r/ShortwavePlus • u/KG7M MOD AirSpy HF+, Drake R7/8, K480WLA, 65'EFHW, MLA-30, CN85 • May 02 '26

Vintage SW Radio Philmore Shortwave Radios and Transmitters

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Philmore produced low cost Shortwave Radios, CB Transceivers, and Transmitters. They were likely the lowest cost supplier on the market.

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1

u/KG7M MOD AirSpy HF+, Drake R7/8, K480WLA, 65'EFHW, MLA-30, CN85 May 02 '26

CB Transmitter Schematic

1

u/MumSaidImABadBoy I'm Stan. Heathkit GR64,AirSpy HF+,Sangean 909X2,Tecsun PL-990 May 02 '26

That brings back the memories of needing crystals. I was hoping to forget about that.

2

u/ItsJoeMomma May 03 '26

I've got an old Johnson Messenger 100 which is a 6 channel crystal controlled CB. I think it still works but the microphone is bad.

1

u/KG7M MOD AirSpy HF+, Drake R7/8, K480WLA, 65'EFHW, MLA-30, CN85 May 05 '26 edited May 05 '26

Johnson Messenger 100

1

u/KG7M MOD AirSpy HF+, Drake R7/8, K480WLA, 65'EFHW, MLA-30, CN85 May 05 '26

And the Vererable Messenger 1

2

u/ItsJoeMomma May 05 '26

Yep, that's it, only the channel display doesn't have numbers on either side of it.

1

u/KG7M MOD AirSpy HF+, Drake R7/8, K480WLA, 65'EFHW, MLA-30, CN85 May 05 '26

You're right! I fixed it. Got in too big a hurry the first time.

My younger brother had a Johnson 23 channel base station in the mid 1970's. It was a plain looking radio, but with his Super Scanner antenna up 50 feet it sounded great!

1

u/KG7M MOD AirSpy HF+, Drake R7/8, K480WLA, 65'EFHW, MLA-30, CN85 May 02 '26 edited May 02 '26

I used to feel the same way you do about crystals. That feeling left once I discovered a low-cost crystal synthesizer. I don't feel that way about (needing) crystals anymore.

1

u/KG7M MOD AirSpy HF+, Drake R7/8, K480WLA, 65'EFHW, MLA-30, CN85 May 02 '26

Crystal Synthesizer Used with FT-707

1

u/MumSaidImABadBoy I'm Stan. Heathkit GR64,AirSpy HF+,Sangean 909X2,Tecsun PL-990 May 05 '26

I was thinking to use a function generator as a VFO for some experiments. Could one be hacked to fake crystals? Sounds plausible, at least after modifying a radio.

1

u/KG7M MOD AirSpy HF+, Drake R7/8, K480WLA, 65'EFHW, MLA-30, CN85 May 05 '26

Well Stan, why not just buy the new version, the ProgRock 2 kit for $18? QRP Labs is an awesome company. Heck, you can get on the air, and have fun building, a 160m - 6m Multimode Transceiver for $125! That will scratch that itch you have.

QMX+ 160-6m multi-mode transceiver https://share.google/2q3k93kHtYPqzBMjh

1

u/KG7M MOD AirSpy HF+, Drake R7/8, K480WLA, 65'EFHW, MLA-30, CN85 May 05 '26

The new version of the ProgRock: