Why Boat Anchors
DICK WHETSTONE (AD4U)
on
May 24, 2008
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Why Boat Anchors? Many Hams including myself own and use boat anchors because when we were growing up in the 1950's and 1960's, we were "broke" and all we could do was drool over the ads in the catalogs.
Now that we are older, we can relive our radio fantasies and actually own and operate the rigs we used to only dream about.
The newest rig I own is a Kenwood TS-930S and I bought it new in 1985. Currently my boat anchors include a Collins S Line, Drake 4 Line, Drake 2NT transmitter, Drake 2B receiver, numerous Heathkit SB rigs, Hammarlund HQ-180, and many others.
These 40-50 year old rigs are relatively easy to use and maintain, and most parts are still readily available.
Why Boat Anchors? In another 50 years (year 2058) how many of the modern $10,000, CPU controlled, DSP, automatic, do everything, blinkey light panel rigs do you think will still be working and in active use? My bet is zero, because many IC's and components used in rigs sold less than 10 years ago are no longer available.
On the other hand, if HAM radio still exists in the year 2058, I will bet there will still be some Collins, Drake, and even some Heathkit SB rigs still in active use.
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by NV2A on May 24, 2008
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My boat anchor was an Electro Voice RME 4300 receiver purchased used and cherished when I was a kid in 1965. Found one once at a hamfest but the guy must have noticed the broad grin on my face and the price was out of sight! When I see an HQ-170 my memory wafts back to the day when my friends father bought one for their station, I was about 11 years old but had the bug from an old console radio in another friends basement that we played with.
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by AD5X on May 24, 2008
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When I was first licensed in 1964, my Elmer had a Drake 2B and a Johnson Rangerr. I wanted that set-up so bad! But no way a 9th grader could afford a $600-700 station. But I have it now (got it for much less)! It is fun to use occasionally, and I enjoyed refurbishing/upgrading the equipment as well.
Phil - AD5X
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Why Boat Anchors
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by TANAKASAN on May 24, 2008
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1) They keep the shack warm in Winter.
2) Big chunky switches, when you turn the knob you KNOW it's made contact.
3) No menus or microprocessors.
4) Well spaced controls on the front panel that I can read without my glasses.
5) No surface mount parts. You have a rig that you can fix if it breaks.
6) It won't be stolen. Any thief that tries to run with an FT101E will probably end up with a hernia or a strained back.
Tanakasan
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Why Boat Anchors
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by VE6DRW on May 24, 2008
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Certainly nostalgia is a big part of owning and using boat anchors, but performance and ease-of-use are other factors. For example, I appreciate a well-configured Drake "C" Line; the receiver can keep up with most modern day transceivers and the transmitter is much more forgiving when it comes to rough operating conditions.
As far as human interface design, dedicated knobs and dials are inherently more intuitive than multi-function buttons and layered menus; I know where the notch filter is, I don't have to think about which buttons to push to get to it.
If you have the room, and can live without the digital wiz-bang interfaces, boat anchors can offer tremendous value for any ham station.
And did I mention that can actually repair these things without a room full of digital equipment and a 20X magnifying glass?
Boat anchors have their place in many shacks around the world - more hams should give them a try.
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Why Boat Anchors
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by N9DG on May 24, 2008
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The monitors attached to my PC based SDR's glow quite nicely in the dark too.
Having fun and enjoying boat anchor radios for their own sake, and 'just because', is all perfectly fine and good. Very few people will truly dispute that. And also there will always be a place for reminiscing about, or even trying to recapture some fond moments of your youth. What doesn't work is trying to stay there. And to then further insist that all *new* radios must look, work, and feel the same way as the radios of yesteryear did. That doesn't work, and that would be the surest and quickest way to bring ham radio to its end..
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Why Boat Anchors
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by K4MC on May 24, 2008
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While I've never had a ham rig that glowed in the dark or kept the shack warm in the winter, I did have an 11 meter rig that did, a Johnson Messenger 223. Not much, but it got me started down the road that lead to Extra some 30+ years later. What a great sounding rig that was. Those were the days of licensed (KFL-7747) and civil use of 11 meters (contacts of 20 to 30 miles across Washington DC were routine day or night).
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Why Boat Anchors
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by K4MC on May 24, 2008
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While I've never had a ham rig that glowed in the dark or kept the shack warm in the winter, I did have an 11 meter rig that did, a Johnson Messenger 223. Not much, but it got me started down the road that lead to Extra some 30+ years later. What a great sounding rig that was. Those were the days of licensed (KFL-7747) and civil use of 11 meters (contacts of 20 to 30 miles across Washington DC were routine day or night).
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by W4LGH on May 24, 2008
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There are as many reasons for owning and operating old boatanchor radios, as there is old cars. Each person has their own reasons as to why they enjoy the
"boatanchor".
Since there are no parts houses down the street anymore, no real KIT companies anymore, (yes I know there are Elecraft and a few other small companies) But nothing that would ever come close to Heathkit.
Bringing a boatanchor back to life, making that first contact, and getting a great report, is a really special feeling to the technical ham is one reason. then as the author said, being a ham in the early 60's, one could only DREAM of owning a Collins/Drake/National etc radio. Heathkit filled a nitch, that if you saved for a few months, you could afford one of their kits.
Boatanchors bring back a point in time when Ham radio was "American Made" pre Kenwood invasion, and were built mostly by hand, with great American Pride, to last a lifetime! (which they have proven now) They also work very well, without all the KPD the newer radios have. (KPD = Knobs Per Dollar or with the newest radios, Menu items per dollar..MID)
So the reasons are many, Nostalgia, Technical, and just damn good working radios, that are fun to operate.
PS..I do own New equipment and enjoy that too!
73 de W4LGH - Alan
http://www.w4lgh.com
"Keep those Tubes Glowing & the watts flowing!"
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by N3JBH on May 24, 2008
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"Ham radio was "American Made" pre Kenwood invasion"
Thank God for TenTec, Elecraft, Flex, Ameritron, Palstar, And many others. There still is American made
I proudly run and own a American shack and you all can too.... Jeff N3JBH
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by AC7CW on May 24, 2008
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I have a regenerative navy receiver built in 1939. It was my first receiver and it really could anchor a boat.. and a fairly good sized boat at that.. an FT101 anchor, ha!! An inflatable at best....
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Why Boat Anchors
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by N5IVZ on May 24, 2008
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Love my Kenwood TS 830s...my favorite rig of all time...compliments my TenTec Argo V my favorite "modern rig"..
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Amazing variety of ham styles
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by AI2IA on May 24, 2008
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What many non-hams don't realize is that in ham radio we have an amazing number of ways in which to adapt this endeavor to our unique likes and ways of doing things. We have code. We have voice. We have hams who collect boat anchors. We have all digital operators. We have emcomms. We have contesters. We have rag chewers. We have mobile enthusiasts. We have QRP people. We have QRO folks, and on and on and on. I don't even mention the variety of ways you can configure your shack or put up antennas, or the many different kinds of ham clubs you can join. There is more variety in ham radio than in any other sport, service, hobby, entertainment, or field of study. As far as variety goes, we have it all!
