Retro QRP On The Air

On the air with the two-peanut-tube station. This is Retro QRP.

[@mark2727]

DE KD5SMF I don't know why but I get really excited when I see & listen to someone like yourself who's a old salt in our hobby. I want to build both of these transmitter & Reciever! Tubes KICK IT!

[@luizfranco3673]

Great video and radio operation................73, Franco

[@petrgrygar2191]

Jasný důkaz, že i toto stařičké, krajně jednoduché zařízení může být plně funkční a i dnes použitelné. TX Sólooscilátor, RX audion se zpětnou vazbou... Klasika radioelektroniky a radistiky... :)) Operátor klíčoval pomalu, zřetelně, i tón měl velmi pěkný. Radost ho poslouchat a brát! Sedět doma u TRX, beru ho všemi deseti! Díky vřele za tohle FB VIDEO!! VY 73!

[@SteveHacker]

So looking forward to this!

[@joesitter20101]

Wow. Thanks for sharing. Such an entertaining video sir.

[@ElectronicsUSA]

Hi Mike - Great videos on your simple homebrew gear! In high school, 1977, I built a very similar 6AQ5 transmitter which I still enjoy operating today. I use it mainly on 40 meters along with a DC homebrew receiver. It's always amazing how simple radio gear can be so effective. That's the fun of it. 73, Jack

[@MIKROWAVE1]

The 6AQ5 is a very practical tube for a small retro transmitter!

[@jamesgauson4057]

I enjoyed your video,nice to see the simple valve circuits being used.

[@5x9withQSB]

what an awesome video thank you!!!

[@aa1ww]

Really nice construction work and nice operating. Thanks for sharing! Best Wishes, Coop, AA1WW

[@SpencerWebb]

Not a bad fist there, Mike-o. Great job! Thanks, Spence KW2S (former HW-7, 8, 9 owner)

[@DataID]

I MISS THE GOOD OLD DAYS....

[@MIKROWAVE1]

That little supply is based on a single transformer with two 120V primaries and two 6.3VAC secondaries. I use one of the primaries as the line input and the other into a bridge and cap for the high voltage and simply parallel the two 6.3V windings.

[@andrew80s]

Great video, gear and operating. This is the very essence of "ham radio", be it with tubes or solid state. But I do like the tubes, keep them glowing! 73 es GD DX, G6ALB

[@otnica]

Good show! I grew up with triodes around me, my radio tutor had an AM transmitter built with an 807 modulated by two 6V6. The mic was a carbon job taken from a destroyed tank during one of those wars . . . 73's KA1WI

[@MIKROWAVE1]

807 modulated by two 6V6s is a classic setup!

[@Theelderdragon01]

Wow, after all these years, I was able to copy most of that qso.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Most Retro QRP folks are SLOW keying and they TUNE AROUND.

[@AlteSchutze]

Really HAM hobby return !Respect de UR5XCQ es 73

[@Godhumbledme]

nice video thanks good to know QRP is alive and well!!! thank you and 73 de K8JCR

[@vasilepop4369]

Great job and thanks for the video! I 73 de VA6POP

[@TheSteelyD]

Also, to my fellow ham, Scott KC0BUS, the answer to your question is simple....tubes are more fun ! Real radios glow in the dark.

[@Giovanniram22]

Great video and radio operation.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Thanks for watching me make some old fashioned CW QRP contacts.

[@stationvictormike3415]

I plan on doing this again, very same sets. Working on 2nd Morgan 40m, with 6AQ5 TX.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Wow!

[@TheSteelyD]

I found your other videos with schematics and building suggestions. Thanks...

[@malagarcha]

very good job.

[@stormshadow5555]

Thanks for showing this, it was informative. I was recently reading about a current "trend" in the QRP community towards "retro" operating and equipment. I'm still trying to figure out "why" this phenomenon is happening though. 72 and God Bless, Scott, KC0BUS

[@hank1519]

Making your own equipment was once a big part of the amateur radio experience. I remember the pleasure in constructing a one-tube 80 meter novice transmitter.

[@TheArtofEngineering]

Rolling your own is CHALLENGING. The gear is most often, not as good as "store bought" but like your kids you love it immensely and have great pride in it. I recently worked a station a modest 100km away on CW (80m). The receiver was in an old chocolate box, the transmitter was 2 transistors and qrpp 400mW. The excitement of somebody answering a CQ was priceless!! 73 de VK2AOE

[@TerryMcKean]

This set is beautiful....didn't you build and share some video about another TX you made with a UX-245 and stabilized it by re-arranging the taps on the coil?..I cannot find that link now...

[@hondaridgelineenduser5934]

I so want to cw on a minimalist portable qrp radio in 2018

[@RobMacKendrick]

Daniel weirdo vato It's a blast.

[@physicaldetails8492]

❤

[@JohnJohn-kh6yx]

Hello ! Please, tell me what antenna have you used in this video ? Thank you for sharing your great experince. Great job ! 73 es GL !

[@MIKROWAVE1]

I use a simple 80/40M Trap dipole, coax fed.

[@user-wv8dk9yt4w]

А сколько витков в контурной катушке и катушке связи в приемнике?

[@monarchham]

Great stuff, Mike!! I tried to build the Morgan rcvr back in the day but, alas, failed! I will collect the stuff to build your modified version.... What are you using for a power supply? Is it on the desk to the left of and above the Morgan rcvr? Herb/WR9H

[@MIKROWAVE1]

I took a dual primary 120-120 and 6V - 6V output transformer and used one of the primaries as the HV output.

