Classic SSB on 2m

The DL6HA homebrew SSB transceiver

This is the radio which kicked off this whole idea. It was kindly donated by the late Clive M0VCF, and is a handmade set based on a series of articles published in VHF Communications magazine back in 1970: A(n) SSB Transceiver With Silicon Transistor Complement. It covers the SSB end of 2m, with USB and LSB (even AM is included in the design, but not built into this model). The chassis and case are hand-made in folded aluminium, and it also includes a homebrew PA with around 8W PEP output.
The radio is built entirely with discrete transistors, and is nicely made on individual single-sided PCBs, in some cases mounted in (home-made) tin screening cans. The upper section (opposite) includes the 9MHz SSB boards and the 14-144MHz transmit/receive converter.
The lower half includes the 5MHz VFO, 144MHz PA, 130MHz oscillator and audio amplifier. The radio must have cost a lot to build at the time: according to an advert in one of the magazines, kits of parts (excluding the PA section) would have cost around 450 Deutschmarks back in 1970 (for comparison, the RSGB's VHF/UHF Manual cost 14DM).

Commercial VHF SSB transceivers of yesteryear

IC202 USB/CW portable		This amazing little radio with its "upright" design is unique! It was manufactured in 1976, and I bought mine third-hand (and rather worse for wear) back in 1983 and am still using it today! It's a battery-powered (from 9 x C-size cells) set with 3W output, and has three or four VXO ranges, each providing 200kHz tuning coverage. I often use mine portable in the RSGB 2m "Backpackers" contests, and I know that these sets are also well-used as tuneable IFs by microwave enthusiasts. Later models (202S and 202E) had LSB too, and even a sidetone for CW!
TR7010 SSB mobile	This radio dates from the 1970s too, but there are still three operational within our local net. It uses a series of crystal-based VXOs, which give limited coverage of the lower end of the 144MHz band, and has around 10W output.
TS780 multimode dual-bander		This 2m/70cm multimode was first produced in 1982 (I've had mine since 1996). It's officially a "mobile" (as it can run off 12V DC), but it also includes a mains power supply. It gives out 10W on either band, and it's a lovely receiver with which to tune across the band.
FT290R multimode portable	This ground-breaking radio was first sold in 1981, and there are probably thousands if them still in use. A very robust set with 2.5W output, but the 100Hz click-stop tuning is not so easy to use on SSB.
FDK Multi-750 multimode mobile		An early 10W multimode mobile set from FDK. The XX model has 20W output.
Belcom Liner2 SSB mobile	The epitome of SSB mobile from the 'seventies!
TR9000 multimode mobile		A 10W mobile from Trio (now Kenwood). The later 9130 model had 30W output.
FT480 multimode mobile	A 10W radio, notable for its multicoloured LED S-meter.
IC260 multimode mobile		A 10W multimode mobile set from Icom. I used one mobile myself in the mid-nineties, along with a Microwave Modules 100W PA and a halo antenna. I remember that its noise-blanker was particularly effective. The later IC290 had higher output (30W?)
FT221 multimode	An early (1976) 10W VFO-controlled multimode, DC or mains powered.
IC211 multimode mobile		A 10W multimode set from Icom, DC or mains powered.
TS700 multimode	A 10W VFO-controlled multimode, DC or mains powered.
FT225RD multimode		A 25W multimode base station from Yaesu, with digital display.
FT220 multimode	A very early (1974) 10W multimode, DC or mains powered.
TR9130 multimode mobile		A 30W mobile from Trio (now Kenwood). An updated version of the TR9000.
FT101 and transverter	A classic HF radio with matching VHF transverter.
FT726R multimode		A tri-band (6m, 2m & 70cm) multimode from Yaesu. The fore-runner of the FT736.

Members of our Classic SSB net

If you've got some classic gear of your own and would like to join us, have a look around 144.3MHz, or drop me an email.

I'd like to arrange a sked sometime, where the combined age of our radios exceeds 200 years!

By the way, I've done some work on the DL6HA transceiver's calibration, so now I can find may way around the band without a frequency counter...