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by KF4HR on May 24, 2008
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For 4 plus decades of hamming my goal was to always strive to have the latest and greatest gear. Then a couple of years ago, for no particular reason, I picked up a Collins 51J-3 Receiver off of ebay and had it restored. Granted there are ton's of tube boat anchors out there, but I got the bug to own gear that was truely different looking from the modern gear I currently own.
Well the 51J-3 led to a few other big black boxes from the Collins A-line 40's & 50's era; 75A-1, 75A-4, 32V-3, and a KWS-1. (With any luck, the anchor bug will stop biting.)
While the older gear certainly can't match the performance of today's high end gear, it's still really fun to use and learn from.
KF4HR
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by W4LGH on May 24, 2008
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>N3JBH said..."Ham radio was "American Made" pre Kenwood invasion, Thank God
>for TenTec, Elecraft, Flex, Ameritron, Palstar, And many others. There still is American made
>I proudly run and own a American shack and you all can too!"
I have been thinking about either the New "Blue" Jupiter by TenTec or the Omni VII, to replace
my Yaesu FT-2000, and then I too would have a 100% American Shack. But I do love the FT-2000's
performance, not sure either of the TenTec's would equal or better that. When I purchased the
FT-2000, I was looking hard at the Tentec Omni VII, and even called to place an order, but was
told there was a 6 week min backorder, so my choice became the Ft-2000
>AI2IA said..."What many non-hams don't realize is that in ham radio we have an amazing number
>of ways in which to adapt this endeavor to our unique likes and ways of doing things. We have code."
To that I say... AMEN! I would also add a lot of HAM's don't realize this either!
>KF4HR said..."For 4 plus decades of hamming my goal was to always strive to have the latest and greatest gear.
>Then a couple of years ago, for no particular reason, I picked up a Collins 51J-3 Receiver off of ebay and had it
>restored."
HAD it restored...you were supposed to do that yourself!
>"With any luck, the anchor bug will stop biting."
Doubt it, once it bites, you pretty much have to live with it!
>"While the older gear certainly can't match the performance of today's high end gear,
>it's still really fun to use and learn from."
Whats really amazing is that people keep saying it isn't as good as the new, when in fact
its probably just as good, maybe better @ certain things, than the new stuff without all those
flashing LEDs, digital displays, etc. A transmitter is a transmitter, the receiver when fitted
with good analog filters from yester year, has some really good performance.
73 de W4LGH - Alan
http://www.w4lgh.com
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by AF9J on May 24, 2008
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How do I put it? The old stuff is just fun and cool to have and use. Back in the 80s, when I was a young Novice and General, I couldn't afford the latest and the greatest. So, I bought and used the old tube-type stuff. I have more modern gear, but I also have some of the old stuff. Yes my Johnson Viking II is heavy (I could barely get it up to my 2nd story apartment - no DX-100s or 32V1s for me!), but, I got great satisfaction out of not only getting it cheap, but restoring it from a non-runner, to become my main AM transmitter.
I was busy doing the CQ WPX this morning, with my contesting rig (which is decades younger than my Viking II/Hallicrafters SX-96 combination), when I decided to check in to the Midwest Classic Radio (AM) net. Firing up and using the Viking II/SX-96 combo, keying up the Viking II to talk, and hearing its substatial relay engage, seemed to make me unconsciously say to myself, "hey, slow down!, take it easy and smell the roses." The old stuff seems to add atmosphere and character to a ham shack.
BTW, don't forget that some of the older solid state gear is also approaching classic status. I recently got a Yaesu FT-301SD off of eBay. It has some issues, but it also has potential (and it sure looks cool with its black enclosure).
73,
Ellen - AF9J
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by K6CRC on May 24, 2008
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How about just 'they are fun'. It is fun to use an HQ180. A pain in the rear during noisy or crowded conditions, but fun other times. Is necessary to get into the whole 'buy American' argument? Open up a Ten-Tec or an Elecraft, and you will see components made from all over the word. Likewise a Yaesu or Kenwood. Chips and software come from everywhere. For that matter, so do tubes. We are in a global economy, and, with free trade, the standard of living increases for all countries. Clearly Hams benefit.
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Why Boat Anchors
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by W8KQE on May 24, 2008
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Is it me, or did the audio quality and dynamics coming out of the speaker (or headphones) sound better on some of these older 'boat anchors' (my Yaesu FT-101 comes to mind), as opposed to some of these 'whiz bang' DSP based rigs? I get more 'listener fatigue' listening to CW/SSB on my newer DSP based rigs as opposed to my 'boat anchors' of yore!
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by W4LGH on May 24, 2008
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W8KQE said..."Is it me, or did the audio quality and dynamics coming out of the speaker (or headphones) sound better on some of these older 'boat anchors' (my Yaesu FT-101 comes to mind), as opposed to some of these 'whiz bang' DSP based rigs?"
==========
It's NOT you! The audio is much better, cleaner, less distortion, and that nice BIG speaker! No synth noise, and NO DSP harmonics, or UFO artifacts.
73 de W4LGH - Alan
http://www.w4lgh.com
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Sounds and Lights Of The Old Rigs
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by W8ASA on May 24, 2008
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At the Dayton Hamvention last weekend, the Collins Radio Club had a van with some S-Line radios in it. We were walking by the van, not knowing what was in it, and I heard a voice - which I immediately identified as sounding like it came through an S-Line radio. When we walked up to see where the voice was coming from, my buddies were amazed at my recollection! I couldn't explain it to them, though, but another gentleman standing in the crowd confirmed my feeling that they had a distinct, clear sound. I operated my Elmer's S-Line (then K0EZH - SK, Ben Muir) from time to time, and operated a MARS station in Viet Nam, so I did have some hours on the S-Line radios.
Nostalgia... ahh.... sweet nostalga, bringing up old memories of friends gone and of contacts long since logged.
My current boat anchor setup is a Kenwood TS-830S with all the trimmnings. I operate it from time to time, because I like the receive audio better than my TS-570SG. Very occasionally, I'll fire up my SB-102, which I built from a kit in 1969, and watch how all those tubes light up the shack, casting various shadows on the walls.
73 to all,
Ken, W8ASA
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Why Boat Anchors
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by KC8ZEV on May 24, 2008
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Boat Anchors are "manual" radios. They take a hands on approach. Many of todays modern rigs do many operations automatically. Boat anchors need a ham to turn a knob, move a switch, watch a needle, etc. Boat anchors need a soldering iron and can have single components replaced. Todays rigs need a whole board for one little SMT component failure. Boat anchors have a better chance of withstanding a electromagnetic impulse than the shack in a box rigs of today. Boat anchors are a link to our Amateur radio forfathers and should be considered hallowed ground(no pun intended). Just so you know, I am by no means a vacuum tube snob, I love my Icom 718.........it sits atop my Swan 500 when the old girl isn't heating my shack!!!
