Back on the bench for the NorCal 40B
Yes, it was fun to build and operate, but it is just not right. The FREQ-Mite audio level is too high (even after increasing the inline resistor to one megohm), and the RF power output is too low. Lacking any real test equipment (such as a means to measure inductance) I am not sure the little radio will ever be what should be. The question is: will the NorCal 40B make its way back to the operating desk or just become a knickknack on the shelf? Time will tell, but at this point my hopes are not very high.
Footnote: The morning after the above post just before pulling the NorCal 40B offline I had a very nice QSO with a station about 580 miles away. So even at a max of 1.5 watts out I can still work other stations and have a real QSO. It is important to point out the other station was very loud in North Georgia.