Embedded Files
Figure 1. Duplicated Collins S-line and KWM-2A SSB set-up based on the Luven radio station.
I suppose many people, from the just curious to radio amateurs and the odd government state security type that have been snooping around these pages, have wondered, so what can you do with this replica of a "WW2/Stay Behind/Cold War" radio station? Well, to quote Wormtongue out of the Lord of the Rings, "A just question my liege".
To be truthful, the station is not quite complete and restored yet as there are still many bits and pieces stuck in the shed that have to be unboxed, restored and installed to complete the station. The Luven station in Switzerland had, by the time of closure, amassed quite a number of WW2, 1960's and 1970's transmitters and receivers. I have been delving into the documentation, note books, sketches and photographs of the Luven station to try and put together a true reflection of what the station looked like, I have had reasonable success to date, as can be seen in Refurbishment Figures 23-25 in the July 2020 update.
As the complete radio station, i.e. everything, runs off solar power, (I can draw up to 2 kW at a given time when using a tube transmitter and receiver plus linear amplifier), I have to manage consumption a bit. So typically, I would not use linear amplifiers early in the morning, but by midday there is enough sun power available without having to draw any battery power.
I have had to cease my involvement with the South African Maritime Mobile Net, as the net is heavily reliant on the internet for weather forecasts; unfortunately my internet can be down for days or even weeks at a time. Yes, to suffer from the digital divide can be problematic in modern society. So, I spend the bit of time I have for HAM radio on repairing and restoring equipment, or searching for someone to have a CW contact with. On the 40 m band, I normally call CQ on 7002 kHz or thereabouts, if that proves unsuccessful, I call on 7020 kHz, which is the general calling frequency for CW in South Africa. Sometimes I hunt around on the 20 m band for DX. I like to rag chew on CW, so don't attempt too much in the line of competitions. The Collins 32S-3 transmitter and 75S-3C receiver make a nice pair for CW (Figure 1). Most of the time I use low power rigs, e.g. the Argonaut, TCS sets, or MK119A etc. I find that 10 watts output can do most of what I want to do. For DX, I try QRP but also use more power sometimes.
What about the other functional transmitters and receivers? The DWS MK214D transmitter, the DWS MK119A transmitter/receiver, the WW2 ITG200 AM transmitter and so on? Well, there is a plan for them...
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse