Vintage amateur radio

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Amateur radio operator's "Radio shack" with vintage gear. K9OA Shack 011-1.jpg
Amateur radio operator's "Radio shack" with vintage gear.

Vintage amateur radio is a subset of amateur radio hobby where enthusiasts collect, restore, preserve, build, and operate amateur radio equipment from bygone years, such as those using vacuum tube technology. Popular modes of operation include speaking over amplitude modulation (AM), and communicating using Morse code through continuous wave (CW) radiotelegraphy. Some enthusiasts have interest in owning, restoring and operating vintage military and commercial radio equipment such as those from 1940s to 1960s. Some undertake to construct their own gear, known in ham slang as homebrewing, using vintage parts and designs. A number of amateur radio clubs and organizations sponsor contests, events, and swap meets that cater to this specialized aspect of the hobby.

Contents

Appeal

Hallicrafters SX-28 tuning dial. Tuning dial, Hallicrafters SX-28.png
Hallicrafters SX-28 tuning dial.

Vintage radio enthusiasts contend that the precise digital frequency displays and state-of-the-art, microprocessor-based features of modern amateur equipment lacks the aesthetic appeal and "soul" of amateur electronic gear from the vacuum tube era. [1] [2] Additionally, many find satisfaction in taking commercially-made amateur equipment from the 1930s–1970s, often characterized as boat anchors by US amateurs because of their large size and weight, and carefully restoring it. [3] [4] [2]

Audio recording of voice transmission by amateur station N3WWL using vacuum tube gear.

The proliferation of integrated circuits in modern amateur radio equipment has made amateurs nostalgic for vacuum tube-based designs. Radios that contain solid state parts do not require frequent tinkering, whereas vacuum tube radio equipment is less predictable, lending routine radio contacts more excitement, and giving vintage amateur radio devotees a more primitive experience. [3] Enthusiasts claim that boat anchors sound better than modern equipment, saying that the tube audio from vintage gear is "warmer" and more aesthetically pleasing. [5]

Vintage equipment in the Queen Mary radio room. Queen Mary radio room.jpg
Vintage equipment in the Queen Mary radio room.

Some hobbyists see vintage radio operation as a valuable asset to help preserve the history and heritage of radio for future generations. [3] They sometimes assist in the restoration and operation of vintage radio equipment for historical exhibits, museums, and historic ships or aircraft. [6] Examples of this are groups of amateurs who restore, maintain, and operate the radio installations of the ocean liner Queen Mary, the engineering heritage site Musick Memorial Radio Station, and the National Register of Historic Places listed Massie Wireless Station. [7] [8] [9] Amateur restoration of historic military radios includes the B-17 Flying Fortress City of Savannah at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, the B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay at the National Air and Space Museum, and the submarine USS Requin at the Carnegie Science Center. [10] [11] [12] Amateur radio operators on various retired maritime vessels, such as the destroyer USS Kidd and the battleship USS Texas, regularly use vintage transmitters to communicate with other ship museums for events like Museum Ships Weekend and National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. [13] [14] [6]

AM activity

"AM'er" Joe Walsh WB6ACU on the air. Wb6acu.png
"AM'er" Joe Walsh WB6ACU on the air.
Audio recording of Joe Walsh on the air.

Amplitude modulation (AM) was once the main voice mode in amateur radio before being superseded by Single-sideband modulation (SSB). But AM has recently become a nostalgic specialty interest on the shortwave ham bands. [5] A number of AMers operate vintage vacuum tube transmitters in conjunction with separate receivers. Some operators have even obtained old AM broadcast transmitters from radio stations that have upgraded their equipment. Others build their equipment from scratch (called homebrewing) using both modern and vintage-era components. [15] Rock star Joe Walsh is an advocate of amateur radio and an avid vintage gear collector, maintaining nine complete vintage stations in his home, including a Collins broadcast transmitter. [16] [17]

In the United States, amateur radio AM activity can be found on mediumwave, MF and shortwave, HF frequencies (in MHz) which include 1.880-1.890, 3.885, 7.290, 14.286, 21.390, and 29.000-29.200, and feature swap nets that cater to interest in vintage AM equipment. [1] [5]

