Classic Rigs
from
Lou Giovannetti - KB2DHG
on
February 18, 2008
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I have been an Amateur Radio Operator for over 20 years and have been into radio way beyond...
To me radio was always magical and mysterious. I remember as a kid and SWL, I would hover over my Halicrafters receiver at all times of the day and night. The glow of the tubes in the wee hours of the night and waiting for that distant signal...
I collected all the radio catalogs like Lafayette, Heathkit and Henry radio. Dreaming about getting one of those wonderful transceivers. I love the way they looked! I especially loved the Collins and Drake lines. They were massive and impressive with their big knobs and dials, meters and heavy metal cases.
In my opinion, today's transceivers are far more sophisticated and compact but somewhere along the way they have lost that romance and look.
I also liked the advantage of being able to tweak my plate and load and I also feel that the older rigs had much better audio and power.
With the prices of these new transceivers today I find it hard to justify getting one when my vintage equipment is doing the same thing! There is an abundance of these classic rigs for sale all over. I just received the matching Drake T4B transmitter for my R4B receiver on eBay. It works great and fun to operate!
I also have a Yaesu Ft-101 with a D104 mic that is just wonderful. The signal reports and audio reports I get with that rig are great.
Yes, I am a big fan of boat anchors... The older rigs have a certain mystique and romance about them... it brings me back to a finer time of Ham Radio. The best thing about it is that purchasing and collecting this gear if very affordable!
My drake twins including the power supply cost me a total of $570. My Yaesu FT-101 was won on eBay for $183. These rigs are also easy to trouble shoot and repair...
Even if you have a modern transceiver, I recommend you getting an older rig just for the fun of it!
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by KU2US on February 18, 2008
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Yes-I agree with this post, that the old time radios hold that nostolgic mystique. You know you are operating a REAL radio, sitting in front of one of these baby's.. They may not have all of the bells and whistles of the newer rigs, but they are fun to operate and are rock solid. I have a hybrid Kenwood TS-520S with matching speaker, VFO and tuner, with the stock MC-50 desk mic. I have yet to hear a newer solid state rig equal or surpass my 520S in stock audio quality. These radios were built to last, easy to work on and VERY forgiving. Blow a 6146B, and you replace it by plugging a new one in. Blow a power circuit on a new rig, and SEE YA... Dont get me wrong, the newer rice boxes have the latest technology with DSP's, et.et..but with my added CW and SSB filters in my 520S, I really dont need a DSP. Just plug in the filters and go. Here is a run down in cost for my station: TS-520S mint condition $250.00, the external VFO $130.00, The matching speaker $45.00 and the matching antenna tuner $120.00..Thats a grand total of $545.00..What new rig can you buy for that? You cant even buy an Alinco DX-70T or DX-77! If the VFO goes kaputt, I buy another one and plug it in. If a VFO goes on a new rice box-get ready to pay $$$ to get it fixed. There is a place for both the new and vintage in ham radio. I am not knocking the new stuff, but it just seems to me that the vintage and hybrid rigs are built better, serviced easier, costs much less, and are REAL radios. Its your money!
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by ZENKI on February 18, 2008
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I think you right. I have a hybrid TS830S, if you can find me a modern radio that can beat its receiver in a convincing manner I would like to buy it. Likewise its transmitter in spectral IMD purity.
Its a very damning reflection on the Japanese designers that you cant buy any radio except for the IC7800 that will beat the pants off a humble TS830S that cost $600 in the 1980's.
While it might sound stupid, if Kenwood released this rig today with a 50 volt fet Amplifier, a DDS sythesizer and some roofing filters it would blow the pants off just about every current mega dollar radio.
We just being taken for suckers, DSP in most instances just means cheaper manufacturing with no real world RF improvement that can be measured in an convincing manner.
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by WX1F on February 18, 2008
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Yes..there's nothing like the smell of a burning resistor or primary winding of a high voltage transformer...especially when it occurs right at the instant you made contact with Hawaii from 1 land after 10 years of trying to complete your WAS..and the OM on the other end just said "Repeat??" Yep....nothing like it....!!!
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by RX1 on February 18, 2008
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"WX1F" "Yes..there's nothing like the smell of a burning resistor or primary winding of a high voltage transformer...especially when it occurs right at the instant you made contact with Hawaii from 1 land after 10 years of trying to complete your WAS..and the OM on the other end just said "Repeat??" Yep....nothing like it....!!!"
That reminds me of a friend of mine who's a home builder. He once said; "They sure don't make them like they used to." "Thank God!"
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by K5UJ on February 18, 2008
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I'm sorry to disagree but I don't miss the old rigs at all. they had a smaller set of features usually, poor frequency resolution and accuracy, they drifted, and in reality, had poor tx and rx audio because of the restricted bandwidth of their IFs due to the analog technology of the day. they did usually pack more power out compared to most of the 100 w. exciters in use now however and they were repairable for more hams.
I suspect that usually when hams pine for old rigs, they are really waxing nostalgic for the "old days" of ham radio in general and the boat anchor is a token of that to spark memories. I get into that a bit too, with an old Hallicrafters TO keyer I never use, but like to look at however you can get the same experience by simply thumbing through old QSTs and CQs. A bit of this goes a long way--overdoing the nostalgia thing is just a ticket to misery.
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by KF4HR on February 18, 2008
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After 40+ years in the hobby and always on a quest to to maintain the latest technology, the antique bug bit me last year. For some particular reason I developed a keen interest in Collins A-Line gear. I quickly learned the demand for this 50+ year old gear is very much alive and well in the amateur community. A transmit/receiver pair, depending on condition, can cost as much or more than a modern transceiver. There were only so many of these old marvels made and collectors seem to be quickly snatching them up.
But is the cost of this vintage gear really worth it? Like car collecting, it just depends on what it's worth to you.
There are a few drawbacks to owning older gear, namely lack of modern features (auto-notching filters, twin passband tuning, DSP, built in digital recorders, etc), but there is no mistaking the unique draw that older equipment has. Sitting in your shack on a snowy night with the tubes glowing, the smell that the old gear gives off, perhaps working some far off distant AM or CW station... well, for some of us, flipping on the switch to a modern rig just doesn't provide the same appeal.
And there's something interesting I've run across about the older tube gear too. Parts for 70's, 80's, and even some 90's vintage solid state transceivers have been drying up for awhile now; particularly IC's, display components, etc. The parts just aren't being manufactured anymore. This turns owners of this defective gear into junk yard scroungers, or the gear ends up being used as a door stop, or it gets sold off for parts.
