NOVICE RIG ROUNDUP 2024 SOAPBOX

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Well, that just doesn't get old, does it?

Thank you to everyone that participated! We made some big changes this year, and while overall things went smoothly, we defintiely have some work to do to make it even better.

What we're doing gets noticed. We pull in new members every year when the "our" portions of the bands come alive with the sounds of these vintage stations.

Thank you all once again for making this the most fun event of the amateur radio year!

Doug N3PDT
NRR #9
NRR Co-Chairman

This was my first year playing in NRR. It was fun and addictive. I used a HW-16 and HG-10 VFO that I refurbished and it worked very well. I made contacts on 80, 40, and 15 meters. Thanks to all that put on the event and all that participated. I'll be watching for it again next spring. I used a different HW-16 and VFO during the Novice Roundup in 1973 but this was more fun. My original Novice station and antennas were not so great back in '73 !

73,
Bill WA3UCR / WN3UCR (1973)

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Could only participate the first 4 days but had lots of fun, thanks to all - new desk in my workshop this year, slowly working through rigs collected over years making them functional, had just rebuilt the R4B/T4XB so used it NV2, was a good test - 40/15 good, 80/10 sparse - heard excellent fists and signals, loudest was Tim WN9SBC on 40, his HT40 and phased verticals were pounding into the west coast the second night - see you all on NRN, 73, Larry AD6W.Could only participate the first 4 days but had lots of fun, thanks to all - new desk in my workshop this year, slowly working through rigs collected over years making them functional, had just rebuilt the R4B/T4XB so used it NV2, was a good test - 40/15 good, 80/10 sparse - heard excellent fists and signals, loudest was Tim WN9SBC on 40, his HT40 and phased verticals were pounding into the west coast the second night - see you all on NRN,

73,
Larry AD6W

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This was my second year participating in the Novice Rig Roundup. I don't usually do contests but the NRR is so fun and laid back. My fist and operating skills are not the best, but no one complained about it. This year I ran two Globe HG-303's, one on 40 and one on 80. Like many others I need a larger xtal collection! Thanks again to everyone that patiently worked this old timer.

73 from Joe - KB9R in Eau Claire, WI. NRR# 1116W

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As usual, a fun nine days putting my "novice" rigs on the air.

Does anyone else feel like they are in some sort of time machine that puts them at the start of their ham experience but with gear they could have never afforded back them? I had that feeling plus I got to work familiar and new ops along the way

Thanks again for pulling the NRR together. 73,
Niel - W0VLZ

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This year was special because it was exactly 50 years ago that I obtained my Novice license. It was also special because I was able to operate on 15 and 10 meters for the first time for NRR. I operated Novice 1 only with the DX-60B xtal control and a Drake R4C receiver. Thanks to all the ops I was able to work and I hope to continue to work you throughout the year and next NRR! 73,

Joni AA4WA

As usual. I had fun but did not have many days to be active as in past years. My Eico 720 bit the dust during the event, will troubleshoot on a rainy day. Again, thanks to all who made the event possible and all who participated.


Roy - KN4WOJ

Always a week of fun and much more so this year with the Sun's cooperation on 15 and 10m

I used my homebrew Longfeller exclusively on xtal control, at ~ 10W out on all bands

Highlights for me were having V31CO answer my 'CQ NRR' on 10m as well as working VE1 on both 15 and 10m from here on the west coast.


Steve VE7SL

I had a great time this year despite missing the first weekend. It seemed like there was more activity this year than in the past. As always, making QSO's with crystals is much more of a challenge than using a VFO! A lot of other stations don't seem to be tuning around to find the rockbound ops. Hats off to those who do tune around!

I did use a VFO with a DX-60 one day on 15m and racked up a number of contacts. The rest of the time I used crystals with a DX-20 on 15 & 10, and a homebrew 6AG7/807 on 40. My receiver was a TS-520 - pretty deluxe, but it's the closest I have to a novice receiver right now.

L-R on bottom is DX-20 and Homebrew 6AG7/807
DX-60B/HG-10B on top shelf (modified by previous owner)
T/R switch & wattmeter at lower left
The TS-520 was my receiver
The Icom IC-730 (from 1983) is the most modern rig I own

73 & CU next year!


Don W7VHW
NRR 947

I had great fun this year with the limited time I had to participate. I only made a few contacts but all were great QSOs. It's so much fun operating t his vintage equipment and working other hams that are keeping this art alive. Reliving my Novice days almost 60 years later renews the magic that it was all those years ago!! I look forward to next year with great anticipation.


Jack, KO0T

Here is my vintage ham station. The Johnson Viking 1 and NC 300 are not exactly a novice station but they certainly are from the novice era. Made only 14 QSOs but each one was a blast! I worked only 40 meters. The Viking 1 is a real beast. It runs a single 4D32 final at about 100 watts out max. The NC 300 is a pretty good receiver too for its era. In the background of the photo is a Hallicrafters SX 101 and HT 32 combo which I did not use for NRR. I think it's amazing,in this day and age of technology, to see this old gear working like it does. 73 to all and I'll be looking for more NRR QSOs.

Best regards,


Jerry K9PMV
Blue Island, IL

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