Recent TT items on QRP, wartime and modern regenerative receivers have reflected a keen, if minority, interest in simple home-brew equipment among those who feel that 'black boxes' (no matter how effective) leave them feeling that there must be more to HF operating. The May 1997 TT recalled the 25 year old Swedish 'Optimist' and the subsequent Pixie and Pisce designs - all of which utilise a single crystal-controlled oscillator (or VXO) for both transmission and for a simple direct-conversion receiver. This is an ingenious and a 'fun' single-channel rig, but is neither intended nor suitable for serious HF contest operation. Derek Stanners, G3HEJ, however, has shown that single-frequency operation, combined with relatively high-power, can still provide a high score in the 1997 RSGB 7MHz contest. His development of an unorthodox rig based on two (now obsolete) low-cost Howes kits came about as the result of an attempt to 'energise' the creative efforts of his local club. But let G3HEJ tell this part of the story.
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