But think about it. After your modern transceiver becomes superceded by the next model, how long do you expect the manufacturer to continue to stock its parts? The answer of course is, it's just a matter of time before certain parts are no longer available.
On the other hand, older tube gear continues to enjoy an abundance of parts availability, and some are even specializing in the restoration of this vintage equipment. And in many cases owners do the repairs and alignment their gear themselves. Let the average ham try doing that with his ProIII, FT-2000, or TS-2000! :^)
Bottom line, at least for some of us, it's interesting to have both new and vintage gear in the shack; perhaps just to compare and just enjoy the differences, and to maybe get a taste of what being a ham decades ago was like.
KF4HR
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by K3EY on February 18, 2008
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Even though I spent a few bucks on my Lamborghinio I prefer my rusty Ford Pinto. Yes the good old days when everyone lived 30 years less average--- everything was a lot harder to accomplish including getting your basic needs--- like hoping your deep well doesn’t dry running out of water, or how about tuning the TV antenna around to get a better picture in the 10 degree windy winter weather while your Father held up his hand in the window to tell you how which way to turn it and when to stop while your hands froze to the pipe. Oh-- and sewage systems that leeched out all over your back yard because there was no public sewage system. That smell brings back such sweet memories. Oh those were the romantic days----wait I’m sorry!! Maybe I need pills because my thinking is amiss---where’s my paxil?
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by G3LBS on February 18, 2008
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You can try to compromise by upgrading a boat anchor, keeping the front panel, but then the antique collectors will give you some stick.
W2/G3LBS
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by KD5SFK on February 18, 2008
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Pointless article/discussion. Everyone has an opinion and they're all right. C'mon eHam, you can do better!
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by NI0C on February 18, 2008
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I agree with K5UJ on this one.
As someone who actually owned and operated some of the boat anchors (long before they were known as boat anchors), I don't miss them.
As someone who worked with DSP in its infancy back in the mid 1970's, I know that when appropriate attention is paid to the A/D conversion and pre-sampling analog filter processes, DSP will run circles around conventional analog-only filtering.
The ham manufacturers (notably Elecraft and Ten Tec) are finally getting it right with their renewed emphasis on roofing filters and floating point A/D conversions.
The boat anchors are nice to look at and collect, but an Elecraft K3 will definitely outperform a Collins 75A4 (the dream receiver of fifty years ago).
73,
Chuck NI0C
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by KC8ZEV on February 18, 2008
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There is something about glowing tubes that hypnotizes hams. The heat radiated is also a huge plus for those who don't have a heater in the shack. Every now and then, I fire up the ole Swan 500.
I try not to push the old girl too hard, but she will still thump a watt or two!!! With that said, it is much EASIER to operate my Icom 718 than a vintage rig. Drift, filtering, noise, sensitivity.........the list goes on. Notice I didn't say the Icom 718 was BETTER. Using technology from yesteryear is a specialty in itself. Depending on band conditions, it can be a joy or a nightmare. The real trick is knowing what band conditions are best for vintage rig operation. That comes from experience.
73
KC8ZEV
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by WA2DTW on February 18, 2008
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When looking at an objective listing of receiver quality, the R390A still is very close to the top of the list. There is very little today that can beat it.
(or is heavier).
73
Steve WA2DTW
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by W2CZ on February 18, 2008
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Great post Lou, it's certainly easier to appreciate the art of radio when you understand how we've gotten to the point we are at now!
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by N2EY on February 18, 2008
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"I have a hybrid TS830S, if you can find me a modern radio that can beat its receiver in a convincing manner I would like to buy it."
Have you seen the Elecraft K3? Specs are now on the Sherwood Engineering website.
73 de Jim, N2EY
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by K0BG on February 18, 2008
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There used to be an old TV program called "Time Marches On". And so it does. You may wax nostalgic about those old radios, but I'd bet you wouldn't want to be living that age all over again? I certainly would not!
Alan, KØBG
www.k0bg.com
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by G3LBS on February 18, 2008
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What we need are research hypothesis here -
'Owners of repairable boat anchors are more active than owners of knob-twiddling rigs'
'The novelty of a non-repairable rig wears off sooner than that of a repairable boat anchor'
'The more knobs on a rig the sooner it will be exchanged'
W2/G3LBS
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by K3EY on February 18, 2008
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"I have a hybrid TS830S, if you can find me a modern radio that can beat its receiver in a convincing manner I would like to buy it."
Have you seen the Elecraft K3? Specs are now on the Sherwood Engineering website.
73 de Jim, N2EY
--------------------------------------------
I bought THREE (3)TS830 radios when they were still being manufactured and I owned them for 15 years...yes great receiver. My PROIII blows the 830 away into space on all levels. I would never go back to a 830--- but you guys are more than welcome to live in the past if it makes you feel good. Looking forward is how I live my life. Oh---I do not worship at the Sherwood Alter where old radios are better on paper.
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by K4PDM on February 18, 2008
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I can't seem to stay away from classic rigs, although I buy them and then don't use them.
Part of what makes ham radio great is the fact that an IC-7800 can QSO with a Swan 350.
There's room for everyone and every interest.
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by ARRLBOOSTER on February 18, 2008
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I like to have a couple of the classic rigs around, as well as a new one. Yes, time does march on and is essential to stay current with knowledge. Having said that, hams are no different from motorheads who prefer the classic cars of yesterday.
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by K3AN on February 18, 2008
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There are multiple facets to our hobby for the same reason there are multiple flavors of ice cream.
Some people enjoy working every weekend on an old classic or antique car, but they probably wouldn't want to drive it to work in rush-hour traffic every day. Same with an old radio.
I check eBay and other ham ad sites to see what my original station (RME 4350A, Globe DSB-100) would cost me. But I'd rather spend my limited ham hobby money on another SGC autotuner to support the installation of a delta loop oriented at right angles to my existing one.
To each his own.
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by KL7AJ on February 18, 2008
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I always wanted a 57 Chevy, but the closest thing I've got is a Central Electronics 100V. About the same weight. :)
eric
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by WB9AUJ on February 18, 2008
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After reading the QST article about rebuilding the Drake power supplies, I am trying to save a few bucks and do that mod.
I just received a pair of 8122 tubes and plan to put my Hallicrafters SR-2000 back on the air.