73
KC8ZEV
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by N6AJR on May 24, 2008
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I have had my share of FT 101 E, EE, Ex and ZD , swan 3 drifty's Clipperton L amps, sweep tube amps, Siltronix, ts 830'sand even a 75 A-4.
I am down to my last 8 or 9 HF rigs and all are solifd state except for the alpha 87 A as a tube amp. I just ran out of room for the rest.
I probably only use 2 or 3 of the rigs with any frequency. The main rig is the Orion, then the ts 2000 and the 746 pro, a ft 847 in the truck and a ft 857 in the car. The rest mostly just sit there.
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by W4VR on May 24, 2008
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Good point that many IC's and components used in rigs sold less than 10 years ago are no longer available. We're already seeing that happening with some transceivers. Solid State technology is changing a lot more rapidly compared to vacuum tube technology. I had some boat anchors too, but with my many moves over the years I had to leave them behind. One thing I have noticed chatting with people that have boat anchors, is that some of that old equipment doesn't sound as good as the new stuff.
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by K7PEH on May 24, 2008
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I guess I might be a lone contrarian. I was a ham operator back in those good old days of boat anchors (Novice station photos on my web site) and I really enjoyed my HQ-170AC. In fact, when I got back into the hobby in 2004, I found for myself and bought an HQ-170A just to reclaim those glory days of yesteryear.
However, after owning it for 3 years I admit that I really have no use for it. I never use it. It sits on my bench taking up space which I think I would much rather use for something else. Big, bulky, and old. I have learned that I am really not a boat-anchor guy. They had their place, they were good performers (and, many still are) but they are gigantic.
I started computer programming in 1965 and the computer I used, a CDC 3300, occupied most of the main basement floor of the math department building. I am still a programmer and I really like my Apple Mac computers. My laptop is a zillion times faster and of course can hold google zillions of more memory then that old CDC 3300. I would never go back. And, I guess I feel the same about old ham radio equipment.
But, I have nothing against those in this hobby who do like boat anchors. I understand it but it is not for me.
This is my opinion and I am sticking too it for maybe two days or more.
phil, K7PEH
www.k7peh.com
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by AA4PB on May 24, 2008
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I get more 'listener fatigue' listening to CW/SSB on my newer DSP based rigs as opposed to my 'boat anchors' of yore!
-----------------------------------------------------
... or maybe you are just getting older :-)
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Why Boat Anchors
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by K4ELO on May 24, 2008
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I'm a happy user of both a Ten-Tec Omni VII and an Orion II.
But the best sounding cw rig I have is the Drake 4B twins.
73,
Wayne
K4ELO
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by WB4TJH on May 24, 2008
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The very first HF radio I ever sat in front of was a Swan 350 in 1970, that belonged to my Elmer, K4BSI. Now, 38 years later, I have a mint Swan 350C in my shack and K4BSI and I keep a sked once a week, and on occasion, I fire it up.
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by NU0R on May 24, 2008
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Why boat anchors? Simply to remind us of a time in history when quality and service and customer loyalty were #1. Do the old rigs perform as well as the new ones? That all depends on who you are asking, and what radio you are referring to. Some were very good, in fact ahead of their time. Others were, well, not so good. I totally agree with the reply that said he doubted that the new wave of radios will be around in 40 or 50 years. I think to sum it up that quality and pride of workmanship by the builders of the boat anchors are why they remain so popular today. I have many rigs, some very new and some very old. I'll take my old TS530 any old day and have a ball with it. To me the Kenwood 520, 530, 830, and the Yaesu FT 101 series have to be the 57 Chevys of ham radio. Also look at the Hammarlund receivers. Talk about quality! These are only a few. There are many others worthy of note.
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by N2UGB on May 24, 2008
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I will always keep my Boat Anchor. Wish it were USA made, but is a TS-520S. Never-the-less, I appreciate what it is, what it did, and what it can still do. Think I bought it in '81 or '82.
In a box now kept in a dry, clean place.
I take it out occasionally and put it to a dummy load and go thru all the tune-up motions.
Station is now all QRP with small, simple transceivers on the air. But that Kenwood stays.
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by AF6AY on May 24, 2008
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K7PEH wrote on 24 May 08:
"I guess I might be a lone contrarian."
You aren't...but don't let anyone HERE know it...:-)
"I was a ham operator back in those good old days of boat anchors (Novice station photos on my web site) and I really enjoyed my HQ-170AC. In fact, when I got back into the hobby in 2004, I found for myself and bought an HQ-170A just to reclaim those glory days of yesteryear."
Heh, my first experience with HF was at an Army station in Tokyo in 1953. Only had 36 HF transmitters and a square mile of wire antennas. Mostly left-over WWII equipment. The ONLY semiconductors to be found were in selenium rectifier stacks and point-contact diodes used in commercial microwave radio relay equipment. Everything MANUAL except for the wonderful servo-tuned Western Electric LD-T2, preset for 10 frequencies on SSB (the 12 KHz commercial format, four voice channels). See:
http://sujan.hallikainen.org/BroadcastHistory/uploads/My3Years.pdf
Not one radio circuit was on-off keying CW. Yet, the message traffic through the station was 220K per MONTH average in 1955, tailing down in the "permanent" truce period after July 1953. During the height of the Korean War it handled about a quarter million messages. No way could the Army do it with manual "CW."
..............
K7PEH: "I started computer programming in 1965 and the computer I used, a CDC 3300, occupied most of the main basement floor of the math department building. I am still a programmer and I really like my Apple Mac computers. My laptop is a zillion times faster and of course can hold google zillions of more memory then that old CDC 3300. I would never go back. And, I guess I feel the same about old ham radio equipment."
I never got a computer account at RCA EASD until '73 but I did use the HP 9100 desk calculator (one for all of engineering) for design calculations. Wonderful stuff even if "primitive" by today's standards. When HP came out with the HP-35 pocket calculator, I was an early buyer at $395 per. Beat the bejeesus out of looking up 5-place figures in a book, then interpolating. My HP-32S II is still on its original batteries after 8 years, is programmable (!), and is a mainstay for all my quick number crunching. Broke down and bought an HP-35S (programmable also), the anniversary edition...paid $75 total for it.
My eMachines PC box cost $350 last year, has over a 100 times the clock rate, over a thousand times the mass storage capability of a 1973 XDS Sigma 7 mainframe and each CD it reads/writes holds MORE than the old "cake pan" moveable hard disks one had to carry in both hands. Oh, I can still operate a slide rule but doing so is rather pointless considering the magic boxes of numbers available, no heavier than a large slipstick. Besides the HPs are accurate to 10 digits, slide rules are only 3 digits.
