There seem to be a few people as sad as me who are prepared to have some SOTA fun using vintage equipment so here goes.
The Vintage Electric Handbag Event is to encourage people to activate or chase using radios where the design or manufacture was from 1989 or before. Primarily this for radios such as the Yaesu FT-290 their ilk which were compact transportable radios for their time. I envisage this mainly as a mass VHF event like the one we used to have in the UK when SOTA was new although there is no reason why you cannot use any band you want. There is no prize or recognition other than having fun. Afterwards, post a picture of you and your vintage “handbag” plus your ODX QSO.
If we get a plan together, then I’ll have an FT-290Mk1 for the vintage side. I’ll take my 23cms FM handy to see if I can get a few QSOs logged for the Microwave Award.
Discounting tropo, MS and Es and with a probable emphasis on VHF, it’s most likely this will be for relatively local contacts and so I think it reasonable that the event runs for a whole weekend from 0000 Saturday to 2359 Sunday LOCAL time. i.e. everyone gets a 48 hour window to activate and chase in their locality.
When… a few weeks notice is needed for people to dust off gear and check it works and also not this weekend (11/12 Oct) or next (18/19 Oct) as I can’t play! (Hey it’s my idea). Suggestions welcome but I think weekend of 25/26 October is a possible one.
No prizes other the enjoyment of doing something a little different and possibly the respect of your peers for anyone who carries something seriously heavy up a summit!
Please note: this is a worldwide event and it’s any mode and band but with a view to using older gear. 1054 people worldwide have logged at least one 144MHz QSO on their activations this year, that’s about 1 in 3 of all registered activators.
Sounds great fun, I even have an Electric Handbag here ready for using to, jings it even has a carry handle, a Trio TS 700. However I can’t lug it up a hill due to a prolapsed disc in my back - takes me ages to climb the stairs never mind a summit.
I hope you all the best of fun and I’ll try my best to listen out for some of you, though I am in a VHF black spot unless you all head for Argyll.
This sounds like a really cool idea! Too bad I sold my FT-690 and FT-290 (and TR-2200A, and TR-22C, and FT-7, and…) years ago.
However, I do have a number of HTs from the 80s (IC-2AT, IC-3AT, IC-4AT, etc.). Oddly enough, I just picked up a Kenwood TH-21AT a few days ago. Under the battery pack, the original owner wrote the purchase date, in 1985! Just needs new cells for the battery pack. Unfortunately, there is virtually zero chance of finding any activators or chasers on VHF or UHF in this area. It might be just possible to pick up 4 contacts from non-SOTA stations by calling CQ for hours…
I do have a very interesting radio which would be a lot of fun to fire up: a Lafayette HA-750. For those who do not know, it is a 6 meter AM rig from the late 60s, based on the HB-625 mobile CB rig. It’s solid state, with a VFO which covers 50-52 MHz on transmit and receive (as well as crystal controlled transmit), rated at 5 watts input. I actually have the portable adapter for it which holds C cells and has a 1/4 wave telescopic whip. Of course, I’d be more likely to be struck by lightning while being abducted by aliens after winning the lottery than to make enough contacts on 6 AM around here…but it is just crazy enough that I might have to try!
Hi Andy,
An interesting idea.
I presume “handbag” means it was meant to be carried in the hand. Yes I could take my IC202 out but I have been peering at my 40 yo FT75 with a view to activation. 5 HF bands only 2 Valves 10 watts and not quite a handbag. Why would I contemplate doing that? Because I can. Maybe we need a Vintage Radio Activation Event to cover the field.
A handbag is what ladies carry their personal stuff in and Americans call them a pocketbooks ISTR. Some lady’s handbags come with shoulder straps.
290s et al. with their vinyl cases and shoulder straps look very much like you are carrying some kind of small lady’s handbag. But full of electronics, hence electric handbag. Well it made sense to me.
I’m in with my junk-sale FT-290R1! I have a friend who owns a little Mizuho MX-14S, I’ll see if he will loan it to me for a weekend.
Ron, the FT-290R1 was known affectionately as the “Two metre handbag” because it was slung over your shoulder with a strap, and the name has been extended to other portable rigs of the period. I think really the event will feature rigs from the 80’s and earlier, rather than specifically shoulder-strapped rigs, it would be nice if some really vintage stuff showed up, say WWII!
Brian G8ADD
PS Just saw the photo of the FT-7, nice, I fancy one of those!
If the date suits and the Wx is OK then I guess I might lug my Trio TR-9130 up a hill. I have a suspicion that it won’t work well with LiPo batteries though so may have to lug up a small SLAB as well.
Then the h/b 23cm transverter weighs nothing in comparison to the Trio so I suppose that could come too …
Neil, that sounds more like an Electric Suitcase. Much in the same vein as my 1983 vintage Trio TS-130V that I have owned from new which has been up a few hills in the good old lead acid battery days. I might give it a try with my LiPO/NiMH battery combination to see whether it is a practical proposition for a SOTA event.
73, Gerald G4OIG
Just remembered that back in March 2009 I activated a couple of G/SP summits with my 1976 vintage Trio TR-7010, also owned from new.
I recall the “electric handbag” title being given to the icom portables, the ic-202, 502 and 402 for ssb handbags and the 215 for the 3w 15 channel 215 on fm. I even have a few of those rigs but they are in unknown state. the 215 may be most likely to work, but all of this vintage probably have dried out electrolytic caps throughout the boards.
Interesting idea, Andy. Motivation for restoring or at least checking the arsenal of older gear…
I am the fortunate owner of a FT290R1 which I actually used on my first “accidental” activation of Pendle Hill in 2009. I haven’t used it for a while but I’m sure it is still in working order.
I also have a Yaesu FT7 although that may need some TLC to get it back into working order. Also it weighs a ton compared to the more modern radios I use on activations, so rather you than me Pete (G4ISJ) carrying one up a hill! I do remember it did have a very nice receiver
For those who may need a pass from your XYL / OM before playing out I can confirm that the 1st SOTA Vintage Electric Handbag Fun Event will take place over the weekend of 25th & 26th October 2014.
Details as per Andy MM0FMF’s post at the start of this topic.
I only “joined” SOTA a couple of days ago, and the first thread I read was this one.
Now, I shall be at the QRP convention at Rishworth on Sat 25th, and it so happens that I own a 290 handbag, although I haven’t used it for years.
I may not get a chance to do much on the Saturday, but, weather permitting, (I’m galloping towards my seventieth birthday), I’m prepared to take a walk up Gun Hill, near Leek, SP-013, I believe, on Sunday, clutching my handbag, (but not wearing high heels)!
I use to take my old FT-290R in summer and winter for fast activations fm and ssb. I have adapted a lipo battery. I am very satisfied with its performance. I like these old clunkers. They work better than my hand guiding the antenna …
Lakarri, EA2/NV-089
Bizkai, EA2/NV-142
Harriaundi, EA2/NV-108
