But there are great rigs for under $500. Back in the early 60's when we got our
novice tickets, we went to used gear to save on cost. There were new rigs, but
other than Heathkit CW-only rig, they were expensive. My first rig was a used
AT-10 and an AR-3 rcvr. Horrible by todays standard.
Today, a used Omni D or Argo is under $500. A deluxe station like a Corsair is,
too and it will get you 5BWAS and DXCC easily.
Perhaps the standard of a 'new' rig is too high.
Dave WA3MKB
-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Bob McGraw - K4TAX" <RMcGraw@Blomand.net>
> Geoff makes good points. I recall speaking with a very close friend, he and
> I got our Novice tickets at the same time, some 45+ years ago now. He said
> "Bob, in 1960 did you ever think you'd spend $3,000 for a radio?". Well in
> 1960 I doubt that I made $3,000 the entire year. My my times have changed.
>
> Yes It would be nice if an entry level radio was available for say something
> under $500. Oh it wouldn't have all the whistles and bells, certainly not
> 160M - 6M coverage and maybe not all the modes, maybe just LSB, USB & CW.
> And maybe available in a "semi-kit" form.
>
> I don't see much equipment around except old used stuff that the average
> teenager or young adult with a family would or could afford as an entry
> point into ham radio. And there's not much that folks are willing to pass
> on due to the value.
>
> Just food for thoughts.
>
> 73
> Bob, K4TAX
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Geoffrey S. Mendelson"
> To: ; "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment"
>
> Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2008 2:48 AM
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Ten-Tec Transceiver Survey
>
>
> > On Wed, Apr 16, 2008 at 09:22:53PM -1000, Ken Brown wrote:
> >> In the questions regarding how important is 6 meters, 2 meters, 70 cm, I
> >> was thinking about a home station transceiver, and I answered
> >> accordingly. For a home station, I don't really want DC to daylight in
> >> one box.
> >
> > Just to stir things up a bit, I really wonder if anything below 20m
> > and CW is really needed in a low end radio these days. With many new
> > or at least new to HF hams out there, there is IMHO a demand for
> > a low priced radio.
> >
> > Anything longer in wavelength than 20m is difficult to place an antenna
> > in a small or apartment, and making someone pay for something they think
> > they may never use is bad business.
> >
> > IMHO the lower bands and CW should be cheap options, so that most people
> > are encouraged to buy them anyway, but if someone does not know how to
> > copy or send morse code, they would feel better if they did not have to
> > pay for it. Nor would they want to buy bands they could not use.
> >
> > I'm not trying to start a code/no code debate, I'm only discussing it in
> > relation to specifying a minimal cost/feature radio that will sell well.
> >
> > I often read comments by hams who are not on the air because they can't
> > afford a radio, and I think there would be a demand for a small, low
> > power radio, 20m-10m, USB only, with a digital readout for under $300.
> >
> > Many of them have never copied a single dit over the air. So they don't
> > see the need for CW, and I'd rather they buy a radio and get on the air
> > than try to convince them.
> >
> > If I had the money to buy one and could get a general coverage receiver,
> > AM reception, the lower bands and CW, I would probably buy one with the
> > options, but if making those optional allows the radio to sell for
> > $100-$200 less, it's worth it, IMHO.
> >
> > Geoff.
> >
> > --
> > Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel gsm@mendelson.com N3OWJ/4X1GM
> > _______________________________________________
> > TenTec mailing list
> > TenTec@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >
>
>
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