Classic Exchange -- A Vintage Radio Contest

Warm-up those filaments for the Classic Exchange contest, January 25/26 and February 15/16.

Do you have any old equipment from the bygone days of radio? Are you a homebrewer who likes to make nifty low power (QRP) radios or replicas of old rigs? Well the good news is that you can put those pieces on the air in an operating event that will make you feel like you are in another era. That event is called Classic Exchange (CX) and it is held twice a year. The purpose of CX as described in their newsletter is to "Encourage restoration, operation and enjoyment of older commercial and homebrew ham gear." Some years ago, I heard stations on 40 meter CW calling "CQ CX." After some research, I discovered that this was a contest for vintage and homebrew gear. It sounded like a great way to get some use from the old rigs I had in my basement. Since then, I have rediscovered the magic of radio and await the next CX event for more of it.
Tuning into the Classic Exchange allows you to hear the radios that are now just memories of the past. You can have a contact (QSO) with a station that is using equipment that was built before you were born. CX is a real contest, with much the same thrill as Sweepstakes or a DX contest. In this contest, the number of QSOs is only part of the story. The other part is the age of the transmitter and receiver. The event covers two weekends, one for CW and the other for phone. If you are interested in getting a high score, you need to make a lot of QSOs with as many pieces of the oldest gear you can acquire. Keeping these old beauties going can sometimes lead to unexpected results. Don't be too surprised if the station you are talking to suddenly goes silent. The fireworks in his shack may be making him scramble for cover! Keeping old gear in good working order is one of the cornerstone attractions of the Classic Exchange.

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