I believe that is referred to as having character. I did not get any OO post cards this time.

Aside from the RTTY noisemakers on 40, things were good there so I decided to stay there until after dark when 80 became useful. I managed to work most of the CX regulars: WB2AWQ, Howie; N5AIT, Al; AA4RM, Marty; W8KGI, Jim; W5TVW, Sandy; K9VKY, Brian, K3ZX; K9STH, Glen; W8ZR, Jim; and our only multi-op (when it was on the air) W2TOP. Missed N6KN - apparently one of the few who did. What a ball!!!

Can’t wait for September.

73
Mac, WQ8U

RIGS:

TRANSMITTERS:
Drake T-4X
Johnson Viking Ranger I
Johnson Navigator
Johnson Viking Valiant
Heathkit AT-1 with VF-1

RECEIVERS:
Drake R-4A
RME-45
BC-348-Q
National HRO-50R1
Howard 435A

SCORE:
QSO = 35
STATES = 14
RX WORKED = 27
TX WORKED = 30
AGE OF MY RIGS = 562

35 x (14+27+30) x 562 = 1,395,570

WQ8U Mac

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W5TVW, Sandy

Again, only one station worked on 15 meters, K2TOP. I started there and called CQ CX many times but finally gave up as 20 meters was buzzing. A good amount of activity on 20 meters this time. Worked Jim, W8ZR and his buzzy FPM-200. He had a very nice signal with it this time. As things thinned out, I dropped to 40 meters. Activity was good, but there was some kind of !@*&+! RTTY/digital event going on! As usual, the RTTY guys didn’t give a damn about whose frequency they were on. Another reason to have separate sub-bands for CW and digital modes! Most of the signals were good and readable in spite of the QRM. [Good ops like Sandy seem to know how to work around stuff like that - even with classics like his RME-69] After dark, I shifted to 80 meters. Activity there although fair, was not great. Conditions seemed very good there, but not many “Cxers” around.

I managed several contacts with good reports with the bread boarded 1929 style Hartley oscillator with a single ’10 tube. The only other Hartley I worked was Bob, AC5AM who had a 211 Hartley running. Speaking of Bob, I’d like to claim possibly the first “CX” 160 meter two-way QSO of the year (at least in this area) with Bob AC5AM on 1816 Khz. on 160 meters! [Sandy had a lot of company with the really old rigs this CX.]

I was a tad more organized this year and had room on the operating table for ‘odd-ball’ rigs like my 1936 breadboard all triode rig using a pair of RK-34’s in the final. I hope to have another antique MOPA rig going by the Fall CX!

See you all then?

73,
Sandy Blaize, W5TVW

Summary of Equipment and Scoring

Summary of equipment used at W5TVW:

Hallicrafters HT-18 VFO/exciter, circa 1948
RME-69 Receiver, circa 1936
Elmac AF-67 Transmitter, circa 1954
Elmac PMR-7 Receiver, circa 1954
Hallicrafters SR-400 Transceiver, circa 1965
Hallicrafters SR-150 Transceiver, circa 1961
Homebrew 1936 design RK-34 P-P osc., P-P RK-34’s in final amplifier on breadboard, circa 1936
66 Navy Collins TCS-12 transmitter, circa 1942
Homebrew 1929 design ’10 Hartley Oscillator, circa 1928
Navy RCA RAL-7 receiver, circa 1941
Henry Radio 2K-2 Power amplifier, circa 1967
Drake 2NT Transmitter, circa 1966
Drake 2B Receiver, circa 1961

CX multiplier (Total years) = 744
Total Receivers + Transmitters (USED) = 15
Total “States” =25 Total QSO’s =40 40 X 40= 1600
Total score = 744 X 1600 = 1,190,400

W5TVW Sandy

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N5AIT, Al

Dear Mac, Jim and CX'ers,

Sorry to be so late with my CX report [It wasn't really late Al, but Jim W8KGI had already tuned up 12 rigs for the next CX when your report arrived.} I think passing along the CX administration came at just the right time: I have not been on the air at all since that contest, and the "radio corner" of the basement has been neglected since that time. Too much other "stuff" in my life, as somethines happens, much of which is not my first choice of what I would like to be doing!

I got most of my equipment qualified for this one (of course, I have olso sold off a lot of what I had, which made that much easier). Transmitters qualified were the oldstandbys (guess they're ALL old!) Harvey-Wells Bandmaster TBS-50D, the Viking I (which has since been passed along to a good home), Viking II (still doing just fine since I rescued it from its 20-plus year storage in a barn and got it going again), Globe Chief 90A, Lysco 600 which used to belong to Stu K8SJ (SK), T-4XB, and of \course the ever-popular "BOGS", the Burnt Orange Globe Scout 680. Receivers qualified were Hammarlund HQ-110 and HQ-170, Hallicrafters SX-100 (rescued from the dumpster at a Cincinnati hamfest and restored to life some few years ago). Drake 2-B and R-4B, and the latest addition to the collection, the one I had always wanted, a Collins 75A-4.

Returning to my usual CX operating form, I started on ten meters and moved lower until I found a band open and working. I heard some DX on fifteen but no contacts. Twenty meters got things rolling, picking up Sandy W5TVW and Jim W8KGI among others, and a prestty decent signal from Jim AD4YM's KWS-1. Slight envy there: the Sangamon Valley Radio Club (W9DUA, Springfield IL) of which I was a member when I was first licensed (high school days - late 50's) had a KWS-1 which I operated a few times [Pretty ritzy high school Al} Seemed to get out all right.

Moving down toforty meters after twenty seemed to be tapped out, I made most of my QSO's. Conditions were pretty decent and I did manage to work coast to coast and border to border, adding friend Marty AA4RM (with his infamous "69's" setup: (Stancore 69 and RME 69), CX stalwarts Howie WB4AWQ, Brian K9VKY, Al W8UT among others, and much pleased to contact brother Ben K9KOM running his B&W 5100 and GPR-90. Sspeaking of heavy metal... This time Ben no longer had the "antenna came down in the ice storm (which it did some time back) excuse; I dug up a Matchbox for him, and I think he was using it to feed a long piece of abandoned telephone wire draped across the tops of bushes. Hey - it worked!

I finished on 80 workig you, Mac, and a plethora of Jim W8KGI's rigs in a burst to the finish line. One of these days I gotta get out to New Mexico to see all of his stuff and how he has it conntected to switch in and out!

So with a CX multiplier of 591, my final score worked out to be 1,044,888. Not a bad CX run, if I say so myself! [Good job Al! Hope you can top it in Sept 02 CX]

QSOs: 26 Rigs and states worked: 68 CX multiplier: 591 Score: 1,044,888

List of Equipment Used:
Globe Scout 680 BOGS
Globe Chief 90A
Harvey Wells TBS-50D
Viking I
Vikikng II
Lysco 600
Drake T-4XB
Hallicrafters SX-100
Hammarlund HQ-110
Hammarlund HQ-170
Drake 2-B
Drake R-4B
Collins 75A4

Click here to see what Al's pride and joy looks like
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WB2AWQ, Howie

A SPECIAL NOTE TO AL N5AIT

Al, in spite of the confusion re the actual date, seems things worked out very well. Your last task as official overseer of CX was a great one. Very pleased to work you on two bands, even if one was not under such good conditions. Had to pass this one last CX log/letter through you, please forward. I/we really do appreciate all the work that goes into doing something like this, and CX has become a part of preserving our radio heritage thanks to your (and Jim and Marty as well) efforts and those preceding you. I am sure Stu knows and follows what he/you started.
73 and keep in touch!
//Howie WB2AWQ

FEB 2002 CX COMMENTARY

I thought conditions this CX were better than in a long time. Also a first for me, some AM phone contacts, on 10 meters. Nice thing about 10M AM is that most people there are running CX rigs. I tried to get my T4XC to load decently there but no go, so used a cheater rig TS-440. [We will have to have Jim W8KGI talk with you about real time rig repair to keep this pollution of the Classic event under control.]

Went from there to 20 CW and the joint was jumpin. Lots of Action including one DX station who called me, a guy from Czechoslovakia, but he wasn't running boatanchors. It's nice to hear some of the same standout rigs from year to year - Al N5AIT's Globe 680, and Sandy W5TVW's Elmac pair AF67 and PMR7, W8ZR's FPM-200.

Down on 40, things were also busy, but there was considerable QRM from the RTTY gang. Didn't see a contest listing in QST for RTTY but they were there, all over the place. Did manage 8 QSOs there including one with another Swan 350. K2TOP requested I go to 15 meters, so I did that one with him, but heard no other Cxers on that band.

At last, my favortie band - 80 meters. Brought out the big guns, my 1928 push-pull Hartley oscillator with its pair of 211 tubes. 80 watts output of not-so-pure RF pollution, big sparks at the key, and filaments bright enough to read by. I coupled this with my pristine National HRO, and a HB 1932 Jim Lamb single signal superhet built by my dear friend Art W4AWS (SK). First QSO was with Larry, NE1S, who was also running a P-P Hartley, but with 801 tubes (mine are bigger!). Larry was also using an RAL receiver, one of the best TRF radios going. I know because we used one aboard the USS Ling SS297 in Hackensack NJ. Larry gets my vote for the neatest rig on the air. [Maybe we should have that as an additional reporting element in the future. We could have a "Neatest Rig" award.]

There was a move afoot to try some 160-meter activity, so about 0030Z I hooked up yet another Hartley oscillator, this one with a very pretty HV18 150 watt triode running about 40 watts out, and reconfigured my antenna coupler to accept 160 meters. Called and listened for about 20 minutes near 1810KC but heard no Cxers. I personally would like to include 160 in the lineup for CX but guess we needed more coordination on this. Too bad, another 70 or so years in the multiplier would have been great......... [Plan on having those 71 years in Sept 02 CX]

Jumped briefly back to 20 meters CW. Had a 0100Z sked there but first ran into Rocco N6KN, who started out with an SR400, then another rig, then another....had to tell Rocco I had the sked, otherwise he might have kept up switching rigs until the cows came home.

This was a great CX, lots of old friendly faces, lots of new ones (for me at least).

CUall in the fall!
Howie WB2AWQ

Total CX age multiplier 375 counting Swan 350 and Kenwood TS-440 X2
CX score: 26 QSOs X (22 states/countries + 41 rigs worked) X CX mult 359 = 614,250

LIST OF EQUIPMENT USED:
Kenwood TS-440 (1986)
Drake T4XC (1975)
Hallicrafters SX101A (1960)
Swan 350 xcvr (1968)
HB 1928 push-pull Hartley oscillator, pair of 211's, 80W out
HB 1932 single signal superhet
National HRO (1940)

WB2AWQ Howie
Click here to see Howie's shack
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K3ZX, Mark

Had a good time, but must admit I got lazy and decided to NOT lift the HT-32 and HT-37 off the floor for this go-around ! [There is no rule in CX that the rigs must be off the floor.]

The most challanging QSO was working Taylor WA4APB who was running his Central Electronics CE10B with 1/2 watt !! It took 10 mintes to complete the exchange, but we made it !! He snuck up on me later on the same band with his C-Line and almost blew the cans off my ears !!

