Updated 8/21/2022
It is amazing that ham radio is subject to fads. The fad du jour for 2021 and earlier this year was the Nano VNA and the Tiny SA. Listen on any band or read any blog during that time and those two devices were mentioned incessantly. It was sort of like the ticket to ride and therefore you were a part of the "In Crowd" if you could utter those words.
I always felt the Nano VNA, as a test instrument, was suspect and was oversold about what it could do. There are even rumors of "Fake" units being sold for a low cost. Just think a Nano VNA being sold from anywhere starting at $39.95 to a whopping $200. A huge Red Flag guys!
At N6QW, I have two in boxes, and both have a fine coat of dust covering them. Why 2? -- The first one never worked properly and the second was always suspect in what it showed. I guess the Nano VNA truth has been found out! Think about it -- today the lack of a mention is like they never existed. How cruel!
The current Nano VNA fad du jour is the uSDX. I just can't believe how these are being sold on Amazon and eBay and they are really terrible on SSB transmit! Several radio giants who are also manufacturers of ham equipment are of the same view.
But if you want to see some real radio stuff read on about the Tempo One Radio Resurrection.
Updated 08/20/2022
The Tempo One participated in the NAQP today. In the span of 5 minutes, I worked 6 stations in five states!
Photo Below: Resurrected Radio w/Case
An inexpensive radio that did good!
** Pucker Factor Alert! **
On a pucker scale of 1-10 this is a 10! Like the ad says it feels like you are passing a prickly pineapple!
8/13/2022 Update. For those who don't know the IF is at 9 MHz which enabled some fancy footwork with a 5 - 5.5 MHz VFO. The Tempo One has a port for a Remote VFO and a front panel switch selects options for Receiving or Transmitting with the external VFO source or using the internal VFO for both. This is a Hybrid rig with the VFO, Heterodyne Oscillator Board, Tone Oscillator and Voltage Regulation/Bias which are all solid state.
In answer to one inquiry: I did it because I could, and most importantly I do not belong to the ARRL and thusly not focused on contests or operating! I Fix Stuff, Because I Know Stuff!
[The Tempo One and the FT-200/250 are the same radio. One was marketed by Henry Radio and the other by Yaesu. As I understand it -- this radio was the radio of choice by the CB crowd as there are open crystal positions on the 10 Meter band switch that easily fitted crystals that would work 11 Meters. That coupled with its cheap price made it the winner. It has nice functionally for CW, but the CW ops gave it a thumbs down because of the wide SSB Filter. But it does work and the VFO is very Stable and Linear.]
Hello ARRL! This is what you can do with a real Radio Lab, which is something more than a movable table with two video screens and a keyboard.
I Fix Stuff, Because I know Stuff!
Radio with the case installed!
Resurrection Radio: On the Air!
The Acquistion Cost was $85!
This is not every one's cup of tea but when Ham Radio was more than just contesting or operating this sort of resurrection was the norm!
73's
Pete N6QW
Current Pondering: Yes Virgina, the Orange Prison Jumpsuits come in Size 2X and 3X!
More Current Ponderings: So, who is the Mara A Lago Mole? Some suggest family members.