[VHFcontesting] Getting back on 144... looking for L.O. ideas

[Paul N1BUG]

Fellow VHF Contesters,

I'm *finally* current on the QSL backlog and can turn my limited 
time and attention to other things. If any of you are still waiting 
for a QSL from me, it should arrive soon. Nearly 300 have hit the 
mail in the past few days, with the last group of approximately 75 
going out tomorrow. Many are from July/August 2008 6m Es contacts. I 
apologize for the long wait. As seems to always happen, health 
issues got in the way.

Anyway... about turning my attention to other things... I've been 
thinking about possible avenues to getting back on 2 meters. I had 
hoped the itch to get back on any band above 50 would leave me 
alone, but alas, I suppose that wasn't very realistic!

So today I dragged out the old Swan transverter with thoughts of 
resuscitating it. The klunky old open frame T/R relay has had it and 
needs to be replaced, along with either ripping out or completely 
rebuilding my last few rounds of not-so-pretty modifications. Things 
had become a little... uh... "interesting", shall we say?, since I 
had previously added 1) switchable power output levels by means of 
different 28 MHz drive attenuators so I could use it with either my 
QRP (300W) or QRO amplifier; 2) ability to switch between a single 
144 MHz input/output or separate Tx/Rx jacks; 3) two sets of 
switchable Xcv/Tx/Rx outputs so that both amplifiers and two antenna 
systems could all be left connected and selected as desired. Dang! 
What a bunch of little relays with wires running thither and yon! 
What idiot did this? Oh... oh yeah... uh, never mind. Oh well. If 
this looks a little intimidating at first, it's all really quite 
simple and I can easily make a nice T/R relay upgrade while I'm at 
it (smaller, quieter and faster).

Then there's the question of what to do about that pesky local 
oscillator. Ah yes, that. Hmmm. I'm sure finding suitable 
replacements for those deceased prehistoric transistors wouldn't be 
too difficult, but then I'd only be bringing ol' Drifty back to 
life. For years I'd thought about replacing the whole L.O. But with 
what? I can sit down and build QRO amplifiers and such from scratch, 
but I've never had much of a working relationship with oscillators 
(which was one of the biggest reasons I dropped all bands above 50 a 
couple years ago). Once was a time one could buy VHF oscillator 
modules and L.O. kits, but I haven't seen such things on the market 
for years. I'm sure not going to try building one! My unsuccessful 
five year long attempt to build a L.O. for the 222 transverter, 
while at times comedic, cured me of any desire to try that again! 
Apparently, there *are* limits to my masochistic tendencies.

So while I'm sorting out what to do next, I ask... Does anyone know 
of a present day source of reasonably stable 116 MHz oscillator 
modules or kits that I may be overlooking? Or does anyone have such 
an item they might be convinced to part with? Failing that, if 
anyone has a beat up, busted solid state 2 meter transverter with 28 
MHz I.F. they'd like to find a home for, I might consider buying it 
as a project if the price fits my budget.

See you on a band (or maybe two!) in June,

Paul N1BUG FN55mf

P.S. I was not on for the contest last weekend. I spent the time 
working on the QSL pile instead!