I really like my Kenwood TS-480, but the "hollow" stare is great.
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by AE5I on February 18, 2008
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Very well said, Lou!
I was truly "infected" with a deep interest in radio in the late 50s and to me, there will always be something very appealing about a rig with incandescent dial lamps, analog tuning, tubes, a little bit of hum from the power supply and warmth from the tubes....
I don't know why, other than the fact that I think "windows of learning" open and close as we grow up, and some types of impressions that are made at times in our youth are just deeper and more permanent than things we learn later in life. I don't know why that it, but it seems to me to be the case.
I, like you, had all the catalogs from the big radio suppliers back then.... Allied, Lafayette, Heathkit, etc. I remember spending countless hours leafing back and forth through the pages of Drake 4 Line gear in the Allied catalog. I was a broadcast engineer long before becoming a ham, but when I passed the tests in '92, you can bet that the first rig I bought was a Drake TR-4! And yep, it was as great a rig as I always had dreamed that it would be.
These days, my main CW rig is a Drake C Line and my main phone rig is a Collins S Line. I know that a top-of-the-line TenTec will outperform them, but when it comes to "pleasure of operation", they have no equal, for me. I also have an SGC 2020 and an FT-897D and really like both rigs. They are quick to operate and fill a definite need at my station, but as you said, Lou, there's just something missing from modern rigs that the old boat anchors have. :-)
Ain't it great that this wonderful old gear can be had so cheaply these days? And when it comes to performance, the Drake C Line is still a lot of bang for the buck. I'd rather have one of those in a pileup than anything else.
Thanks again for the great article, Lou! Enjoy those tubes... :-)
73
Tom AE5I
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by VE6DRW on February 18, 2008
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Of course this topic is about opinion, as are most posted on forums. The point is I want my opinion to be heard. And by way of disclosure, I'm not some tottering old grandpa waxing poetic from my rocker; I design the latest Internet software for a living.
Let's be clear: ANY communication over HF - regardless of mode or equipment - is nostalgia. The serious carriers abandoned HF years ago.
I think Lou has it right. There is lots of great performance left in the old rigs - and some us us want to be more than just appliance operators. I can study a schematic, learn the effects of different values of resistance, capacitance, and inductance as I signal trace through a piece of gear. I can even change the original design. And as for features, when I look at my trusty Drake C line, I see:
Advanced Signal Processing
Band Stacking Registers
Memory Scan
Band Scan
Automatic Antenna Tuner
Voice and CW Keyers
All of these advanced features are possible through a sophisticated processing interface.
Its called the OPERATOR.
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by WB2WIK on February 18, 2008
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Although I don't think an FT-101 will ever be a "classic," rigs of yesteryear are useful, fun and nostalgic for sure.
A lot of them can be had very cheaply, making them perfect for newbies, youngsters with little cash, et al. The true classic boat anchors are already selling for more than they cost when they were new and aren't such great deals, except for "collectors:" The same kind of people who buy '55 T-birds and such. The value of some of these already precious items will likely continue to increase provided the goods are in perfect condition.
There are a few older rigs that actually work better for their application than anything manufactured today -- especially if you're an AM enthusiast. Nothing on the market today like a KW-1, or even a DX-100.
WB2WIK/6
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by N8ES on February 18, 2008
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Well, having cut my teeth on a Knight Kit T-150 with a Hallicrafters Receiver, I know how things can go wrong. But let's face it...they go wrong with the new rigs too. I now have some older gear, TS-820s, KWM-2A, T-150 and several Hallicrafters rcvrs., AND an Icom 756 Pro. I also like to retore old cars and have a '64 Chev. Impala SS I'm working on. I bring that up because I compare the radios to the cars. The old ones when they break down, you CAN work on them and fix them. The new ones, unless you work in the electronics field (or are gifted) are throw aways or you send them to someone for a hefty bill.
I also think the older rigs made better operator's and not just "appliance operators".
Again,just my opinion, everyone has one.73, good DX. Jim
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by KA4KOE on February 18, 2008
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New rigs do nothing for me. I had an Icom IC-756PRO which had, hands down, the worst receiver I have ever experienced. Lots of 3rd order intermod on the upper bands, ie hearing shortwave in the middle of 15 and 10m is WRONG by any standard. Also, the build construction is still reminiscent of the plastic throwaway VCR....YECK. Throwing lots of digital goodies on top of a poor receiver chain is bad bad bad.
Anything new I get will probably come from Tennessee.
Current shack???
TS-940S this is my new rig!
TS-700a
TS-600
Collins R388/51J-3
The new stuff from the big 3 just isn't there. I think Kenwood is totally out of the ham HF market. When's the last time they came out with a new HF rig????
Philip
KA4KOE
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by WA1RNE on February 18, 2008
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BoatAnchors and classic rigs shouldn't be looked upon negatively because they don't have the performance features of today's rigs. I believe that hams are drawn to them because they take you back to a different era in ham radio - one that some hams didn't get to experience because of their young age.
For me, operating an AM Boatanchors takes me back to a day when SSB was the defacto HF voice mode but it was still in wide use.
But as WB2WIK said, "There are a few older rigs that actually work better for their application than anything manufactured today -- especially if you're an AM enthusiast. Nothing on the market today like a KW-1, or even a DX-100."
I totally agree......I use a 32V3 on AM and there's nothing like it today that's DSP equipped.
One doesn't have to have a receiver with auto-notching and roofing filters to have fun on the bands.
....WA1RNE
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by KC6WGN on February 18, 2008
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Great article,some disagree and some agree. I loved boat anchor radio,lets just enjoyed the hobby of radio amateur. thanks for the article...73s
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by VE3TMT on February 18, 2008
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"While it might sound stupid, if Kenwood released this rig today with a 50 volt FET Amplifier, a DDS synthesizer and some roofing filters it would blow the pants off just about every current mega dollar radio."
Kenwood, are you listening??
I have to agree. I have always been a Kenwood fan and have had in the shack at one time or another a 520, 820, 830, and five 850's. Even the older ones are hard to surpass in receiver performance. And as other posters have mentioned, easy to work on should something head south.
Max
VE3TMT
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by WB8YYY on February 18, 2008
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Certainly it is enjoyable to own and operate a vintage rig. This includes the effort to keep the treasure healthy after restoration. I can't see the time and space to maintain too many boatanchors, but I confess to having one that I use occasionally.
