Some of my most fond memories as a ham was when I was just a kid and built a
little 2-tube transmitter, a 5u4 rectifier and a 6L6 crystal controlled
oscillator, with a linked-coupled output circuit that required unplugging
and plugging in a different tank coil when changing bands. It ran a maximum
of about 25 or 30 watts input. My receiver was a WW II military surplus
radio that had great sensitivity, but terrible selectivity. My antenna, as I
recall, was a end-fed Zepp. Man, that was so much fun! Making contacts with
my own homebrew transmitter that was made from mostly parts I scrounged from
old radios and TV sets that I found in the local dump or that a TV service
man gave me, who was also a ham. Talk about a modest station, now, that was
a modest station. In contrast, I have had some of the most expensive gear,
including an Alpha amp, and frankly, it wasn't nearly as much fun or
memorable as working stations in the middle of the night on 40 meters with
that little crystal-controlled transmitter I built myself. Those are the
memories I really cherish! 

Ron, K8HSY
 



-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Malmgren [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2014 10:59 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Expensive, high-power, up-scale stations

Ron, you must have gotten your education in common sense.  I kind of know
what your talking about.  In the 60s and 70s I had a 4 element yagi on a 76
foot tower and worked more than 300 countries then lost interest for 30
years and now I'm back with both feet but with a more modest station so your
right.  73



ED K7UC
-----Original Message-----
From: Dr. Ronald E. Milliman
Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2014 8:35 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Expensive, high-power, up-scale stations

I knew a fellow up in Michigan who put up an amazing antenna farm and had
the Collins S-Line and ran the maximum legal power, maybe even a bit more at
times, and it took all of the fun and challenge out of it for him. He soon
lost his interest in ham radio and all of the fabulous gear and his
expensive and very up-scale antenna farm simply sat there for years unused.
He had a massive heart attack, and his wife simply gave his Collins S-Line
away, and the last I knew his antenna farm just deteriorated over the years.

So, guys, we are the products of basic operant conditioning. Random
reinforcement sustains behavior over time far better than receiving total
and known reinforcement every time one engages in a particular behavior. In
short, if you don't break through that big pile-up every time, and
especially if you don't break through every time the first time you try, you
are more likely to continue trying and feeling rewarded when you finally
break through, if and when you do!! <Smile>

Ron, K8HSY