The latest addition to my code key collection arrived earlier this week, Bunnell Gold Bug s/n 477.
The key was sold on eBay with its original case and instruction sheet. The key is basically in as-found condition, complete with wedge cord. Open the case and it looks like its ready to go to work.
I don’t plan to polish or clean this key one bit. Having lived most of its non-operating life in the case, its basically in good shape.
Honestly, I haven’t yet taken time to try out the key in either shack. I’m just tickled to have gotten an original key in this condition. This is the fourth Gold Bug in my collection, one of approximately 1,500 Gold Bugs manufactured.
I’ve operated several of my Gold Bugs, and I have found them less forgiving that other bugs. The dit contact setup creates its own problems, though I assume that those problems weren’t so evident when the keys were new.
Cold weather is arriving later this week in the Ohio Valley, so I’m hoping I’ll soon have a chance to repair my main dipole that serves the Studio A, then clean the shack so I can operate there comfortably again.
YAESU FT-817 STUFF. As I think I wrote earlier in this space, my recently acquired FT-817 did not come with the battery door on the bottom. I bought an aftermarket replacement on eBay, but did NOT spring for the aftermarket battery. I’m not sure I’m really sure the battery will be much use to me, though having the AA battery holder might be something worth having on hand in an emergency.
I also have an inexpensive (i.e., Chinese) hand mic coming for the radio. I wouldn’t mind getting an aftermarket tuning knob, but that’s an option.
I was looking at the variety of add-on rails for the 817, and decided instead to buy a stand that will hold the radio up at an appropriate angle. Its coming from China as well, so as I told my son about a Nintendo item he bought, both items could be on the proverbial slow boat from China.
TUNER PART 2. I never have installed my MFJ Differential T tuner here in Studio B, just simply haven’t taken time. Not sure I’ll have time this weekend to do it, but hopefully one day soon I’ll get ‘er done. Right now I have my trusty Heathkit SA-2060 tuner here in Studio B, and frankly, its really going to be tough to beat. But I read good things about the Differential T tuner offering only one good tuner setting.
73 es CUL de KY4Z … SK …. (dit dit)