To some, a 5 or 6-band boat anchor is enough ham radio. Others of us enjoy having 10 bands and better close-in rejection (when the bands are crowded with signals).
Enjoy what you have, and if its good enough then you yourself don't need to buy the present technology (or nice stuff that is 10-20 years old).
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by VE3TMT on February 18, 2008
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"The boat anchors are nice to look at and collect, but an Elecraft K3 will definitely outperform a Collins 75A4 (the dream receiver of fifty years ago)."
Do ya think??
Not that I would call a TS830 a boat-anchor, but I did have the chance to run one side by side with a 706MKIIG (ala DSP) during Field Day. Even with a narrow filter in the 706, it couldn't even come close to the 830 on 40m CW.
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by K7TEM on February 18, 2008
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Is this a joke or what. I had a TS-520 brand new in the 70's it was a weak radio then. I'm sorry but need a band switch replaced and see how neat your old radio is. I have been a ham for 45 years and like the new rigs the rx/tx are so superior to the old ones you can't compare them. My first rig was a DX-40 and a Gonset GR-212 some old junk. Tried many 75A series rigs until the A4 they were crap by todays standards. Need a dial for a 75A4 and look at $400 buck now tell me how cheap it is to keep that stuff running. Oh well just keep cranking your car and going to the outhouse. Jim
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by N6AJR on February 18, 2008
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I've lots of the old stuff, sold most of them , several swan three driftys, a couple of 101e's and 101 ee's, a collins 75-A4, some hallicrafters and hammerlund recievers , and lots of old sweep tube amps .
I did keep the ft 101 zd with external vfo, but I prefer the new stuff.
the current shack mobile is ft 857 D ( 2 of them for the cars) and an ft 847 in the truck, in th shack everything from a scout, a pegasus, to an orion and also a 746 pro and a ts 2000 .
I like the ability to use the computer to log with the radios and would be lost with out my orion/ alpha 87 A combo in contests. it makes a run dooable.
thats my bag yours may be different.
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by VE6LDS on February 18, 2008
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I got my ticket on my 51st birthday but I can remember reading the catalogs as a teenager and dreaming of the day I could afford some of that wonderful Collins gear. It turns out that Collins gear has appreciated to the point of becoming that wonder element unobtanium.
If I could afford it and had the land my dream station would be a Collins A-line along with the linear that they used to make that was built into the pedstal of a desk. My tower would be the 112 foot rotating Big Bertha and my concession to modern technology would be a stack of Steppir Monstirs on the Big Bertha and maybe an LPDA right on top for UHF/VHF.
Add my grandchildren visiting grandpa's radio station.
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by KD2E on February 18, 2008
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Well, a TS520, or 830 are older rigs, but I don't think they are boatanchors. They are old rigs, but they don't have that 'magic' about them the author eludes to.
An old TR4, or SB102, or KWM2 does have that mystique.
I also have to note that if someone had a 756Pro that was the worst receiver he ever heard, it had a problem!
Also, When it was made, the TS520 was a supurb rig. That is why the letters to follow "rig hr is SB..." soon changed to "rig hr is TS..."
Too many people missed the point of this article. Nobody said an old tube rig has all the specs of today's latest....just that smelling dust on tubes, and the ghostly orange tube glow, and vertical undamped plate current meter of an old TR4C cannot be matched by pushing the menu button, and searching for the noise blanker on an FT897D.
...Dave
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by W8KQE on February 18, 2008
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I can relate to your post! I think that if you 'came of age' in this hobby during that 'boat anchor era' (70's and prior), you probably appreciate the tube rigs of 'yesteryear', and how exciting and 'exclusive' it was to be able to work another distant station via wireless back then (to some, currently, the impact has been lost a bit because of the advent of cellphones and the net). As a 'newly minted Ham' and teenager back in the 70's, I too, remember the thrill of looking through the Heathkit, Lafayette, and Radio Shack catalogs. I probably had more fun with my first 'real rig', a Heathkit HW-16 and matching HG-10 VFO, running into attic dipoles, than i'm having now. Not to say modern rigs are not fascinating as well. I still marvel at the sight of an Icom 756 Pro3 or IC-7800 with the way-cool built-in color bandscope... 'gadget guru heaven'! I do miss adjusting the 'grid' and 'plate' levels on my old FT-101EX though! And going back even more, I can only imagine the thrill of operating some of those 1940's and 50's AM boat anchors when AM was king!
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by N2EY on February 18, 2008
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"When looking at an objective listing of receiver quality, the R390A still is very close to the top of the list. There is very little today that can beat it."
Well, that depends how you define "quality" in a receiver.
For sensitivity, dynamic range, lack of spurs, stability and maintainability, a good '390A is right up there with the best of them.
But you have a very fast tuning rate, very limited choice of selectivity options, and some other limitations. And a good 390A isn't cheap. Or small.
Perhaps the biggest limitation is that the '390A can't transceive. That's fine if you're into separate tx and rx, but if you like to contest even casually you'll get really tired of zerobeating.
73 de Jim, N2EY
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by N9DG on February 18, 2008
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KD2E: "Well, a TS520, or 830 are older rigs, but I don't think they are boatanchors. They are old rigs, but they don't have tKD2E: "Well, a TS520, or 830 are older rigs, but I don't think they are boatanchors. They are old rigs, but they don't have that 'magic' about them the author eludes to."
Actually I think this 'magic (nostalgic) age' is really a sliding window in time. The early to mid 70's gear is now coming into that 'window' as the radios from the early 50's are beginning to slide out of it. This is not a new phenomenon, nor is is unique to ham radio gear. It usually boils down to people being 30-50 years older and having financial resources enough to buy the radios (or other items) that they could only dream about when they were young. Or else a desire to 'recapture' the past and rebuild their first stations. So it is just a matter of time before these same memories of 'magic' will be applied to the gear that is available new today.
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by N2UGB on February 18, 2008
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I suspect a "classic rig" is in the mind of the beholder. Just as "beauty" is in the eye of the beholder. Suppose it depends on what you intend to do with the thing. As a very casual, non-competitve, non-dx'er, with only a hank of wire thrown out the window, my old Kenwood hybrid transceivers serve me on cw well enough. Sort of like the way they look, too.
Guess if I intended to be a 'super-station', I would have to go with something more contemporary. And not just the transceiver. Also a question of available cash, too.
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by KI4YMD on February 18, 2008
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Glowing tubes eh?
