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Why Replace? It is well known that over time, Electrolytic capacitor dry out and are no longer usable. Some spend time to use a Variac to reform the capacitors, with the HW-101 it is fairly easy to replace these capacitors… Continue Reading →
The next step in this refurbishment is to clean the contacts on the rig and lubricate the bears. The primary contact cleaner of choice is DeoxIT D5. Cleaning the Tube Sockets I start by cleaning out the tube sockets, I… Continue Reading →
The next step in the refurbishment process is to check all of the resistors to make sure that they are within tolerance. The Heathkit HW-100 series radios use carbon composition resistors that as they age can come out of tolerance…. Continue Reading →
In this step of the process we further remove the panels and knobs from the radio and perform a general cleanup including a soapy wash, rinse cycle followed by “baking” the rig . Cleaning Preparation Prior to washing down the… Continue Reading →
The next step in the process is to start depopulating the vacuum tubes. As the tubes are depopulated feel free to use the section as a reference. Tube Locations, Part Number and Functions Reference designators are a short hand identifier… Continue Reading →
It was a bit of a chilly activation with the temperatures in the mid 20°Fs. Even with the colder weather this is one of my favorite parks to activate, due generous amount of open and available space. In the summer… Continue Reading →
If you talk with different Elmers this step will likely lead to much debate. The next step in the refurbishment process that I follow is completely optional and is an initial power up and rough functional check. The real question… Continue Reading →
Introduction – Prior to performing any work on a boat anchor I perform a simple visual inspection to look for obvious issues before we get into the “meat and potatoes” of cleanup. In many cases a through visual inspection should… Continue Reading →
I spent a recent trip in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to enjoy the winter weather and some of ice formations in Munising, near Picture Rocks National Lakeshore and found some time on my hands for an activation. In past summers I… Continue Reading →
Introduction In 2003 with my General class privileges in hand, I picked up my first HF radio at a ham swap, a Heathkit HW-100. At the time of purchasing the radio I had no experience working with vacuum tubes and… Continue Reading →
Background In the fall of 2024 I acquired a Bird Termaline Wattmeter-dummy load from an estate of a former electronic tinker. This specific gentlemen’s estate included a sizable allotment of test equipment, components and many scattered Motorola radios all in… Continue Reading →
Whether you’re an experienced operator or a beginner, this site will become a go-to resource for documenting my experiences into the world of amateur radio with topics including hands-on projects, experimentation, and learning. Here, we’ll dive into everything from the… Continue Reading →