[TenTec] the TT pod -- answering the critics.

[Craig Roberts]

A couple of grumpuses have asked me why I just didn't fix the Pegasus 
Pod myself, rather than buy a new one or even think about sending it to 
the factory for service.  Why one guy accused me of not being a "real 
ham."  (Friends and family would deny this -- and it has nothing to do 
with amateur radio).

Well, my answer is two-fold.  One:  I didn't feel like it.  Two: I am 
busy with many other projects including recapping two old Hammarlunds, 
restoring and modifying a Drake R-4C and building an all-new solid state 
AM transmitter and related gear (modulation monitor and scope, etc,) 
that reflect the state of the broadcasting art (see Nautel's site, for 
instance).

This snappy rebuttal to my critics gives me a chance to show off a 
little bit.  Yesterday, after awaiting the arrival of a couple of exotic 
components for many weeks, I was able to finish my AM exciter.  I also 
have the 250 amp for it done, but not the output filters, amp power 
supply and control circuits. 

Anyway, the exciter excites and I tested it on 40 meters briefly last 
night.  I recorded the results off the air on my Hallicrafters SX-42 
(excuse the hiss -- the antenna was shorted to ground and the noise 
floor of the old radio is 1946 vintage-- as am I).  I've posted a sound 
file of my two and a half watt signal at www.aerialacts.com/AM 
test_initial.mp3 .  The audio needs shaping to achieve the full fidelity 
I want, but that's a matter of tweaking (I hope).

The reason I'm so happy with this is because it's the first serious 
piece of gear I've homebrewed from scratch in many years.  Maybe I 
haven't always been a "real ham", but I am again now. So THERE, ya old 
curmudgeons! (Wait a minute, I'm an old curmudgeon, too).

73,

Craig
W3CRR