David Macnaughton and his Fascinating World of Amateur Radio

THE 7125 kHz AM NET

CONTENTS

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Dial of Hallicrafters SX101A   An old Johnson Viking 2

THE AM'ers

A receiver built by VK2AHJ in the 1950's

 

A 6L6G

If I have to explain the significance of this glowing 6L6G, then, my friend, you will never understand!

It may surprise many just how much AM is still used on our ham bands. Here is a net which has been operating for many years which you may like to check out or even check in. We have some wonderful, old, high level plate and screen modulated, classic valve radios in operation, some home brew gear, old military equipment and even the occasional appearance of a modern solid state transceiver. This is where one can listen to the rich sound of that golden era that preceded the popularity of SSB on the ham bands.

DAYS: Wednesdays and Saturday mornings

TIME:  2230Z

ie 8.30 am local time in Queensland

9.30am DST in NSW

    FREQUENCY 7.125 MHz

Note: The frequency may change slightly if QRM is experienced 

(eg try 7.135 MHz)

 

 

BELOW ARE SOME OF THE ACTIVE STATIONS OPERATING AND THE GEAR THEY USE

( OTHERS SOMETIMES CALL IN)

Click on the small image to view full size - Use back arrow to return

 

ADRIAN VK2EDB

Adrian runs an ART13 or Geloso G222 and uses a Yaesu FRG7 for reception

 

PETER VK4COZ

Peter runs a home brew transmitter with screen modulation and controlled carrier. Receiver is the Racal RA17. Note the KW Viceroy on the operating table.

 

COLIN VK2WF

Colin has taken over the VK2WF callsign as a result of the previous holder, Jon from Armidale, becoming a silent key. Colin recently came up on air in the AM net using Jon's Swan 500, well restored.  

 

TOM VK4BR

Tom uses a Johnson Viking Valiant and is currently training it in the ways of the AM net. Tom's receiver is a Kenwood R1000.

 

ROSS VK3ZZ

Ross has brewed a lovely transmitter with push pull 100TH's modulated by four class A  6L6s running series cathode modulation. With this method, no modulation transformer is used. The valve linup is as follows: VFO is a 6J5, driving a 6AQ5 un-tuned buffer. A 6L6 tuned stage drives a pair of 807's straight amp or multiplier which in turn drives the pair of 100TH's. Ross uses a RAX receiver, an AR7 or a Racal RA17.

 

HOWARD VK4NX

AM gear used by Howard: Command TX (7-9mhz) and RX (6-9Mhz), BC348, ART13, TR4C (transceiver), #19, AWA Skyranger or an 18S4. The latter is actually a transceiver but the transmitter is the same circuit as the ART13.

 

DAVID VK7DM

 The 40 metre TX unit is on top, 160 metre TX below that, then modulator next down, and with power supply on bottom. Receiver used on AM is Palstar in middle of main rack next to FT897.
 

 

DON VK2ADY

Gear used by Don VK2ADY for AM: L to R (bottom): FT200 and P/S in centre, ATU AT230  L to R (Above):  TS130V & P/S, IC726sitting on ATU

 

RON VK4EV

Gear used by Ron VK4EV for AM: Geloso G222, Johnson Viking 2, AR7, AWA CR6B, Hallicrafters SX111

 

IAN VK2IJ

Ian transmits from Goulburn and uses and old Panda transmitter and Eddystone receiver

 

TERRY VK4AAT

Terry has an ART13 (just behind the D104 microphone). He also has a BC348 receiver, proof of that can be seem in the bottom left corner of the photo. That S meter has caused a lot of discussion on 40M but I can't see it being removed!

 

DAVID VK2AWD

David uses a modern Icom tranceiver driving a linear amplifier from his cupboard hamshack. He has also made a valve transmitter and a solid state (class E) transmitter that he sometimes uses out on his BBQ area.

 

BOB VK2AVQ

  

I was unable to extract a photo of Bob VK2AVQ but I do have some photos of the gear he has been using on AM. It is a lovely rack made by George VK2AHJ in the 1950's. Here is the transmitter as it is today after restoration by Bob (top photo) and as it was cc 1950's with the builder, George VK2AHJ (bottom photo).

 

BERNIE VK2ABN

Bernie uses a WW2 Collins ART13 transmitter and last heard he was using a Collins receiver. Bernie has an impressive stack of equipment that wrapped around behind him on the other wall facing.

 

NORM VK4ANB

Gear used by Norm VK4ANB for AM: Johnson Viking Valiant (photo), ZC1 Mark 11 from 1934, FT101b. Norm says that the Viking Valiant is interesting in that he has the invoice when it was bought second hand in 1967 by Dave Laing, YJ1DL, Radio Station Luganville Espirito Santo New Hebrities via Noumea for $A65 from Henry Radio, Los Angeles, California. The chap that Norm bought it from purchased it in 1988 and Norm bought it in 2002. As an interesting point: Norm's Viking Valiant is now  owned by Tom VK4BR (See Above)

 

VIC VK4AXM

Gear used by Vic VK4AXM for AM:  Communication  RX  HCR-62 ,   FT101E,   FRG-7000,  Sea Com 40c tuned to 3,580 AM. The rig under construction  (sitting in the middle of the operating table) is using  what I have found in the junkboxes,  6DQ6A  or  B  final, oscilator  E810F,  modulator EF86 and EL34 or 6L6 , I have to obtain some iodine to lower the frequency of  3,580 X-tal , second harmonic is 7,160,  can't get it lower then 7,1572, bad luck........  73   VIc 

 

REG VK2ATS

Gear used by VK2ATS for AM: Home brew transmitter and modulator. (The unit on the floor)

 

MICHAEL VK4ZKT

Michael VK4ZKT in the VK2BA shack

This photo was snapped in the VK2BA shack. Michael is leaning on the VK2BA 40M / 10M transmitter. Michael runs a TCS13 at home.

 

KEN VK4KB

Gear used by VK4KB for AM at present are:- Granger Associates Teletransceiver model 174-3, Weston AM transceiver model LM5-2 and Weston AM transceiver model VR60TM.

 

DAVID VK2BA

Gear used by David VK2BA: On 40M any of the following gear is likely to be used:-Home brew 813 transmitter - the BA320, Johnson Viking 2 (in the photo above),  22 tube home brew receiver, Kingsley AR7, National HRO 50T1. David also runs the BA320 AM transmitter on 29MHz. He can listen on a pair of BC348 receivers - one is a fully rebuilt job and the other was owned by John VK2WF (Now SK). David has restored an old Bendix TA-12C aircraft transmitter and an ART13  from WW2 and these are run on the net occasionally.

 

 


 Others are also heard on the net. It is hoped these folk may send a photo for inclusion on this site