10 Meter AM -- not much CX activity heard per se. Got quite a few responses to my "CQ Classic Exchange" calls, but I don't think they were formally in the contest.

I was pleased that my B&W 5100B performed well -- it's a great radio. I'm looking forward to the "Fall Event". I've acquired a B&W 5100 (to keep my 5100B company), and should have completed the work on my DX-100B. [Amazing how these rigs seem to attract company.]

End of Soapbox.

de Mark K3ZX

Total CX Multiplier: 184
Total QSOs: 21
Scoring: 10M AM: (18)
States: 6
TX: 6
RX: 6


Scoring: 40M CW: (34)
States: 9
TX: 13
RX:12

Scoring: 80M CW: (6)
States: 2
TX: 2
RX:2

SCORE = QSO's x (Rx + Tx + QTH's) x CX Mult
= 21 x (18 + 34 + 6) x 184 = 224, 112

My radios:

B&W 5100B (1958); Age 44
SX-101A (1958); Age 44
SX-111 (1962); Age 40
HQ-129-X (1946): Age 56 (Early Model with Red Lettering)

> K3ZX Mark
Click here to see Mark and his shack
OK Mark, where are you going to put that new B&W-5100?
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W7ID, Jeff

I had a ball in this year's CX!

I made 20 QSOs using ten different transmitters and receivers. I started off on 20 meter CW working Jim, W8KGI who in 17 minutes tried FOUR different combinations on me while I was using only one station. Boy did that show me that I need to change how I approach this event. His ability to switch to another set-up all ready tuned up and on frequency is outstanding!

I was using my Hallicrafters HT-32B/SX-115 station. Boy is that gear fun to use. Then I moved over to my vintage number three table and fired up my DX-20 / SX-110 combo. This is my recreated novice station that I used back in 1960 when I was KN0VFZ from Littleton, Colorado.

After I qualified that set-up I sat my Hallicrafters SR-150 transceiver on the table and worked four stations with it including Al, N5AIT who was using his Globe Chief 90A and a HQ-170.

Next I replace the SR-150 with a Hallicrafters FPM-300 that I never use. While I was using this rig Jim, W8KGI called in again and told me that I had a second signal 1 KC away from the primary output. Using this old gear can be quite a challenge. [There is a CX restriction on transmitting on more than one frequency at a time - if you are caught.] I qualified it and retired it.

Next I pulled my Signal Shifter EX down off the shelf and hooked it up to an antenna. I had never even had it on the air. I bought it at a local hamfest several years ago for $8. I paired it up with a Collins 75A1 across the room on vintage table number two. Amazingly, Peter, K2TOP all the way back in NJ answered me on it. Wow it's hard to believe that such low power can make it all the way to the East Coast. [Wow, hard to believe such luck - my hamfest prizes rarely work when plugged in.] I moved the EX / A1 combo to 40 meters and worked a local station then moved to 80 meters to finish qualifying that pair.

So here is my final totals. 20 QSOs using ten different transmitters, receivers, transceivers. Worked 11 different states and I calculate my multiplier as 416 for a final score of 174,720. My best ever.[Good job!! - CX is fun, isn't it?]

My equipment list is as follows:

Hallicrafters HT32B (1961) with SX-115 (1961) both 41 years old.
Heath DX-20 (1957) 45 years old paired with SX-110 (1960) 42 years old.
Hallicrafters SR-150 transceiver (1963) 39 years old.
Hallicrafters FPM-300 (1972) 30 years old.
Meisner Signal Shifter EX (1948) 54 years old
Collins 75A1 (1947) 55 years old.

I know that I want to make some changes to my station and the way that I switch antennas around. Hopefully I'll be able to work stations with more than one rig back to back next time.

73 and see you in the next CX.
Jeff Bishop, W7ID
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NE1S, Larry

Hi Mac! (or is that Eimac?)[This is what some of us have to endure ;-)]

Here's my report from the 2002 Classic Exchange. I'm surprised I was able to make some good, solid QSO's on 15 & 20M with my CE20A barefoot (abt. 10W PEP out!).

The RAL I used is a commercial regen designed and made 1st in 1936. It was a marine receiver - maybe it'd be considered a "military" radio, I dunno. Boats were using them as back-up receivers well into the 60's, or so I've been told. They were manufactured by a few different contractors - I think RCA designed it. It uses 2- 6D6's as tuned RF amps, a 6D6 regenerative detector, a (you guessed it) 6D6 1st audio, and a type 41 audio output. Also had another 41 for AGC, which is in a hokey circuit and not very effective. Everything else about the receiver rocks, though - very stable, quite sensitive, and selective. It has an elaborate (passive, of course) tunable audio filter. It has a separate power supply; both it and the receiver are built like tanks and weigh as much. It covers 300Kc - 23 Mc. There is a LF version called the RAK that covers 15 Kc through 600 Kc; I've got one of those too.[Sounds like Larry and Howie WB2AWQ are members of the RAL fan club.]

I'd love to be able to send you some photos, but it may be a while before I can - I haven't broken down and bought a digital camera yet. I've got a scanner but I don't think I even have a working film-type camera. I've got 4 shacks in my house, and there's classic gear in all of them :>)

Hope this helps! I'll check out the web site.

73,
Larry/NE1S

Total Number of QSO's = 11
# TX worked on 15: 3
# RX worked on 15: 3
# Transceivers worked on 15: 4
# States worked on 15: 5

# TX worked on 80: 3
# RX worked on 80: 3
# States worked on 80: 3

# Transceivers worked on 20: 1
# States worked on 20: 1

Age multiplier: 318
Score = 11 x (3 + 3 + 2x4 + 5 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 1x2 + 1) x 318 = 108,438

Station #1:
15M SSB (3 QSO's):
TX: GSB-100 (1959) age = 43 yrs
RX: HQ-170 (1959) age = 43 yrs
Station #2:
15M SSB (4 QSO's) & 20M SSB (1 QSO):
TX: CE20A (1953) age = 49 yrs
RX: R390/URR (1953) age = 49 yrs
Station #3:
80M CW (3 QSO's):
TX: HBREW TNT w/ PP801's (1934) age = 68 yrs
RX: RAL (1936) age = 66 yrs

NE1S Larry
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KC8JX, Larry

As is usual, I had a great time. I even told the family that I was going to operate some extensively in the CX and they "sort of" let me have the time - thanks family! [What is your secret?] I operated some "newer" rigs this time and had a good time doing so.

In the next CX I will have another transmitter/receiver combo and a "new" transmitter I just got at Dayton. [One of several great BA sources.] So, I'm sure I will have even more fun. I was able to change some of my rig switches around so I could switch rigs and bring them up on frequency a little easier and was pleased at the results.

I used my "new" Drake B-Line this time and qualified a total of three transmitter/receivers (one transceiver). I also worked two DX stations which in all the other CX's I have not done, so that was something new. I love my classic gear and really like to operate it. The CX is a great event that brings out a lot of operators and great olde classic gear. Hope I can operate in this event for years to come.[We do to.]

Started out on 15 meter SSB using my Drake T4XB/R4B and worked four stations one being YS1/K9ULW that had just finished up a QSO with a friend of his and was headed to the Sunday Collins net on 20 meters. He gave me a call using his classic S-Line (32S3/75S3B). I also worked NE1S, on 15 SSB, when he first put his old CE20A on the air for the first time. After about three hours on 15, I switched to 20 CW and worked IZ1AWE, using my classic Heathkit HX-10, Marauder, and Drake 2B.

I worked AD4YM three times on 40 while he was using: DX-40/HQ-140, Ranger/75S1, and lastly his Drake B-line. This is such fun! Worked K9VKY twice while he was using: Collins 32V3/75A3, Ranger/R390. I was able to work two of the three main "cogs in the wheel" of the CX, WQ8U and N5AIT. Allan you started this and I always look forward to it, so thanks a lot for all your efforts over the years. It was great hearing your Viking 2. WQ8U, John, you had great signals here using your Ranger/RME45 and T4XB/R4A. I only missed working W8KGI and his many rigs (along with many others who were probably on but I did not hear).[Hopefully your new rig from Dayton will solve that.]

My total overall score does not matter; it's just great to be able to operate in the CX using my own classic radios and to hear such olde classic radios.

Transmitters:
Drake T4XB Heathkit HX-10 MARAUDER

Receivers:
Drake R4B
Drake 2B

Tranceivers:
Kenwood 940S

SCORE:
Total QSO's: 21
Total Rx's: 20
Total Tx's: 21
Total St/Prov/DX: 16
Band/Mode Score: 466
CX Mult: 180
Score: 83,880

May your days be full of sunshine and good thoughts fill your head.

From: Larry Knapp, KC8JX,
St. Joseph, Mi 49085

Best 73's

P.S.
Mac - am looking forward to working the CX, as always.... will have two new rigs available...DX-20/NC-125 and Drake 2NT/2C...so, looking forward to it....

73,
Larry KC8JX
Click here to see Larry in his shack
Larry is going to need to build an extension to hold those new rigs.
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WA4HLV, Jeff

Hi Al...
Here is my log for the February 10, 2002 Classic Exchange. This is my 2nd one, but didn't remember it until almost the last minute, so didn't have much time to prepare. I got out the rig that I went on the air with as a novice back in 1974; and managed to make the minimum three contacts with it. I should have spent some time tweaking beforehand, as a slight chirp was reported...(sorry folks... it didn't do that 25 years ago, honest!) [We believe you Jeff, but now it has character.]

I hope during the next CX to enter the realm of AM phone... the Globe Scout's AM is just a little too wimpy to do anything with at 15 to 20 watts output... but just this past weekend I had a Johnson Viking Valiant [Watts are good!!!] given to me by a friend across town. He was cleaning out his basement; and it was one of those "if you don't take it, it's going in the trash" things. Well, he didn't have to twist my arm on that one!

I did hear you on the air during the last CX, but because of the busy frequency did not get to work you. Maybe next time we can get a Globe Scout to Globe Scout QSO going.

73,
Jeff Gregory, WA4HLV / McDonald TN

My rig:
Xmtr - Globe Scout 65-B (rusty gray) year 1957 - age 45 (with Heathkit VF-1 VFO)
Rcvr - WWII Army BC-348 year 1941? - age 61

CLAIMED SCORE:
3 QSOs X (1 XMTR +1 RCVR) X TOTAL AGE 106 YRS = 636

WA4HLV Jeff

Click here to see Jeff's shack
That receiver sure looks more like a NC-100 than a BC-348 ;-)
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K2TOP, Rob (K2WI)

* * * * * * * * * BEST EXCUSE AWARD * * * * * * * * * *

THE PROMISE - AN E-MAIL SENT ON SUNDAY MORNING

Hi,

The Garden State Topband Club K2TOP will be on for the Classic Exchange this afternoon/evening. The really fun event starts at 3PM Eastern and ends at Midnight Eastern. There will be lots of cool boatanchors on the air. Don't let yours sit there and gather dust, fire 'em up!!

We'll be on :
3545ish with a Hallicrafters S-40a and Heath DX-40
7045ish with a Westinghouse US Navy TBW and RCA US Navy RBC
1404 rockbound with a Millen 90800/90881 and Breting 14
21135ish with Drake C-line
We may also try to get some AM going on 7290 or 29070.

73 and CUL, Rob K2WI

THE CLASSIC EXCHANGE TALE OF WOE(?) from K2TOP

Our operation in the Classic Exchange got started in earnest at 2120Z with Jeff WB2WCO on 14.041Mc using the Millen 90800/90881 and RMCA AR-8506b, and myself on 15m running the Drake C-line. Conditions were excellent. The AR-8506b was a last minute substitute for the Breting 14 which lost its local oscillator about 2 hours before the start. The AR-8506b gave new meaning to a "clear" frequency. A clear frequency is one where you hear 10 stations but none of them are telling you to move to a different one. [That's part of the fun of classic gear.]

Peter, WW2Y, showed up and sat down at the Heathkit DX-40 and Hallicrafters S-40a on 7Mc. Even the Heathkit QF-1 Q-multiplier could not keep the RTTY out of the receiver, but I told Peter to hang in there and do the best he could until the RTTY contest ended at 0000Z. In spite of the interference, this station made the most contacts. [QRM brings out the best in some operators.]

Once we had made the requisite 3 contacts with the AR-8506b for it to count as having been used, we switched to the RCA US Navy RBC for 14Mc. Jeff's brain, taxed from trying to copy one of ten signals heard at a time, was very happy.

Our fourth operator, Peter's 2-year-old daughter Grace, woke up from her nap and joined the crew after a tour of the station. She really liked the mercury vapor rectifiers. She then sat down at her station, consisting of an RCA US Navy RBB receiver and a AN/GSC-T1 Code Training Unit. When she turned the tuning knob on the RBB, she said "Wow". 55 years later, and the quality of that rig is obvious to a 2 year old. [Obviously this child has good ham genes.] She then practiced her dits and dahs on the Code Training Unit. She was kinda freaked out by the headphones. It’s going to take a lot of gentle playing around to undo that visit to the audiologist.

I drove to town to pick up a pizza, and on my return saw Jeff stumbling down the walk to the parking lot as I wondered why he hadn't turned the light on. Wait a minute, there aren't any lights on!! Looks like we have taken another 50-year leap backwards in time and now we are in the 19th century. After briefly wondering if this could be our fault (naaaah), I lit a kerosene lamp and rescued the rest of the crew from the darkness. Peter said that when the lights went out, Grace said, "Uh-oh". We ate our pizza and then Grace initiated a half-hour game of peek-a-boo. Peek-a-boo with a 2 year old is great fun, and even more fun by the light of a lantern.

The lights were to remain off for the duration, so we never did get to fire up the Westinghouse US Navy TBW and RCA US Navy RBB on 80meters. The crew gave up on waiting and went home. Well, we had a heck of a lot of fun anyway, especially with our fourth operator Grace. I guess this is not really a tale of woe after all.

How many points for a hit-and-miss engine belted to an array of generators and dynamotors? [Sounds like your are trying to make the case for a new multiplier ;-)]

73, Rob K2WI

Click here to see Grace and Peter WW2Y at her operating position
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K1LKY, Roy

Mac,

I made just one contact as follows:
2200-2331 EST KZ3X, Mark, He was running a B&W 5100B and HQ-129X. 589 signals both ways.
My rig was the Collins 32S-3 and 51S-1. Antenna was an Alpha Delta multi-band dipole up about 15 feet tuned with a small Johnson Matchbox.
Thanks for all you are doing on the newsletter.
Roy

SCORE:
QSO: 1
Rigs + States Worked:3
CX Multiplier: 87
Score: 261

Click here to see Roy doing some serious operating in his shack
Roy recently restored his S-line. The key in use is the Navy Flameproof he has had since novice days in 1959.

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- Roy Morgan, K1LKY since 1959 - Keep 'em Glowing!
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K8BVJ, Jack

Hi Mac:

Nice to hear from you agn.....
I just made a notation about the upcoming Sept CX party.... I sure don't want to miss it....hi. [We will all be looking for you on Sept 22nd.]

Here's a picture of my shack and most of my classic gear that's on the air full time, no modern stuff for me.....strictly tubes...hi.
I got my ticket back in 1956....and I still love this old stuff..

I have a web site devoted to ham radio http://community.webtv.net/k8bvj/AMATEURRADIO

Talk to u soon...........................
Jack K8BVJ

Click here to see Jack's shack
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K8NU, Carl

Mac,
unfortunately I wasn't very active in the February CX due to time conflicts.[Carl, you are excused this time but let's get the priorities straight ;-)] But, here's a picture anyway!

73,
Carl K8NU

Click here to see Carl in his shack
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at had just finished up a QSO with a frie./CX/Feb03Newsletter.html000064400025770001750000002051300765350472600162700ustar00CX-testdev-web00000400000004 FEBRUARY 2003 CX NEWSLETTER

CLASSIC RADIO EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER February 2003 CX

CLICK ON THE SECTION TITLE OR CALL TO JUMP TO THAT SECTION
OR JUST SCROLL DOWN AND ENJOY IT ALL

HIGHLIGHTS

EQUIPMENT REPORTED USED: TRANSMITTERS and RECEIVERS

SCORES

INDIVIDUAL REPORTS

W8KGI
Jim

N6KN
Rocco

K2TOP
Rob &
Crew

WQ8U
Mac

WB2AWQ
Howie

W7FOX
Fox

K3ZX
Mark

WJ9B
Will

K9VKY
Brian

W8ZR
Jim

W5TVW
Sandy

AA4RM
Marty

KC8JX
Larry

K9STH
Glen

W2JEK
Don

K5DH
Dean

N5OHL
Jim

W6XA
Paul

K4EJQ
Bunky

KC8UAN
Lyle

K5AM
Mark

W2AGN
John

WA5EUK
Brian

N5AIT
Al

ATTRIBUTION AND DISCLAIMER

The CX Newsletter is intended for the enjoyment of CX participants and others interested in the restoration, operation and enjoyment of Classic Ham Gear. This Newsletter was prepared from materials submitted by CX participants and from on-the-air observations and QSOs. Editorial comments on Individual Reports are shown in [Italics]. Any errors, omissions, or insensitive comments are unintentional. Please let me know if you have suggestions on improving the Newsletter or the CX website.
Thanks and 73,
Mac, Mac, WQ8U

FEBRUARY 2003 CX HIGHLIGHTS

HIGH SCORERS - HOW IT’S DONE

Jim, W8KGI, who came in third in the September 2003 CX, decided that he wasn't going to let Rocco, N6KN, keep the record for CX high score. When Jim makes up his mind, look out! Jim racked up a record setting score of 26,598,000 points using 24 receiver/transmitter pairs with a total age of 2600 years. AWESOME!!! That is a 6.3 dB increase over Rocco's record. Click here to see Jim's "Summer" and Winter" stations

Rocco, N6KN, came in second with 11,388,762 points using 15 stations with a total age of 1162 years. Click here to see if Rocco is still smiling.

Rob and team, K2TOP, came in third with 4,827,216 points. While the total age of their gear was a young 632 years, the team kept all those rigs active to rack up that score. Click here to see the K2TOP team and their rigs.

INTERESTING RIGS, QSOs and ENTRIES

10 Meters
"The sunspots are down, and it's a new ball game." Rocco, N6KN
"10 meters: Too bad this band was a bust." Rob, K2TOP
"The bands were the pits, but I wasn't going to let that spoil my fun. I didn't hear any CX CW on 10 meters at all." Fox, W7FOX
"Started off on 10M AM this year, and got nowhere!" Mark, K3ZX

Mac, WQ8U: The benchmark change to the station was the addition of the venerable BOGS (Burnt Orange Globe Scout), which was passed to me from Al, N5AIT, the CX founder/organizer/former Newsletter producer.

Peter, K2TOP: Homebrew p-p 811s driven by a DX-40 with Northern 115 Variable Master Oscillator. A DX-40 never sounded so good.

WA2AWQ, Howie: About 8:30 local I decided it was time to pollute the ether on 80M, with a couple of HB self-excited oscillators, the potent push-pull Hartley beast with a pair of 211's running over 90W out, and my 1921 UV-202 parallel rig, whose filaments take more power than the plates. Receivers on 80 were a HB 1932 Jim Lamb superhet, and a 1934 single tube regenerative whistler.

Rob, K2TOP: This station was awkward because the receiver (McMurdo-Silver 5c) frequency changed with the RF gain, so we were never really sure where we were listening.

WA2AWQ, Howie: My choice for special kudos this year go to Mac WQ8U, who on 40, for a second rig, ran the most operationally challenging gear, a Heath AT-1 and a Howard 435 receiver. Rob, K2TOP, once again has the neatest rig, an all-Navy setup, TBW transmitter and RBM receiver.

"Mark, K3ZX: The wierd QSO of the event goes to Ed W8NZW. He's 84 years old, and told me he was running an ICOM, but he was in the bedroom and his rig was not. I told him I needed the type of radio, and he said "Well, it's in the other room, but it's 24 yrs old". Hmmm.

K9VKY, Brian: All the smoke started and ended with Collins power supplies. First came the KWM-2, which will be easy to repair, but the heart breaker was with the Collins 310B3. Not only were the power transformer and choke taken out, but there was a PCB "event" with the filter caps while the rig cooked itself all night!

Marty, AA4RM: Fact is I got so entertained with the Navigator/2B & Johnson 500/Pro310, everything else slept.

Larry, KC8JX: But the “hoot of the exchange” was when I worked W8KGI….we went on for over one hour….Oh my….all those rig combinations (12 I counted); I hope I copied all of them correctly; there was some QRM…..what a hoot working Jim.

Glen, K9STH: I suffered a major heart attack on 5 January 2003 and underwent open heart surgery on the 10th (4 bypasses!). Fortunately, there wasn't any damage to my heart at all! Frankly, I was very lucky.

Dean, K5DH: Although I've been a ham since 1977, this was my first-ever CX. What a blast!

Paul,W6XA: Haven't heard so many chirpy signals since the Russians got commercial gear.

Bunky, K4EJQ: Just wanted to tell you and the others how much I enjoyed the recent "CX". Like the rest of those I worked, I don't consider this a contest but rather an on-the-air get together for those of us that enjoy the "finer things" our hobby provides, i.e. fellowship, operating expertise, and of course the PRIDE we share in the older equipment we use.

AWARDS

PSE QRX WHILE I SWITCH RIGS - VICTIMS AWARD

One of the pleasures of CX is hearing so many of the old great ones on the air at one time. Jim, W8KGI, and Rocco, N6KN, have designed their stations to allow unsuspecting CXers to have more of that pleasure in one contact than could be expected. During this CX Jim worked his way through 12 transmitter/receiver pairs in one round of QSOs with each of three heroic CXers: Art, WA5OES; Larry, KC8JX; and Paul, K2LMQ.

MOST DISTINCTIVE SIGNAL AWARD

Jim, W8ZR, usually works CX with an old Hallicrafters FPM-200 which has a very distinctive signal. This CX several folks noted that it did not have its usual full chirp. [That's pretty sad Jim, when people wonder why your signal doesn't sound as bad as usual.] Howie, WB2AWQ, with his p-p 211 rig and Rob et.al, K2TOP, with the TBW rig were again noted for their distinctive signals.

