WA5BDU

Episode 067 - Nick Kennedy - WA5BDU

According to Nick Kennedy, WA5BDU, we live in the “golden age” of home brewing in amateur radio. Nick explains how this golden age is possible, what he does with a former AT&T long-lines microwave site, and highlights his amateur radio journey, with Eric, 4Z1UG, on QSO Today.

---

Show Notes

Listen to Podcast

First Elmer: K5IVT,  Father Andrew Wewer

Highway Patrol, Broderick Crawford

First License:  Novice, Jan 1962,  WN5BDU

First Rig: 

• K5IVT 1 tube 1957 ARRL handbook transmitter
• Hallicrafters  S119 Sky Buddy Two
• 40 meter folded dipole

Later: 

• Hallicrafters SX140
• Heathkit DX40

National Traffic System

Education: University Arkansas at Fayetteville, BSEE

Current Rigs:  

• Elecraft K3
• Elecraft KX3

CW Resources

WA5BDU on the Web:

• Nick’s Website
• WA5BDU Ham History
• Ham Electronic Homebrewer
• Nick’s Google Site
• Planet Ham Radio Malaysia - a series of articles by Nick of projects that you could build from his notes. 

Dan Tayloe detector - quadrature output used on SoftRock receivers.  

Don Huff, W6JL - mentioned in the podcast and will be a guest in episode 68. 

Construction Method: Manhattan Style - you can just jump in and start.

Now using: Chuck Adams Muppet Style

2N2/40 Transceiver

Nick’s minimum test bench for home brewing: 

• Frequency  counter
• Oscilloscope
• Digital Multimeter
• Logic Probe
• Power Meter
• Poor Hams Scalar Network Analyzer using Arduino, article by Nick
• Crystal filter tester
• Step attenuator

​LT Spice - software to simulate electronic circuits and analyze them

Bill Meara, N2CQR, in episode 40 of the QSO Today podcast

AT&T Towers - originally for AT&T long lines, now abandoned by AT&T.
Map of AT&TLonglines Sites
American Tower is responsible for getting rid of 20,000 Longlines microwave sites.  

Some electronic parts suppliers:

• Digikey Electronics
• Newark Electronics
• Mouser Electronics

Antenna Replacement Story

Antenna Hazer - antenna elevator that wraps around the tower to allow working on the antenna at ground level. 

---

The RSS Feed for all audio content from QSO today is available from here. 

Please join our QSO Today community by pressing the button below. It is the best way to suggest guests and topics, and provide feedback to Eric, 4Z1UG.

Join The QSO Today Community

The K5IVT 1 Tube Transmitter on 40 meters

WA5BDU, Age 12, at his first rig

Upgraded WA5BDU Station, Circa 1969
Hallicrafters HT-40 Transmitter and Hallicrafters SX-111

One Chip 7.0 Mhz home brew CW receiver