Here is an idea. Next hamfest pick up a few tubes and somehow power them on a base to provide that glowing
sensation. I would not mind doing that myself. Possible?
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Classic Rigs
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by K5BZH on February 18, 2008
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I think what most of us miss is the culture of yesteryear. Hams seemed to know more about their equipment. We built more things ourselves.
Some of the vintage radios are pretty decent, a R-390A is a fantastic receiver. It still falls behind in such things as frequency stability.
I loved being able to sit down in front of a radio I had never used and pretty well understand how to use it. Today's menu driven radios, like an Icom-7000 drive me nuts at times.
On the other today's radio walks on top of most of yesteryear's radios. They exhibit fantastic stability, the display tells you the frequency in cycles. Tuning resolution? The fantastic R-390A was 100 KC per revolution. For CW many have QSK that we only dreamed of having in the fifties.
The price of a radio today is unreal. Look at what $1000 to $1500 buys today. The radios in the fifties were rather expensive, yep, you have to equate the value of yesteryear's money too to make a comparison.
Like others, I still like playing with the old stuff, it is a lot of fun. The truth is today's radios work better. I still miss the culture.
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by N4KZ on February 18, 2008
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I've been licensed and active since 1969. Boat anchors are very nice to look at and reflect on the past. But use them? No thanks. Most modern rigs run circles around them. One exception, as already noted, was the receiver section of the Kenwood TS-830S. I had one of the first in the U.S. and its receiver was topnotch by anyone's standard then or now. A local could be parked 2 kHz away from my frequency on CW and I would never know it. Its front end was that good.
73, Dave, N4KZ
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by W5ESE on February 18, 2008
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I agree with K5BZH.
The equipment has never been better, in my experience.
Or as affordable as today.
I bought a Kenwood TS-520 in about 1977. It's list
price was $629. Using the inflation calculator at:
http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl
That translates to $2,152.11 in today's money.
What can you get for your $2,152.11 today?
o Ten-Tec Jupiter with a built-in autotuner - $1849
o Icom 746 Pro - $1749.95
o Yaesu FT-950 - $1840.00
o Kenwood TS2000X - $2099.95
o Elecraft K3 - 2,039.95
or for a bit more money, you can step up to
an Omni VII or 756 ProIII.
Would I prefer my old 5 BAND Kenwood TS520 compare
to a K3?
NO WAY!!
I enjoy my old stuff, too, but I like to keep it in
proper perspective.
I've also learned, after 31 years in the hobby,
that it's possible to have alot of fun even with
very modest equipment. So enjoy the hobby with
whatever radio graces your operating table.
73
Scott
W5ESE
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by NI0C on February 18, 2008
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KD2E wrote: "Too many people missed the point of this article. Nobody said an old tube rig has all the specs of today's latest....just that smelling dust on tubes, and the ghostly orange tube glow, and vertical undamped plate current meter of an old TR4C cannot be matched by pushing the menu button, and searching for the noise blanker on an FT897D."
It seems you are comparing apples and oranges. Pushing a menu button and searching for the noise blanker function is part of actually operating a radio, while sniffing the tube dust and going into a trance staring at the filaments is merely experiencing the ambience of the radio.
73,
Chuck NI0C
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by K7BAB on February 18, 2008
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I first got involved with electronics in 1958 when I “inherited” my father’s Heathkit “Hi-Fi;” a W-5M, WP-2, FM -1 and a 12” RCA speaker on a baffle board when he bought a Scott 299 amp and 330C tuner. I would never want to go back to those days again. Digital audio and CD’s beat the pants off studio Ampex’s I recall running half-inch tape at 15 IPS! This is progress!
My father had a Collins’ “S” Line (32s3 and 75s3 w/ 200 KC filter), nothing better in its day! I run a beat up second-hand Kenwood TS-430s that I am utterly fascinated with, and it runs rings around the S Line; not too shabby for a rig put in service in 1985. I have the service manual and have had it apart numerous times just to “look around” or make some adjustments and take some readings.
My first computer was an IBM XT (640KB RAM, CGA graphics and a 20MB HDD) that I found in the trash room of my building. Was I intimidated? You bet! But I got all the computer books I could from the library and read them on the train to and from work and even in the bathroom at work until I got an idea of what I was doing. I was fascinated by it, never even being near a computer! I see XT’s in old movies and remember mine – but would never want to go back to using one.
There are certain aspects of the new rigs that are intimidating, as I am sure those new-fangled audions were to my grandfather’s generation, and SSB was to my father’s generation. As I recall, hams that did a lot of their own repairs had a home shop with a ‘scope, VTVM, signal generator, frequency meter (probably a BC 221) and a lot of home brew gadgets that helped them.
Just because a rig has tubes does not mean that it is any easier to fix. Try to track down an intermittent capacitor or a carbonized switch or tube socket! Tubes begin to deteriorate early into their service life and drift out of alignment; even changing a tube in a critical circuit could require an alignment touch up.
I really enjoy talking with the “old timers” and reminiscing about vintage gear; be it ham, Hi-Fi or just stuff in general – a lot of my friends are retired tech people.
As someone previously intimated, the nostalgia is for the camaraderie that the much smaller ham community had decades ago and not necessarily for the equipment of that era.
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by W7ETA on February 18, 2008
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"In my opinion, today's transceivers are far more sophisticated and compact but somewhere along the way they have lost that romance and look."
Guess if you don't like the glow of hollow state, then you shouldn't be buying anything that glows in the dark.
That is what is nice about ham radio, so many different ways to have FUN while playin radio.
Whenever I turn on my C-line, I smile. But, if I'm chasing a DXpedetion, I want something with point and shoot.
So, I have both types of rigs and have FUN with both types.
73
Bob
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by W6TH on February 18, 2008
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.
I must admit these new rice boxes are much better for quick and dirty operation, but never missed a single day that I did not have more fun and enjoyment from the use of my Armstrong regenerative receiver.
P.S. Armstrong regenerative receiver, never used mobile, one advantage for the new rice boxes.
.:
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by AC7DX on February 18, 2008
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I fondly remember my first rig at the age of 14, Heathkit AT1 and Hallicrafters S-40B. then the Viking Ranger, SX111, Halicrafter HT37,,BC610 and R390 and a 3 curtin Rombic. Miss those days every now and then. The lights and the smell :-) Times change and happy to have been there and now.