AM operation has drawn interest from people outside the hobby, such as shortwave radio listeners using inexpensive receivers available to the public. While focused on simple technologies from the past, AMers may also mix state-of-the-art technology with their vintage interests, such as experimenting with synchronous detection to enable reception of AM signals free of static and fading. [1]

Conversations ("QSO"s in ham slang) are typically configured as "roundtables" consisting of several participants. Interested newcomers are usually encouraged to switch their modern transceivers to AM mode, introduce themselves, and join the conversation. [1]

Classic gear

Collins S-Line, featuring separate power supply, receiver, transmitter, and speaker console, circa 1960s. Collins S3 Line FSc 090326.jpg
Collins S-Line, featuring separate power supply, receiver, transmitter, and speaker console, circa 1960s.

Amateur radio equipment of past eras like the 1940s, 50s, and 60s that are separate vacuum tube transmitters and receivers (unlike modern transceivers) are an object of nostalgia, and many see rehabilitation and on-air use by enthusiasts. [18] [19]

EF Johnson Viking Ranger transmitter, circa 1958. Johnson Viking Ranger transmitter-02.png
EF Johnson Viking Ranger transmitter, circa 1958.

Vintage operating activity is not limited to the AM mode. Many devotees use their "classic" amateur gear from vintage-era American manufacturers like Eico, EF Johnson, National, Heathkit, Hammarlund, Drake, Collins, WRL, Swan, Signal/One, Lafayette and Hallicrafters, to make radiotelegraphy (CW), SSB, FM and RTTY two-way contacts. [20] [21]

Some enthusiasts define the age parameters of vintage or classic gear as “old enough to exhibit the glow of vacuum tubes”, but the designation may include some early solid state gear. [22] [20] [21]

Some even sub-specialize in military radio collecting and undertake to restore and operate surplus communications equipment, much of it dating back to World War II, from AN/ARC-5 command sets and US Signal Corps SCR-300 and SCR-536 walkie talkies to exotic gear like the British Paraset, a small espionage transceiver supplied to Resistance forces in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. [23] [24] [21] [25]

Eddystone EC10 shortwave receiver circa 1967. Eddystone.png
Eddystone EC10 shortwave receiver circa 1967.

There is considerable interest in vintage military and commercial radio equipment among EU amateur radio operators, especially gear from British manufacturers such as Marconi, Racal, Eddystone, Pye, and a variety of Russian, German, Canadian, British RAF and British Army equipment, such as the well known Wireless Set No. 19. [26] [27] [28]

Vacuum tube transmitter. Ai2q.png
Vacuum tube transmitter.

"Glowbugs" are a related aspect of vintage radio and harken back to the early days of amateur radio, when the majority of hams hand-crafted their own equipment. Smaller in size than "boat anchors", "glowbug" is a term used by US amateurs to describe a simple home-made tube-type radio set. The majority of glowbug transmitters are designed to be used in the CW radiotelegraphy mode. [21]

Glowbug transmitters having simple, tube-based designs were part of many beginner ham stations. According to author Richard H. Arland, interest in glowbugs has increased among QRP enthusiasts and others with a penchant for constructing their own equipment, and many hams are assembling simple HF CW transmitters. Amateur radio Glowbug enthusiasts can often be heard communicating on the shortwave bands via CW using Morse code. [21]

Clubs, events, and publications

Many vintage radio clubs sponsor special events and contests, such as the "AM QSO Party" sponsored by the Antique Wireless Association, the "Heavy Metal Rally" sponsored by Electric Radio Magazine, and the "Classic Radio Exchange". Such operating events are not traditional ham radio contests inasmuch as they are a night of friendly QSO’s using home-built, restored commercial ham, broadcast or military equipment. [20] The Antique Radio Club of Illinois operates a vintage radio station as a public demonstration at the Antique RadioFest allowing licensed amateurs who visit to operate the transmitter. [29] [30]

The Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society and The AM Radio Network's [31] "Expedition to Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse" in Chesapeake Bay, MD commemorated the history of lighthouses with a vintage special event station using the call sign K3L. [32] [33]

