This page is intended to provide a source of information and technical assistance on a wide variety of amateur radio equipment new and old. Modifications to certain models will also be found in the information provided for each manufacturer. User nets, if available, are listed to enable you to check-in and talk to other hams using the same equipment as you are, discuss any problems you might be experiencing with your rig, or just to tell everyone how happy you are with your gear.

At VA3RJ, I still use the old Heathkit twins, SB-301 receiver and SB-401 transmitter. The glow that the tube filaments create is a work of art and also very useful to warm up the shack on a cold winters night of DXing. No solid state transceiver can take the place of these old, still workable, rigs. Audio quality is excellent, and often excels over all the DSP (Digital Signal Processing) present in the new rigs. Maintained on a regular basis, these rigs can last a lifetime. The remainder of my station is a Heathkit HW-2036A, on 2 metres, as well as a homebrew keyer, homebrew receiver preamplifier and transmitter speech processor. The antenna tuner just happens to be a Yaesu FC-902, as I got a good deal on it. Also complimenting the shack is a Yaesu FRG-9600 VHF/UHF communications receiver, and FT-890 transceiver (both being other deals that I could not turn down). All in all, my shack is very humble, and at times a challenge to operate, but I still get the DX as well as the very pleasant rag chew. I would recommend, to anyone, to try one of the older tube-type rigs again, and also homebrewing, just for the fun of it. Believe me, it is fun!

Take a look at Fred Hammond's (VE3HC) collection of old radio equipment - probably the largest and certainly the finest private collection of its kind in the world. The Hammond Museum of Radio callsign is VE3BJ.