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BC-342 and 6L6

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w7hd

BC-342 and 6L6

The comment about the BC342 brought back memories of my actual setup in
1968 right after I got my first license. I built the 6L6 transmitter
myself, so can definitely relate. Now I have the KX3, and am seriously
considering the amp for it to use in the fifth-wheel. This would make
it more like the K3, of course. But I have been having so much fun
running QRP that I've decided to hold off on the amp.

Do I use a laptop computer with my KX3 - you bet! That way I get all
the benefits of the panadaptor, FLdigi, FLamp, etc. And a laptop has
the added benefit of a battery (my Dell convertible using Win 8.1 gets
6-8 hours on a charge). Talk about portability - this is it! I used to
have a Flex-1500, but the unreliability of the software drove me to sell
it. Unfortunately I sold the 100-watt linear I had with it.

Wes lives just a few miles south of me (I am in Picture Rocks about a
mile west of Panther Peak).

Ron W7HD

Wes (N7WS) wrote:

> First a disclaimer: I don't own a Flex radio (and it is a radio) The
> closest I've come is using an LP Pan on the i-f output of a K3, which
> I do own.
>
> But this argument is simply nonsense. If the radio breaks---they
> actually do you know---you're (note spelling) off the air too.
>
> And try as I might, I can't see Internet spots on my K3, nor can I use
> it to keep my banking records, write email, do antenna modeling, etc.
> For this I still need a computer. And believe it or not, that same
> computer is connected to my K3 and I would be lost without it. I
> don't want to go back to my BC-342 and crystal-controlled 6L6, which
> some still think are the only "real" radios. Time marches on...try to
> keep up.
>
> Wes N7WS
>

Phil Wheeler-2

Re: BC-342 and 6L6

My very first transmitter in 1953 was xtal (of
course) with a 6L6 driven by a 6AG7. In the 60s I
was given a BC-342. Man did it drift! I never
could sort that out, though it was never vital to
my station so I never worked too hard at it.

73, Phil W7OX

On 3/10/15 8:48 AM, [hidden email] wrote:

> The comment about the BC342 brought back
> memories of my actual setup in 1968 right after
> I got my first license. I built the 6L6
> transmitter myself, so can definitely relate.
> Now I have the KX3, and am seriously considering
> the amp for it to use in the fifth-wheel. This
> would make it more like the K3, of course. But
> I have been having so much fun running QRP that
> I've decided to hold off on the amp.
>
> Do I use a laptop computer with my KX3 - you
> bet! That way I get all the benefits of the
> panadaptor, FLdigi, FLamp, etc. And a laptop
> has the added benefit of a battery (my Dell
> convertible using Win 8.1 gets 6-8 hours on a
> charge). Talk about portability - this is it!
> I used to have a Flex-1500, but the
> unreliability of the software drove me to sell
> it. Unfortunately I sold the 100-watt linear I
> had with it.
>
> Wes lives just a few miles south of me (I am in
> Picture Rocks about a mile west of Panther Peak).
>
> Ron W7HD

Elecraft mailing list

Re: BC-342 and 6L6

Somewhere around 1956 I acquired a BC342 without a AC power supply because the Dyno made way to much noise. Then came the 6AG7 and 6L6 right out of the handbook with the basket weave coils, double cotton covered of course. Lots of fun in those days. Got my CW skills up also. But, then I got a couple of fingers singed touching that old 6L6 metal tube, ouch. Fun none the less, which makes me love the KX3 all the more........
Mel, K6KBE

From: Phil Wheeler <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 12:30 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] BC-342 and 6L6

My very first transmitter in 1953 was xtal (of
course) with a 6L6 driven by a 6AG7. In the 60s I
was given a BC-342. Man did it drift! I never
could sort that out, though it was never vital to
my station so I never worked too hard at it.

73, Phil W7OX

On 3/10/15 8:48 AM, [hidden email] wrote:

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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Message delivered to [hidden email]

Wes (N7WS)

Re: BC-342 and 6L6

Some time ago I wrote a little paper about my earlier radio history to show some
friends and family. Although I stated earlier that my first transmitter was a
6L6, that was very brief and I acquired a commercial transmitter that used the
6L6 to drive an 807.

Link to story: http://k6mhe.com/n7ws/The_342.pdf

Wes N7WS

On 3/10/2015 4:09 PM, Mel Farrer via Elecraft wrote:

> Somewhere around 1956 I acquired a BC342 without a AC power supply because the Dyno made way to much noise. Then came the 6AG7 and 6L6 right out of the handbook with the basket weave coils, double cotton covered of course. Lots of fun in those days. Got my CW skills up also. But, then I got a couple of fingers singed touching that old 6L6 metal tube, ouch. Fun none the less, which makes me love the KX3 all the more........
> Mel, K6KBE
>
>
>
> From: Phil Wheeler <[hidden email]>
> To: [hidden email]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 12:30 PM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] BC-342 and 6L6
>
> My very first transmitter in 1953 was xtal (of
> course) with a 6L6 driven by a 6AG7. In the 60s I
> was given a BC-342. Man did it drift! I never
> could sort that out, though it was never vital to
> my station so I never worked too hard at it.
>
> 73, Phil W7OX
>
> On 3/10/15 8:48 AM, [hidden email] wrote:
>> The comment about the BC342 brought back
>> memories of my actual setup in 1968 right after
>> I got my first license. I built the 6L6
>> transmitter myself, so can definitely relate.
>> Now I have the KX3, and am seriously considering
>> the amp for it to use in the fifth-wheel. This
>> would make it more like the K3, of course. But
>> I have been having so much fun running QRP that
>> I've decided to hold off on the amp.
>>
>> Do I use a laptop computer with my KX3 - you
>> bet! That way I get all the benefits of the
>> panadaptor, FLdigi, FLamp, etc. And a laptop
>> has the added benefit of a battery (my Dell
>> convertible using Win 8.1 gets 6-8 hours on a
>> charge). Talk about portability - this is it!
>> I used to have a Flex-1500, but the
>> unreliability of the software drove me to sell
>> it. Unfortunately I sold the 100-watt linear I
>> had with it.
>>
>> Wes lives just a few miles south of me (I am in
>> Picture Rocks about a mile west of Panther Peak).
>>
>> Ron W7HD