73
Ron
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by WB2WIK on February 18, 2008
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Funny how different stuff appeals to different people.
I like some old stuff. The 75A4 does a good job and is quite versatile without being terribly heavy or large. In fact, for a 50+ year-old design, it barely sips power: 85W total power consumption from the AC line, less than 1 Arms. Hell of a receiver for a piece of gear consuming less power than my bedside lamp.
An R390A, on the other hand, is much heavier, doesn't include a product detector, and is a real pain to tune around with. I never liked the R390A at all -- in fact, I sold a "mint" condition one a few years back and don't miss it in the slightest.
I'd take a 75A4 over an R390A for amateur operation in a split second -- no comparison.
Of course, then, the 75A is not general-coverage...which I don't care about at all.
Different strokes, I guess...
WB2WIK/6
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by W9PMZ on February 18, 2008
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"I must admit these new rice boxes are much better for quick and dirty operation, but never missed a single day that I did not have more fun and enjoyment from the use of my Armstrong regenerative receiver."
I thought you would have missed your rotary spark gap transmitter..........
73,
Carl - W9PMZ
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by RADIOROY on February 18, 2008
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I just acquired an old ft 101b, and its fun to play around with. I do get very good audio reports from it too. But when serious ,I use my old ts 430 (have two of them) and love them to death. I love to ragchew, so I do not need the greatest and latest. Besides, I have a lot less invested than most. Still having fun!!!!!!!!
73 de W5ROY master control for eastern new mexico storm spotters.
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by W4LGH on February 18, 2008
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Well I think everyone on here knows how I feel about Vintage equipment! Now I am not saying its all great stuff. Just like the new stuff, there was a lot of junk made in the yester-years. However that were some serious equipment made as well.
My personal favorite is Drake equipment. Collins is also a big favorite of many, and a lot of the old Heathkit stuff holds a lot of hearts near and dear.
I have always said that an old Heathkit SB-200 is one of the best buys out there. Simple design, and they will run forever, if taken care of. The SB-220 is also a good buy, but not the deal you can find 200's for.
There are many other brands that keep peoples attention as well, way to many to list. I run my Drake 4B line on a daily basis, and still have a blast when working DX.
If you haven't tried some the vintage equipment, you really need to look into it. Some nice stuff can be had for very little money, and as its been said over and over, nothing like the smell of the tubes, and the glow factor is nice too! Especially in a dim lit shack!!
73 de W4LGH - Alan
http://www.w4lgh.com
PS: Still have the SPG Vintage net on Sunday's..come join it! More info on my website!
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by N7YA on February 18, 2008
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I have an oldER rig, the FT757gx from the mid 80's...not exactly a boat anchor, but certainly not new. The Rx leaves a little to be desired, the rejection is rough even with all filters going, but its a tough old workhorse, i put it through hell during contests and pileups...no amp, i have a decent tuner, it does great for me, but i would really like a new rig.
I have been looking at the K3 and really like it, I also hear great things about the PROIII, some of them in this thread...and of course, i would love to find one of those Big Gun superstation 5-figure rigs in my shack, but my record sales havent been THAT good! I started on an old Galaxy V tube rig back in 83, it was a boat anchor in every sense...and like everyone else here describes about old rigs, it had serious punch, but bad isolation on frequency, the Rx was ok but thats about it, 5 bands and had a real harmonic issue.
To be honest, i enjoyed using that old rig, it was what i cut my DX teeth with. But i prefer modern rigs, they do so much more due to lessons learned over the last 100 years of building and designing radios.
And i would like to address this "appliance operator" nonsense...if old rigs were "real ham radio", and having a new rig makes one an "appliance operator"...doesnt that sound a little insecure? maybe waxing too nostalgic? Perhaps you havent sat down in front of one of these huge super-modern rigs yet, i bet you would be grabbing to manual just to find what many of these buttons, bells and whistles do. You have to orchestrate your actions to make it do various functions...but there are very few functions that it cant do. Talk about simple, my old Galaxy had maybe 8 knobs on it total...Granted, boatanchors require contant babysitting and care to operate efficiently, and those who love them are willing to do this nightly, but please dont talk down to people who would prefer modern rigs...a rig is a rig, it serves one basic purpose, to talk to other rigs...and that other rig can be a boat anchor and i would be just as happy. I also wouldnt judge the other guy for his choice of rig considering how unimportant it really is. You like what you like. The log entry is more my concern.
The key to making ANY rig perform better is not the rig, but the operator...your skill on the air, and command of the gear is what determines a good ham...some guitar players like brand new guitars, other guys prefer the pre-CBS Fender Strats, its all preference, the player is what will make it sound good, the instrument is there to provide the tones and features the user needs to do the particular thing they like to do, and these devices are selected by the individual for that reason, you go get what you need to do what you need it to do. And like old rigs, old guitars, old guns, old cars...all have a charm, appeal and value that you likely wont find in new stuff, but it also comes with its limitations and problems. Simply writing off another fully licensed ham (who is a good guy and doesnt abuse his privileges)just for the gear he uses, or the license class he has, or where he's from, etc...is an act of futility and exposure of ones own personal insecurities and maybe even loneliness. If anything, its just not accurate or cool, it doesnt make friends, and if you became a ham to make friends and have fun playing with radios....then what happened along the way?
Any rig you want to use on the air is great, i love the look and feel of the old boatanchors, but i like the performance and features of modern rigs a little bit more...im a good ham, i never QRM a frequency, i always check to see if the spot is clear before calling CQ, i do all the right things that i signed on the dotted line promising to uphold...im a good man, i suspect many of you are too, ive met a couple of you personally or on the air and can say that with confidence. This is the true importance, your rig choice is not. as long as you keep it clean and operating efficiently, enjoy.
To summarize, You may hear me with a new K3 one of these days...give me a call, i will promise you a good qso.
73...Adam, N7YA
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by ONAIR on February 18, 2008
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There was something about the warmth and simplicity of those old tube rigs. I remember staying up late into the wee hours of the mornings just watching those tubes glow, and trying to fish a distant signal out of the noise, while hoping they'd hear my reply. Back in the 60s, tubes were king and the catalogues were filled with page after page of these awesome looking radios, some just a chasis with no cover! Todays radios far surpass those old rigs on performance, but sometimes using just a simple radio can be far more thrilling than playing with a modern rig that is about as simple to operate as a cell phone.