Back in '53, there was no such thing as a Frequency Counter to read a transmit carrier above 10 MHz. All the Army TXs were rock-bound. An old double-rack General Radio "frequency standard" at the receiver site was used to verify all TX circuit carrier frequencies. The HP-524 Frequency Counter wasn't quite ready for its debut but qualifies as an aircraft carrier boat anchor. Anyone who has had to calibrate one will KNOW that. :-) Today I can use either my own "old" solid-state Counter (good to 35 MHz) or a newer imported model (good to 1200 MHz), both of which I can hold in one hand. My IC-R70, IC-746Pro, Uniden scanner all have synthesized frequency generation, none being rock-bound on a few frequencies yet all having quartz crystal stability on every frequency.
"But, I have nothing against those in this hobby who do like boat anchors. I understand it but it is not for me."
Well, I can understand and sympathize with those who wax nostalgic. My wife and I were in the same high school class of '51 and "went steady" then. Both of us would love to be the "same" way we were. But that can't be. The National NC-57 receiver I bought back in '48 ($95, paid for, earned for) remains a POS in any honest evaluation. My wife is priceless. The NC-57 isn't. A set of new tubes (bought today) for it would cost over $50, half its original price, provided I could get a 6SB7Y for the Mixer-LO (it is only single-conversion).
My IC-746Pro cost (in 2007) just slightly less than a Drake TR-7 did in 1979. The 746Pro (picked for its size and capability) can cover 160m to 2m. Without needing any manual PA tuning. I did that manually '55 years ago (who needs it?). Quartz crystal stability on any frequency I select. It's got lots of bells and whistles and I LIKE that. It will be working with a SteppIR vertical when they deliver my order; radials all laid in, a base already poured and cured, an antenna that will physically tune itself for any frequency from 20m to 6m. A single "stealth" antenna, doesn't impact the esthetics of my back yard, won't draw irate glares from neighbors. Sure, it won't grab DX, but then NO antenna under 300 feet high will do that at my location. <shrug> I LIKE it where I live.
If I really want to "experiment" with HF antennas (not very much, thank you), I've got an LDG automatic antenna tuner for 160m-6m. Little box, works from 12 VDC. The 746Pro works from 12 VDC too. Back in 1955 I was privileged to see a demo of a new USMC mobile HF radio that had an auto antenna tuner. Collins did the design, had the first production version of the Bruene voltage-current detector in the TX feedline. Fabulous way to go, that auto tuning...especially if one has had to manually tune three and a half dozen finals every shift (station's transmitters had increased to 42 from 36 by then). Took wayyyy too long for acceptance of an automatic tuner by the HF amateur community to become a product.
...........
K7PEH: "This is my opinion and I am sticking too it for maybe two days or more."
Heh heh heh. I'll stick with mine a bit longer.
This Saturday morning we in southern California had lots of rain and an hour and 20 minutes of local electric power outage. Our two automatic lights obediently came on. (wasn't available for average home use two decades ago) My wife got our crank-up flashlight to find single cup coffee bags and heat water for them on a gas range. Eerie blue light from the 3-LED light but dependable...crank-up feature not available a decade ago...cost less than $10 at Fry's Electronics in Burbank. Our two BC radios still use D or C batteries but they worked. We might get a crank-up BC radio later, maybe not. We've had candles for a long time but haven't had to use them. Candles are potential fire hazards.
We looked for news about the rain on TV. Digital TV on an LCD flat-screen. Only 27-inch size but it would have broken the kitchen to family room divider if it was an old CRT of that screen size. LCD or plasma display has MUCH better detail, even for analog TV. Takes less AC power than a CRT TV.
The Radio Shakers and Radio Amish can have their OLD stuff and enjoy it. Sigh.
73, Len AF6AY
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Why Boat Anchors
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by KA5ROW on May 24, 2008
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Quote from Dick AD4U
Why Boat Anchors? In another 50 years (year 2058) how many of the modern $10,000, CPU controlled, DSP, automatic, do everything, blinkey light panel rigs do you think will still be working and in active use? My bet is zero.
I AGREE 100 %
All of the modern rigs have chips in them made exclusively for that radio and nothing else. So when that $2.00 chip fails, it's gone. That is why you see radios parted out on e-bay all of the time.
I have always wanted the Heathkit DX60B transmitter , HG-10 VFO and the matching HR-10 receiver. Maybe I will have the set someday, Just ti have it
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Why Boat Anchors
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by N4VNZ on May 24, 2008
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Excuse me if I don't get all teary-eyed over old radio stuff...
In my early days as a ham, I had ZERO budget for radios, so I did the fix and trade thing, usually repairing other hams rigs in exchange for perhaps a non-working rig that I could fix up for my own use. I had the SB 102 (fresh from the barn replete with chicken manure all over it) which I bathed in the tub and let dry, eventually getting it to work. Had the FT 101EX, an nice rig but was prone to jump without warning 10 or 15 KC's while working CW (finally got that fixed with a can of WD 40 on a pot). None of this stuff I rescued from the dumpster had digital readouts, so you never knew precisely where you were on the band...Ever tried to work AMTOR with a 102? Sounds like a boiler factory...
Boy, getting that first solid state rig (TS 120) was a real treat (of course it was used!) Had a lot of fun with that old rig (and it stayed of frequency!)
Now I have NO desire to work on my equipment. At 60, I don't really care if it is around in 40-50 years. I LIKE the features (yeah, and even the MENU's) Com'on guys, anyone who has not killed an inordinate amount of brain cells over the years can figure out how to work these newer rigs...
I now have a TS 870 and an FT 897 as my main station radios, and both will run circles around anything I had back in those early days...these ARE the "good ole days"..heck, a laptop in the shack, soundcard programs, man, we never had it so good...
A local gave me a HQ 129X for installing an antenna recently..I haven't even plugged it in...
Tubes are for RF power amps and guitar playing...
73, Dave
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by WA4DOU on May 24, 2008
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I too had boat anchors. 75A1, HQ-129X, NC-300, SX-140, DX-40, T-60, R-100A, HT-40, SR-160, NC-200, R4B, R4C, T4X-C, TR-4, etc. They were all appropriate to an era but there is no going back. Fortunately I'm not infected with the boat anchor "bug". It's enough to pause to reflect on old memories occasionally. I do however feel the lure of crystal radios and regens beckon, so I may not be completely immune.
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Why Boat Anchors
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by VE3ES on May 24, 2008
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After about 25 years or so wasting my time above 30 MCs I bought a used but in almost mint condition Yaesu FT-101ZD, the matching VFO and spkr last year. Have rarely been above 30 MCs since then. What a blast. Just added a Kenmore TS-450SAT to the shack and while it ain't no Yaesu, it too is a pleasant addition. Dug out my old Drake C-line as well. The above 30 MCs equipment? It's all up for sale....
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by WA2JJH on May 24, 2008
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Why Not! What ever boat anchor floats your boat is one good simple reason.
NOSTALGIA! My first real SSB/CW rig is also the worlds worst radio ever made.
The EICOKIT-753 AKA DRIFTY 753.
I and a few others got their 753's to drift sllow enough to have a full log book of Novice and early General QSO's.
