UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post - 50 years of Short Wave Magazine now available

G3VKM_Roger · 9th Sep 2017, 2:24 pm

Apparently, G9BF is alive and well!
=========================

To quell rumours of SK of yours truly, G9BF, have fired-up the Creed 5B for another missive to all DX-hounds, so QRX for the real gen!

Here at G9BF now almost QRV again after major station rebuild. New mains lead now run into shack, tapped off from sub-station next door and feeding ex-GPO busbars down inside shack wall. After minor incident with flashover, now making point of parking push-bike outside shack. PSU now sporting three banks of 12 866s to give 11kV supply to new PA and also shack lighting in nice purple glow. (Hash on all bands has to be heard to be believed but maxim here at G9BF "never let lack of reception hinder working of real DX"). Construction of new rack-mount TX now under way using remmants of Dad's, G1BF, famous old self-oscillating 4 by 813 PA with link off tank coil for heaters. However, former BC-375 exciter abandoned as being too stable, as unable to drift more than 200kc during ten minute CQ call that is SOP at G9BF.

Earwigging on Grandad's Band whilst panel-beating new VFO enclosure in shack, overheard net of locals comparing new riceboxes. Jargon a bit over G9BF's head but gather latest models now contain APG (auto-personal generator) and "73s's" menu which stores up to five minutes of end of QSO, with handy phrases like "CU further down log", "pulling the big switch", "73s and 88s to you and all your family", "dah de dah", etc. with auto-repeat. Also new gizmo called phonetics encoder with thesaurus - why say "Mike" when "Mexico" will do? Here at G9BF can't see likely use of APG, as all operation here on strictly "no name-no-QTH-no packdrill" basis!

However, interesting snippet overheard that Forty now extended to 7.2Mc, provisios being a) rig must be rated at more than 50 quid per watt dBW5RV (dBW into G5RV or isotropic 6" nail) and b) CW not allowed apart from standard ten minute string of high-speed dots to clear freq. prior to net starting. Here at G9BF operation between 7.1 and 7.3 Mc been norm since 1940's, as band free from EU-QRM and other competition, also T5 note beats nicely against BC station carriers giving real DX-edge. QTC from Old Pal MO0FFI reports his AM phone caused big pileup on new part of Forty, with hordes ricebox ops all keen to discover secret of TWO sidebands and loud whistle in middle, is this new DX tool and if so why not fitted to latest rice-boxes, wot RSGB doing, etc.?

Anyway, back to welding new VFO coil.

Watch this space for more G9BF-wisdom and remember:-

"Life's too short for QRP"!

73 de G9BF es 88 de new XYL SUS1E (she finally QSLed).

9th Sep 2017, 2:24 pm	#12
G3VKM_Roger Heptode Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Southeast Norfolk, UK. Posts: 773	Re: 50 years of Short Wave Magazine now available Apparently, G9BF is alive and well! ========================= To quell rumours of SK of yours truly, G9BF, have fired-up the Creed 5B for another missive to all DX-hounds, so QRX for the real gen! Here at G9BF now almost QRV again after major station rebuild. New mains lead now run into shack, tapped off from sub-station next door and feeding ex-GPO busbars down inside shack wall. After minor incident with flashover, now making point of parking push-bike outside shack. PSU now sporting three banks of 12 866s to give 11kV supply to new PA and also shack lighting in nice purple glow. (Hash on all bands has to be heard to be believed but maxim here at G9BF "never let lack of reception hinder working of real DX"). Construction of new rack-mount TX now under way using remmants of Dad's, G1BF, famous old self-oscillating 4 by 813 PA with link off tank coil for heaters. However, former BC-375 exciter abandoned as being too stable, as unable to drift more than 200kc during ten minute CQ call that is SOP at G9BF. Earwigging on Grandad's Band whilst panel-beating new VFO enclosure in shack, overheard net of locals comparing new riceboxes. Jargon a bit over G9BF's head but gather latest models now contain APG (auto-personal generator) and "73s's" menu which stores up to five minutes of end of QSO, with handy phrases like "CU further down log", "pulling the big switch", "73s and 88s to you and all your family", "dah de dah", etc. with auto-repeat. Also new gizmo called phonetics encoder with thesaurus - why say "Mike" when "Mexico" will do? Here at G9BF can't see likely use of APG, as all operation here on strictly "no name-no-QTH-no packdrill" basis! However, interesting snippet overheard that Forty now extended to 7.2Mc, provisios being a) rig must be rated at more than 50 quid per watt dBW5RV (dBW into G5RV or isotropic 6" nail) and b) CW not allowed apart from standard ten minute string of high-speed dots to clear freq. prior to net starting. Here at G9BF operation between 7.1 and 7.3 Mc been norm since 1940's, as band free from EU-QRM and other competition, also T5 note beats nicely against BC station carriers giving real DX-edge. QTC from Old Pal MO0FFI reports his AM phone caused big pileup on new part of Forty, with hordes ricebox ops all keen to discover secret of TWO sidebands and loud whistle in middle, is this new DX tool and if so why not fitted to latest rice-boxes, wot RSGB doing, etc.? Anyway, back to welding new VFO coil. Watch this space for more G9BF-wisdom and remember:- "Life's too short for QRP"! 73 de G9BF es 88 de new XYL SUS1E (she finally QSLed).