Web Tour of W1AW

[Pete, WA2CWA]

In case you missed the live web tour of W1AW back on 2/12/12, here it is in all its glory: http://www.awecast.tv/channels/arrl/
Where are those AM operators 


I hope this isn't the antenna farm!!

[kb3rdt]

sure just thow a wire and tune it in with the tuner!   

[WD8BIL]

Where are those AM operators 

Watching that video you'd never know there was a vintage AM station to operate.

Impressive none the less.

[WA3VJB]

Yeah who wants to see all that other stuff.

Where's the AM ?

The first part is not even a video. It's a slide show.

Get me some wholesome AM sound and glowing vacuum tube MOTION PICTURE footage.

Bah !

[K5UJ]

What exactly do they show?

Does W1AW look the way it did in the photos on the cover of my 1970 operating guide?  There's a montage of black and white photos of W1AW--interior photos; not antennas. 

The ham station shown in those photos has the slightly eerie look of a historic home on exhibit, in some place like Colonial Williamsburg.   Racks of gear, looking like they are never actually operated, are shown in between floor to ceiling curtains.  Men in suits and ties, looking obviously posed for the camera, are shown twiddling knobs but they look as if they have never operated a radio transmitter before.   No one who operates a rig does so by bending over at the waist with an arm extended holding a knob between thumb and forefinger as if he were daintily arranging a flower in a vase.   

Some rigs are recessed in desk panels angled slightly so the operator, a man wearing a tie and jacket pretending to speak into a microphone, can look down at them and out over the desk.    I can't get over the curtains.  I wonder if they automatically come out on ceiling tracks to surround and cover the gear following the end of every transmission.  Maybe they're there to hide the rigs when the FCC shows up.      "Nothing to see here fellas; just some curtains..."

[WA3VJB]

What exactly do they show?

Did the link not work for you?  Maybe you had the same reaction I did -- the site makes you suffer with the video, in that you cannot fast forward by grabbing the crawl marker to move it along.

I gave up after the uninteresting parts.

Years past, the ARRL abandoned the use of hammy hambone gear for its broadcasts on 7290 and elsewhere, and went commercial like so many of the AM community, in their case with some pretty good Harris (Harris-Intertype is a descendant of Gates Radio) equipment.  

It replaced the sort of thing you described, with a lot of it behind sliding glass doors like you would use to your back porch.

Carcia, who is kin to one of our friends on here, was told never to run the gear on AM as part of the ARRL broadcasts on 7290Kc.   That directive came from Dave Sumner, CEO-for-life in the administrative office (he's the station trustee). In fact, he once told me the transmitter wasn't capable of AM.  

It's probably all been replaced by now anyway.

[K5UJ]

Well of course for broadcasts, the ARRL can't lower themselves to use just any old ham rig driving an amplifier -- how ordinary.  

With Dave, I'm surprised there are any non-CW transmissions at all.

I never tried the link.  My ISP connection is so slow videos suck too much time and I refuse to pay Comcast $60/month; I'd rather spend that on radio stuff.

[K1ZJH]

I'd like to see more behind the curtain. On the surface, it looks a real hodge-podge
of gear stacked in racks behind glass doors.  I'm sure there's some sense to the mess,
but a technical rundown of their main gear would have been interesting. Maybe
they did?  I feel asleep halfway through the presentation.

[Opcom]

OK I watched the video. I had control of the slider and was able to skip around. The only thing I saw in there I would really lust after is the R&S transceiver. Harris amps were mentioned but I didn't see them. The MFJ amps were not that interesting, but I can see why they would not want to run AM on 6 bands for their broadcasts as there may not be enough power and or plate/collector dissipation or air conditioning to do it properly.

I thought there was going to be at least one operational vintage AM/CW station but maybe there is no room for that. It would be nice if visiting to have a CCS-rated legal limit AM station available.

(Has everyone sent their letters to representatives, c/o the ARRL, about HR607? )

[K3YA]

When I toured W1AW about 30 years ago they had some boring commercial gear set up for code practice transmissions and guest use.  But when the staff member heard that I was into old radios, he showed me the retired big old black crinkle home-built transmitters stored down the basement. That's probably one of them int the background early in the video.  I bet the others are still down there.

[K5UJ]

Let's home someone with technology prejudice didn't scrap them out or rent a truck and haul them to a landfill.

 

[K1JJ]

When I toured W1AW about 30 years ago they had some boring commercial gear set up for code practice transmissions and guest use.  But when the staff member heard that I was into old radios, he showed me the retired big old black crinkle home-built transmitters stored down the basement. That's probably one of them int the background early in the video.  I bet the others are still down there.

Master Jeff, WA1MBK, the previous station manager, took me for a tour into the W1AW basement too. It was back around 1980? I think.  It was loaded with trays of old QSL cards and the black homebrew big rig racks.  A haunting environment to be sure.