The drift problem was not a problem on CW. I racked up about 35 states on 40M. As a new 15 year old Novice, this was cool!
I GOT THE RIG AT A "SAM GOODY PRICE". A HAM THEW IT OUT. I GOT IT FOR FREE, AND YELLED GOODY!! HI-HI sic.
True story. It was broke. I fixed up the power suppy and the rig worked day and night.
On SSB one had to keep on hand on the RIT. After a 1 hour rag chew, it was not uncommon to be 10kcs away from the start of the QSO.
Some OM claims to remember working me back in 1977.
Eham had a thread on the worst rigs made. After my comments an fellow ehammer said.....I remember working you. You drifted 15kcs away in 20 minutes.
Some boat anchors work better than some new rigs.
Example, The Drake TR-7/A. I could not afford the $1500 price tag in 1978. It was the most advanced rig made for that time.
Mil spec sheilding. Swappable modules. Pre-ampless front end. Digital readout. It was one of the first all solid state rigs back then.
Purchased a few as-is ebay special TR-7's for a average cost of $400. Out of the 3 rigs, I have one full working one. One RX only. One for spare parts.
Some boat anchors had unusual featers. The Yeasu FT-560DX was a more tubby FT-101 with a whooping 450W output. Rig and linear all in one. About 10 tubes and hundreds of transistors.
Those are my favorite boat anchors.
The TR-7 is still used in my shack. The 753 was given away to a new novice. The FT-560DX was sold to buy a newer TS-520S. The sweep tubes in the Yeasu would output 400W+ with new sweep tubes. The awesome power would drop to half after a few month of use!
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by KA5ROW on May 25, 2008
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Why Boat Anchors? The short answer: Just For Fun..
Why have a 57 Chevy, Why have a 1879 CC silver dollar. Or a 100 year old book.
It is history, and when you see such things it brings a smile to you weather you have a interest in such items or not. I have no interest in cars and would not pay to go to a car show, but it is still the coolest thing to see a 1950's era car now in then. The same could be said about radio. To operate a Hallicrafter HT-37 and the Hallicrafter SX-111 would be a lot fun, but some of you would not invest in the set because you would rather have a modern radio as your only/primary rig as would I. Such equipment is still impressive no mater how you look at it.
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Why Boat Anchors
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by BHARDIMON on May 25, 2008
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From reading the article and comments, it's certainly not hard to tell the general age range of the ham radio community and why the stereotype of the typical ham persists. I'm sure the Smithsonian already has a room for you.
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by W9PMZ on May 25, 2008
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Why are "Boat Anchors" generally post WWII equipment?
Why is it that I rarely see any pre WWII equipment?
Maybe Vitto can answer this question.
73,
Carl - W9PMZ
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by K3JVB on May 25, 2008
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Me too !
circa: 1967
15 year old kid, could not cut enough lawns to pay for what I wanted...
Sb-line?
Drakes?
Swan's
Seems today, I use my Swan gear as much as..or more than My newer gear. Comfort zone? Maybe !
But the glowing tubes are nice. They may not have the bells and whistles of todays gear, but it is a good thing to keep them on the air. They are a part of our evolution...
All have a great weekend
73
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by N2UGB on May 25, 2008
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I genuinely cannot understand why some hams have such vicious comments for anyone who uses and appreciates older gear. It borders on hatred.
But, that may be a character trait evidenced in other matters as well.
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by K3UD on May 25, 2008
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I wish I had all of my Boat Anchors back.
At various times during my 44 years as a ham I had a Hammarlund Comet Pro from the 30s, NC-303 & B&W 5100B and the B&W sideband adapter as my station. Also had the Johnson Ranger, SX-110 Hallicrafters receiver, Heath DX-40 & VF1 VFO, Ameco TX-62 Clegg Zeus and Interceptor B receiver, Drake 4B and 4C lines, Several Swans, a 350 and a 500, Johnson Matchbox, Heath DX-100 and Heath Twoer, Clegg Venus and Apollo amp, Various tube based 6 meter transceivers, Utica 650, Heath-Sixer, Swan 250 6 meter transceiver, Hammarlund HQ-170, Eico-753, Gonset Communicators including the Gooney Bird (6 meters) Yaesu DX-560 and others I may have forgotten about. I enjoyed all of them, even the Eico-753
Presently I have my old Johnson Matchbox and a nice looking Collins 75-A3 that needs some TLC. Don't know If I will sell it or just keep it as it looks great in the shack :)
73
George
K3UD
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by AD3G on May 25, 2008
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N2UGB:
" I genuinely cannot understand why some hams have such vicious comments for anyone who uses and appreciates older gear. It borders on hatred.
But, that may be a character trait evidenced in other matters as well."
Thats called "being spineless when you hide behind a user name other than your valid callsign"
That way anonymous posters can make comments without fear of retribution to their real identity.
Personally,I feel anon. posters should NOT be allowed on this forum.
By the way..for the spineless anonymous poster...my age of 44 doesn't make me any where near ready for the Smithsonian,and I love boatanchors !!!!
73 De AD3G
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Why Boat Anchors
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by KE4PTM on May 25, 2008
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I have a room full of Hammarlunds and a couple of
R-390As. There is no signal any of my modern, solid state
rigs can receive that I can't get on my primary 390A
w/B&W 370 SSB Adapter. In fact, it's usually the other
way around. The boat anchor will usually ferret out the
DX better. They might be a bear to lug around, especially
my SP-600, but they have great sound and will probably
be working for the rest of my days. The biggest issues
are wafer switch wear and tear and high voltage, multi-
value electrolytics. There are work arounds if you don't
mind putting forth the effort. It helps to have boxes
and boxes of spare parts/tubes.
I don't buy into the "All American" shack ideal. If it
could be guaranteed that all the components were sourced
in the USA it would be different, but even a lot of older
rigs had stuff in them that came from overseas.
Of the Japanese rigs that would probably be alive in
another generation, I would place my bet on JRC. They're a really old company and do radio pretty well.
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by NE2I on May 25, 2008
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I started collecting and trading Boat anchors at the ripe old age of 25 and at 38 I have a good drake collection
and have several zenith transoceanic and hallicrafter
radios. I just like the old stuff! Cant afford a 55 Chevy
so this is it for me. Maybe someday Ill get a 55 Bel Air
station wagon with the period mobile station.
I also have a modern SO2R contest station so to each his own. We like to tinker with radio, not just the parts YOU
like!
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by K7PEH on May 25, 2008
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Just what is a boat anchor anyway?
Someone mentioned a Drake TR7 and someone else mentioned other Drakes. Also, I think I heard a Kenwood, circa late 1970s or maybe even early 1980s mentioned.
Are these really boat anchors?
To me, a boat anchor is like my Hammarlund HQ-170 or other gigantic receivers of similar ilk. But, a Drake TR4-CW is not much (if at all) bigger then my Icom Pro III -- OK, maybe it is a little deeper in the cabinet but definitely of the same order of size and weight (external power supply helps).
