A Time to Reminisce

(Christmas, 1997)

L. B. Cebik, W4RNL



When I was very young and could tell a flea from a gnat with my bare eyes, they gave me radio components that I could hold in my hands and from which I could build a super-regenerative 10-meter receiver and squeeze out a little 10-meter power by adding another multiplier after the crystal oscillator.

The next time I looked, I could barely distinguish without glasses a mole from a vole from a mouse, and they gave me transistors to hold with my needle-nose pliers when soldering and reminded me that I still needed to neutralize my 10-meter finals.

Now that I can just barely tell a horse from a camel even wearing my glasses, they give me parts to hold with tweezers while plugging them into circuit board holes smaller than human hairs and offer me complete 10-meter rigs that fit in my hand.

I do not know which I miss more: those big warm parts or those good eyes. Thank goodness 10-meter operators have not changed much over the years-- still the best part and heart of hamming. And if they happen to be running CW QRP from a hilltop, then my heart runs warm, even if the parts run cool.



Updated 2-21-98. © L. B. Cebik, W4RNL. Data may be used for personal purposes, but may not be reproduced for publication in print or any other medium without permission of the author. This item first appeared on TENTEN-L and in The County Line RoadRunner Feb, 1998.



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