Transmitters, Receivers and Transceivers
Over the years I've had many different radios. Can't even remember the name of the first transmitter. I think it had an 807 final or something. Was built on a gray colored chassis with the tubes and coils exposed on top. My first receiver was a BC???, a big heavy black thing. But it was impressive to my friends - and me. I don't think I every actually used it once I got my license but I listened a lot on it. Then Dad got me a Millen 90800 from somewhere for my transmitter and a Hallicrafters S20R receiver. The band switch was a bit erratic so I got the bright idea of cleaning it with Mr Clean. Bad idea! It snapped, crackled and popped when I turned it on that then all was quiet! Fortunately my brother was attending Moody Bible Institute in Chicago so took it back to Chicago to the factory after Christmas and when it came back months later it was like new!
From there I upgraded to a Heathkit DX-60, my first build project. Amazingly it worked and served me through high school. I don't know what happened to it or the Millen 90800 though years later acquired others just to feast my eyes on and occasionally operate to keep my roots in front of me.
More recently I've had an Icom IC-706 MkIIG, Yaesu FT-857d, FT-817nd and an Icom IC-7100. Currently I have an Icom IC-7100, IC-7300, Xiegu x5105 and Xiegu G90. In addition I've owned or own several other QRP transceivers, built a couple including a two-tube (each) transmitter/receiver pair and a little 1 watt transceiver that fits into a Altoids tin. All worked or work.
All my life I've imagined going out into the woods, stringing up an antenna and operating cut off from the outside world. Unfortunately I've done relatively little of that but keep imagining it. And hence my current little baby, the Xiegu X5105 all mode, 160 through 6 meter self contained 5 watt transceiver that includes an auto tuner, antenna analyzer and a very respectable internal batter. After years of imagining I have in the past year (2020) done several portable outings besides Field Day. And within the past couple months I've done several POTA Activations, including the Boundary Waters in Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota. I've used the Xiegu G90 mostly. It isn't quite as portable friendly as the x5105 but provides 20 watts for not much more weight and size. It's a great radio.
Whatever your experience in ham radio, you've always needed a radio! The following pages and links are about or related to my experience with rigs, mostly focused on my recent gear.