| What a blast! Every time I got on the air, I went back to when I was 16 again! I made contacts on all three radio bands, and all were truly enjoyable. I look forward to the next event! Thanks to all of you that got out there and gave it a shot. I forgot how much fun (and a challenge) it was to use this equipment. But still amazed at the results using what we not would consider "old technology". Did not have much time to work this year’s event, but got a few anyhow! 73 OM!!! Steve WB4OMM |
| My station is all Hallicrafters. HT-40 transmitter with an HA-5 VFO and HA-1 "TO" Keyer running close to 50 watts to a 160 meter inverted-L with 40 meter trap and two above ground radials. My antenna/spotting control box is home-brew, and all my gear has been rebuilt. Some capacitor value changes have been made to both radios, and the receiver power supply has been slightly modified to eliminate hum. The radios are plugged into AC receptacles that incorporate bucking-transformers to reduce the commercial line voltage. I really enjoyed this week! I made 44 contacts (2 dups) and worked 22 states all on 40 meters. I wish there was more activity especially during mid day, but it was great fun anyway. I did try a straight key for one contact, but embarrassed myself so much, I put the key on the shelf and haven't looked at it again! 55 years ago, I had a great fist! I just sent a few pennies via PayPal... Thanks again. 73, Joe ( AJ8MH-Radio ) ex: WN8AQL 1961 Novice |
| Thanks to all who helped with the organization of the contest. I had a great time. I wasn't able to operate the whole time, but was happy with my score. What a joy to hear all the classic rigs on the air...and such a good turnout. 73 and keep the tubes warm. Gary/KF7WNS |
| Another fun contest. Only got time to operate at the end. Used the Heath HW99 (last of the novice rigs) this year. transceive with no RIT. Next year in will be separates and maybe all homebrew. I found most activity above 7100kc....and little activity in this area on 80...But, being able to tune around is a must...Just like in our novice years...No pix's....don't wanta trap my spirit. :)... 73/Hal/WB4AEG |
| Bry, Great event! And next year will be even better! I had a blast. 73 Sam K4RTE |
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| Hello Bry, Glad that I was able to work you during my first NRR. Last year my HT-40 let out smoke just before the start. Enjoyed the QSO’s and realize how challenging it was back in the day. Thanks for putting on the event. 73, Dave WB9EGZ |
| Hi Bry, I had a great time with the NRR! 73 and thanks, Jon WS1K |
| Enjoyed operating in my first NRR, worked a number of QRP and home-brew rigs with nice signals on 40M. There were a few vintage sounding stations on the band as well, fun to hear. Looking forward to next year. 73, Dave WB9EGZ |
| Used a homebrew 6AG7/1614 rig built in 1953 that I bought at a recent hamfest. For the first few hours of the event I heard plenty of activity in 40 meter novice section, but my crystals were lower in the band where the DX contest was going full blast and which effectively shut down any night time QSOs that weekend. Glad that NRR runs for a full week. K9FH |
| Like most radio events these days I didn’t get a whole lot of time at the NRR. But I managed to squeeze out 10 QSOs, using a homebrew 42 crystal oscillator driving a pair of 807s loafing with 450V on the plates, and a Viking Navigator running in the crystal mode. 40 meters was the prime producer of QSOs but I did make one on 80 (cross country on a 7 ft high dipole), and one on 15 meters. A Drake R-4B handled the receiving chores this year. There’s one thing missing these days though - for those who remember, the nightly noise on the 40 meter novice band from all the foreign broadcasters, especially Radio Moscow. Back in the day, Dad had purchased two 40M crystals - 7152 and 7177, and Radio Moscow was right on top of both with their gazillion-watt transmitters! Big question - how many of us use these rigs just once a year (or maybe two)? Mine never need to be dusted off, they’re always in the lineup, and used regularly. 73 and see you next time! Howie WB2AWQ/7 Reno NV |
| Participating in the 2016 NRR was more fun than I should have had. To operate my vintage and home-brew rigs was exciting but to hear all the other vintage and home-brew rigs on the air was a great inspiration to continue our responsibility to acknowledge those who came before us. What a tradition we have in Amateur Radio! CW Rules! The photo below is of me operating my 6DQ6A one tube transmitter. It is built from plans in the 1960 ARRL Handbook with some modifications by me. I am "rock bound" with this transmitter and can be found on 7.110 and 7.120 mHZ. My receiver is my faithful Gonset GR-212 which I purchased new at Key Electronics in Arlington VA in 1962. I've kept it all these years and faithfully realign it every couple of years. At the time this photo was taken, I was operating at approximately 0025Z on 24 February enjoying an NRR QSO with K4IBZ, Bill, in Florida. My operational venue was LnR Precision, Asheboro NC, during our monthly Randolph County Amateur Radio Club meeting. We had a great time operating and enjoying the fellowship of Hams in the community. I look forward to the NRR in 2017! Vry 73, Ken - KG4LLQ |
