Kantronics

Phil Anderson, W0XI was mentioned previously here:

https://wb9kzy.blogspot.com/2023/07/phil-anderson-w0xi-sk.html

I saw this Kantronics QRP transmitter on Face:

It's an interesting design - the thing I noticed was the classic mechanical design of a Bakelite box plus a top plate.  Another interesting detail, the key was connected between the positive power and the rig - this is similar to the original Tuna Tin 2 transmitter.  But instead of another transistor the Rockhound uses a CMOS hex inverter chip as both the crystal oscillator and the driver of the VN66 output MOSFET.

I wonder how it sounds ?  Probably depends on the crystal, antenna, supply, blah blah blah :)

I imagine that the Rockhound might have been paired with the Kantronics 8040 receiver, manual here:

https://www.manualslib.com/download/3124657/Kantronics-8040-B.html

The 8040B was a FET heavy design.  Here is an ad from the May 1980 issue of 73 Magazine for the Rockhound, the 8040B and the Freedom VFO:

And here are the inflated prices:

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Certainly not a whim or impulse purchase.  I do have a dim recollection of that VFO - a solid state VFO might have been a nice addition to my HW-16 but I ended up building my own.

No Rockhounds recently on Ebay but there were these sales:

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The 8040B would have been tempting at that price, oh no !  You don't need another radio, Chuck !

Best Regards,
Chuck, WB9KZY
http://wb9kzy.com/ham.htm