Britain's Vintage and Military Amateur Radio Society , affiliated with the Radio Society of Great Britain, coordinates regular on-air "nets" where enthusiasts gather as well as massive technical files for the benefit of members. [26] The Surplus Radio Society, a Dutch society of collectors of old ex-military radio equipment and other nostalgic receivers and transmitters holds weekly radio activity nets every Sunday on 3.575 MHz CW / 3.705 MHz AM and sponsors several flea markets and exchange fairs each year. [34]

The Wireless Set No. 19 Group, with members virtually worldwide, caters to those who collect, restore and/or operate vintage military communications equipment, with emphasis on the World War II Wireless Set No. 19 radio. Many members are Amateur Radio operators who use the equipment for on-air contacts with others. [35]

The ARRL published "Vintage Radio", a collection of articles from QST magazine describing vintage equipment, restoration, and operation. [33]

The Antique Wireless Association of Southern Africa is devoted to the "maintenance and preservation of our amateur heritage" for enthusiasts of older types of short wave radios and amateur equipment, and maintains a museum exhibit in Johannesburg. [36]

Restoration

Glowing cathodes in two transmitting vacuum tubes. Senderohren.jpg
Glowing cathodes in two transmitting vacuum tubes.

Repair and restoration of vintage amateur radio equipment may involve replacing vacuum tubes, reforming electrolytic capacitors if needed, replacing any faulty resistors, replacing two-wire power cords with three-wire cords except on transformerless AC/DC radios, and receiver alignment as necessary. [37]

Since vacuum tube gear contains potentially lethal voltages, a number of safety measures, such as discharging power-supply capacitors and keeping one hand away from the chassis when working on powered-up gear, are commonly employed. Some older equipment has a direct connection to the metal chassis on one side of the incoming AC power line, which results in the entire unit becoming electrified if the power plug is inserted backwards. Many older radios, such as vintage receivers, are not safety-fused. [4] [38] In addition, those who collect, restore or otherwise use vintage radio equipment may unknowingly encounter harmful radioactive substances, PCBs, and asbestos. [39]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">QRP operation</span> Low-power amateur radio

In amateur radio, QRP operation refers to transmitting at reduced power while attempting to maximize one's effective range. QRP operation is a specialized pursuit within the hobby that was first popularized in the early 1920s. QRP operators limit their transmitted RF output power to 5 W or less regardless of mode.

Peak envelope power (PEP) is the average power over a single radio frequency cycle at the crest of the modulation. This is a Federal Communications Commission definition. PEP is normally considered the occasional or continuously repeating crest of the modulation envelope under normal operating conditions. The United States FCC uses PEP to set maximum power standards for radio transmitters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walkie-talkie</span> Hand-held portable two-way communications device

A walkie-talkie, more formally known as a handheld transceiver (HT), is a hand-held, portable, two-way radio transceiver. Its development during the Second World War has been variously credited to Donald Hings, radio engineer Alfred J. Gross, Henryk Magnuski and engineering teams at Motorola. First used for infantry, similar designs were created for field artillery and tank units, and after the war, walkie-talkies spread to public safety and eventually commercial and jobsite work.

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the largest membership association of amateur radio enthusiasts in the United States. ARRL is a non-profit organization, and was co-founded on April 6, 1914, by Hiram Percy Maxim and Clarence D. Tuska of Hartford, Connecticut. The ARRL represents the interests of amateur radio operators before federal regulatory bodies, provides technical advice and assistance to amateur radio enthusiasts, supports a number of educational programs and sponsors emergency communications service throughout the country. The ARRL has approximately 161,000 members. In addition to members in the US, the organization claims over 7,000 members in other countries. The ARRL publishes many books and a monthly membership journal called QST.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heathkit</span> Brand name of kits and other electronic products produced and marketed by the Heath Company

Heathkit is the brand name of kits and other electronic products produced and marketed by the Heath Company. The products over the decades have included electronic test equipment, high fidelity home audio equipment, television receivers, amateur radio equipment, robots, electronic ignition conversion modules for early model cars with point style ignitions, and the influential Heath H-8, H-89, and H-11 hobbyist computers, which were sold in kit form for assembly by the purchaser.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamfest</span> Convention of amateur radio enthusiasts