| Conditions were not the best this year. I made one contact before the official starting date and two DX contacts after the official end date . The greatest benefit I obtained was from building the TXR , antenna tuner and change over relay. Will keep on improving the rig for next years event. Will try a homemade VFO for the TXR since this allows for more flexibility in making QSO,s . By the way my first TXR was a MOPA with a 6DQ6 and an old Navy RCVR. Just received an Official Observer report that was not included with my NRR log and summary sheet. I don't know if its too late to claim 20 additional points to be added to my score. Regards , Jorge KP4GC |
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This was my first NRR and I wish I had more time, it was fun working
the older rigs. The simplest one I worked was a homebrew single
tube/valve 6L6 used by Jon, WS1K. It had just a slight chirp that
sounded great. I also picked up a few new SKCC numbers which was nice.
I used my Kenwood TS-520S that I bought new back in Dec 1977 for $580 from Hoosier Electronics in Terre Haute, Indiana. I was an EE college student at the time and this was a huge purchase, more expensive than my car! (I had paid $200 for a well used AMC Gremlin which lasted through my BSEE graduation). My key is the 2015 SKCC club key from LNR. Antenna is an 80M doublet up about 20 ft. fed with 450 ohm balanced line, matched with a MFJ 976 balanced line tuner. I wish I still had the transmitter I built as a college project, it would have been perfect for the NRR. It was the 75-120W CW transmitter from the 1976 ARRL handbook. I had a lot of fun with that before I got the Kenwood. I need to build something for next years NRR. 73, Howard WB1AJX SKCC 12872T |
| I didn't have a lot of time to spend in the NRR this year, but I had fun! 73 Mark K3MSB |
| Had fun again this year. Never heard any activity on 80m, 15m or 10m - but I'm sure there was. Photo of my Ranger II / HQ-170 station attached. Carl K9LA |
|
This was my first NRR and it was great fun, despite the fact that
between travelling, and family/work obligations I only got to operate
for about an hour split between the first and last Fridays in the event.
My plan was to operate QRP homebrew for the entire event; I have two QTHs in NY and have similar 2 tube MOPA transmitters, one in each location. The transmitters are 6C4 oscillators driving 5636 beam pentodes, making about 4 - 5 watts with an FT-243 crystal. At one QTH the receiver is a Heathkit HR-1680, at the other a Drake 2B. I found myself having a small window of time today to operate, and decided to put my Novice rig, a Knight T-60, on the air with a crystal and the HR-1681. I know others have said it, but I agree it would be great to have events like this more often, to show off these great old rigs. Here are three - the "QRP Blowtorch" and the T-60 were the rigs I used in NRR, the W1TS Simple Transmitter (with the Drake) never made it into the fray I'll be back next year! Thanks and 73 Mike N2HTT |
| Here's a picture of my little Drake station in my attic shack. Thanks again for running this nice contest. 73 Neill K3RNC |
| During the Novice Rig Roundup it was neat to hear rigs on the air that I haven't heard in a long time. The NRR also gave me a reason to put my own tube gear on the air. Too often it is easier to sit down, flip on the KX3 and have a QSO. During the NRR, faced with 20 knobs and two meters spread between the 75A4 and Eico 720, I couldn't help but feel master of my universe. There was always one knob more that could be tweaked. Next year I'll be certain to also have my NC303 / Ranger II combo on the air and, maybe, my Drake B Line. Thanks for running a great contest. Niel W0VLZ |
| I didn't hear a lot of NRR activity, but I only listened on 40 M. From postings on FB, it appears there is a lot more activity on the east coast. Here are a couple of photos of my 6V6 tx. It isn't as old as it looks, but I suspect it could pass as an antique. At least all the parts are old. Electrically, it is based on the Ameco AC-1. I added a couple of mods, like a plate current meter and a T-R relay. With some tunings I can get 6-7 watts out but the keying is chirpy. If I reduce loading so output is closer to 4-5 watts it sounds better so that is how I usually run it. Some day I will label the panel knobs. 73, Rog K6XQ |
|
This was surely one of the top radio events for me. Unlike contests and
DXing which I have spent countless hours, this was actually all in good
fun with the best group of hams one could hope to find.
