It seems some folks think you need DSP and CPU driven radios to talk to another station.  It's not true. 

A good older, proven history model HF rig can be had for $300-400.  Someone mentioned the TS-130, not a fancy rig but in that scope.  A few tools and a soldering iron will build a good antenna.  Spend a few bucks on a device to measure the SWR of the homebuilt aerial and get on the air. 

Buying from a reliable source, like from another ham, on a ham site, makes your chance of getting a decent radio better. 

http://www.cbcintl.com/pllbook.htm

Perhaps this has your info? 

(I'm not affiliated in any way with anyone that's even read this book)

I am in the market for my first key.  Just something basic to practice sending off air, with the potential of use at some point. 

When first licensed, I was the evil No-code tech.  Then a Tech+ (yep, some of us actually learned the code back then).   I used a borrowed straight key and sent some terrible code to a patient elmer that offered lots of encouragement. 

Well here I am for round two.  The ultra-evil no code Extra.  I even applied for a Vanity call sign!

It is again time to get back to CW.  The simple gear, tiny BW, and pure challenge are too attractive to exclude. 

A straight key would be the best to learn on and the simplicity is ideal.  My issue is the value versus quality.  There are $6 units sold online, odds say you end up with six bucks of nothing.  There are also straight keys for big dollars.  Is there a reasonable compromise in price versus performance?  Can a decent straight key be had for $50? 

 

TGG,

Don't talk yourself out of HF.  My first antenna at this house was a 300' twin resonant dipole on 20m hanging between a tree and my deck probably ~25' up.  I borrowed a SWR meter to tune it.  Used radios are all over for $300.  PSK is a great time and easy learn.  They only thing you need is a PC for your shack.  

If you can build you antennas, a little wire and some plastic parts can get you world wide.  Adding a tuner is all that will be needed.  I can tell you from experience you don't need 1.5kW to rag chew, and a soldering iron can save you a lot of money.  

Right after you get your General ticket head straight to Extra.  

Be careful with those TS-120s.  If it has a receive issue there is a transformer that is no longer available.  A spike in the receive side will ruin this part.  It's failure is reasonably common.  The TS-130 or TS-140 rigs are great.  You seldom see them as Tech specials.

Amplifier output is probably the same.  The current going in will be halved on 220VAC, so the wire can be smaller, and cheaper.

"I can prove it every day up here at 6,3400 feet"

Air a tad thin?  

It's been my history that preamps are only useful on directional antennas, and are used to drive the feedline on receive.

I was thinking about this today.  I am wondering if you can get the PLC to do the calculations itself.  It would take some work but it could be done.  Pick a satellite, the PLC knows the date and time, and it could track from either a preprogrammed set of tables of actually od the math on the fly.  The best thing you could do for yourself is figure out how to provide some form of feedback.  Either a zero pulse and a series of pulses or a pot and analog card (at $800 for the card, probably not a great idea).  

This is doable, just going to take some time.

If you have an idea of how the data from the PC is going to be packaged, I can probably help you.  The trick is going to be picking the important pieces of data out of everything else.  Once that is done, the rest is easy.

My antenna recently came down due to a huge snow fall.  As a temporary antenna, I used 300 ohm twin lead and built a folded 20m dipole fed with 32' of the same stuff. I attached it to the railing on my deck 15' up.  It tunes up well on both 20m and 40m and it working surprisingly well.

I have been 'listening' and copying PSK for a few days now.  Netbook connected to my TS-140 through a PIEXX interface and homemade cables.  I can transmit, but I am not sure if things are adjusted properly to produce the best signal.  While I do see a distinct 'red trace' in the middle of my signal I' not sure if I am splattering all over as it seems wider than it should be.

I'll second the '80 2m gear.  It's dirt cheap especially without tones.  50w rigs gor for less than $50, so your $100 budget will get you a used rig, chunk of coax, and antenna.  

Back in the '90s I realigned a couple 50W GE commercial rigs for repeater use.  The process was pretty simple and they worked pretty well once tuned.

I am in the process of building a completely new station.  I have a dual band HT and homebuilt antennas, a beatup but now repaired 2m mobile (no tones so packet use). My TS-140 should be in this week. Older 20A PS, new netbook dedicated for ham shack use, and old PK-88 that needs PC software, SWR/watt meters, and some basic test gear (Multimeter, RF probe, RF sig generator).  In the process of building a multiband dipole. Grounding system is in place, and home made window feed through setup is done.  For digital modes, what is missing?  Homebrew is a preferred option, for the economics and challenge.  No idea about logging software, so certainly that is on the list.  

A mixed library of older ham books, and '09 HB and '10 antenna, so that area is covered.  

Thanks.

I've seen lots of good used radios for $200-300. Not super-duper, feature packed do alls, but solid state workhorse rigs.  

$100 or so should get you into a power supply.  

$50 worth of coax and $20 worth of wire you can build a multiband dipole, or half of that will build you a single band.  

With a SWR meter you can tune it and skip the autotuner all together.  

If you don't have a computer (I suspect you do as a bright 11 year old kid) you might look into a used or free one.  

Talk to some of your local Hams, I'm sure they'd be willing to help a new guy. Good luck on your General test.  You have a bright future in amateur radio.

I built one of these, it works fine without the oil, just keep the power down. Ok all the way to 2m, but not good on 70cm.

http://k4eaa.com/dummy.html