Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
- Electronically
- tower block dreamin
- Posts: 431
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2015 11:43 am
Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
Albert before nrg kits and Veronica kits was born was there any company's selling transmitters before Veronica and nrg kitz I know ramsay was about then who else!
Sent from my AMN-LX9 using Tapatalk
Sent from my AMN-LX9 using Tapatalk
- sinus trouble
- proppa neck!
- Posts: 1421
- Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 11:34 pm
Re: Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
Depends on what you call a transmitter?Electronically wrote: ↑Fri Feb 19, 2021 11:34 pm Albert before nrg kits and Veronica kits was born was there any company's selling transmitters before Veronica and nrg kitz I know ramsay was about then who else!
Sent from my AMN-LX9 using Tapatalk
Velleman, Pantek, Stentor, Radio Berkley, just a few! Even BW was around that time?
There was many designs around just not available until the internet, Unless you had some good contacts?
From experience? The first pirate 'Pro Rigs' i saw were from a builder by the name of 'Z'
I am as stupid as I look! 

-
- proppa neck!
- Posts: 2957
- Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2016 1:23 am
Re: Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
There were lots of people building rigs for stations. In the earliest times, I built rigs just for my own station. Medium Wave at first, then FM later. All my early gear used valves!
A few years later I built a few rigs for other stations, and charged them for the parts and a bit for my time. Eventually, I had several stations asking for gear, and so a small production facility began. There was three of us - all with full-time engineering jobs - but during evenings and weekends we'd get together a build gear for various stations. We began to make a lot of money from this, and eventually I quit my main job, and began a communications company (which I still partly own to this day).
I mostly gave up building for pirates when the big money got involved in the early 90s. The "rave" scene was taking off, and every event wanted to broadcast to advertise themselves. Some very unpleasant characters got involved at that time, so I thought that I'd stay well out of it. That turned out to be a very good decision, with all the things that went on.....
A few years later I built a few rigs for other stations, and charged them for the parts and a bit for my time. Eventually, I had several stations asking for gear, and so a small production facility began. There was three of us - all with full-time engineering jobs - but during evenings and weekends we'd get together a build gear for various stations. We began to make a lot of money from this, and eventually I quit my main job, and began a communications company (which I still partly own to this day).
I mostly gave up building for pirates when the big money got involved in the early 90s. The "rave" scene was taking off, and every event wanted to broadcast to advertise themselves. Some very unpleasant characters got involved at that time, so I thought that I'd stay well out of it. That turned out to be a very good decision, with all the things that went on.....
"Why is my rig humming?"
"Because it doesn't know the words!"
"Because it doesn't know the words!"

- yellowbeard
- tower block dreamin
- Posts: 343
- Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2015 5:40 am
Re: Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
Back in the 80's we used to get all our stuff from Amsterdam, I.P.S. and Asian electronics are two sources I remember. We got their details from FRM magazine, there was a couple of issues we had that were well thumbed like a porn mag but not as sticky. You could get a 50 Watt VFO boxed up and delivered for under £200 - PLL cost another £50. That was savage money back then. They did the stentor 5 Watt in a kit for £25 and a range of amplifier kits for 30-50 Watts that were good value - just add a CB power supply and a biscuit tin and you were away. It's good to see that our Dutch buddies are still keeping it up, it is their tradition and heritage. 

- Electronically
- tower block dreamin
- Posts: 431
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2015 11:43 am
Re: RE: Re: Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
I mind radio Berkley and broadcast warehouse and quazer electronics did 88-108 and smart kits. I couldn't remember all this till you mentioned some there good shout sinus. They were no bad back in the day.sinus trouble wrote:Depends on what you call a transmitter?Electronically wrote: ↑Fri Feb 19, 2021 11:34 pm Albert before nrg kits and Veronica kits was born was there any company's selling transmitters before Veronica and nrg kitz I know ramsay was about then who else!
Sent from my AMN-LX9 using Tapatalk
Velleman, Pantek, Stentor, Radio Berkley, just a few! Even BW was around that time?
There was many designs around just not available until the internet, Unless you had some good contacts?
From experience? The first pirate 'Pro Rigs' i saw were from a builder by the name of 'Z'
Sent from my AMN-LX9 using Tapatalk
- Electronically
- tower block dreamin
- Posts: 431
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2015 11:43 am
Re: RE: Re: Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
I saw valve ones back in the day was tempted to get one back then. Medium wave are they still around?Albert H wrote:There were lots of people building rigs for stations. In the earliest times, I built rigs just for my own station. Medium Wave at first, then FM later. All my early gear used valves!
A few years later I built a few rigs for other stations, and charged them for the parts and a bit for my time. Eventually, I had several stations asking for gear, and so a small production facility began. There was three of us - all with full-time engineering jobs - but during evenings and weekends we'd get together a build gear for various stations. We began to make a lot of money from this, and eventually I quit my main job, and began a communications company (which I still partly own to this day).
I mostly gave up building for pirates when the big money got involved in the early 90s. The "rave" scene was taking off, and every event wanted to broadcast to advertise themselves. Some very unpleasant characters got involved at that time, so I thought that I'd stay well out of it. That turned out to be a very good decision, with all the things that went on.....
Sent from my AMN-LX9 using Tapatalk
- Electronically
- tower block dreamin
- Posts: 431
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2015 11:43 am
Re: RE: Re: Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
Good shout yellowbeard I remember there was a magazine which got posted out with kits and schematics to send a cheque away in the post for it. Then you get your kit. I remember there was 12 Watts and 20watts and 30 watt and 50 watt and 75 Watts couldn't mind the magine but was from Amsterdam. Porn sticky pages that made me laugh your right there lolyellowbeard wrote:Back in the 80's we used to get all our stuff from Amsterdam, I.P.S. and Asian electronics are two sources I remember. We got their details from FRM magazine, there was a couple of issues we had that were well thumbed like a porn mag but not as sticky. You could get a 50 Watt VFO boxed up and delivered for under £200 - PLL cost another £50. That was savage money back then. They did the stentor 5 Watt in a kit for £25 and a range of amplifier kits for 30-50 Watts that were good value - just add a CB power supply and a biscuit tin and you were away. It's good to see that our Dutch buddies are still keeping it up, it is their tradition and heritage.
Sent from my AMN-LX9 using Tapatalk
- Electronically
- tower block dreamin
- Posts: 431
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2015 11:43 am
Re: Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
I remember a builder used to put a big red marker X across the white output chip they were good builds think back then he used to call himself Mr x back in the day can't mind. Anyone remember him?
Sent from my AMN-LX9 using Tapatalk
Sent from my AMN-LX9 using Tapatalk
-
- tower block dreamin
- Posts: 275
- Joined: Wed Oct 15, 2014 9:25 pm
Re: Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
Most a the Amsterdam designs in the 80s were designed by my father and sold by many shops round Amsterdam
Our company had the name stentor
but after many poroblems changed to a other name.
I still have some old FRM asian PCB's in my webshop ( i still have the original layouts)
We made 1000s PCB, Modules and complete rigs in the years
I will look for some photo's of the old FRM transmitters if all good i still have them here.
But now lots i changed and al our designs are in SMT and no-tune but is still like the good old 80s designs with normal components and wound coils and yellow philips trimmers
https://www.hf-electronics.nl/Diverse-Printen
Our company had the name stentor

