Heathkit HW-8 CW Transceiver
Here is a quick post regarding my Heathkit HW-8 CW Transceiver at N6CC. They were first sold in 1976 for around $140. I built this kit about 50 years ago […]
Design and Engineering Projects
End Fed Half Wave Wire Antennas
Updated: 6/9/2025 – A work in progress. End Fed Half Wave wire antennas must be great. Everyone is selling them! Meh. The antenna engineer’s axiom: You can have high gain, […]
Lafayette HE-90 CB: Fun in the 1960’s
UPDATE May 4, 2025 Certainly not a “military radio” but a radio nonetheless. Close enough for my purposes at the time. I bought this Lafayette HE-90 CB transceiver in 1964. […]
“Canteen” Shortwave Radio Receiver
UPDATED 11/15/17 One recent project was building a replica of the “canteen radio” that was used by US Army personnel in the Japanese POW camp at Cabanatuan in the Philippines […]
ATX Computer Power Supply repurposed
The PC type desktop computers seem to have a universal type ATX or the newer ATX12V power supply. These are multi-voltage units that are pretty much standardized in various power […]
GRC-109 / GRC-9 Battery Operated Power Supplies
UPDATED 2/9/17 Both the GRC-9 and GRC-109 used the BA-48 battery to power their respective receivers as an option. When operated from the various dynamotor, vibrator or AC supplies, the […]
AN/GRC-109 / RS-1 Transmitter with VFO
UPDATED 21NOV14 Of course my favorite military Black Radio. The GRC-109 and its immediate predecessor the CIA’s RS-1. I was sitting here thinking about the cost of adding additional FT-243 […]
Field Expedient Antenna Systems
And other simple DIY Antenna Contraptions “If it’s stupid – but works – it isn’t stupid” Murphy’s Laws of Combat UPDATED 2/28/2025 A good field expedient antenna must first start […]
Ancient Heathkit Oscilloscope
Update: 6/11/2024 Another project: I restored an ancient Heathkit O-8 scope. The design is based upon a 5CP1 CRT as used in various WWII Military radars and IFF sets; the […]
Collins 618F-1A VHF Aircraft Transceiver
UPDATE 9/18/2022 The latest project at N6CC is “reviving” a 1965 Collins 618F-1A VHF aircraft radio. This radio was designed for light aircraft as an early frequency – synthesized radio […]