In article , Dave Heil
writes:

phase noise was an issue twenty or more years ago. There
were frequency synthesized transceivers back then.

Some more fun facts:

- Ten Tec, maker of arguably the best amateur radio HF equipment ever made,
started out in the late 1960s. The company was founded on, and grew on, QRP CW
equipment.

- Digi-Key, the excellent mail/online electronic parts vendor, got its start in
the same time frame. Its name derives from its original purpose - selling
digital ICs by mail to hams in small quantities, primarily to build CW keyers.

73 de Jim, N2EY