I WAS DOING OK UNTIL …. AWARD

Rocco, N6KN, was doing fine until a girl scout selling cookies appeared at his door. While Rocco was getting his Thin Mint fix, his Drake T-4XB was key down without an antenna. Rocco reports that the smell of burning resistors does not enhance the cookie's flavor.


MOST CX-LIKE QUOTATIONS

Rob,K2WI, says: "I have a new kid that will need lots of practice if he is going to be ready for the Fall CX. I can almost get him to say his initial, M for Martin, "da-da" at 5 weeks."

LATEST TECHNOLOGY VICTIM AWARD

It is well known that most CXers prefer vacuum tube rigs and more mature technology, e.g. pencil and paper, over todays new fangled computer controlled appliances. Unfortunately, Sandy, W5TVW, could not resist the siren song of technology and trusted his CX log to the computer - at least that is his excuse for not sending in a log. We'll see what he comes up with in September.


BEST PET NAME FOR A RIG AWARD

Rob and team at K2TOP, used a Navy TBW named "Pumper-Thumper" because of its noisy 3 amp keying relay


WEIRDEST COMBINATION AWARD

Self nominated by Jim, W8ZR, and appropriately awarded: I paired the Lysco 600 with a Davco DR-30 receiver, a duo which I humbly submit as my entry in the "weirdest combination" category. [On first look, the name shown for the Lysco 600 in Moore's appears to be Toastmaster 600. It is really named Transmaster 600 - An 807 won't get hot enough to make toast.]



MOST FIRED UP CXer AWARD

Al, N5AIT, who was one of the founders of CX and who has always been a CX champion, is known for his enthusiasm and really getting into things all the way. This CX Al was a serious participant; however, recently he has been so fired up about things at home he did not get his score or report in. He promises things will be better by next CX.


WHAT ABOUT CHANGES?

In the last year the CX has added 160 meters, highlighted 10 meter AM and extended the time into the wee hours. These changes, with the exception of 10 meters, seem to be adding to the enjoyment of CX for many folks.
However, things can always be improved. Suggestions have been made by Rocco, N6KN, and Bunky, W4EJQ. Please let me know what you think and any other ideas you have for making CX more fun.
Mac, WQ8U
CX Newsletter Editor
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EQUIPMENT REPORTED USED: TRANSMITTERS and RECEIVERS

TRANSMITTERS


NUMBER OF EACH REPORTED SHOWN IN ( ) IF GREATER THAN ONE.

B&W: 5100B, 6100 (2)
Central Electronics: Multiphase 100V (2)
Collins: 32V-2, 32V-3(2), 310B-3, KWS-1
Drake: 2-NT (2), T-4X (2), T-4XB, T-4XC (3)
Elmac: AF-67, AF-68
Gross: CW-25
Hallicrafters: HT-17, HT-18, HT-20, HT-32A, HT-32B, HT-37
Hammarlund: FOUR-20
Harvey-Wells: TBS-50C Bandmaster
Heath: AT-1 / VF-1, DX-20 (2), DX-40, DX-40/H-B p-p 811, DX-60, DX-100 (2), HX-10 Marauder, SB-200, SB-401 (2), TX-1 APACHE
Home Brew: Hartley p-p 211 (WB2AWQ), 1921 parallel UV-201 (WB2AWQ), 6V6/807 (K5DH), Pair 1625 (W7FOX), W8IB's 6L6 (W8KGI)
Johnson: Adventurer (2), Challenger, Desk KW, Navigator (2), Ranger I (4), Ranger II (4), Valiant (2), Viking I, Viking II, Viking 500
Kenwood: T-599D
Knight: T-150
Lettine: 240
Lysco: Transmaster 600
McMurdo Silver: 701/K
Meissner: Deluxe Signal Shifter, Signal Shifter "EX"
Military Surplus: BC-230, BC-459, BC-696A, CBY-52209 (Navy BC-457), T-19/ARC-5, T-20/ARC-5, Navy TBW "Pumper Thumper"
Millen: 90800 Exciter (2), 90800, 90881
Sonar: VFX-680
WRL: Globe Chief 90, Globe King 275, Globe Scout 680, Burnt Orange Globe Scout (BOGS) 680

RECEIVERS:

NUMBER OF EACH REPORTED SHOWN IN ( ) IF GREATER THAN ONE.

Collins:51S-1, 51S-3 (2), 51S-3A, 75A-2, 75A3, 75A4 (4)
Davco: DR-30
Drake: 2-B (4), 2-C, R-4A, R-4B, R-4C (2)
Echophone: EC-1
Hallicrafters: SX-28 (2), SX-28A,SX-73, SX-101A (4), SX-115 (2), S-43, S-53A, S-76
Hammarlund: HQ-110, HQ-129-X (4), HQ-170A (2), HQ-180, PRO-310, SP-600
Heathkit: HR-1680, SB-301, SB-303
Home Brew: 1932 Jim Lamb Superhet (WB2AWQ); 1934 Single tube regen whistler (WB2AWQ)
Howard 435A, 438
Kenwood R-599D
McMurdo Silver: 5C Military Surplus: BC-348-Q, BC-348-R, BC-454/BC-453, BC-455/BC-453, Imperial R-390, RBA, RBB, RBC, RBM, RCR, TCS-12/BC-453 National: FB-7 (2), HRO (2), HRO-50R1, HRO-50T1, HRO-60, NC-80X, NC-101X, NC-125, NC-173 (2),NC-200, NC-303
RCA: AR-88d
RME: 45, 69, 70, 6900

TRANSCEIVERS:

NUMBER OF EACH REPORTED SHOWN IN ( ) IF GREATER THAN ONE.

Collins: KWM-2, KWM-2A
Cosmophone: 35
Drake: TR-4C
Gonset: G-76
Hallicrafters: SR-150; SR-400A Cyclone
Heathkit: HW-101, SB-101 (3)
Home Brew: SSB Transceiver 8072 final (K5AM) National: NCX-5
Yaesu: FTDX-100

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT:

Code Training Unit AN/GSC-T1 (see K2TOP)

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SCORES

STATION

OPERATOR

SCORE
W8KGI Jim 26,598,000
N6KN Rocco 11,388,762
K2TOP Rob and team 4,827,216
WQ8U Mac 1,515,161
WB2AWQ Howie 1,380,488
W7FOX Fox 894,381
WJ9B Will 832,200
N3ZX Mark 465,036
K9VKY Brian 278,511
K5AM Mark 233,740
W2AGN John 178,848
AA4RM Marty 176,000
KC8JX Larry 132,720
K9STH Glen 56,160
W2JEK Don 39,096
K5DH Dean 34,918
N5OHL Jim 8,626
W6XA Paul 3,872

NOTE:
K2TOP is a team entry consisting of Peter WW2Y, Jeff WB2WCO, Jack K2BMI, Al N3FRQ, Eric KC2JSX, and host Rob K2WI.



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REPORTS

W8KGI_Jim

Mac,

The February 2003 CX is one that I will never forget, and perhaps something I'll never try that way again either, HI. Normally I just use one of my two shacks on a given CX, the inside shack in the winter and the garage shack in the summer. But this year, spurred on by Rocco, N6KN, [Rocco, see what you caused.] I decided to see how many of the transmitters and receivers from both shacks I could get on the air and qualified. Believe it or not, I managed to qualify 24 pairs! The only available transmitter I didn't qualify was my DX-100, and that appears to have been due to a "pilot error" on my part late in the CX.

The weather out here in New Mexico was quite mild that weekend, so I was able to get out in the garage for quite a while without freezing my buns off. I had decided to start off on 10 meter AM this time, and I had five transmitters all ready to go. I even had five different microphones connected to them with a label on each one so I wouldn't get them mixed up.

Sunday afternoon at 2000Z came and not just 29.0 but all of 10 meters was absolutely dead. [Sorry to tell you Jim, but Rocco was getting CX QSOs on 10 meters. ] So I went inside after a few minutes of calling CQCX on 10 with no answers and I qualified the four pairs that I had tuned up on 14045. Only the HT-18 vfo that I had driving the Globe Scout 680 (the Blue-Green Globe Scout) wasn't cooperating, but I grabbed a 7022.5 crystal and plugged that in and got everything on the air.

About 2200 I went back out to the garage and tried 10 again. It was still completely dead. So I shifted all of the 10 meter gear up to 7045 and started out about 2230 with twelve pairs of transmitters and receivers all on 40 CW. Art, WA5OES, up in Colorado was my first victim, followed by Paul, K2LMQ, in Arizona and then Larry, KC8JX, in Michigan. [Jim, you owe this trio something special - maybe send them each an extra rig or two.] It took us about 45 minutes each time, but we managed to make QSO's with all 12 pairs, everything from the flea power Hammarlund 4-20 and Silver 701 with about 10 watts out to the rock crusher Globe King 275 with better than 200 watts out. All of my receivers worked too, even the little Echophone EC-1 that heard everything from 7030 to 7060 all at once. I was afraid that the Hallicrafters SX43 was going to be out of business, it had a whole gob of hum coming out of it when I first turned it on for 10, but the filter caps must have healed because it settled down nicely for 40 cw. The "new" Johnson 122 vfo that I was using to drive my Adventurer decided not to work, but I found a crystal at 7050, and the guys were kind enough to listen for me up there as well as to work the herd on 7045.

About 0130 I came back inside to get warm. There was still a lot of action on 40, so I cranked up my 40 meter, single-band BC455/BC453 and BC459 Command Sets and brought my Lettine 240 and HRO down from their 80 meter assignment, and I managed to qualify them on 40 as well. Around 0345 I switched to 80 and qualified three more pairs including my little, home-brew 6L6 rig that I got from Bob (Doc) Higgy, W8IB, my EE prof at Ohio State. I ran Doc's HRO together with his 6L6, probably the first time those two have been on the air together since perhaps 1950 or so. About 0500 I tried to switch to 160 where I had my last three pairs ready to go. But I couldn't get my antenna tuner to cooperate - more pilot error it now appears since they tuned up OK for me this afternoon. I could hear the guys working the CX on 1810, but I couldn't get any RF out on that frequency! So I moved the 160 meter gear back down to 3545, all except for the DX-100 which didn't want to load properly on that frequency, and I managed to finish out qualifying the rest of the gear on 80 just as the final bell rang at 0600.

So that's the story. Murphy took a few shots at me, but I recovered pretty well and had an absolutely fabulous time. My undying thanks to Art, Paul, and Larry for spending so much time copying my 40 meter collection. They are great guys.

As to the score, my age multiplier not counting vfo's, keys, microphones and the aging operator was 2600 years! Wow! When I put it all together, the grand total score was an all-time high for me, 26,598,000 points! [Double WOW!!] Maybe next time I'll concentrate on talking to as many different stations as possible instead of trying to get all of this gear on the air. It would be an interesting change, and it sure would take less maintenance time for several weekends ahead of time trying to make it all work.

73,
Jim Hanlon, W8KGI

Click HERE to see Jim and his shacks.

