Very nice presentation Jeff ! you covered all historical material and was detailed in operation and control procedures.Those of us who grew up with this equipment love to watch your video's and " go back in time " For those of us, old and new, who want to restore these units, you give us enough basic information to know what we have to consider to bring them back to life. Tnx Agn !....Dana..WN6OHG !..1965 .Novice to Extra Class HS Science Teacher and Veteran Employment Rep. [ Ret.]..73
This was my first ham transmitter! This TX plus a BC-348 receiver from a B-17 bomber formed my first ham station. Worked 35 states on 40 meters with this setup.
The set used cathode keying. It's a common belief that you can get a nasty shock across the key. In practice the tube acts as a current limiter so this danger isn't quite as large as one would think. Later Heathkits used grid block keying which presented less voltage across the key.
The modification to a 2E26 was published in one of the journals of the time either QST or CQ. It provided a higher output efficiency at the time than the 6L6. My best friend did this modification. This upped the power output from about 7 watts (the figure claimed in the magazine to 12-15 watts.) Not many hams were able to measure output power which required an RF ammeter which was very expensive and required some math to get a final figure. Direct reading wattmeters came much later. Most transmitters were advertised by input power (simply voltage time amperage): so were the FCC regs specified as input, both easily measured.) Heath provided a mod in the manual for break-in keying, but on my AT-1 caused chirp and I had to undo it. After a few months with the AT-! (bought used from an older teen ham) I upgraded to a Johnson Viking Adventurer with an advertised 50 watts input and about half that for output. Using it on 80 meters was a problem as it was very easy to tune the final to be a doubler which put one outside the ham bands and resulted in a scary letter from the FCC in Alegan, MI or Grand Island, NE. JON W3JT (Then KN9CAH/K9CAH, age 13, Jan 1956)
I just got back into Ham radio last Thanksgiving, after being away from it fo over 50 years. I'm now a General Class ham. I was even was able to get my old call sign back, albeit as a "vanity call sign".
Another Great video Jeff, I have shared your videos with the Heathkit Owners Group on Facebook and hope to continue to share them with the Heathkit lovers in the Group with your permission. 73
Built this kit in 1953 at age of eleven. KN4AOO. Lived in Norfolk, Virginia. Remember the thrill of my first DX with an operator in Protsmouth, VA. :-)
Jeff, thanks for the video. You are right about that adjusted price, today $30 would be about $240. Interesting that you said the new Heathkit company was considering ham gear sales again. I build an HW-101 in early 70's. I recall, but could be wrong, that kit cost me $260 in 1972 so that would cost $1340 today adjusted for inflation. I wonder if there are enough hams building their own gear today to make that market profitable for the new Heathkit company? 73 de Lynn
Cool... now you have the VF-1 VFO to go along with that AT-1, Jeff. :-) It's been a while since you made this video... did you re-wire your AT-1 back to original with a 6L6 output stage?
Yes, I completely rebuilt it. I documented the process in this series of blog posts: jefftranter.blogspot.com/2018/03/rebuilding-heathit-at-1-transmitter.html
I love these simple transmitters. Like the one I built for 10 to 40 metres for CW back in 1980 using a 6CH6 Oscillator/Driver/Multiplier and 807 PA. I even used it on CB back in 1981 at the time illegal in the UK. Happy to say AM and SSB are legal on CB now in the UK but don't think OFCOM (UK equivalent of the FCC) would approve:-)
Hi Jeff, there was obviously a very different approach to health and safety back in 1953. I hadn’t realized that Heathkit were in the USA, I used to live in Cheltenham in the county of Gloucestershire in England where Heathkit had a manufacturing facility and I thought that was it. I never built a kit but I know folks that did, it provided a good ‘father and son’ project for a lot of lucky kids in the UK and probably got a lot of folks into radio and electronic occupations. 73's ... Andy
Don't have any idea what cobragirl's problem was, but I think the AT-1 was a great piece of equipment! I built one as my first Ham transmitter in 1955. I was first licensed then as a Novice AND Technician, and my call signs were WNØZIF and WØZIF. My longest DX was from Minneapolis, MN, where I lived, to Pascaguala, MS, via CW. Not bad for 75 watts input! After my Novice ticket expired in 1960, I sold the AT-1, and sure wish I had it now. It is truly a piece of Ham history.
infowarguy, this comment comes a bit too late (by five years) as the filter caps ALL should have been replaced and a fuse installed. Consider using a safer way of keying this rig. It is MORE than "a nasty jolt" to get electrocuted by your key.