A Hamfest is a convention of amateur radio enthusiasts, often combining a trade show, flea market, and various other activities of interest to amateur radio operators (hams). In the United Kingdom the term rally is more commonly used for amateur radio conventions. "Hamfests" were noted as early as 1924 in the U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hallicrafters</span> Manufacturer of radio equipment, televisions, and phonographs

The Hallicrafters Company manufactured, marketed, and sold radio equipment, and to a lesser extent televisions and phonographs, beginning in 1932. The company was founded by William J. Halligan and based in Chicago, Illinois, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Contesting</span> Competitive activity

Contesting is a competitive activity pursued by amateur radio operators. In a contest, an amateur radio station, which may be operated by an individual or a team, seeks to contact as many other amateur radio stations as possible in a given period of time and exchange information. Rules for each competition define the amateur radio bands, the mode of communication that may be used, and the kind of information that must be exchanged. The contacts made during the contest contribute to a score by which stations are ranked. Contest sponsors publish the results in magazines and on web sites.

The R. L. Drake Company is a manufacturer of electronic communications equipment located in Springboro, Ohio. It is also known for its line of equipment for amateur radio and shortwave listening, built in the 1950s through the 1980s. The company operates as a separate entity owned by Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AN/ART-13</span>

The AN/ART-13 was a radio transmitter manufactured by Collins Radio that found widespread use during and after World War II in military aircraft.

Homebrew is an amateur radio slang term for home-built, noncommercial radio equipment. Design and construction of equipment from first principles is valued by amateur radio hobbyists, known as "hams", for educational value, and to allow experimentation and development of techniques or levels of performance not readily available as commercial products. Some items can be home-brewed at similar or lower cost than purchased equivalents.

Swan Electronics was a manufacturer of amateur radio gear located in Oceanside, California, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paraset</span>

The Paraset was a small, low-power, thermionic valve, CW-only radio transmitter-receiver supplied to the resistance groups in France, Belgium and the Netherlands during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SCR-536</span> U.S. WWII hand-held military radio

The SCR-536 was a hand-held radio transceiver used by the US Army Signal Corps in World War II. It is popularly referred to as a walkie talkie, although it was originally designated a "handie talkie".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amateur radio</span> Use of radio frequency spectra for non-commercial purposes

Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is the use of the radio frequency spectrum for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation, radiosport, contesting, and emergency communications. The term "amateur" is used to specify "a duly authorized person interested in radioelectric practice with a purely personal aim and without pecuniary interest"; and to differentiate it from commercial broadcasting, public safety, or professional two-way radio services.

The Yaesu VX series is a line of two sequences of compact amateur radio handheld transceivers produced by Yaesu. There is a line of ultra-compact lower-power dual-band transceivers that started with the VX-1R and was later updated with the VX-2R and VX-3R. There is also a line of 5W tri-band transceivers that started with the VX-5R and was later updated with the VX-6R, VX-7R and VX-8R.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elecraft</span> American radio manufacturer

Elecraft, Inc. is an American manufacturer of amateur radio ("ham") equipment and kits, based in Watsonville, California. It was founded in 1998 by Wayne Burdick and Eric Swartz. The company's first product was the K2 transceiver; first prototyped in October 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">75A-4 and KWS-1</span>

The 74A4 and KWS-1 is an amateur radio receiver and transmitter pair made by the Collins Radio Company of Cedar Rapids, Iowa that were introduced in 1955. They were designed to operate using the then new single-sideband (SSB) voice modulation as well as CW and AM modes. They were influential in popularizing SSB.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yaesu FT-891</span> Amateur radio transceiver

The Yaesu FT-891 is a HF and 6 meters all mode mobile amateur radio transceiver. The FT-891 was first announced to the public by Yaesu at the 2016 Dayton Hamvention. The radio has 100 watts output on CW, SSB, and FM modulations and 25 watts of output in AM. As a mobile transceiver the FT-891 is well suited for mobile installation in vehicles, and weighing less than 5 pounds it is often used for field activations such as Summits On The Air and Parks On The Air. The radio has been praised for its noise reduction and sensitive receiver. Common criticisms of the radio include its many menus that are difficult to navigate with its small screen, the lack of VHF/UHF capabilities, and lack of an internal antenna tuner. Although the radio lacks an internal sound card it still has input and output jacks for audio and be controlled over a USB cable allowing the radio to use digital modes such as WinLink, PSK31 and FT8.