Equipment on the air:

20 meters
Transmitters: Central Electronics 100V, 32V3, 1941 Deluxe Meissner Signal Shifter, Globe Scout 680.
Receivers: NC173, 75A4, SX28, NC200

40 meters
Transmitters: Globe King 275, Elmacs AF67 and AF68, McMurdo Silver 701, HT-20, Hammarlund 4-20, Globe Chief 90, DX20, DX60, Knight T150A, Johnson Adventurer and Viking I, BC459, and Lettine 240.
Receivers: NC303, SX28A, HQ129X, HQ170A, HQ180, SP600, 75A3, Howard 438, Echophone EC-1, SX43, SX73, RME70, BC455/BC453 and HRO.

80 meters
Transmitters: W8IB's Home Brew 6L6, Millen 90711/90800, TBS50D, CBY52209 (Navy BC457), T4X, Valiant.
Receivers: HRO-50, FB7, BC454/BC453, R4B, RME69, NC80X.


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N6KN_Rocco

The sunspots are down, and it's a new ball game. I spent Saturday morning and Sunday morning putting together a new station on the workbench, featuring a nice Johnson Challenger with a Lafayette VFO and a recently acquired R4. I managed to get the Challenger to put out a decent 10-M AM signal after carefully tuning up and trying several microphones (after a month of trouble shooting and modifying on the bench). [Rocco is a perfectionist.]

The Challenger certainly was a challenge - I can see why so many of them are available in such good condition these days - it would be been tough for a teenager in the 60's to put one on the air, because there are several bugs in the design and the early production runs. I found the right combo and worked a lonely N5 mobile in New Orleans just before the CX began.

I began the CX on 10 M AM with the Johnson Ranger II/Desk KW. Absolutely no replies after 10 minutes, so I gave up and went to a trio of SSB transceivers on 29005. KA9EES/HH4 came back and was very patient as I worked him on the Hallicrafters SR150 and HT32B/SX115 stations. After a few minutes, some lonely local 6's showed up and helped qualify those stations plus the BW6100/SX115 station. I then tried 10 AM again and the band opened up a bit. W8AW had a great signal with his homebrew 807 rig, as did W0ZPT with his 32V1. Several stations said the Challenger audio was as good as my 32V2 and better than my Apache! Maybe the Challenger is underrated as a phone transmitter. [Rocco, for goodness sakes, don’t tell W8KGI how you were doing that on 10 Meter AM.]

Moved to 20CW at 2227Z and worked W8ZR with his less-chirpy-than-usual FPM 200. Guess Jim has been working on it, or maybe it just gets better with aging. [Everything at Jim’s university is on a tight budget, he probably just couldn’t afford as much chirp this year.] W7FOX was strong from Arizona, and helped me qualify three other stations. The band was pretty good, with low noise and many CX stations heard. However, I could tell that the east and midwest stations were already moving to 40 CW.

However, I could barely hear any CX activity on 40 CW at 0050, so I went to 20 SSB to see how that might work out during low sunspot years. I landed on 14280, which was clear, and easily qualified my Drake C line twins plus the CE100V/HRO 60 (terrible on SSB). Then disaster struck; I answered the doorbell and bought two boxes of girl scout cookies from the cute girl scout standing there. Unfortunately, I had left my T4XB in what I thought was SPOT. It turned out to have been in Transmit, key down, no antenna, no tuning. This resulted in no output and a burned resistor smell (how well I know that smell). These cookies turned out to be very expensive. [And what did they do to your wasteline?]

Finally went to 40 CW and worked many CX regulars. K2TOP had a great signal with his DX40, and he heard my drifty DX60 with his RBC. K6LQI's ARC 5 sounded wonderful, as usual; hope I did not blow his receiver off the shelf, as he is line of sight, and that is always a concern. WA6EKR heard me with his S38; now, that's a challenge. Many classic rigs were heard and worked. Never had time for 40 SSB, although I may try that next time.

80 CW was too noisy, as usual. I did work W8KGI, who always seems to be successful on that band.

Biggest surprise - no Globe Scouts heard or worked. Several 60's novice transmitters were active, including VE7XF's Eico 720. I wish I had the room to have put my own 720 on the air, but the Challenger took up the workbench. I qualified 15 stations and had a fun time, as usual. If 10 AM continues to decay, I will be trying more 20 and 40 SSB. Final score is 11,388,762, down a bit from last time but not too bad, considering 10 M conditions.

I still think that the CX should be two days long, or at least start much earlier on Sunday morning (6AM PST, 9AM EST). Sunday morning is a good time to operate from here. 40 is open to the west coast and mountain states during the morning hours, and I think this would stimulate activity out here. Also, it would be easier for me to spend more time chatting with CX regulars on 20 CW, instead of rushing between the rigs to qualify them (although that's fun, too). Just my 2 cents' worth. CX needs more hours! I really think this would help relative newcomers hear active CX stations and have time to put their own dusty classic rig on the air and join in before the activity is over.

For the same reasons, I also favor a second day - Saturday - for (perhaps) classic phone rigs. We would hear many more CX crazies trying DX40's and such on 20 AM, and other such acts of courage or madness. [What do the rest of you think? E-mail your ideas and comments about CX to me: Mac, WQ8U]

73,
Rocco, N6KN

Click HERE to see Rocco and his shacks.

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K2TOP_Rob

[K2TOP is a team entry consisting of Peter WW2Y, Jeff WB2WCO, Jack K2BMI, Al N3FRQ, Eric KC2JSX, and Rob K2WI. K2TOP is the station call for the Garden State Top Band Club.]

Hi Mac,
How did we miss each other?
Here are some shots of the usual suspects for the Rogue's Gallery.

Peter on 40m with homebrew p-p 811s driven by a DX-40 with Northern 115 Variable Master Oscillator. A DX-40 never sounded so good. Receivers are both made by RCA, AR-88d, and Navy RBC. Peter worked several with both receivers. Click here to see Peter.

The Wall of Radios concept as implemented at K2TOP. Peter on 40, Jeff on 80, MF Beacon Search station, and Drake C-line behind Jeff for 15/160. Click here to see the Wall of Radios and operators.

Jeff WB2WCO on 80m. US Navy TBW(AKA the "pumper-thumper" due to its 3-ampere keying relay) with it's mates the RBM and LM, with RBB below for when the going got rough on 80. RBA to the right was used by Eric Houghton to find 10 Air Beacons. Click here to see Jeff and the "Pumper-Thumper".

2003 WINTER CLASSIC EXCHANGE 2/1/2003 AT K2TOP

10 meters: Too bad this band was a bust. [Someone else who needs to talk to Rocco.] I had the AR-88 tuned to 28.200, listening to the YV5B and LU1FHH beacons, with the receiver staying right on the beacons all day, even with the crystal filter on. Those guys at RCA knew what they were doing. We put out many CQs with the DX-40 but with no results. On Monday I worked a station in TX with the Northern 115 oscillator barefoot, about 1watt.

15 meters: We only listened here for a short time with the Drake C-line before we stole the 40m dipole to use on its own band. Note to self: We need a separate 15 meter antenna.

20 meters: Running the Millen 90881/90800 transmitter(54 Years) and National RCR receiver (like an NC-240, 55 years) with a dipole at 50 feet. We were rockbound on 14040, which was a major disadvantage, especially when the giant DX pileup erupted right on that frequency. Jack pointed out astutely that we need a Variarm VFO so we can move around and call others. [One just went on e-bay for $158.50 - What’s more important variable frequency or shoes for the baby?] Rob worked 3 CX participants and Peter and Jack followed with a log full of casuals and QRPers. I think there is usually some kind of QRP thing going on during CX.

40 meters: We started off with the Gross CW-25 (69 years) and McMurdo-Silver 5c(69 years) that Al brought and set up for us, and a dipole at 60 feet. This station was awkward because the receiver frequency changed with the RF gain, so we were never really sure where we were listening. [Rob, if it was easy to use everyone would want one. That was probably McM-S’s way of keeping demand in line with their production capability.] One of the guys we called, apparently far from his frequency said, “You can see I know what to do with the big knob in the middle.”

After much CQing to dead air on the Gross, we moved up to the 40m workhorse station. The DX-40 that embarrassed the RBC that it was matched with last time, was given a little help so the RBC could hold its head high. Instead of the chirpy Viking VFO122 we used last time, we excited the DX-40 with a rock solid Northern 115 from 1950, and used the output from the DX-40 to drive a homebrew pair of push-pull 811s at about 250W out. Never did a DX-40 sound so good. [Sounds like a DX-40 on steroids.] On the receive side, we ran the US Navy RBC(61 years) and RCA AR-88d(58 years), sometimes individually, sometimes with an operator on each, and sometimes with one operator switching headphones to give reports from each receiver. There was a Florida pipeline going, and 6Y5WJ gave us a 9+30 report! Now, do I date this transmitter by the 1950 Master Oscillator, the 1960 Transmitter (Buffer?) or the 1945 Power Amplifier?

80 meters:

We CQed a zillion times[Notice the scientific metric that Rob uses here. The "zillion" is approximately the same as "somanytimesmyarmhurts" both of which were frequently heard in the early days of classic radio use] with the Gross transmitter with no answers, at least none we could find on the McMurdo-Silver. The CX-shy Breting 14 popped a fuse during the setup period, making 3 consecutive CXs that it sat on the bench. Didn’t feel like messing with it.

We then fired up the Westinghouse US Navy TBW(60 years), AKA the “Pumper-Thumper” because of its keying relay that draws a whopping 3A through the key and makes a clunk to match. We used it with its soul mate, the RBM (60 years), and the RBM’s big brother the RBB(62 years). W8AU provided our first “All Navy” contact of all time in the CX.

Once I qualified the RBM, I stuck with the easy-listening RBB for the duration. 160 meters:

We never got around to hooking up Jack’s Viking Ranger, so I put the Drake C-line on topband so we could qualify it, having made none of the usual contacts on 15m with it.

Medium Frequency Listening:

Eric, KC2JSX, a no-code technician, worked his way towards becoming coded by tuning the RBA and correctly identifying about a dozen air navigation beacons. He also tried out his key on the AN/GSC T-1 code practice set. [Rob and his friends always have one of these they try to slip into the scoring but your eagle-eyed, green eye-shade wearing editor is wise to them.]

[A later e-mail gives some insight to who Rob is planning to slip into the next CX.]

Hi Mac,

You couldn't find our score because I didn't calculate it yet!

Once again, I'll not be going to Dayton. Work is busy then plus I have a new kid that will need lots of practice if he is going to be ready for the Fall CX. I can almost get him to say his initial, M for Martin, "da-da" at 5 weeks.

Score: 67 QSOs; 29 States; 5 Countries; Age: 632 years
Total = 4,827,216

73,
Rob

Click here to see more pictures of the K2TOP team.

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WQ8U_Mac

The Feb ’03 CX was a real ball! I had been working on making the station more user friendly so I could switch from rig to rig, a la W8KGI, and did make some progress with the addition of a used 11 position antenna switch from my favorite used electronics emporium - Mendelson’s in Dayton and an 11 position Russian military surplus switch from e-bay. I did manage to get 8 receiver/transmitter pairs qualified so things were working pretty well. Biggest problems were with remembering to switch things; funny how important turning on the B+ can be.