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by WD9FUM on February 18, 2008
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I still have my first receiver, a Hallicrafters S-40. I also have the Drake Twins that were just a dream when I was a kid. There is truly a touch of magic in those 'hollow state' radios. While they do have their quirks, they're a lot of fun to operate. They also keep the shack warm!
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by VE1IDX on February 18, 2008
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I love my Kenwood TS-820S. I picked it up two years ago at a hamfest. It was in mint condx as was the VFO-820 and MC-50 that came with it.No dust inside and it had the factory original 2001A tubes that still put out full power.I managed to pick up a mint AT-200 and a mint SP-820 for it also.I really enjoy using it on the air.It has MUCH better filters than my FT-857.On a crowded band it shines. I always get great audio reports from it.I wanted one since they first came out and finally got a great rig after 28 years of waiting.The new rigs may have a lot to offer but the TS-820S has something they can NEVER offer. Class.
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by K7PEH on February 18, 2008
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I am in the process of cleaning the cobwebs out of my Hammarlund HQ-170A that I bought two years ago and for two years it has been sitting in the garage. I owned an HQ-170AC back in 1965 to 1968 and I sold it for tuition money needed for my junior year in college (I had already been off the air for almost two years so this was not a big sacrafice).
But, there is no way I would trade my current Pro III or any other modern rig for the likes of something that is almost 50 years old. Buying the HQ-170A was a pure nostalgia thing and nothing more.
Back when I was a senior in high school my mom bought herself a new car, a 1965 Pontiac GTO with the 3 two-barrel carbs and the big 389 engine. So, the summer before college, I got to drive around in a hot car (red with a black top). And, this is the car that my little sister had going through high-school.
So, a few years ago, my sister had an opportunity to buy herself a totally restored 1965 GTO just like the one we had back in 1965. It cost her $12,000 which was a bit more then the original price of $3300. It was really funny when she brought it by to show it to me when she said that it only had AM radio and it wasn't very good (but, it was absolutely stock). Also, it did not have air conditioning which was a luxury option back in those days.
After driving it around her home town of Lake Havasu, Arizona, she chose to sell it. It did not drive very well, the gas it took was hard to get, and it did not have FM radio let alone a CD player, and it most importantly did not have air conditioning to deal with the 120 degree summer days. She did make a nice profit, I think she sold it to someone in LA for about $16,000.
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by WB0CJB on February 18, 2008
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I have a TS520S with matching VFO, speaker, and the DG-5 digital display.I also have a Drake TR-4C with matching VFO, MS4/AC4 (with the upgraded power supply board) and am in the process of refurbishing a Heathkit HW-100.Why do I have so many old radios??I mainly use the 520S but use the TR-4C occasionally.I love the glow of the TR-4C and find its audio quality to be better and the receiver better than the 520S though I'm sure the 520S could use a good alignment.All 3 radios are virtually bare bones as far as features go and does not require the op to commit to memory where a certain feature is on which screen or cause them to search for a certain button on the front panel.
My biggest opposition to todays radios? Yes they are smaller, lighter, and have more features but what do you have if the display goes out???A very expensive and worthless box of parts until you spend the bucks sending it to a repair facility.The surface mount devices are so small and difficult to work on that most hams who have little or no SMT experience or tools can't work on them.And with the no lead solder SMT soldering is a royal pain in the caboose.
I prefer the mechanical dials of the older radios.Yeah they may not be as accurate but how many times does one hang around on the last 1 kHz of a particular band???The older radios are much more forgiving of a high SWR with their Pi networks and use of the 6146 workhorse.
Yeah I may be crazy for hanging on to my old gear but when one of them quits and cannot be repaired I still have another radio that works just fine for me.I don't have to justify spending $2000 or more to the XYL either.
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by K3JVB on February 19, 2008
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Well...
I figure why not have both? I use an Ft-990 for Hf and chasing dx. But I also use A swan Station complete for HF and VHf. Always liked the tubes, always will.
Will it compete toe to toe with the newer solid state stuff...in a word NO
But the older era station has a place in ham radio.
If nothing else..just to see how far we have come.
My Swan 500cx and the Mk-2 amp will still break a pile up on 20...but for contest work, it is a much tougher proposition. But it a great rag chew rig. And , for the most part, that is how I now use it.
Yes...just like looking at a '63 Stingray. They still look great. Drive it every day?? Maybe not !
73
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by K1CJS on February 19, 2008
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To each their own. It isn't a matter of right or wrong, nor is it a matter of better or worse. There is just something about operating that the modern rigs take away from. Can't hear clearly? Throw a switch!
The older rigs were more of a challenge to work with--trying to use the rig controls to sort the signals out of the noise instead of just letting the 'automatics' of modern rigs do it. When you used the older ones and made a contact like that, you came away with more of a feeling of accomplishment than you using todays rigs.
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by KG8JF on February 19, 2008
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Wow, this has turned out to be a very interesting thread. I was first licensed back in the late 50s, 57, I think. My Dad and I were hams together. We had a Viking Valiant along with an NC-300. What a set up that was. The VFO in the Valiant was pretty drifty and the designers must had stock in 6146s. There was five of these babies in the rig. And, the NC-300 was a grear receiver. This was right at the beginning days of Single Sideband and there was quite a controversy between AM folks and the SSB Donald Duckers. THe AM receivers were just not ready for SSB and people sounded like Donald Duck. "Not quite ready for prime time", as they would say today. I cannot even remember the antenna we used.....
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by K3EY on February 19, 2008
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The people who make the comment: What about if the screen goes out on your $3000 plastic box? You have to send it for repair.
Let me ask you __do you go to the doctor when you get a severe chest pain? Or do you let the wife take a peek?
Do you eat right exercise and live a calm moderate life taking as good of care of yourself as these radios you bought? That radio will probably last 150 years when in reality you are not going to come close in the duration.
If you want to drive a model T because it's romantic, go ahead. If you want to buy old junk believing it's somehow better and more fun to operate---great.
Lets not forget about ourselves and what is really important---like your very soul which last forever unlike any radio past or future made. That soul of yours has a destination, like it or not, believe it or not. Depending on you and you alone determines your soul’s destination. Are you thinking more about that radio and it’s duration and health or your own eternal soul....it's scary when reading some of these remarks and knowing the answer.
