Real Ham Radio
I’m VK3USA / VK2XXL — a radio and electronics enthusiast with an obsession for RF and Hi-Fi done right. On this channel I tear into repair projects, put gear to the test and pass on knowledge you won’t find in any manual.
If you’re here for real signals, real sound and real power, you’re in the right place.
Drop a like, share it around and jump into the comments — I’ll always meet you on the airwaves.
Disclaimer: VK3USA – Real Ham Content is about one thing: real radios, real power and real engineering. Everything here is my personal opinion — no sponsors, no corporate spin, just one ham operator calling it like he sees it.
73
A Silent Key’s Drake C-Line Returns to Air (1976)
When the Drake Twins Light Up, It’s an Air Raid Warning
Kenwood’s KA-9100: Punching Soundbars Into the Floor
Drake TR-7A: Real Radio for Real Hams – SDR Fanboys, Don’t Bother
Ameritron AL-82 — Real Tubes, Real Power, No Apologies
The Collins KWM-2A — From Vietnam to Killing SDRs
JRC JST-245 – The Last Samurai of Japanese HF Engineering
SOLD: Yaesu FT-901DM – Collector Grade, Almost Impossible to Find (Feb 2025)
Kenwood TS-830S Full Lineup — Final On-Air Run Before Departure
SOLD: Kenwood TS-820S – Classic Hybrid Legend (Jan 2025)
Drake R8B Communications Receiver – The Last Great American Legend
Kenwood TL-922 Amplifier Arrives Damaged – Improper Packing to Blame
Kenwood SM-220 DOA – Restoring Focus and Trace Controls (Part 2/2)
Dead on Arrival: Kenwood SM-220 Station Monitor Repair (Part 1 of 2)
Kenwood TS-820S - Will it work?
Kenwood TS-830S – Intermittent RX/TX with a Surprisingly Simple Fix
The Mighty ICOM IC-7800 — One of the Last of a Dying Breed?
Drake SPR-4 Receiver on 40m
G3TXQ Hex Beam vs End Fed Half Wave Antenna on 20m
Yaesu FT 101E - the old battleship sails again
Yaesu FTDX-400 Transceiver on 40m
Kenwood R 820 Receiver: Quick demo.
Drake TR-4CW - Brief Evaluation and making contacts during CQ-WW 2022
Yaesu FT 101E Demonstration
Kenwood TS 820S Demonstration
Yaesu FT 901DM fixing up common faults and making contacts
Icom IC 761 Receive and Transmit - Brief demo
Icom IC 756PRO3 Transmit and Receive
G7FEK Limited Space Antenna: Part 3 - 80M DX
G7FEK Limited Space Antenna Part 2 - 80M Local contacts