When did the boat anchor era end? I sort of think sometime in the 1960s but maybe that is my perspective. The rigs from the 1970s through 2004 were a total blank to me as I was outside of the hobby during those years.
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by WB9QVR on May 25, 2008
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I guess one of my long-held ideas is incorrect. I always understood the term 'boat anchor' to be derogatory - meaning that a piece of equipment was beyond repair or was otherwise so useless that its only value was to be used to anchor a boat. Live and learn...
Although I do have an appreciation for those who restore old gear (just as I can appreciate the work and care that goes into restoring a classic car) it's been my experience that the newer gear performs much better than its predecessors. I started in the hobby in 1974 and used Swan and Drake 2 line and 3 line gear for some time. My dream station was a Drake 4 line system. Although I never owned the 4 line I did have occasion to use that equipment from time to time. Today I operate an Icom IC-7000 and a 746Pro as my main rigs. The filtering, frequency stability, sensitivity and selectivity all seem to be much better than the older equipment I have used. I do agree that the receive audio may have been a bit more full-bodied on the older gear (I am very picky about audio response). However, I've found that adding the right external speaker to the newer gear makes all the difference. I use a $25 three-way stereo speaker for the 746Pro and that combination provides wonderfully clear, bassy audio - even better than what I remember coming out of the old tube rigs.
Again, I'm not knocking those of you who enjoy restoring and using older gear. As I said I can certainly appreciate the effort that goes into such work. However given the cost of purchasing older gear initially (as it still seems to command a high price) coupled with restoration costs and ongoing maintenance it's hard to beat the price/performance/feature set of newer gear. Yes, it's true that my 746Pro will be obsolete in a few years but it's entirely likely that I will have moved on to something even better before that happens. It just seems to me that although there might be some technological missteps periodically, in general, amateur radio gear seems to improve with each new generation of rig.
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by W4LGH on May 25, 2008
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Boatanchors aren't for everyone, but it seems the more technically inclined Hams are more into it. Its a great feeling to take something thats dead in the water, and been that way for many years, clean it up, fix the stuff thats bad, then re-align...then...that
first contact on it. It really makes you feel good!
Both of my HF amps are boatanchors. My newest being a Drake L7 and its older brother the L4B. These amps are built llike a battleship and will last me the rest of my life. 3-500's are great tubes, and last forever. I just replaced the original Eimac's in the L7...and they were still making 1000watts, but that was with 3200volts on the plates. Yes I re-did the PS.
The new 3-500ZG's at that voltage will exceed legal limit! (into a dummy load of course) The L4B still has it original 3-500z's in it and they are getting close to 40 years old, and still does an honest 1400watts! One day I will re-do the PS on it too, and maybe treat it to a new pair of 3-500GZ's, but its still making plenty of power.
You won't find an AMP today that's built as tough as these, and the L4B is built much tougher than the L7.
Great American Pride, and built to last... what's not to love?
If boatanchors aren't you, so be it...but you are missing out on a LOT of Fun!!
73 de W4LGH - Alan
http://www.w4lgh.com
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by W7ETA on May 25, 2008
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Thats what is so great about this hobby--so many different areas to enjoy. From software based EME contacts to home made, one a two tube crystal controlled xmiters with, tube rectified power supplies.
73
Bob
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by KF6IIU on May 25, 2008
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My hope is that shipping costs don't rise so much that it's not practical to sell that old 80-lb piece of junk to someone across the country who really wants it. The last boat anchor I sold, the shipping almost cost more than the radio.
One man's treasure is another man's ... something! And it stays out of the landfill.
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by WB2WIK on May 25, 2008
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The old time gear used on CW works as well as anything made today.
There's nothing I could work with an SDR5000, K3, Orion-II or IC-7800 that I cannot work exactly as easily with a Ranger-II and 75A4, on CW.
Other modes are different.
Thankfully, I really like CW and wouldn't have any problem at all living out my life in ham radio if all voice modes were declared illegal starting tomorrow.
WB2WIK/6
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by WW3QB on May 25, 2008
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K7PEH Wrote: >I started computer programming in 1965 and
> the computer I used, a CDC 3300, occupied most of the
> main basement floor of the math department building. I am
> still a programmer and I really like my Apple Mac
>computers. My laptop is a zillion times faster and of
>course can hold google zillions of more memory then that
> old CDC 3300. I would never go back. And, I guess I
>feel the same about old ham radio equipment.
The huge difference between old computers and old radios is that today's programs are much to big to run on old computers. Old computers cannot do the same work as new computers. But new radios still emit and receive the same CW/SSB/RTTY signals that old radios do. Old radios can do the same work as a new radio. On the air, one cannot know if it is the newest radio or a 50+ year radio. They are all emitting and receiving signals invented in the early 20th century.
Old radios can even work with PSK31 and the newer digital modes (still based on old emission types), after they warm up and the VFO stabilizes.
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by K6CRC on May 25, 2008
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a Ham said "Also look at the Hammarlund receivers. Talk about quality! These are only a few. There are many others worthy of note."
I agree they are fun to use, but older electronics are nowhere near as good as new equipment from a quality perspective. My HQs have always had flakey band switches. At some point, you simple cannot clean them anymore, the pitting is too deep or the corrosion too bad. I had an HQ 180 which required re-soldering of a dozen joints to get it to the point where I could align it. The coils used in alignments were not very strong, so be gentle. A couple of alignments, and they are shot. I had what is considered the best stereo amp ever made, the Marantz 8B, made by Saul Marantz in New York City. There was a weird heat related problem that I was troubleshooting. I took the bottom off. Sure enough, I instantly saw THREE unsoldered joints. Yup, the high end 'merican built stuff had got through QC with obviously unsoldered joints!
Many/most of the ham and audio boatanchors were hand made. Like Detroit cars, you don't want ones built on a Monday, Friday, or the day before hunting season starts!
I would guess military stuff was better, but I don't know for sure.
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by AC7ZL on May 25, 2008
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I do not own any SDR hardware at the moment, but I am very enthusiastic about the technology.
That said, I am very put off by the idea of having to boot a desktop computer in order to run a radio. I have been burned endless times by Microsoft-induced problems, and have thrown away thousands of dollars worth of otherwise-good computer hardware because the latest operating system release had become too resource intensive, or because a peripheral manufacturer refused to release updated drivers.
The maintenance of basic ham rigs is basic. The maintenance of complex rigs is complex. With appropriate substitutions, a simple rig can be supported almost indefinitely. In the case of complex rigs, a discontinued chip (or in the case of SDR, discontinued driver support) will render your investment total junk.
Latest-and-greatest is nice, but there will always be a place for boat anchors for reasons that go well beyond simple nostalgia.
Pete
AC7ZL
============================================
by N9DG on May 24, 2008 Mail this to a friend!
The monitors attached to my PC based SDR's glow quite nicely in the dark too.
Having fun and enjoying boat anchor radios for their own
sake, and 'just because', is all perfectly fine and good.
