Bringing a CLASSIC "Back to the Future" - The HeathKit HW-8

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A few weeks ago, I bumped into Dr. Emmet Brown while he was working on his DeLorean Time Machine while I was doing a Parks on the Air activation at the Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve - US-7956 in Louisville, KY. USA.

I asked Dr. Brown if it was possible he could spare a few minutes to travel back in time to Christmas 1977, when my former wife (SK) purchased a Heathkit HW-8 CW transceiver for me as a Christmas gift.  Although I was unlicensed and we lived in a Townhouse apartment with antenna restrictions; I was not going to let it deter me from  building this rig and getting licensed.  

The Great Blizzard of January 1978 was the PERFECT time to build this rig; as Indianapolis, IN. USA, like many Midwestern cities at that time were shut down for more than a week.  With my Townhouse property management focused on clearing snow, ice, freezing pipes and heating issues;  as the 20' vertical wire secured to 2 - 10' sections of PVC and attached it to our patio shed at night to listen to 40 & 20 meter activities was not a huge priority of violating property policies. It was a perfect setup and time to test out my completed project. 

My wife was quite jubilant I had constructed this equipment and it worked. Several years later I confessed to her I wasn't worried about building it but was overjoyed it WORKED.

In late February 1978 I started a new job which required more of my time than I expected and I had to abandon my plans to get licensed. Six months later, we moved into a home and my next door neighbor turned out to be a ham. However, even with my neighbor's encouragement; life and career activities got in the way of committing to securing a license and somewhere along life's journey that HW-8 disappeared. 

Now, in my head; it was time to go "Back To The Future" as I came upon an Ebay fine of an Heathkit HW-8 in relatively MINT condition. 


When I connected the HW-8 to my Alpha Mag Loop and turned on the power, the memories of listening to 80 and 40 meter Morse Code came rushing back into my mind. This used HW-8 still provided the great receiver features of its RF stage, balanced product detector and superb active audio filter wide and narrow that I came to appreciate in the early winter months of 1978  

I couldn't wait to get this "Back to the Future" rig out for a POTA activation. Although this QRP rig is rather bulky for my "Ham on a Bike" portable activities, its size was not going to prevent me from carrying this rig to the field.

The HW-8, 12 Volt / 3 Ah LiPo battery, a CW Morse Camal Back Morse Key, EarBuds or Speaker, 40 - 10 meter QRP End Fed Half Wave (EFHW) antenna, Arborist throw weight and 125' of Arborist line easily fit into my Rucksack and felt comfortable on my back when riding my bicycle.

Between work and raining conditions, it was almost two weeks before having an opportunity to do a Parks on the Air activation using the HW-8.

Wouldn't you know the early morning of my POTA activation solar conditions forecasted a minor solar storm. This was really going to put this almost 50 year old model rig to its test.


There was a definite chill in the air and a few park walkers and I braved the rawness of the morning. I got my EFHW up about 35' into its usual spot high in an Evergreen, connected my nearly made 15' of coax to rig, attached Camal Back key, Sony recorder, earbuds and battery, turned on the power switch and "Abra Kadabra, Alakazam"; the HW-8 came to life and spoke with 40 meter signals just like it did on the cold winter nights from early 1978. 



 Although a little tough, the Solar Storm conditions didn't hinder my quest from securing a valid POTA activation at Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve US-7956 in Louisville, KY. USA.  Despite conditions, I was able to secure 12 contacts on 40 and 20 minutes in 40 minutes with 2.5 watts. Talk about being IMPRESSED!



I purchased a CW Morse Camal Back Straight Key specifically for this rig.  Still trying to find the most comfortable settings using this key. Thanks to Doc Brown and his DeLorean;  I can guarantee this HW-8 will see a lot of use in the shack and doing POTA activations this winter and in "The Future".  




Location: Louisville, KY, USA

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