I still have some old FRM asian PCB's in my webshop ( i still have the original layouts)
We made 1000s PCB, Modules and complete rigs in the years
I will look for some photo's of the old FRM transmitters if all good i still have them here.
But now lots i changed and al our designs are in SMT and no-tune but is still like the good old 80s designs with normal components and wound coils and yellow philips trimmers

https://www.hf-electronics.nl/Diverse-Printen
-
- proppa neck!
- Posts: 973
- Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2016 7:01 pm
Re: Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
i have the pll of smart kit 1144 , i will post a picture later
- teckniqs
- proppa neck!
- Posts: 3346
- Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2014 11:37 am
Re: Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
I don't think B.W were around before Veronica/NRG as I remember Veronica advertising rigs in DJ magazine back in 1993 time when the guy's behind B.W were still building for pirates. I think B.W started in 1998.
- sinus trouble
- proppa neck!
- Posts: 1421
- Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 11:34 pm
Re: Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
You could be right there Teck? No doubt the engineers behind BW were on the scene already.
BW was more of a web based concept?
Just out of interest? When did you first find Bowman?
I got my first internet connection around 96/97 from what i can remember? Which is when i found most of these people, A site named 'Geocities' I think? lol
I am as stupid as I look! 

-
- proppa neck!
- Posts: 973
- Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2016 7:01 pm
Re: Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
i remember this too . amasing nostalgiasinus trouble wrote: ↑Sat Feb 20, 2021 11:41 pmYou could be right there Teck? No doubt the engineers behind BW were on the scene already.
BW was more of a web based concept?
Just out of interest? When did you first find Bowman?
I got my first internet connection around 96/97 from what i can remember? Which is when i found most of these people, A site named 'Geocities' I think? lol
-
- tower block dreamin
- Posts: 400
- Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2017 5:56 pm
Re: Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
I do remember the 4watt Pantec hobby kit, ha, what a joke that piece of utter rubbish was, VFO, that would change frequency if you opened a door or a window, or happened to be stood on one leg !!!
Sony ST 920 QS
- teckniqs
- proppa neck!
- Posts: 3346
- Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2014 11:37 am
Re: Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
Haha yeah I got given one of those things but just took the parts off and used them for other things. It used 2x 2n3553 as both the oscllator and as the final!LeeCavanagh wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 6:29 pm I do remember the 4watt Pantec hobby kit, ha, what a joke that piece of utter rubbish was, VFO, that would change frequency if you opened a door or a window, or happened to be stood on one leg !!!

-
- proppa neck!
- Posts: 973
- Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2016 7:01 pm
Re: Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
hahah my begening was it and i burn handreds of dollars for 2n3553 , once i bought 20 philips 2n3553 real
and parallel them and oh lala they go to heaven at once .
and parallel them and oh lala they go to heaven at once .
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
- yellowbeard
- tower block dreamin
- Posts: 343
- Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2015 5:40 am
Re: Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
Dat pantek is a power oscillator and the antenna is coupled to the tuned circuit that determines the frequency via a coil, there is no buffer and that is part of its problem. It can be tamed to a degree, but it is only a toy - for instance standing next to it having a wank is good fun.

The best use for them was as a burglar alarm, if someone walked down the room, it would walk down the band. Speaking of shite - I see smartkit is still going
https://www.smartkit.gr
They been selling the same transmitters all along since the 80's - good for them!


The best use for them was as a burglar alarm, if someone walked down the room, it would walk down the band. Speaking of shite - I see smartkit is still going
https://www.smartkit.gr
They been selling the same transmitters all along since the 80's - good for them!

-
- proppa neck!
- Posts: 973
- Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2016 7:01 pm
-
- proppa neck!
- Posts: 973
- Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2016 7:01 pm
Re: Before Veronica and nrg kits was born
sk 1144 - sk1187 vco and pll smart
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.