We are addicted to numbers whether it is the number of cylinders in our gas cars or the number of motors in our EV's. Our frequent apologies for not having legal limit power are in play when the other station says we are only an S5 are a reality. Lower numbers undeniably suggest an inferiority.
A certain guy's lower poll numbers cannot be passed off as Fake News and my recent blog viewings being 1/3 of what they were when I was covering the Hybrid rig build is an effect. That is a significant drop and indicative of a loss of similar interests or any interest in what I do.
But my blog has a purpose if only to follow the Marines template for carrying out an order. The Marine's template has a preparatory command and a command of execution as in "Do Something". Two parts: do and something.
At this stage of my life and given my recent loss it is important for me to keep active and perhaps documenting my varied ham activities is just that... doing something. So lower blog viewing does not alter why I do what I do. It's for me!
I have been looking at many you tube videos on simple one or two tube CW transmitters. Mainly the interest has been ones using the 6L6 and the 6DQ6B as a final amp. Don't be turned off by tubes and CW but rather focus on the technology shift of our hobby has taken over a 70-year period.
Quite honestly many of these videos covering older homebrew rigs and vintage commercial radios clearly show that those radios (even when working 100%) sound not so good as compared to modern day rigs and radios.
Chirp, drift, buzz saw noise and key clicks are highly evident. In one of WU2D's excellent videos, on the critical path for how a rig sounded, was the specific crystal being used. Same rig but a decidedly different signal depending on the choice of crystal.
K1OIK had a similar documentation with a Heathkit rig... it sounded better using a crystal versus using the VF1, VFO.
Today's new ham would not stand for what we OT's lived with at the time (long ago). In truth today's technology gives us orders of magnitude of improvement in how a signal sounds on the air, over what existed 70 years ago. However, what has not changed is sloppy sending and poor operating practices. Worse is a good word!
Enjoy your modern Homebrew rig or Commercial Radio... a lot has changed in 70 years.
Them that know can make things go.
73's
Pete N6QW