The Station at WB8ZCC
Updated September 1, 2011

There's been a few changes.  Left to right, a Cornell-Dubilier TR-44 rotor controller awaits installation of a CD-44 rotor which will eventually spin VHF and above directional antennas, a Yaesu FT-897 HF/VHF/UHF transceiver (X'd out) was sold recently on eBay, and a LDG AT-100 Pro antenna tuner (also X'd out) also recently sold.  Still in the shack is a B&W PT-2500A 160-10m amplifier, a GRE PSR-600 scanner, an Alinco DR-235 for 220 FM, and a Yaesu FT-7800R for 2m and 440 FM.  For QRP operating, I have an Oak Hills Explorer II 40m CW transceiver that sits on a shelf elsewhere.

At present, the only antennas installed are a G5RV for HF at 25 feet and a Comet GP-3 144/440MHz vertical.  A GAP Titan DX vertical is currently on the ground, and I have a 1/4-wave ground plane for 220 FM and an Arrow 4-element Yagi for 6m waiting to be reinstalled.  I'm planning directional antennas for 10m, 2m, 220 and 440, with eventually a directional 20m antenna of some kind (Yagi or Moxon).

BTW, the empty space to the left of the rotor controller is reserved for the HF SDR (Software-Defined Radio) station.  I'm currently working on a few of KB9YIG's SDR kits, (3) Ensemble RX/TX transceivers for 80m through 10m.  Currently in the works is a homebrew amplifier project based on a pair of Mitsubishi RD16HHF1 RF MOSFETs, which should be able to kick up the Softrock's meager 1 watt output to something on the order of 15-20 watts.

WB8ZCC continues to be tube-less (for Duffy).
 


I had some wonderful luck at QRP-ARCI's FDIM seminar event a few years ago.  I had the "winning birthdate" in a drawing for a Begali Magnetic Classic CW paddle (shown here).
A wonderful gem, it's as smooth as silk, and nice to look at as well.  I've used it very sparingly... some because I'm horrible at manual CW (how archaic), but mostly because it's almost too pretty to use.


DRAKE

At one time or another, I've had R.L. Drake equipment in my shack, from a B-line station, TR4C's, to (2) TR7's.  At present, and for the forseeable future, WB8ZCC is and will remain Drake-less.  Except for high-power RF, no more hollow-state for me, I've moved on to silicon-based life.

But I have several friends who are Drake fans, so I'll leave these links for them... and for you if you need them.

Drake Virtual Museum the first must-see site for Drake owners and collectors
WB4HFN Drake Page must-see site number 2
Drake List Home Page go here and join the email reflector
Drake Internet Resources
Sherwood Engineering
Drake Manuals & Schematics at BAMA BAMA means BoatAnchor Manual Archive
 

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