learnhamradio

The Heathkit VF-1 VFO (Part 1) New life for an old classic History The Heathkit VF-1 VFO (variable frequency oscillator) was an essential accessory to novice class U.S. amateur radio licensees as they earned their upgrade to the coveted general class license.  Starting on July 1, 1951, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created a license for beginning hams, the novice license. While this topic is far beyond the scope of this article, one of the primary limitations in novice operating privileges was the requirement that new hams use fixed-frequency crystals in narrowly defined portions of the ham radio bands. Another term for this limitation was to be "rock-bound". Novice hams could not spin the dial and make conversations, they had to communicate on frequencies for which they owned crystals. While nearly every one-time novice remembers the era fondly, they also dreamt of the day when they could spin that a and use any frequency they were entitled to use. For thi