State-of-the-art by late 1970's standards, this rig has proven unbelievably reliable over the years. Besides having run 24/7/365 for many years as a beacon station, I have enjoyed many QRO contacts with this great old rig (many thanks to kg9jp!).

Fresh back from the TenTec shops for a sprucing up, she's ready for another 30 years chirping away to the world!

Bleeding-edge modern compared to the transceiver, this early 80's vintage "microcomputer" was one of the first portables brought to market, although it would take one heck of a lap to call it a laptop!

Another reliable survivor of 24/7/365 duty, this old girl continually amazes me in these days of disposable Celerons and blue screens of death!

MFJ's top-of-the-line digital modes controller circa the early 1990's, this was the only component of the station that I did not wrestle from the dumpster or buy at a fire-sale price.

I really should learn more about those new-fangled digital modes, but I'm still enjoying using the mother of all digital modes, CW!

And to think that that pesky code requirement kept me out of the hobby for so long!

Touring around the world, the n9ret beacon spokesmodel presses the agenda of expanded beacon operation and international cooperation, all the while looking damn fine doing it!

Sporting traditonal TenTec colors, the TenTec logo tattoo just above her rump (also known as a "tramp stamp") is mute testament to her dedication to the hobby and to the common causes of beacon operators worldwide!

Seriously, I found her picture while searching for images of the 540 (why she popped up there is beyond me, unless her name translates to English as "seiverville"!), and I couldn't resist brightening up the page a bit. You go girl!