References

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  13. ↑ Millhollon, Michelle (July 19, 1998). "Hamming it up on the Kidd: Destroyer returns to duty as beacon for radio sign". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA.
  14. ↑ Racine, Marty (July 24, 2002). "'Hamming' it up aboard the Battleship Texas". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  15. ↑ Courson, Paul (2001-06-20). "Chrome and Glass Shine Again". Radio World. Archived from the original on 2010-09-01. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  16. ↑ Ellison, David E. (November 2002). "Joe Walsh, WB6ACU, Ordinary, Average Ham (and Rock Legend)". CQ Amateur Radio . 58 (11): 11–18.
  17. ↑ "Eagles Guitarist Joe Walsh, WB6ACU, Promotes Amateur Radio in Media Announcements". arrl.org. American Radio Relay League. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  18. ↑ Thurber, Karl T. (November 1999). "Classic Jurassic, Part 1". CQ Amateur Radio . 55 (11): 14.
  19. ↑ Freeburg, Scott (December 2003). "There Once Was an Ocean Hopper, When Radios Had Names". CQ Amateur Radio . 59 (12): 14.
  20. 1 2 3 "Classic Exchange -- A Vintage Radio Contest". arrl.org. American Radio Relay League. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 Richard H. Arland (16 August 2007). ARRL's Low Power Communication: The Art and Science of Qrp. American Radio Relay League. pp. 11–. ISBN   978-0-87259-104-2.
  22. ↑ Veras, Joe (January 2008). "Boatanchor Heresy". CQ Amateur Radio . 64 (1): 74.
  23. ↑ Ingram, Dave (March 2005). "Covert Classics: A Spy Radio Special". CQ Amateur Radio . 61 (3): 36.
  24. ↑ Kato, Hiroki. "Replicating the prison camp radio and the Paraset spy transceiver" (First published in Electric Radio Magazine, Nov. 2012). paara.org. Palo Alto Amateur Radio Association. pp. 2–8. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  25. ↑ "Military Radio Collectors Group". mmrcg.org. Midwest Military Radio Collectors Group. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  26. 1 2 "The Vintage & Military Amateur Radio Society". vmars.org. The Vintage & Military Amateur Radio Society. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  27. ↑ Kelly, Sam (May 1969). "Converting The No. 19 Sets". CQ Amateur Radio . 25 (5): 25.
  28. ↑ Kelly, Sam (May 1969). "Surplus British Electronics". CQ Amateur Radio . 25 (5): 25.
  29. ↑ Reilly, Patrick (August 2, 1998). "Fans tune in to old radios' qualities at Elgin festival". Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, IL.
  30. ↑ "Radiofest 2018". Chicago Tribune. August 7, 2018.
  31. ↑ "AM Radio Network". Amfone.net. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  32. ↑ "K3L information". Amfone.net. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
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  34. ↑ "The Surplus Radio Society: a Dutch society of collectors". pi4srs.nl. The Surplus Radio Society. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  35. ↑ "The Wireless-Set-No19 Group, Royal Signals". royalsignals.org.uk. Royal Signals, Keith Watt RN (Rtd.). Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  36. ↑ "Antique Wireless Association of Southern Africa". Z50AWA. AWASA. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  37. ↑ "26.11 Repair and Restoration of Vintage Equipment". The ARRL Handbook For Radio Communications (91st ed.). American Radio Relay League. 2014. p. 26.36.
  38. ↑ Joseph J. Carr (22 November 1990). Old Time Radios! Restoration and Repair. McGraw Hill Professional. ISBN   978-0-07-150766-0.
  39. ↑ "Safety Hazards in Radio and TV Repair". bvws.org.uk. British Vintage Wireless Society (BVWS). Retrieved 24 November 2019.

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