The title of this article is a term (and concept) that has both appealed to me, and fascinated me since I was a very new Novice Ham with the callsign WN6BFH. My "Elmer" explained to me some of the best features of equipment made by companies with names like Hammerlund, Halicrafters. National, or RME. He explained that particularly while I was a new Ham, and that forever thereafter, I should always seek and compare the real working features that make any transmitter or receiver a "real tool" for communications. I think his lesson was well received. I have typically owned or built the best tools, and that doesn't necessarily mean the most expensive! This term is also special to me now, as it will inaugurate a new 'sub-page' of the Tech Bench Elmers web page.

This new subpage will attempt to lend the kind of perspective to new trends of activity in Ham Radio and the equipment that makes for or allows those operations to excel. I will need help to make this page the best it can be. I know a number of other Hams who can help with this project, and I hope they will often come forward!

I had the pleasure recently to by chance run into one of these Hams at Ham Radio Outlets Anaheim store. This Ham who is a very expert Amateur, and a Professional (and degreed) Electronics Engineer, showed me his newly assembled Elecraft "K2". He told me of the radios features, and its superlative design - I was impressed! I understand that his new wife (who is a technical writer) liked the layout, verbiage, and approach of the radios manual.

Other Hams have told me of their Yaesu FT-817 radios. I myself just recently purchased the QRO version of this radio, the FT-100D. All of the above mentioned radios and other 'hardware' will be discussed in articles on this new page. It is my most fervent hope and desire that reading these articles will inspire Hams - both new, and more experienced - to experiment and do great things with these new tools!

The first article to grace this new subpage was written by my friend KF6HQC. Fred is a scientific Ham who enjoyed Astronomy and other electronic widgetry long before he got a Ham 'ticket'. His QRP/digital article is a good start toward the articles I would like to see from others. Its amazing in its own regard!
I myself will as time and experimentation allow write a few articles for this page. Amongst these will be an orientation to get even more out of the FT-100D than Yaesu told us it could do. The first project and article to this end will be to place the FT-100D on 135 centimeter wavelength for Single Sideband, iCW, and yes, even FM.

Lets though go to Fred's article. I enjoyed it greatly as it really does remind us of even only a few very good things about our amateur hobby that portray how we can be very expert! Or even votary!