Very few people will truly dispute that. And also
there will always be a place for reminiscing about, or
even trying to recapture some fond moments of your youth.
What doesn't work is trying to stay there. And to
then further insist that all *new* radios must look,
work, and feel the same way as the radios of yesteryear
did. That doesn't work, and that would be the surest and
quickest way to bring ham radio to its end..
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by KQ9J on May 26, 2008
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The Flex Radio Systems transceiver has gotten good reviews. It certainly has me interested. With the built-in PC it is quite expensive, but you can put together an adequate PC pretty cheaply these days. The new version of the software is going to be open source and cross-platform, prior to this the Windows GUI was the standard. You will be able to build a nice PC, run Linux on it, and use the Power SDR software in a completely Microsoft free environment. That is what I have been waiting for.
That being said, I wouldn't trade my TS-530SP, or my Heathkits, or my Swan for anything. These "boat anchors" work very well and are fun to use.
Why not have the best of both worlds? Why does it have to be one or the other?
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by W8AAZ on May 26, 2008
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I got a new OMNI VII and some boat anchors. I like both. The FT 101 is a backup now. Old components failing in it. Some of the parts don't grow on trees. Have you priced the sweep tubes for these things lately? Just because it is simple does not guarantee easy or cheap to fix. I had to scrounge resistors for a Johnson rig. Try to find 2 watt carbons at RS! We are just lucky that there are still enough old tubes to fill a New Jersey landfill floating around. But they don't make them anymore and prices on some are going real high. So it may be the same with the latest rigs with chips going obsolete etc. But I assume that as long as TT is in business, they can fix it. So support your US makers. I find boatanchors interesting, but memory sometimes belies the actual shortcomings of the old gear. You can have both and use both. Why the fight?
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by G3LBS on May 26, 2008
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The advantage of a boat anchor is that not only will it light up the shack but also the operator.
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Why Boat Anchors
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by VE6CNU on May 26, 2008
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Of course nostalgia plays a big part in our hobby. But in 5-10 years they will refer to today's SDRs as boat anchors too. Imagine having a computer that weighed 20 pounds and as large as two shoe boxes! Remember when it took 5 minutes to boot up? And then there was the big black box that you needed to add to the PC so that it could act like a radio! How primitive can you get?
In trying to decide which new rig to buy I am faced with the dilemma of either going for an older "real rig" that requires at least a spare or two so that I can keep it running, or buy something new that will be essentially a throw-away item if/when something breaks. The new ones have lots of bells and whistles but do I really need all those features? The same thing is happening in other fields too. I am thinking of replacing a 10 year old car with something new, but do I need all those features too? Do I need a door key that has a built-in chip so that when I lose it I have to pay $100 to get a new one? And the engines have become so complex that you need to run a computer diagnostic to find out that the timing is off? I'm sure there is somebody's law that states the more complex something is, the more likely it is to fail. And when things fail these days, it either costs a fortune to fix (if it can be fixed) or you have to throw it away and buy a new one.
This is also true for many of the flat panel TVs that are coming off their warranty periods. I'm afraid that lots of expensive 42" TVs are going to quickly work their way to the dump. At least the new ones cost a fraction of the old ones - but they're still not cheap!
As for me, I can appreciate the old boat anchor radios - especially those that were built to last and built with pride. I've been building up my junk box with vacuum tubes and NOS components so I can try building my own boat anchors and gain a better appreciation of all the engineering that went into these marvels. And with the cold winters in Canada, I don't mind that they keep the shack warm too!
Jerry, VE6CNU
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Why Boat Anchors
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by N6CIC on May 26, 2008
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As far as performance goes, I much prefer the new rigs-stability, selectivity, and noise reduction. However, I still enjoy boat anchors because I like to work on the electronics that are not surface mounts. So I have owned several boat anchors and enjoyed upgrading them. At present I have a Collins 75S-1 and a Drake R-4C and I have enjoyed working on them. But as far as operating is concerned, I prefer the new rigs.
The great thing about ham radio, is one can enjoy both!
73s
Scott
N6CIC
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by K7PEH on May 26, 2008
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>>>So I have owned several boat anchors and enjoyed upgrading them.
Actually, even though I am not a true boat anchor fan, as far as owning them and allowing them to take up valuable space in the shack, I have fixed a few over the last year. These include:
1. Hallicrafters SX-110, fixed and put into good working order and then gave it away.
2. Hallicrafters SX-99, fixed all except the dial-cord restringing and adjusting the display (that is the part I do not like to do). I will probably give this one away too.
3. Eico 720 -- I have two of them, one is fixed up and putting out full power and the second one I am debating on fixing at all. I made salvage the power transformer out of it and create for myself a variable voltage power supply.
4. And, for a good family friend I fixed up the old 1942 GE table top radio that had been in broken for at least 40 years (actually, one tube did have the seal break at the base).
The Eico 720 though I think I might keep for awhile until I start running out of room in the storage garage (that will be awhile).
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by AD3G on May 26, 2008
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I must agree with KQ9J....
"Why not have the best of both worlds? Why does it have to be one or the other?"
It doesn't have to be one or the other...at least to me!
I love my FT2000 as much as my Drake C line,or my FT1000D as much as my TR7,so on and so on.
I like having the best of both worlds..old and new.
At least when my C line or TR7 breaks,I can still fix it myself (not savvy enuf for SMT's),and not have the high cost of shipping my IC775DSP somewhere to get it repaired. Yes, 2 watt carbon resistors are getting harder to find,and some tubes are becoming unobtanium or high priced,but the old stuff can be repaired rather easily.
Would I sell my new gear and run only old gear.....no way...I love the bandscope of my FT2000,but there is somehow a bit more fun in tuning & loading an old Drake,Heathkit,or what have you.
Sort of like having that 69' Camaro out for a Sunday drive....but I wouldn't want to drive it to work every day!
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by AF6AY on May 26, 2008
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K7PEH wrote on May 25, 2008:
"Just what is a boat anchor anyway?"
"Someone mentioned a Drake TR7 and someone else mentioned other Drakes. Also, I think I heard a Kenwood, circa late 1970s or maybe even early 1980s mentioned."
"Are these really boat anchors?"
Not strictly...but there is no precise definition...
I mentioned a Drake TR-7, one of the first ALL solid-state HF transceivers, first available in 1979 at an advertised price of $1200 [same as what I paid for my 2007-bought IC-746Pro including accessories]. Esthetically very nice to look at...technically pretty nifty, too. They were not "small" in size, just "medium." Surface Mount Devices hadn't been standardized for production yet although those were available in the form of "thick film" devices (all mounted on a ceramic substrate along with transistors and ICs). They had "plug-in card" physical construction a la the digital-computer style of solid-state equipment. Folks still had ideas that solid-state would "need replacing just like tubes." :-)
I would peg the transition period being 1978 to 1980 (give or take) when manufactured amateur radios were changing over to all solid-state from all-vacuum-tube or hybrid solid/vacuum. [others mileage will most certainly vary...:-) ]
A REAL boatanchor to me is an HP-524B Frequency Counter (since I used to calibrate the things in 1958 to 1960). Twice as high as any R-390 and felt about twice as heavy. I also calibrated the R-391 receivers, the R-390 with Collins Autotune added for remote control of frequency setting.