However, there was an article in QST about cleaning out the cellar in prep for the W1AW renovations maybe 12 years ago?  They found a new-in-box Ranger kit and published that. They inferred much of the stuff was being moved out. Maybe they held on to some for the museum. W1AW Carcia would be the guy to axe about it.

T

[Pete, WA2CWA]

For those that may or may not remember, here is the 2004 QST article installing the vinage AM station at W1AW: http://p1k.arrl.org/pubs_archive/105474

The ARRL also has a "Historical Committee" that has been engaged in ongoing projects for at least the last 6 to 8 years. Check the Board of Directors Meeting Minutes and look under "Committee Reports". Contacting the Chairperson might shed some light on the storage or disposition of some of the older equipment that was used and/or showcased in glass cases in the lobby years ago. It's also possible that some of the vintage equipment stored may have appeared in ARRL's annual on line auctions.

[Opcom]

Joe Carcia seems to be a decent guy and has been around electronics for decades.. I doubt he would approve of trashing the stuff. Maybe auctioning it to find good homes. Would not hurt to ask on the other hand he's probably very busy.

I see in the file, a Valiant and NC300 looks like. That would be worth a spin! My problem is distance, it would be a looong drive. Myabe in a year or so, for a road trip.. LST-325, Fair radio, Mendelson's, Mock..

Have not been North of Virginia in a while and last time it was a flight to Teaneck New Jersey. That place was a was horrible experience. Bums and streetwalkers checking out the rental car as if it were a valuable item..

[WD8BIL]

For those that may or may not remember, here is the 2004 QST article installing the vinage AM station at W1AW: http://p1k.arrl.org/pubs_archive/105474

And it was totally ignored in the video! OH, they made sure the digi and contest modes were alive and well.

When that amount of neglect continues to happen time and again it's no wonder many of us remain skeptics. (not to mention non-members)

[Pete, WA2CWA]

For those that may or may not remember, here is the 2004 QST article installing the vinage AM station at W1AW: http://p1k.arrl.org/pubs_archive/105474

And it was totally ignored in the video! OH, they made sure the digi and contest modes were alive and well.

When that amount of neglect continues to happen time and again it's no wonder many of us remain skeptics. (not to mention non-members)

Both activities are very popular with today's amateurs. "Modes" are just a position on a switch. Fuzzy logic 90's thinking that "AM" should be treated as a some sort of specialized or unique amateur radio activity. It isn't! It's a mode, no different then SSB or CW, and should not be awarded any "special" treatment or review. The only real neglect or sadness I see is the pervasive myopic thinking that many amateurs have towards the ARRL. But, as in real life, amateurs have choices; so, don't like the water; stay out of the pool. Many others are having fun in the pool.

[K5UJ]

Both activities are very popular with today's amateurs. "Modes" are just a position on a switch. Fuzzy logic 90's thinking that "AM" should be treated as a some sort of specialized or unique amateur radio activity. It isn't! It's a mode, no different then SSB or CW, and should not be awarded any "special" treatment or review. The only real neglect or sadness I see is the pervasive myopic thinking that many amateurs have towards the ARRL. But, as in real life, amateurs have choices; so, don't like the water; stay out of the pool. Many others are having fun in the pool.

Nice Troll job!  You could not be more wrong my friend--SSB is a mere mode of emission; CW, maybe vintage RTTY and definitely AM, are cultures and a way of life.  But go ahead and try to devalue AM as another plug and play mode if you want--good luck. 

 

[WA3VJB]

For those that may or may not remember, here is the 2004 QST article installing the vinage AM station at W1AW: http://p1k.arrl.org/pubs_archive/105474

And it was totally ignored in the video! OH, they made sure the digi and contest modes were alive and well.

When that amount of neglect continues to happen time and again it's no wonder many of us remain skeptics. (not to mention non-members)

I'm with ya, Buddly, some of the rulers in Newington are afraid of the water that includes the Tall Ships of AM, so they stay in the baby pool where the water is kinda hyellowee, ya know ?

[Ed/KB1HYS]

Seems to me that folks like to keep AM presented as an "Old Timey" or "Vintage" mode.  Now it can be, but so can a lot of modes, except for the digital stuff. 

Frankly I think that's a disservice, AM is certainly NOT restricted to Vacuum Tubes and Crystal sets, it is certainly as main stream 21st century as anything else, just ask those Smug Flex Ops.

Mebbe, and now I'm just sayin', someone could do a nice AM focused, modern technology Flex or  Class E rig article for QST or the technical pub (I forget the name).  Show em how to process audio etc.  Show folks that putting out a good sounding strong signal on AM is in the realm of the modern home brewer.

that surely would dispel the Myth of Ancient Modulation being the realm of vacuum tubes and Old Buzzards, er, not that there's anything wrong with either of course.

