Hi Dave, and the group,
My Scout is a like yours in age, and I am happy camper on all bands I have
tried. Mostly 20, 40 and some WARC. Most SSB, but some CW, and my rig helped
my club get on CW, and SSB 8th place in Field Day 2A battery 1996, and QRP,
again in 1997.
My Scout has NOT had the symptoms most fuss about. As for the audio, I have
used mostly comm phones, and do not hear the hash. But with a stereo HI Fi
top dollar phones I can. My fix is simple and satisfying. I got a 1950's
Military surplus High Impeadance Headset, 15,000 ohms, and use it. For ear
pads, use some makeup sponges that come two to a package from Walgreens, cut
holes in middle and stick the resulting donut of foam onto the bakelite ear
pieces with double sided Scotch tape. Comfort and no hash or hum, and you
turn DOWN the volume control of Scout to almost minimum the phones are so
sensitive. Besides, these phones are the restricted frequency band you need
for Communications use, less tiring than high fi that lets all the non voice
or CW crud through. Even 2000 ohms Trimm and similar ham comm headphones from
60's should work like this too. Another trick would be to use a 15,000 ohm to
8 ohm transformer between your low impedance phones and the Scout. That
should also allow running audio at a lower level. But the filtering of real
radio headphones is a big advantage I think.
73, Stuart K5KVH
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