The benchmark change to the station was the addition of the venerable BOGS (Burnt Orange Globe Scout), which was passed to me from Al, N5AIT, the CX founder/organizer/former Newsletter producer. I also had a SX-28 and a BC-696A in the CX for the first time. My Heathkit AT-1 and Howard 435A, a replica of my novice station, were a big hit with folks who remembered having one back in their past. Some folks were very generous in their comments and reports. Sandy, W5TVW, even gave it a 589 from the Pumpkin patch in LA. My DX-100 and BC-696 were both noted by many for their fine chirp. I can’t seem to get the DX-100 to clean up (maybe it really wants to just be an AM transmitter) and I believe the chirp is congenital to the BC-696.

Like many others, [Except we all know who.] I tried 10 meters in the beginning and could not raise anyone so I switched to 20 meters. My first contact was Jim, W8KGI, whom I would continue to encounter repeatedly as he motored through his multitude of rigs on various bands. Awesome station! After a few more QSOs I moved to 40 meters, which was the real hotbed of CX in the afternoon and early evening. Howie, WB2AWQ, who is the CX announcement coordinator, was there with his Johnson Adventurer and NC-125 which obviously needs a realignment since he only gave my Heathkit AT-1 a 559, HI HI. K5DH, Dean, had a good sounding 6V6/807 rig. Great to work some classic home brew rigs. Last CX, Bill, K4IBZ, buzzed through a stable of tranceivers with me; this CX he had a more challenging set of rigs including a Knight T-60 and a Johnson Adventurer - both fine sounding rigs. 40 meters also yielded a QSO with Rocco, K6KN, another CX high score producer with an impressive stable of rigs. Jim, W8KGI, of course appeared again and again. After a number of other QSOs and dinner [Man does not live by Boat Anchors alone.] , I moved to 80 to again encounter W8KGI - this time with a home brew 6L6 rig with a history (see W8KGI comments). Bunky, K4EJQ, had a nice signal with his DX-40 and Mark, K3ZX, was there with one of his collection of B&W 5100s. The evening ended with Marty, AA4RM, and his Johnson 500 space heater. I missed Al, N5AIT, for the first time in many CXs - my only regret of this CX.

All in all, a whole lot of fun. Can’t wait until September.

73,
Mac, WQ8U

Click here to see pictures of WQ8U.

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WB2AWQ_Howie

Hello Cxers!

This Feb I found conditions rather poor on the upper bands, at least from my QTH. Heard a few CX signals on 20 CW but for some reason I was not able to raise anyone. So down right away to 40M CW, where I quickly qualified my Drake T4XC and SX101A. First QSO was with W8ZR, from whom I fully expected to hear his customary rather distinctive signal from his Halli FPM rig. To my surprise Jim’s signal was quite good, but he was cheating, using a Lysco 600. No fair Jim!

After a few 40M QSOs I went down to 75M AM phone and worked a bunch on the Antique Wireless AM phone net. That’s a real heavy metal bunch, with DX-100s, Valiants, BC610s, Globe Kings, etc. I, on the other hand, was using a relative lightweight, my Dad’s Gonset G76, an early 60's AM/CW transceiver with plate modulation. [That’s part of the fun of CX, remembering how it is done with “lesser” rigs. ] After this I went back to 40M, and used, for the first time, a Sonar VFX-680 VFO-exciter driving a Johnson Adventurer, and an NC-125, then a Knight T-60 and my trusty HRO.

About 8:30 local I decided it was time to pollute the ether on 80M, with a couple of HB self-excited oscillators, the potent push-pull Hartley beast with a pair of 211's running over 90W out, and my 1921 UV-202 parallel rig, whose filaments take more power than the plates. Receivers on 80 were a HB 1932 Jim Lamb superhet, and a 1934 single tube regenerative whistler. [Howie’s rigs are really impressive. Click HERE to see how things were done in the early days of tube rigs.]

In keeping with the poor conditions, the best DX this session was only Louisiana (W5TVW). Nonetheless, I did amass 31 QSOs, 18 band-states, and 51 different rigs. With a total of 692 CX equipment years, that adds up to 1,380,488 points.

My choice for special kudos this year go to Mac WQ8U, who on 40, for a second rig, ran the most operationally challenging gear, a Heath AT-1 and a Howard 435 receiver. Rob, K2TOP, once again has the neatest rig, an all-Navy setup, TBW transmitter and RBM receiver.

Lets hope for better conditions in September, and until keep ‘em glowing!

Howie WB2AWQ

Click here to see pictures of WB2AWQ.

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W7FOX_Fox

Thanks Mac,

This was my second CX, and the first time I tried for a reportable score. [It just keeps getting better - wait until September CX.] I set-up all my operable equipment and it was the first time I used almost everything I had in one day. I didn't get on with the HW-12, it had a broken diode in the balanced modulator...found it the next day. I even got my novice rig from 1964 working after waiting patiently for me all these years, a T19/ARC-5 running about 50 watts out. I found out the loading control makes a good chirp adjustment, and if you go for maximum power, it has a lot of "character", but if you sacrifice a few watts, it sounds much better. [They just tell you that because they can’t hear all your signal at the lower power.] I matched it up with a TCS-12 and a BC-543 working as a Q5er...remember those? Everything worked great and I'm leaving all the WW2 stuff set up for every day use.

The bands were the pits, but I wasn't going to let that spoil my fun. I didn't hear any CX CW on 10 meters at all. I checked the solar terrestrial conditions the next day and we had very low sunspots and a major geomagnetic storm that day...oh well.

I was impressed how Rocco could switch over another rig and zero beat it so quickly, I was only set-up to run one rig at a time. [Maybe it is all part of a CA thing - you know - surf, sun, rapid zero-beat and 10 meter AM.]

My thanks to everyone who participated, and especially to the organizers. I felt like this activity was made just for me, since I love to repair old equipment; but having it operate well, and hearing all the other fine rigs was really sweet. [Spoken like a true CXer.]

RIGS: SB-101; HW-101; Yaesu FTDX 100; T-20/ARC-5; BC-348R; Home Brew Transmitter 1625s; Collins 51S1; T-19/ARC-5; BC-453
AGE: 489 years
QSOs 31
States, Prov., Countries: 25
Total Score = 894381

73,

Fox (W7FOX)

Click here to see pictures of W7FOX.

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K3ZX_Mark

Hello Mac and all the CX gang!

Well, just got down getting rid of over 24 inches of snow here! I like snow, but enough is enough for a while!

Attached are two photos of my shack (couldn't get it all in one photo). Click HERE to see Mark and his array of B&W and other gear.

This year, I had my operating position built, and a heavy duty metal rack to hold the transmitters, so I did NOT have to use the time honored "lug and hoist" method of getting the radios on the air; all I needed to do was re-cable -- that's a much better way to do things !! Trust me on that one..... [But what will you do for exercise now?]

Interesting CX this winter. For me, it seems that the winter event is always more enjoyable than the fall event. Started off on 10M AM this year, and got nowhere! Tried 10M AM off and on during the afternoon, but heard no signals at all; dropped down to the CW sub-band and still nothing! Oh well; I'm surprised that 10M is as good as it is this winter; I suspect the next few years will be worse. Interestingly, Rocco told me he did succeed in making a few 10M AM QSO's. That's great !! [It’s a CA thing. ]

I then took the HT-32 and HQ-170 up to 20M. Worked Sandy W5TVW for my first CX contact. Aside from him, I heard no other CX activity on 20M, although Sandy was working a bunch of them.

Had to QRT for a while, and didn't get back on the air until about 8 PM EST Sunday evening. I fired up the HT-37 and SX-111 and quickly qualified both radios on 40 meters, working some CX regulars Marty AA4RM and Bill K4IBZ. I then switched back to the HT-32 and HQ-170 combo, but found that the HT-32 would only put out about 2W!! Drats; thought I had that problem fixed, but up apparently not. So, I hooked the HQ-170 to the HT-37 instead, and worked 2 QSO to finish qualifying the HQ-170.

Next, I fired up the HQ-129-X on 40M and my first QSO was with my old buddy Dean K5DH. Dean was running his homebrew Tx with a 6V6 Oscillator and 807 PA, and it sounded really great. Finished qualifying the HQ-129-X, and then it was up to 80 meters.

Started on 80M with my B&W 5100B and SX-101A and worked quite a few CX QSOs, including K4EJQ with his SX-43 and SX-99 (love that old Halli stuff !!). It was interesting to work John W2AGN with his Meissner Signal Shifter!

Switched back to my HT-37 / SX-111 combo to finish out the CX event. Worked Jim W8KGI with his CBY52209 TX, and hopefully Jim will let me know What that beastie is!! [It is a Navy version of the BC-457 Command Set.] Finished out the CX the way I started it -- with a QSO with Sandy W5TVW !!

The wierd QSO of the event goes to Ed W8NZW. He's 84 years old, and told me he was running an ICOM, but he was in the bedroom and his rig was not. I told him I needed the type of radio, and he said "Well, it's in the other room, but it's 24 yrs old". Hmmm. Well, OK, I'll take "24 yr old ICOM", but will bow to Mac's discretion to delete that QSO from my log!! I tried!! [QSO qualifies but the mystery remains. How does he operate from the other room?]

Some other observations. Dean K5DH and I were comparing logs a few days after the event, and the only contact we had in common was you Mac (WQ8U) !! It was interesting to see how the propagation was differing from my QTH in the rolling Amish country of southeastern PA, and Dean's QTH in Dallas TX. He worked quite a few W9's and W0's, and I heard nary a one, which was a first for me in all the CX events! Usually I work a bunch of 9 and 0 stations. Also, aside from the aforementioned QSO with Ed W8NZW, I worked no "non-CX" contacts!! Usually I have quite a few of those contacts, but not this time!!

Looking forward to the Fall 2003 event!

73 Mark K3ZX (Airville PA -- Grid FM19ts )

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WJ9B_Will

Hi Mac:

Here attached is my log of contacts and score in the Classic Radio Exchange, my first time doing it.
I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did--lifting, carrying, hooking-up and unhooking radios I thought would be more of a chore that it was, hi.

I need to fix my C-Line and Heathkit AT-1 (the oldest that I have) [The AT-1 is a fine old piece of gear used only by the most discriminating and demanding operators. See WQ8U report.] and find some really old stuff!
I worked W2CQH, Reed, who was using equipment from 1935.

Xmtrs: Drake 2NT, Heathkit DX-23, Viking Ranger II, Collins 32S-3
Rcvrs: Hammarland HQ-110, Hammarland HQ-170A, Drake 2B, Colling 75S-3
Transceiver: Drake TR-4C
Summary:
30 contacts, 18 states, 60 types
Score = 832,200

73,
Will, WJ9B, dit dit

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K9VKY_Brian

Hello Mac and the Gang-

Well the February 2003 CX has come and gone, and no sooner than the rigs cool, and, in this case, the smoke clears, we're looking forward to the next one. This CX was plagued with equipment failures and, in particular, the Johnson TR switch. Not having the TR switch prevented getting a host of the old stand-by rigs on the air. [What’s the matter, couldn’t you just get out that old knife switch?] The fall back position was to get the more modern and hybrid rigs with their internal relays cooking to at least show the flag. Band conditions weren't that great on 10 and 15 meters, and I wasn't even able to qualify with the obligatory three QSOs there. Except for HC2IK with his Atlas 210, the DX ops didn't show up as much as yesteryear either. 160 was also disappointing, though a couple of nice rag chews provided an outlet for my whining before the night was over.