[@Andrey_Bochkarev]

ı made a reciveir as this 40 years ago

[@stephenwilliams5201]

Good retro. Try a 50c5 for xmiter. Works good for 160 -80 meter. The xtal came from grand paws junk box, with a host of spare parts. To this day I'll never know why I gifted it to new ham. Good show. I like to wach 73 de kv4li

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Yes and I have a nice video on the W5LET Widowmaker Transmiter using the 50C5.

[@mikepetroff4240]

Nice video, although in the schematic on the left side the headphones serve as the DC source of plate voltage and also plate current. Ordinarily DC should never flow through headphones. If the R and C near the headphones were interchanged, that problem would be resolved. Do you or any reader have any thoughts about that? Thanks, Mike

[@Broken_Yugo]

I'm not sure why but it seems pretty typical to run the B+ through the headphones in one tube regen receivers. The current is low enough it isn't an issue, the one I'm playing with right now is well under a milliamp.

[@RobMacKendrick]

Nice fist!

[@mktwatcher]

Love it! What's been your furthest contact using your retro QRP gear? You have well done videos.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Germany with my Paraset. And the op on the other end was actually an OT Wehrmacht DF Operator in WW2 hunting Parasets!

[@EA5QA]

l like it this video , great job Mike, 73 de fred EA5HNM

[@MoTown44240]

I have been watching videos on YT for over 7 years. I have searched for QRP content videos and never found your channel. I was watching Explaining Computers Chris Barnett and spotted your video on the right side of my browser. Upon watching your video I am even more puzzled why your video published in 2011 never came up on any of my queries. I think YT has done a disservice to you. I have been looking for QRP content videos dealing with valves/vacuum tubes for a couple years. I have heard that there were battery powered valve transmitters prior to the transistor. I have been a QRP operator since receiving my ticket in 1986 using my kit built Heathkit HW-9. I went the kit built out of necessity, not being able to afford a used commercial transceiver. I fell in love with both QRP and CW. So when I caught the YT flu over 7 years ago I began looking for any video published that had to do with vacuum tube transmitters, transceivers, etc. I don't understand why it has taken so long to find your videos but I glad that I have. Best 73 Terry KB8MAZ

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Yes I am afraid so. It is amazing that my channel has almost 14K subscribers, but many folks who really would be interested never see a my feed

[@LeopoldUlysees]

Hello. My son and I would like to get started in amateur radio. However, I'm deaf. Do you know of any visual means (LEDs, perhaps?) by which I can receive CW?

[@bigguyprepper]

LeopoldUlysees there are CW decoders sold by MFJ as well as software if you’re using a modern radio.

[@Godhumbledme]

would you happen to know where I can get my hands on a power transformer? I have a schematic for a tube xmtr no idea where to find an xformer..thanks 73 de K8JCR

[@MIKROWAVE1]

www.tubesandmore.com/products/transformers_chokes?filters=740a742c65a740

[@MauriatOttolink]

Great Video taking me back in time to my schooldays when V.O.A could be heard all over the short wave, fighting it out with Radio Moscow. Do I take it that you have a main rx running in the back ground to act as a monitor for your keying? Hope you don't spend too long keying like that. It sounds superb but keying like that can lead to 'glass wrist!' Very enjoyable video, Thank you. 73 de G3NBY.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

It's tough with a regen. You can get used to the clicking. Most guys cheat and use a separate local receiver as a monitor.

[@w6iee]

1 tube rx, 1 tube tx, but how many tubes in the fancy R-390 sidetone monitor? ;) Great videos, thanks!!!

[@MIKROWAVE1]

YES. Hee.

[@newtownards01]

hi,love the morse code,just great,73s from,n.ireland.

[@billybonewhacker]

nice rig im no ham but i love building radios... is that trans former homebrew as well.peace from Oklahoma city

[@MIKROWAVE1]

I use a split primary transformer. I use one of them as the HV output to the rectifier.

[@billybonewhacker]

just read the explanation below ty

[@TheSteelyD]

I have been looking for the schematics to build an all tube cw qrp setup. I run a Ten Tec Argonaut 505 and sometimes my HW-7 Heathkit. Can I get a copy of the plans or schematic ? Your radio seems to be very stable and I am looking for simplicity and stability. WD4LNW..Great job !

[@menotworking]

TheSteelyD I'd recommend that you join the glowbugs group (groups.google.com/group/tetrode?hl=en). The folks there will be able to set you up with plans, parts, everything you need. -Mike, K6RRE

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Stability is hard to come by with a regen!

[@MauriatOttolink]

Hey... You make some 5&9 PLUS Videos... Thank you. 73 de G3NBY

[@kinesio60]

what is your country?

[@MIKROWAVE1]

US

[@8kith]

73 es GL de SP8GVM

[@TheSteelyD]

I found your other video with schematics. Tnx and 73..de WD4LNW K

[@MIKROWAVE1]

I also have a FB page with high resolution Schematics. Mikrowave1 Radio Project Resources Page

[@ytyhaha2733]

В общем как самом-то учиться себя собраться радио передатчика теле морзе другие программы приемника ловятся волна частоты было занимаюсь пробовать фантазии мечтает стать президентом. Витя лазаренко рядом Путина.

[@williamestep4103]

Please help, I have an ARC-5/26, need your help! KN4ECM

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Have you watched the ARC-5 Transmitter series here on my channel?