Meters that jumped and jerked like that drove me crazy. Which explains the meter-off position in the meter switch. Jacques-Arsène d'Arsonval was the inventor of the superior moving coil movement named for him, the d'Arsonval movement. Sorry to learn of a failed comeback for Heathkit. Just dreaming, I would love to see the AT-1 all over again, three-prong line cord, fuse, pilot light, maybe a decent meter and a 2E26 final. I'd buy one. CQ Eleven Hi Hi
There are many hams building kits these days. Elecraft has been very successful, for example. However, the homebrew market is practically dead. I don't know how QRX magazine survives with so few experimenters. Apparently the vendor advertising pays for the entire magazine production cost, so it doesn't matter.
I always liked the look and sound of the Elecrafts, so I went to buy one. Talk about sticker shock!! I wouldn't pay that much for a low power rig of any name.
@@mnpd3 , now... in 2019, you can buy a new SDR transceiver from Icom called the IC-7300 for about an even thousand dollars. It puts this stuff to shame. Enjoy!
Might want to be sure the power supply won't be overworked with the added load. Often 'improvements' aren't really all that great. Unless the power went up a LOT, the difference at the receiving end might not be worth the effort.
Very nice presentation Jeff ! you covered all historical material and was detailed in operation and control procedures.Those of us who grew up with this equipment love to watch your video's and " go back in time " For those of us, old and new, who want to restore these units, you give us enough basic information to know what we have to consider to bring them back to life. Tnx Agn !....Dana..WN6OHG !..1965 .Novice to Extra Class
HS Science Teacher and Veteran Employment Rep. [ Ret.]..73
This was my first ham transmitter! This TX plus a BC-348 receiver from a B-17 bomber formed my first ham station. Worked 35 states on 40 meters with this setup.
The set used cathode keying. It's a common belief that you can get a nasty shock across the key. In practice the tube acts as a current limiter so this danger isn't quite as large as one would think. Later Heathkits used grid block keying which presented less voltage across the key.
Love it! That meter is the best encouragement to upgrade ever. The classic 6AG7 6L6 is an unbeatable combo!
The modification to a 2E26 was published in one of the journals of the time either QST or CQ. It provided a higher output efficiency at the time than the 6L6. My best friend did this modification. This upped the power output from about 7 watts (the figure claimed in the magazine to 12-15 watts.) Not many hams were able to measure output power which required an RF ammeter which was very expensive and required some math to get a final figure. Direct reading wattmeters came much later. Most transmitters were advertised by input power (simply voltage time amperage): so were the FCC regs specified as input, both easily measured.) Heath provided a mod in the manual for break-in keying, but on my AT-1 caused chirp and I had to undo it. After a few months with the AT-! (bought used from an older teen ham) I upgraded to a Johnson Viking Adventurer with an advertised 50 watts input and about half that for output. Using it on 80 meters was a problem as it was very easy to tune the final to be a doubler which put one outside the ham bands and resulted in a scary letter from the FCC in Alegan, MI or Grand Island, NE.
JON W3JT (Then KN9CAH/K9CAH, age 13, Jan 1956)
I got one of those! Even have the matching VF-1. Two actually; I changed the keying mode and use the second VF-1 to drive an far more modern HW-16.
I just got back into Ham radio last Thanksgiving, after being away from it fo over 50 years. I'm now a General Class ham. I was even was able to get my old call sign back, albeit as a "vanity call sign".
Another Great video Jeff, I have shared your videos with the Heathkit Owners Group on Facebook and hope to continue to share them with the Heathkit lovers in the Group with your permission. 73
Sure, go ahead.
TNX FER GREAT VIDEO BRINGS BACK MEMORIES 73 DE KN9IOU CHICAGO !!! I REPLACED 6L6 TUBE WITH 6DQ6 SWEEP TUBE !
Built this kit in 1953 at age of eleven. KN4AOO. Lived in Norfolk, Virginia. Remember the thrill of my first DX with an operator in Protsmouth, VA. :-)
Saw one today at a hamfest, in KCMO, for $35.00. Tuned smoothly. Condition otherwise unknown.