What a great event, getting back to the straight key for the first time in 55 years. Tried my old Hallicrafters HA-1, but no dit memory and I dropped every other dit, so it was back to my original J-38. Complete loss of straight key muscle control in those 55 years, I’m sure I sounded like a lid but it came back (partially) by the end of the week. Thanks to Bry, Gary and everyone else involved, it brought back lots of memories. My receiver back as a novice was a Knight Space Spanner - there was no way that was going on the bench, so I used my 2B which was only a dream for me back when I was cutting grass and shoveling snow to pay for radios. Because I only operated 40 as a novice, I stuck to 40 for this event. Lots of chirps, clicks and rasps were just as a reminder of the reason for the T in RST. I got to make new friends and renew old ones, nothing better than that! Already in my plans for next year, but I will add 80 and 15, plus get this sloppy straight key fist in shape. I’ve attached a pic of my main operating desk from 2008 (not for NRR). The two units on the right are homebrew tuners, the bottom one for balanced line used on 160-40 and the top one a T network for unbalanced line. The GSB-100 and RME-5900 are paired for vintage SSB and CW. I’ve attached a pic of my station from this NRR (Ranger and 2B) next to my Hallicrafters HT37/SX111. Thanks again for your hard work to put this together. 73, Deke K1FT |
| Bry, Well, I have to admit I had a whole lot of fun...even limited to just 40 meters and a ton of work going on in the office. Here's the novice station of W8AQ. I also have an AT-1 that was off the air during the NRR. The lack of an 80 meter antenna keeps me off 80 and the DX-35 doesn't do well on 15 so I stayed on 40 meters for the duration. I also battled a blizzard that pounded my dipole with winds over 50 mph for more than 24 hours. It held up but several electric lines out on the prairie didn't. The shack was off the grid for more than 8 hours. Temps in the shack dropped to the 30s so I limited myself to battery powered qrp listening on the FR-817 and an indoor AlexLoop. In my case the old novice station is used more than anything modern. I do a fair amount of qrp in the warmer months but usually use what you see for about 75% of my QSOs these days. Can't wait for the next NRR! Jack Neal W8AQ (originally WN8ZNO) |
| What a blast! Every time I got on the air, I went back to when I was 16 again! I made contacts on all three radio bands, and all were truly enjoyable. I look forward to the next event! Thanks to all of you that got out there and gave it a shot. I forgot how much fun (and a challenge) it was to use this equipment. But still amazed at the results using what we not would consider “old technology”. Did not have much time to work this year’s event, but got a few anyhow! 73 OM!!! Steve WB4OMM |
| I stumbled across the NRR while looking for a clear frequency to test a new xcvr that I have been building. After hearing a few NRR stations I looked up the rules and decided to jump in. It was a lot of fun and brought back some great 1970 Novice memories. Unfortunately my rig does not qualify as a Novice rig. I just built it and it does not replicate any vintage design. I built it one stage at a time experimenting and tweaking as I go. It uses a DDS module for VFO and is controlled by an Atmel micro-controller running software developed by KD1JV. Eventually the xcvr will be multiband but for now I only have 40M filters in it. The antenna is a 120ft doublet fed with ladder line and a remote balanced line tuner. Looking forward to next year and perhaps I will join in with a real Novice rig. 73. Jerry - W0PWE |
| This was my first NRR, and it was a lot of fun. Based on the number of stations I worked and heard participating, I would say you had quite a turnout. Let's hope it keeps growing and keeps these old rigs on the air. 73, Steve Robertson KE4OH, Knoxville TN |
| Thanks to all who helped with the organization of the contest. I had a great time. I wasn't able to operate the whole time, but was happy with my score. What a joy to hear all the classic rigs on the air...and such a good turnout. 73 and keep the tubes warm. Gary/KF7WNS |
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