QSO Today Interview with Mike Bryce, WB8VGE

WB8VGE

9/15/2018

Episode 215 - Mike Bryce - WB8VGE

Mike Bryce, WB8VGE, collects and restores the old Heathkit and Drake rigs that we remember from the 60s and 70s, works QRP on his favorite Ten-Tec transceivers, and has enough solar electric power to run power his whole house and his rigs. WB8VGE shares the background of all of these things and his current view of the state of ham radio in this QSO Today.

Show Notes

Listen to Podcast

QRP Labs QCX CW Transceiver
Hans Summer's, G0UPL, Interview at YOTA 2018

WB8VGE_Website: http://www.theheathkitshop.com/page4/index.html

First License: 1975 Novice, WN8BGE Mid twenties

Remco crystal radio set

Allied Electronic Catalog

Knight Star Roamer Receiver

Popular Electronics

Elementary Electronics Magazine

Lafayette Electronics Catalog

Burstein Applebee Electronics Catalog

AESCO Electronics, Akron OH

The Massillon Amateur Radio, W8NP radio club

First Rig:
Homebrew transmitter 6LQ6

Official Observer

1975 ARRL Handbook

Heathkit VF1 VFO

Ohio Steel Mills

12AX7 Dual Triode

Transceivers Mentioned:
Drake TR3 Transceiver
Heathkit SB104 HF Transceiver
Icom IC-706 Transceiver
Yaesu FTDX 100D HF Transceiver
Ten-Tec 506 Rebel open source transceiver
Ten-Tec Argonaut 509
Icom IC-703 - will work down to 7.5 VDC
Yaesu FT-897
Icom IC-718
Elecraft KX3
Elecraft KX2
Yaesu FT-817 - best radio for HF/VHF/UHF QRP field operation
Yaesu FT-897D - WB8VGE’s best “prepper” rig
Ten-Tec 516 Argonaut 5
Icom IC-718
Heathkit HW-8 QRP transceiver

Recommended HF Radio Package under $350.00
Ten-Tec Omni C
Off center dipole

Recommended HF Radio Package for $600.00
Yaesu FT-450D or Icom IC-718
Antenna Tuner with G5RV
Or 66 foott dipole on each side, balanced wire feed to antenna tuner

Arduino microcontroller

Raspberry Pi microcontroller

FT8 digital mode

QRP Quarterly Magazine

QRP-ARCI Hall of Fame WB8VGE

73 Magazine

Grid Tied Solar Power System

Dayton Hamvention

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WB8VGE Drake Radios and Heathkit SB104 Transceiver

Yaesu FTDX100 HF Transceiver

Icom IC-703 HF Transceiver

5 Comments

Asa Page

9/16/2018 05:39:40 am

Great podcast Eric. Many thanks for uploading these. They keep me sane while driving in the traffic back here. 73's, W5FB

Ron Gang 4X1MK link

9/18/2018 04:58:27 am

It was refreshing to hear Mike's offbeat comments, pulling no punches. Mike can't be accused of understatement! He may have burned out a bit, still he points to actual concerns.
His making almost WAS with OO reports, made me think about the wild side of (ham) radio, which almost everybody must have some stories about, some wilder than others'. Always the dilemma about keeping things respectable :)

MICHAEL MCANINCH

9/19/2018 05:46:34 am

Eric,

With respect, I found Mr. Bryce's comment about Elmers was negative and unproductive. If it weren't for the Elmers in my early ham years, I would not have continued in the hobby - not to mention the valuable knowledge they shared with me. In my opinion, Mr. Bryce is sadly misinformed about our wonderful hobby.

Eric, I appreciate your podcast and I understand everyone has an opinion. However, this interview was, again in my opinion, better left on the cutting room floor.

Eric 4Z1UG

9/22/2018 01:40:27 pm

We may not always agree with the guests of the QSO Today podcast. Mike does represent a segment of the ham radio community who don't often get heard in podcasts. He has a ham radio story, an expertise worth sharing, and views of the hobby that differ from my own.

Michael Shovan, WB2KHE

10/2/2018 02:19:56 pm

Truly enjoyed Mike's interview, as a fellow "old geezer" going on my 50th year as a Ham. While my on-air activity has also waned badly in recent years, I try to get on HF at least one or two weekends per year, if only to see if the rig still works!

As to Mike's dismissal of the term, "Elmer": We experience many teachers of great value in our lives, but that word is frankly outdated (and perhaps a bit esoteric?) Perhaps we should embrace the current (and more-relevant) term - "Mentor" - in our outreach efforts? I belong to a professional broadcast-engineering society which has in recent years welcomed youth from allied technologies to learn from us "old geezers" whose world used to be strictly analog audio and RF. This has resulted in significant membership growth, as well as talented individuals who will carry the broadcasting world forward. Amateur Radio can have similar success!

Again, I enjoyed your chat with Mike. Education can be fun in whatever form it takes; I look forward to the next class!

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WB8VGE

Episode 215 - Mike Bryce - WB8VGE

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