My first transmitter 1955 - W6DRO on the air 66 years
Great restoration!
You are correct. I even took a look inside my unit to make sure. I'm not sure how that error crept into the video.
Jeff, thanks for the video. You are right about that adjusted price, today $30 would be about $240. Interesting that you said the new Heathkit company was considering ham gear sales again. I build an HW-101 in early 70's. I recall, but could be wrong, that kit cost me $260 in 1972 so that would cost $1340 today adjusted for inflation. I wonder if there are enough hams building their own gear today to make that market profitable for the new Heathkit company? 73 de Lynn
Cool... now you have the VF-1 VFO to go along with that AT-1, Jeff. :-)
It's been a while since you made this video... did you re-wire your AT-1 back to original with a 6L6 output stage?
Yes, I completely rebuilt it. I documented the process in this series of blog posts: jefftranter.blogspot.com/2018/03/rebuilding-heathit-at-1-transmitter.html
Right on.... that came out beautiful... thanks for sharing.
I love these simple transmitters. Like the one I built for 10 to 40 metres for CW back in 1980 using a 6CH6 Oscillator/Driver/Multiplier and 807 PA. I even used it on CB back in 1981 at the time illegal in the UK. Happy to say AM and SSB are legal on CB now in the UK but don't think OFCOM (UK equivalent of the FCC) would approve:-)
Would a 10uf capacitor across the meter terminals help tame down the fast meter movements?
Leave the 2E26, a beautiful little brother of the 6146.
From the days when ham radio was at its best, IMHO.
The tube is the 2E26 which is very cute because it looks like a baby 6146.
Hi Jeff, there was obviously a very different approach to health and safety back in 1953. I hadn’t realized that Heathkit were in the USA, I used to live in Cheltenham in the county of Gloucestershire in England where Heathkit had a manufacturing facility and I thought that was it. I never built a kit but I know folks that did, it provided a good ‘father and son’ project for a lot of lucky kids in the UK and probably got a lot of folks into radio and electronic occupations.
73's ... Andy
Don't have any idea what cobragirl's problem was, but I think the AT-1 was a great piece of equipment! I built one as my first Ham transmitter in 1955. I was first licensed then as a Novice AND Technician, and my call signs were WNØZIF and WØZIF. My longest DX was from Minneapolis, MN, where I lived, to Pascaguala, MS, via CW. Not bad for 75 watts input! After my Novice ticket expired in 1960, I sold the AT-1, and sure wish I had it now. It is truly a piece of Ham history.
I see a Leaky filter cap ( aluminum can) under the chassis.
infowarguy, this comment comes a bit too late (by five years) as the filter caps ALL should have been replaced and a fuse installed. Consider using a safer way of keying this rig. It is MORE than "a nasty jolt" to get electrocuted by your key.
Meters that jumped and jerked like that drove me crazy. Which explains the meter-off position in the meter switch. Jacques-Arsène d'Arsonval was the inventor of the superior moving coil movement named for him, the d'Arsonval movement. Sorry to learn of a failed comeback for Heathkit. Just dreaming, I would love to see the AT-1 all over again, three-prong line cord, fuse, pilot light, maybe a decent meter and a 2E26 final. I'd buy one. CQ Eleven Hi Hi
There are many hams building kits these days. Elecraft has been very successful, for example. However, the homebrew market is practically dead. I don't know how QRX magazine survives with so few experimenters. Apparently the vendor advertising pays for the entire magazine production cost, so it doesn't matter.
I always liked the look and sound of the Elecrafts, so I went to buy one. Talk about sticker shock!! I wouldn't pay that much for a low power rig of any name.
@@mnpd3 , now... in 2019, you can buy a new SDR transceiver from Icom called the IC-7300 for about an even thousand dollars. It puts this stuff to shame. Enjoy!
looks like a 6146 final tube. New in 1953
REPLACE 6L6 TUBE WITH A 6DQ5 TUBE FOR MORE RF OUTPUT ! DE K9IOU K
Might want to be sure the power supply won't be overworked with the added load. Often 'improvements' aren't really all that great. Unless the power went up a LOT, the difference at the receiving end might not be worth the effort.
What a total piece of junk! :-/