The R-390 military-contract receiver has a lot of song and story attached to it, quite possibly for its MECHANICAL design (which seemed at a peak for Collins way back when). Electronically it is just standard for its time...which is to say 'not all that swift.' That is being technically honest, devoid of emotion or nostalgia. It was a 'breakthrough' for its time at the end of the 1950s. It was a "set and forget" receiver very dependable for fixed-frequency (between QSYs) for long-haul HF communications.
Drake's "7" was an ambitious design for the late 1970s, combining frequency stability-accuracy in an all-band (HF only) amateur transceiver. It did that with good eye-appeal. It didn't have what some oldsters decry as "bells and whistles" made possible by Large Scale Integrated circuits...few were available then and the available microprocessors were in their beginnings. [the Apple I - not the ][ or ][+ - was just out on the personal computer market]
Collins Radio was there with the KWM2 in the 1960s, more compact than the "real" boatanchors, an outgrowth of their older HF transceiver designs. It rode on the Collins logo reputation which had alrady peaked for the amateur radio market. A KWM2 is a boat anchor but only for small boats...think just larger than Sabot class sailboats. :-)
HEAVY stuff with lots of sturdy METAL, better yet with lots of gears and things, marks the "boat anchor" era, "strength" associated anthropomorphically and related to "muscle cars" of the 1950s - 1960s with lots of noisy exhaust. The vacuum tube era peak was at that time and would not get much further advanced for the amateur consumer market.
The solid-state era had just begun in the 1960s and would continue to grow. The technological developments in solid-state led to true low-noise front ends in receivers, no-tune wideband linear power amplifiers for transmitters...not to mention quartz crystal stability and accuracy on ANY frequency desired. Those would all be in much smaller packages, SEEMINGLY without "strength" since all the battleship construction was NOT necessary. Amateur market radios did not have to have extremes of environments that military design required, so it did not LOOK either massive or "professional."
In the 1960s an amateur QSYed to a new frequency either by a VFO to +/- 1 KHz accuracy or by changing quartz crystals. Rare was the frequency control accurate to 1 part per million (+/- 10 Hz at 10 MHz).
In time now that is par for the course, no problem.
The much venerated Collins PTO was very stable, yes, but its accuracy (by itself) was never any better than plus-minus a KHz if a tinkerer had left its innards alone. BTW, grown quartz crystal had become a reality in the 1960s also and crystal unit prices were dropping towards the 'war surplus' dollar values, thanks in part to color TV demands (the ubiquitous 3.58 MHz color-burst crystal). CB radios aided that, too, since the US-made designs prior to the off-shore flood required crystal-bank mixing before IC frequency synthesizers. The early off-shore architecture used the same frequency control.
K7PEH: "When did the boat anchor era end? I sort of think sometime in the 1960s but maybe that is my perspective. The rigs from the 1970s through 2004 were a total blank to me as I was outside of the hobby during those years."
Well, I've never been "out" of the elecronics industry and haven't concentrated on amateur market radios as the "only" HF radios, but your assessment of the last anchor dropping time is about right. :-)
73, Len AF6AY
PS: Would a catamaran need s STEREO boat anchor radio? :-)
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by AF6AY on May 26, 2008
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K6CRC wrote on 25 May 08:
"Many/most of the ham and audio boatanchors were hand made. Like Detroit cars, you don't want ones built on a Monday, Friday, or the day before hunting season starts!"
I find it surprising that the "hand-made" phrase still survives in this new millennium! Its etymology traces back to Luddites and the Industrial Revolution of long ago. It's a PR phrase that is supposed to mean "quality" but really isn't anything of the sort. "Hand-made" almost always results in a Lack of Uniformity.
Before the 1960s nearly ALL radios were "hand-made" but only insofar as the WIRING was concerned. Printed circuit boards had come out but that specialized area was still developing. Think TV sets and 'brown' PCBs, intense competition in a rapidly-growing consumer market. By the 1990s, PCBs were standardized, well-developed with 'green' epoxy-fiberglass substrates, plated-through holes, and solder masking with silkscreened legends. Dependable. Uniform.
...........
K6CRC: "I would guess military stuff was better, but I don't know for sure."
Military electronics HAS to be designed for a far greater environment range than consumer products. Mechanical requirements, temperature environments, and sometimes submergence in water. Those who haven't been doing environmental testing, don't realize how really tough those things can be. As a result military electronics has a much different "look" inside their cases. Think of aircraft construction and the need for light weight, its not at all like automobile construction. Different environments. Few autos fly, few aircraft are road-worthy.
But, thanks to much improved electronics technology, what we have now in many markets is a merging of methodology and it seems headed to a convergence of a common 'look and feel.'
73, Len AF6AY
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by AF6AY on May 26, 2008
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WB2WIK curmudgeondly complained:
"Thankfully, I really like CW and wouldn't have any problem at all living out my life in ham radio if all voice modes were declared illegal starting tomorrow."
Don't just SIT there, warm up that trusty SPARK Transmitter and tune in that COHERER "receiver!" Pioneer the airwaves and make history! :-)
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Why Boat Anchors
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by W7NWH on May 26, 2008
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To ask this question - you need look no further then why old cars? Why do people collect, drive and enjoy cars from yesteryear? same thing with old rigs. I take pride in knowing my modern radio is pumping drive into a amp build by Collins genre - 1963!
Classic cars or classic rigs - never go out of style!
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RE: Why Boat Anchors
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by KB3NRY on May 26, 2008
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I'm a new ham of only 3 years and probably fell in love with boat anchors last spring at the Timonium, MD hamfest when I saw a beautiful Heathkit Marauder. Since then I've dreamed of owning one. As of this month, I've recently acquired a Gonset G-63 and National NC-100A. From what I've read neither are anything special other than being nice tube receivers, but I hope to see what they need to be brought back to life and get them up and running. Along with them I got a few boxes of tubes and a tube tester so that should be a good start. Once I get atleast one running, I'll find a transmitter.
What I'd love to find is a great vintage radio/boat anchor forum where I can learn to work on these kinds of radios. There is info scattered on the internet, but I've done most of my radio repair learning from forums, starting with CB radio. If anyone knows any, post up here or send me an email. My email is my callsign at gmail.com. I've even considered starting a boatanchor forum because I can't seem to find one. I'd love to find one to discuss them and learn to work on them. I know a lot of people work on them so it'd be great to share the info. I don't have the money to pay someone else to restore one (and where's the fun in that anyway) and even if I did, it sounds like it can be a job to keep the radios running so I'd like to restore them and learn how they work so I can make fixes as needed. Any ideas would be great.
Great topic though and its been fun reading most of the posts.
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