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by WC0V on February 19, 2008
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Licensed in 1958, first receiver was Knight Ocean Hopper, 3 tube regen. first REAL reciever, Hallicrafters S-38D. If you thought Swans drifted, you should try the S-38D. Saw one at a hamfest in the late 90s and was reaching for my wallet for a nostalgia buy when I remembered what a bad rig it was. Left my wallet untouched.
Dream rig early on: Collins KWM2A. used one when I was in USAF and member of AF MARS. Would buy one today except 1) very expensive, and 2) nasty to tune. "Advance the mic gain control until you see an indication of grid current." that means when your hand is within 0.05 inches of the mic gain knob, the grid current meter needle crashes against the stop!
Last classic rig, 775DSP - best receiver I have ever owned to that point. Current rig, Flexradio SDR1000. Can't imagine going back to the old days. It would seem like operating blindfolded.
73, Carl WC0V
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by G3LBS on February 19, 2008
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I don't get so much fun out of ham radio unless there's something wrong with the rig. It's better to travel hopefully than to arrive.
For me my policy is continuous improvement so sometimes I have to start from something simple like me or a boat anchor.
W2/G3LBS
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by KF4HR on February 19, 2008
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I'd like to think we all can take these postings with a grain of salt, but perhaps a few people can't. Reference the display issue; obviously someone missed the point.
Many problems with older gear can be fixed by its owner; swap a tube, fix a string on a slider display, replace a tube socket, replace the aging capacitors, do a simple alignment. Of course that's not the case with most modern gear. Owners of modern gear are typically at the mercy of a technician with the proper expertise, and rightfully so! Technology continues to moved on, and unfortunately (at least for the most part) amateur knowledge, skills, and repair procedures, haven't kept up - nor do most of us own or have access to the specialized test and repair equipment required. That's not to say anything is wrong with new radio gear, but to open eyes, there are advantages and disadvantages to both sides of this coin.
One might draw a parallel between operation vintage radio's to owning and driving a vintage sport car. Are vintage sports cars as good as the new sports cars? No way, not by a long shot! Then again, I sure wouldn't mind owning a '67 big block Corvette, regardless of its flaws. But obviously owning such a vintage car certainly wouldn't appeal to everyone.
Bottom line. New, old, or both; own and operate the gear you enjoy, and perhaps stop worrying so much about making your opinion, everyone else's.
KF4HR
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by K3EY on February 19, 2008
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Mail this to a friend!
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KF4HR
With all due respect sir your very words show your total lack of understanding as to my point.
People worry about "things"---in this genre---radios old and new---if you really read this stuff posted you can see where the heart/soul lies.
Take it for what it is----a hell of a lot more than you can fathom, obviously.
I am done responding--- flame away if desired-- I give you no ammunition.
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Classic Rigs
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by W4VR on February 19, 2008
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Mail this to a friend!
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I've owned those old radios, when they were in their prime. I would not trade my modern-day equipment for those antiques. But, there is nothing wrong with people who enjoy collecting antiques, whether it be furniture, cars, radios or whatever.
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by NI0C on February 19, 2008
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Mail this to a friend!
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Regarding the question of repairability of current radios, I think that's more of an issue with the imported stuff.
Since I assembled my Elecraft K2 myself, and have access to the online reflector for help if I need it, I feel pretty confident in my ability to repair it.
Although I've never used their repair services, I've also heard great things about Ten Tec service.
73,
Chuck NI0C
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Classic Rigs
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by KM5Z on February 19, 2008
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Mail this to a friend!
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Heh - I've been a ham for only 3 years and I'm
hooked on them all. I really like my FT-897D, but
I also enjoy tubes. I bought an HW-101 from our
local club and I've really enjoyed applying the
collected audio and stability mods to it. Nothing
like the glow of the tubes.
73
Mike Yancey
KM5Z
Dallas, Texas
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Classic Rigs
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by N0AH on February 19, 2008
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Mail this to a friend!
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At the time it was rolled out, no radio before or after had the impact of the Kenwood TS-940.
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RE: Classic Rigs
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by N2EY on February 19, 2008
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Mail this to a friend!
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K3EY writes: "Let me ask you __do you go to the doctor when you get a severe chest pain? Or do you let the wife take a peek?"
Well, if you're married to a cardiologist....
Point is, a severe chest pain could be life-and-death, but a failed ham rig isn't. So the chest pain gets the resources, while the ham rig has to wait.
K3EY: "Do you eat right exercise and live a calm moderate life taking as good of care of yourself as these radios you bought?"
I take better care of myself than I do my rigs. I live as "calm moderate" a life as possible under the circumstances.
Part of living that life is having a stress-reduction program, which includes ham radio. The man-cave (I mean, ham shack) is an important part of that.
K3EY: "That radio will probably last 150 years when in reality you are not going to come close in the duration."
Actually, that's probably not true unless you pack up the rig in a controlled environment and don't use it. Even then, some components will go bad simply from age.
One of the big pluses of many older rigs is that a ham with a little know-how, test gear and spare parts can keep them going indefinitely. That's not true of many newer rigs. Even if you have the $$ to send a newer rig away for repair, you lose the use of the rig for the time it's away, which can be weeks or months. And in some cases not only are the parts no longer made, but there are no practical substitutes. Custom displays and chips are one example.
K3EY: "If you want to drive a model T because it's romantic, go ahead."
There are actually hams on-the-air with rigs of Model T vintage, but most of what's being discussed here is much more recent. More like 1950s-1960s-1970s. A Collins S-line or Drake 4-line aren't Model T by any stretch of the imagination.
K3EY: "If you want to buy old junk believing it's somehow better and more fun to operate---great."
What do you consider "old junk"? Just being old does not make a rig "junk".
And which rig is "better" depends on what kind of operating you intend to do.
K3EY: "Lets not forget about ourselves and what is really important"
I agree! We should all care for that which cannot be replaced. That includes having things which make the quality of our lives better.
For a lot of hams, having a rig they understand, that they like to use, which they can fix and modify and enjoy is more important than having the latest "state of the art" rig. And for other hams, the reverse is true. As long as the rig meets FCC requirements and the ham doesn't spend the rent money on it, who cares?
K3EY: "---like your very soul which last forever unlike any radio past or future made. That soul of yours has a destination, like it or not, believe it or not. Depending on you and you alone determines your soul’s destination. Are you thinking more about that radio and it’s duration and health or your own eternal soul....it's scary when reading some of these remarks and knowing the answer."
What, exactly, do you mean? Will someone go to the bad place for using the "wrong" rig?
73 de Jim, N2EY
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