All the smoke started and ended with Collins power supplies. First came the KWM-2, which will be easy to repair, but the heart breaker was with the Collins 310B3. Not only were the power transformer and choke taken out, but there was a PCB "event" with the filter caps while the rig cooked itself all night! (Yes, this little 15 watt exciter used oil filled caps!!) [You have our most sincere sympathy.]

With more rigs failing to muster than those qualifying, hanging my head in shame and biting my lip, the final rendering totaled only 278,511. But like the stalwart Chicago Cubs fan says, "Wait until next year..." With that said, here's hoping to see everybody again in the Fall CX if not sooner. [Click here to see how Brian reported his score last CX; apparently this is still an appropriate picture. Hopefully we will see a smiling face in the Sept CX.]

Brian K9VKY

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W8ZR_Jim

"This year I kicked off CX on 40m CW with 25 potent watts from a Lysco 600. After a half hour or so, the VFO settled down, and I actually had a number of compliments about my signal. [Actually it was surprise to a number of folks that you had a clean signal.] I paired the Lysco with a Davco DR-30 receiver, a duo which I humbly submit as my entry in the "weirdest combination" category. The Davco was having trouble with front-end overload, but I did work a bunch of the stalwarts, including Howie WB2AWQ, who surprised me this year with a Drake T-4XC paired with an SX-101A. I guess Howie wasn't up to fighting the mob with his venerable homebrew Hartley/HRO. I also worked Don W2JEK, running a TBS-50, which made me incredibly jealous. I've always loved that rig. It sounded great, Don! After a dozen or so contacts, I came across Sandy W5TVW calling CQ. However, after calling him mucho times to no avail, I concluded I needed a dose of something with a bit higher proof. Yes ladies and gents, it was time to warm my trusty Hallicrafters FPM-200, known far and wide for its "distinctive' CW note. (Someone once described the note to me as the sound one hears when being dive-bombed by a model airplane, and I guess that's not too far wrong.) But surprise of all surprises, the old girl seemed to be having a good day. After an hour or so, the power output drifted up to 100 Watts and -- miracle of miracles -- the dots and dashes seemed to develop a certain mellifluous resonance, by which I mean they sounded kind of like a well-fed canary (as opposed to a flock of well-fed canaries, which is my usual experience). [Jim certainly has a way with the technical terms. Love it when an engineer talks like that.] I worked Bob, WA2VMO, who politely told me that I had a just a touch of AC on my signal. Actually, I think he meant DC rather than AC, but in any case I appreciated his courtesy. Bob was running a Heathkit HW-101. After awhile, I migrated to 20m CW and worked a few folks, including Rocco, running a neat Hallicrafters SR-400A. He was rocking into Oxford with a 599, and I was a 599C, which greatly pleased me. Then after an hour or so it was back to 40m, where I discovered that Howie WB2AWQ had switched to an Adventurer and NC-125. Sandy W5TVW was still calling CQ, but this time he managed to hear me. He was running a Drake 2NT and and 2B and putting out a bodacious signal. I was REALLY impressed until I learned he had a Henry 2K2 afterburner. Hey, Sandy, that's cheating! But two can play that game, so I switched off the FPM-200 and fired up my KWS-1 and 75A4. I tell you, it was like shooting fish in a barrel. [Jim, those are boat anchors too - for the yatch club set.] I talked to Rex K0KP with a nice-sounding DX-60 transmitter and HR-10 receiver, and then ran into Bob WA2VMO again, who this time around was running a DX-100 and an SP-600. Now there's some poundage, folks. Mario, N2AK was at the other end of the scale with a nifty Atlas 210. And then it was time to cool off the room, slow down the electric meter, and come back to the transistorized, digital, packetized ham radio of the 21st century. But memory lane will still be there in months to come, and these old radios will perch on the shelf beckoning to me like they always have. Somehow they just keep getting under my skin, like Charline Schmelzer, my old high school girlfriend who despite the passage of years I never quite got over. [We won't go there Jim.]

73,
Jim Garland W8ZR

 Click here to go to Jim's really interesting web page. Don't forget to come back.

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W5TVW, Sandy

Mac, Due to a computer malfunction, I lost the log file for the February CX. Hopefully, since I now have a decent logging program, I will be able to keep track of things better! All the past CX contests I used a manual log and transcribed the data to a word processor file. Please excuse the "faux-pas"!
Last CX was rather hectic for me, and next one will be with fewer pieces of gear to shuffle! I did have a good time, what little I was on the air.
Will do better this fall!
[We will all be looking for you in Sept.]
73,
E. V. Sandy Blaize, W5TVW

Click here to see Sandy and part of his super collection of classic gear.

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AA4RM_Marty

Please excuse the paltry 176000 score.

Fact is I got so entertained with the Navigator/2B & Johnson 500/Pro310, everything else slept. Including a complete TCS-13

[That’s what happens when the shack gets nice and toasty warm - from the Johnson 500 Space Heater.]

Marty

----------> - - - - CX 2-2/3-2003 for AA4RM - - - -
Rig 1 was Cosmophone 35 (1 contact, no "age count")
2 was Viking Navigator & Drake 2B
3 was Johnson 500 & Hammurlund Pro 310

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KC8JX_Larry

Report: Winter 2003 CX from KC8JX, St. Joseph, Michigan

As is usual, I had a great time. I operated some of my “newer” acquired rigs this time and had a good time doing so. In the next CX….well, I had better be planning ahead somewhat. I can see that I am very far behind the excellent setups of some of the stations I worked….K9STH, N6KN and especially W8KGI….how can anyone keep up with Jim? [We can’t so we are thinking of ways to handicap him - maybe he will only be allowed to use his old Vibroplex with is left hand.] My two rigs this time is paltry compared to some of these folks. I could put four vintage rigs on the air and that’s what I’m aiming for next time. I also need some different antennas up, and will do so when the weather breaks. [Why wait? Hasn't February has always been the prime time for antenna work in Michigan? Don't you just put on your snow shoes and walk the antenna to the top of the trees and tower?]

I only qualified two tx/rx combinations…my favorite Heathkit HX-10 (Marauder) and Drake 2B; and Drake 2NT/2C….but I promise, I will get more on next time. I love my classic gear and really like to operate it at times. The CX is a great event that brings out a lot of operators and great olde classic gear. Hope I can operate in this event for years to come. [Spoken like a true CXer. We hope so too.]

Did not try any SSB or AM this year. Wonder if anyone did? I would like to think that 15 meters could certainly provide good AM/SSB “olde classic” exchanges. Worked primarily 40 meters…next time 40 and 80 for sure. Somehow 20 meters does not provide a lot of contacts. As I look back through this log, none of these people did I QSO with last time…pretty amazing. I worked “my Internet” friend Glen, K9STH…..Glen could sure put some rigs on the air…just worked his S-line. I worked two of Rocco’s, N6KN’s rigs….Apache/75A4 and Hallicrafters SR400A. But the “hoot of the exchange” was when I worked W8KGI….we went on for over one hour….Oh my….all those rig combinations (12 I counted); I hope I copied all of them correctly; there was some QRM…..what a hoot working Jim. [It is quite an experience to hear all those classic rigs in one continuous stream.] I did miss working WQ8U and N5AIT…plus all those who I have ever worked before. Also missed working my best buddy...W7ID.

My total overall score does not matter; it’s just great to be able to operate in the CX using my own classic radios and to hear such olde classic radios.

STATION:
KC8JX's TX: Heathkit HX-10, MARAUDER, Drake 2NT
KC8JX's RX: Drake 2B, Drake 2C
Total AGE: 158

SCORE: Don’t care….It’s a fun & great event….I’m just glad I can participate.

[Larry had 132,720 points of fun.]

Click here to see Larry and his neat shack.

===== May your days be full of sunshine and good thoughts fill your head.

Best 73's,
Larry Knapp, KC8JX,
St. Joseph, Mi 49085

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K9STH_Glen

Attached in Word format is my meager CX log. I suffered a major heart attack on 5 January 2003 and underwent open heart surgery on the 10th (4 bypasses!). Fortunately, there wasn't any damage to my heart at all! Frankly, I was very lucky. [We are all very glad things went well for you. That is the mark of a true classic rig lover and CXer, to be on the air less than a month later.] .

Thus, I couldn't spend much time working the contest, but did manage to make a total of 12 contacts in 2 sessions on 40 meter CW. The first session I used my Collins 32S-3 transmitter and Collins 75S-3A receiver. The second session I used my Heath SB-401 transmitter and SB-301 receiver. The Collins equipment dates from 1961 and the Heath from 1967.

If I read how to do the scoring correctly, I calculate the following:

Number of QSOs = 12
Different states worked = 10
Different transmitters and receivers worked = 20
Age of my equipment:
32S-3 = 42 years
75S-3A = 42 years
SB-401 = 36 years
SB-301 = 36 years
Total equipment age = 156
Score = (12)(20+10)(156) = 56,160
Right on target Glen.

I also attached photos of my main shacks. The "2nd operator" at the AM shack is Arnie (short for "Little Orphan Arnie") a felinus domesticus Americanus ("alley cat") who adopted us as a kitten last May. Since he looks like our older cat we let him stay around! He usually sleeps leaning against the Vibroplex Original!

Click here to see Glen's shack and Arnie

Glen, K9STH

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W2JEK_Don

This was my first time in CX. On 40 meters I used a Harvey Wells TBS-50C and a Hallicaraftrs S-76. On 80 meters I used a Johnson Ranger I and a Drake 2B. Score based on 9 QSOs, 9 transmitters, 9 receivers, 6 SPC and total equipment age of 181 years was 39,096.

My father (W2ND - SK) bought the Harvey Wells in 1951 and the Drake 2B in 1964 - both new. This info is from his log. The S-76 was purchased new in 1952 according to the bill of sale. I estimated the Ranger I as 1962 because the Ranger II was new in 1962. The Ranger I may be older per QST July 1962. Also used was a Hallicrafters HA-5 VFO with the Harvey Wells TBS-50C. [The Harvey Wells Bandmaster has a special place in the history of CX. It was the rig of choice when CX was started. Check out the CX History page on the web site.]

I am enclosing a picture of my set up in the cellar. I have a regular shack upstairs with modern equipment. {{PUT IN LINK TO PIX}}

Am looking forward to next CX and hope to add the Argonaut 505, PM 2, and other equipment (BC-696 and BC-455) to the CX.

I read once that someone in the CX group had listings of equipment by age and serial number. Equipment serial numbers are:
Harvey Wells TBS-50C: #3954
Johnson Ranger I: #68570
Hallicrafters S-76: #D398915
Drake 2B: #12083

If someone is keeping this data please let me know so we can all submit our data to you. Mac, WQ8U

Thanks & 73
Donald C. Younger, W2JEK

Click here to see Don's shack.

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K5DH_Dean

Although I've been a ham since 1977, this was my first-ever CX. What a blast! [Another satisfied CXer!]

