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  1. #1
    Orca Whisperer W3WN's Avatar
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    I saw an article in CQ for a one tube "peanut whistle" crystal controlled transmitter. 117N7GT tube, designed so that it didn't need a transformer or anything else.

    I was young enough to not know better. I used a cardboard shoebox. All I had available at the time.

    Damn thing worked, too.

    However, nothing was soldered (my dad didn't trust me with a soldering iron then... well, at least not his, but he used them to create sculptures, not fix electronics, can you say "acid core solder"?) and my younger brother had to play with the wiring... first time I ever blew up some electrolytic capacitors.

    One of these days, I need to find that schematic and rebuild that. I already have another tube, I do need to find a socket for it...

    On Edit: A little research reminded me that the article I was referring to was called "The Peanut Whistle" and it was in the August 1965 issue of CQ. Never did find a copy of the article, though.

    ...and, no sooner do I post that, a quick search finds a copy on eBay for a couple of bills. I remember the issue now, it featured astronaut Owen Garriot W5LFL on the cover. Should have it in a couple of days...
    Last edited by W3WN; 06-29-2011 at 09:59 AM.
    “Nobody is going to feel sorry for us. 90% of the people don’t care, the other 10% are glad it happened.” — Clint Hurdle, 2019

    BAN THE DH!

    Fudd's First Law of Opposition: If you push something hard enough, it WILL fall down.
    Teslacle's Deviant to Fudd's Law: It goes in, it must go out.

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  2. #2
    "Island Bartender" KG4CGC's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by W3WN View Post
    I saw an article in CQ for a one tube "peanut whistle" crystal controlled transmitter. 117N7GT tube, designed so that it didn't need a transformer or anything else.

    I was young enough to not know better. I used a cardboard shoebox. All I had available at the time.

    Damn thing worked, too.

    However, nothing was soldered (my dad didn't trust me with a soldering iron then... well, at least not his, but he used them to create sculptures, not fix electronics, can you say "acid core solder"?) and my younger brother had to play with the wiring... first time I ever blew up some electrolytic capacitors.

    One of these days, I need to find that schematic and rebuild that. I already have another tube, I do need to find a socket for it...
    I found one of those 30 in 1 kits a few years ago from RS at a garage sale for $2. It had the parts mounted inside little clear plastic cubes that popped into place. They had open bottoms to help them fit into the board/frame better. I made a little AM transmitter that broadcast all the way down to the LW aviation beacon band! Whoops! I thought I was on 1590, and I was. I was also clear on 290 as well. Two double A batteries so let's hope it was just a house-wide thing with the little antenna I had.

  3. #3
    Pope Carlo l NQ6U's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by KG4CGC View Post
    I found one of those 30 in 1 kits a few years ago from RS at a garage sale for $2. It had the parts mounted inside little clear plastic cubes that popped into place. They had open bottoms to help them fit into the board/frame better. I made a little AM transmitter that broadcast all the way down to the LW aviation beacon band! Whoops! I thought I was on 1590, and I was. I was also clear on 290 as well. Two double A batteries so let's hope it was just a house-wide thing with the little antenna I had.
    Maybe not...

    http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...ne-crash_N.htm
    All the world’s a stage, but obviously the play is unrehearsed and everybody is ad-libbing his lines. Maybe that’s why it’s hard to tell if we’re living in a tragedy or a farce.

  4. #4
    "Island Bartender" KG4CGC's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by KJ6BSO View Post
    Yeah, my story occurred 10 years prior to that, but keep looking!

  5. #5
    Pope Carlo l NQ6U's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by KG4CGC View Post
    Yeah, my story occurred 10 years prior to that, but keep looking!
    Okay, how about this one, then? ;)
    All the world’s a stage, but obviously the play is unrehearsed and everybody is ad-libbing his lines. Maybe that’s why it’s hard to tell if we’re living in a tragedy or a farce.

  6. #6
    "Island Bartender" KG4CGC's Avatar
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    http://books.google.com/books?id=tic...page&q&f=false

    http://www.indianapolis.net/QRPp-I/QRPp-radios.html

    http://members.fortunecity.com/xe1bef/qrp-projects.htm

    I don't know all the names that what you're looking for could possibly go by but perhaps your searching skills would be enhanced with ... I don't know ... I'm a stump.

  7. #7
    Orca Whisperer W3WN's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by W3WN View Post
    I saw an article in CQ for a one tube "peanut whistle" crystal controlled transmitter. 117N7GT tube, designed so that it didn't need a transformer or anything else.

    I was young enough to not know better. I used a cardboard shoebox. All I had available at the time.

    Damn thing worked, too.

    However, nothing was soldered (my dad didn't trust me with a soldering iron then... well, at least not his, but he used them to create sculptures, not fix electronics, can you say "acid core solder"?) and my younger brother had to play with the wiring... first time I ever blew up some electrolytic capacitors.

    One of these days, I need to find that schematic and rebuild that. I already have another tube, I do need to find a socket for it...

    On Edit: A little research reminded me that the article I was referring to was called "The Peanut Whistle" and it was in the August 1965 issue of CQ. Never did find a copy of the article, though.

    ...and, no sooner do I post that, a quick search finds a copy on eBay for a couple of bills. I remember the issue now, it featured astronaut Owen Garriot W5LFL on the cover. Should have it in a couple of days...
    Issue came yesterday. Sure enough, Owen Garriot W5LFL on the cover, and the 3 watt one tube peanut whistle transmitter inside.

    Just what I need, another project. But this will be a fun one, I hope!
    “Nobody is going to feel sorry for us. 90% of the people don’t care, the other 10% are glad it happened.” — Clint Hurdle, 2019

    BAN THE DH!

    Fudd's First Law of Opposition: If you push something hard enough, it WILL fall down.
    Teslacle's Deviant to Fudd's Law: It goes in, it must go out.

    "The 2020 election wasn't stolen, and speaking the truth is only a crime in countries ruled by tyrants" - Liz Cheney


    “Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Trump golfed.” — Bernie Sanders

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