[Opcom]

Both activities are very popular with today's amateurs. "Modes" are just a position on a switch. Fuzzy logic 90's thinking that "AM" should be treated as a some sort of specialized or unique amateur radio activity. It isn't! It's a mode, no different then SSB or CW, and should not be awarded any "special" treatment or review. The only real neglect or sadness I see is the pervasive myopic thinking that many amateurs have towards the ARRL. But, as in real life, amateurs have choices; so, don't like the water; stay out of the pool. Many others are having fun in the pool.

Nice Troll job!  You could not be more wrong my friend--SSB is a mere mode of emission; CW, maybe vintage RTTY and definitely AM, are cultures and a way of life.  But go ahead and try to devalue AM as another plug and play mode if you want--good luck.  

  

SSB is AM where the transmitter is malfunctioning.
AM is SSB where the transmitter is amlfunctioning.

AM is a way of life where reverent and irreverent paths meet at many crossroads. It has devotees, pilgrims, acolytes, deacons, ministers, and high priests, some of whom have been industry giants and important government officials. It has rituals, incantations, decantations, many disciplines, weighty tomes of ancient knowledge, forbidden practices, two completely different types of 807's, and more secrets than you can shake a stick at. It has hot glass, cold steel, and warm iron. AM often has a color temperature between 900 and 4000 degrees K. Many forms of incense are burned by devout practicioners, Carbon and a Nichrome-sand mix being two of the most common while various dried forms of '-o-lene, a closely guarded mixture, are reserved for important occasions. Lately, black epoxy-like resins and flakes of impure Silicon have been found acceptably oderiferous. AM frightens some people a little at first and does no harm, but it drives those who are ignorant and self-important to a level of self-destructive wrath matched only by their own indolence and impotence. Sometimes a transmitter operator will feel the power. AM -is- the man behind the curtain. From time to time a larger transmitter may miraculously change Oil of Puissance into Oil of Brisance, with an internal annointing immediately to follow as proof. AM has blowers, but SSB has suckers.

[WA3VJB]

AM is a way of life where reverent and irreverent paths meet at many crossroads.

It has devotees, pilgrims, acolytes, deacons, ministers, and high priests, some of whom have been industry giants and important government officials.

It has rituals, incantations, decantations, many disciplines, weighty tomes of ancient knowledge, forbidden practices, two completely different types of 807's, and more secrets than you can shake a stick at. It has hot glass, cold steel, and warm iron.

AM often has a color temperature between 900 and 4000 degrees K.

Many forms of incense are burned by devout practitioners, Carbon and a Nichrome-sand mix being two of the most common while various dried forms of '-o-lene, a closely guarded mixture, are reserved for important occasions. Lately, black epoxy-like resins and flakes of impure Silicon have been found acceptably odoriferous.

AM frightens some people a little at first and does no harm, but it drives those who are ignorant and self-important to a level of self-destructive wrath matched only by their own indolence and impotence.¹

Sometimes a transmitter operator will feel the power. AM -is- the man behind the curtain. From time to time a larger transmitter may miraculously change Oil of Puissance into Oil of Brisance, with an internal annointing immediately to follow as proof.

AM has blowers, but SSB has suckers.

I might make a poster out of these incantations and hang it next to the transmitter.  Thank you.

_{¹ CWA? perhaps huh-ha !}

[K1JJ]

Hmmm... wonder who wrote that?  Pretty slick.   With the reference to "olene" my guess is someone here in the northeast.

Yes, the man behind the "curtain"  [transmitter] indeed.   

T

[W2VW]

Fine prose.

[WA3VJB]

Fine prose.

A strapping creed !

[Steve - K4HX]

All kidding aside, the same could be said for other modes and operating interests (QRP, contesting, etc.) AM is unique but so are other parts of the hobby. The snob approach will send more away from AM than it will attract.

AM is a way of life where reverent and irreverent paths meet at many crossroads. It has devotees, pilgrims, acolytes, deacons, ministers, and high priests, some of whom have been industry giants and important government officials. It has rituals, incantations, decantations, many disciplines, weighty tomes of ancient knowledge, forbidden practices, two completely different types of 807's, and more secrets than you can shake a stick at. It has hot glass, cold steel, and warm iron. AM often has a color temperature between 900 and 4000 degrees K. Many forms of incense are burned by devout practicioners, Carbon and a Nichrome-sand mix being two of the most common while various dried forms of '-o-lene, a closely guarded mixture, are reserved for important occasions. Lately, black epoxy-like resins and flakes of impure Silicon have been found acceptably oderiferous. AM frightens some people a little at first and does no harm, but it drives those who are ignorant and self-important to a level of self-destructive wrath matched only by their own indolence and impotence. Sometimes a transmitter operator will feel the power. AM -is- the man behind the curtain. From time to time a larger transmitter may miraculously change Oil of Puissance into Oil of Brisance, with an internal annointing immediately to follow as proof. AM has blowers, but SSB has suckers.