There was quite an array of vintage gear on the air, and some of it sounded mighty good (some of it sounded mighty bad, too!). My trusty 807 rig gave a good account of itself, although being rockbound was definitely a handicap because of the number of stations participating in the event. I even broke out one of my straight keys (a Viking Master -- smoooooooth!) when I figured out that the station I was working (K1HW) was also using one. [That’s part of the fun of CX, working all the classic gear - including straight keys.]

I will certainly be looking forward to the next CX.

If you're interested, I have pictures of my 807 rig (and most of my other gear, old and new) posted on my web page: http://www.qsl.net/k5dh

73,

Dean Hemphill, K5DH

PO Box 328
Lake Dallas, TX 75065-0328
Email: k5dh@arrl.net

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N5OHL_Jim

In spite of the poor bands conditions, I warmed up the tubes in my 1967 Heathkit SB-101 transceiver once again to see what I could do on 20 meters.

Although I only made nine contacts each one was fun and interesting. My Heathkit was running right at 100 watts into a Cushcraft A3S beam. The mic is D-104 Astatic silver eagle. [Sounds like a super set up.]

You can also hear me most any Sunday afternoon on the various classic equipment nets on 20 meters.

73 Jim N5OHL

Oklahoma City OK

Click here to see Jim in his shack.

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W6XA_Paul

Mac,

I had lots of fun. Just wish I had been a little better prepared with time to operate the entire period. Haven't heard so many chirpy signals since the Russians got commercial gear. [Who do you think they got their designs from?]

73, Paul

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K4EJQ_Bunky

Good evening Mac:

Just wanted to tell you and the others how much I enjoyed the recent "CX". Like the rest of those I worked, I don't consider this a contest but rather an on-the-air get together for those of us that enjoy the "finer things" our hobby provides, i.e. fellowship, operating expertise, and of course the PRIDE we share in the older equipment we use. [Bunky has just highlighted the heart of the CX.]

I did not submit a contest log , but suffice to say , I worked maybe two dozen different stations for perhaps 36 contacts. Sorry to report that a number of the "regulars" were not heard from this CX.

What really prompted this note , other than to say TNX , was to propose the following change to the "CX".

I never seem to be around for the Sept. CX. More than likely I'm still playing outdoors while the WX is still nice, i.e. mountain topping on the VHF/UHF and microwave bands while DX possibilites are at their peak for the year, or underwater enjoying one of my other favorite hobbies-scuba diving. But for "whatever", I always miss it. Seems this is the case for several of the other fellows that enjoy the CX activites. I was wondering if it would be possible to have the CX take place throughout the winter months, beginning in say Oct. or Nov. and continuing through March or so-one night a month . For those who have to "keep score" it could be a "cumulative" affair like the ARRL 10 GHZ "TEST".

The "CX" would be held for several hours on a different WEEK NIGHT each month. This would serve to prevent additional "TEST" QRM to an already crowded slate of "contest" activites each weekend on our bands. It would also give us fellows who like to use as many of our old time rigs as we can , more time to blow out the cobwebs ( and smoke). It might , perhaps , generate additional activity from stations throughout the winter months by allowing them a greater opportunity to participate.

I have mentioned this proposal to several of this Feburary's CX participants and all were in general agreement. I told them I'd drop you this note and mention it to you. Please forward this note to the other members for their input and comment.

Thanks very much Mac.

Comments to me on Bunky’s suggestions or other ideas you have are welcome. Mac, WQ8U

73, Bunky, K4EJQ

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KC8UAN_Lyle

Mac,

Please do keep me on the list. I tried all of the SSB phone freqs and did not hear anything, but then again, I had to leave the air at around 2400z. [N5OHL was able to work a few CXers on 20 SSB - try there in Sept CX.]

I love the older rigs, I would not part with my 530 for anything. I have contacts tell me all the time how natural and clear the audio is. I'll be ready in September

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K5AM_Mark

Great contest! Thanks!

[You’re welcome, Mark. See you in Sept CX - when more input will be required of you.]

73,

Mark, K5AM

----- Mark Mandelkern
Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA
k5am@zianet.com
First callsign: W9ECV, Milwaukee, 1948.
Homebrew station: http://www.zianet.com/k5am/ncj/ncj.html



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W2AGN_John

Comments:

My first CX. I just wanted to make the required number of contacts on each of the older rigs. Got tired out before using the Ranger/RME6900 combo so will save that for next time. [Looking forward to that in Sept CX.]

Am attaching picture of the "Vintage" shack
Click here to see it.

John L. Sielke W2AGN

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WA5UEK_Brian

Following is part of an e-mail sent to Jim, W8KGI.

By the way, I am trying to match or beat your number of operating positions for Classic Exchange. I just rearranged my house so that I have three shacks. The main one has 18 positions (not all connected yet), the other has 9 positions (none connected) and the workshop will have at least 4.

73, Brian K. Harris, Senior Field Application Engineer, WA5UEK

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u. That is the mark of a true classic rig lover and CXer, to be on the air less than a month later.] .

Thus, I couldn't spend much time working the contest, but did manage to make a total of 12 contacts in 2 sessions on 40 meter CW. The first session I used my Collins 32S-3 transmitter and Collins 75S-3A receiver. The second session I used my Heath SB-401 transmitter and SB-301 receiver. ./CX/Feb04Newsletter.htm000064400025770001750000001324341011307501500160760ustar00CX-testdev-web00000400000004 CX Newsletter - February 2004

CLASSIC RADIO EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2004 CX

CLICK ON THE SECTION TITLE OR CALL TO JUMP TO THAT SECTION
OR JUST SCROLL DOWN AND ENJOY IT ALL

HIGHLIGHTS

 Depending upon the time, mode, frequency, rig, QTH, antenna, propagation, and the feelings of T.O.M. and his Wouff-Hong toward you, the CX was “very active, and the bands were surprisingly good (even 10 meters)” as Rocco N6KN reported; or, as reported by Carl, K8NU “-Where the heck was everyone?” Sounds like a typical CX - lots of fun and a little challenge putting the “great ones” back on the air.

The most noted rig seemed to be the Meissner Signal Shifter with several on the air and more on the bench and being promised for the next CX. Mark, W3ENS seemed to be everywhere with his which he dubbed his “really old QRP rig.” A special event occurred during this CX. The RME-69 receiver had its 69th birthday and to celebrate it Marty, AA4RM and Jim, W8KGI had an RME-69 two way with Marty adding to the event by using his Stancor 69 transmitter.

Marty put forth a heroic effort, reminiscent of CXes gone by, and scored almost 3 Million points. Even better, he submitted a literary masterpiece entitled “CX Math & Aftermath - or- A Rig Too Far” with his score. Who else would write a “Nerve-jangling ZAAAAAP & she went dark.” And, “ Stancor 69 tank cap front stand-off breaks & 550V to ground. WOW, that's why this is a GREAT hobby! Fix was to prop knob up w. a jam jar.” Glad to have you really back Marty.

Multiple transmitter-receiver pairs were de rigueur as suggested by Marty’s comment: “K4EJQ kept producing rigs like the sorcerer’s apprentice.” Howie, WB2AWQ noted that “last CX Rocco switched on more pieces of stuff than Hanes has underwear, well Jim did that to me on both 40 and 80.” Howie usually demonstrates his 1929, two 211 tube Hartley oscillator’s musical signal during CX but also appeared using his ORIGINAL novice receiver, a BC-348-Q, and a BC-458A command transmitter. That’s part of the fun of CX, reliving the old joys. Speaking of originals, Don, W2JEK was on 40 with his Harvey-Wells Bandmaster which, if you recall the history of the CX, was the type of rig that Stu, K8SJ (SK) and Al, N5AIT considered for the first CX.

Rob, K2TOP attributed the coolest set up to W2KV who was running a Sky Buddy and homebrew 6L6 transmitter. Rob, K2TOP/K2WI and his merry band of top banders broke their prior record of 2 AM contacts with 27 this CX making Jack, K2BMI as “happy as a pig in, er, mud.” Known for their unusual CX rigs, such as the Navy TWB, aka “Pumper Thumper” this CX they failed to qualify the 1907 telephone, which went unanswered when they rang upstairs for beer. Rob obviously had too much time on his hands this year and penned some very unusual ham radio poetry: “The Chirp Heard ‘Round The World” and “K2Wacky Iraqi.” Mike, W7DRA always provides a unique perspective to CX by operating from a tent or from a frigid salmon filled shack. This CX he submitted a zero point log with the explanation: “…had to go dancing Sunday night - ‘black lace and cowboy boots trumps ham radio anytime.’” Somehow I just can’t see Mike in black lace - hmmmmm.

Bill, N6ZFO showed his desire to be part of the fun even though he had the “youngest” transmitter in the CX - an FT-1000. He endured the snide remarks and kept making QSOs - good job Bill. He promises next CX he will have his HT-32 on the air. John, K9KEU submitted a log for the first time - and scored it correctly! What else would you expect of someone who runs a 75A3/32V3 station? Mark, K3ZX had his usual B&W-5100 rigs but demonstrated an unusual versatility by also running an HT-37/HQ-129-X pair proving that at K3ZX all transmitters do not have to be blue and have funny meter placements.

Paul, K2LMQ had limited time so he put 28 different BAs on the air without qualifying any of them. Paul’s plan: “my idea was to get some air time for as many rigs as possible.” He is a great CXer! The most awesome homebrew transmitter in CX belongs to Mark, K5AM. Even though it is mostly sand state, he did use 8 good old BA receivers with it including an HRO-5TA1. Mac, WQ8U operated /4 from NC this CX so he and his XYL could welcome their newborn twin grandsons, Rocco and Theo, into the world. If your children are “harmonics”, are grandchildren “2nd harmonics”? In keeping with the anticipated birth of the twins, Mac used his old reliable Drake Twins: T-4X and R-4A.

The high scorer summed it all up: “- the score is not important in this event - what counts is putting the old junque on the air and having fun!” And who might that be? As has happened in prior CXes, Rocco, N6KN and Jim, W8KGI fought it out with Rocco having more contacts (186) and Jim having more older gear (Total years: 2,534). Jim claimed a strange disadvantage of operating CX while wearing long underwear, a flannel shirt topped by a sweatshirt topped by an Irish woolen sweater topped by a coat while having his hands get too cold to pound the straight key and wondering if extra years could be added for wearing old mittens. Thus is the plight of someone blessed with a “Summer Shack” and a “Winter Shack.” Rocco on the other hand had to endure sunny Rancho Palos Verdes CA where his QTH looks out over the Pacific from 1200 ft. Even if there was a chill, his Johnson Desk KW and his 16 other classic transmitter-receiver pairs would keep him toasty warm. Maybe next CX when it is warm in NM Jim will win. But for this time, congratulations Rocco!

Noted missing in this CX were Jim, W8ZR and his musical Hallicrafters FPM-200 and Al, N5AIT, one of the CX founders - not participating just because his house caught fire. A number of CX regulars were active participants but did not submit logs. Of particular note were Glen, K9STH; Ralph, VE7XF; Jeff W7ID; Bunky, K4EJQ; Unless you shape up we will ask Rocco and Jim to run through all their rigs in their next QSO with you.

Bottom line: Great Fun! Can’t wait until September for the next chance to “work the great ones”.

73
M