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Author Topic: what makes a boat anchor?  (Read 563 times)

LNXAUTHOR

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what makes a boat anchor?
« on: February 10, 2023, 02:45:14 PM »

tried searching but no definitive answer here to the question:

What makes a boat anchor?

i have thinned the herd over the last several years of R75s, SGC SG-2020s, ICOM 703s, RS 394, Lowe 225, Europa, TS-570D, my Ten Tecs (Argo V, VI, Jupite)r, FT-857, 897 and so on...

i now use more modern rigs w/waterfalls, SDR, etc.

my personal criteria is that a rig is a boat anchor when 1) the manufacturer goes out of business 2) the rig is discontinued with no parts availability and 3) when LIDs try charging outrageous prices for used gear
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KL7JT

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Re: what makes a boat anchor?
« Reply #1 on: February 10, 2023, 02:54:26 PM »

Perhaps lift an E.F. Johnson Viking II Xmtr to gain further insight. 73
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W7CXC

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Re: what makes a boat anchor?
« Reply #2 on: February 10, 2023, 02:58:42 PM »

Or a HT32b   ;)
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K7LZR

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Re: what makes a boat anchor?
« Reply #3 on: February 10, 2023, 03:06:46 PM »

Or a Heath DX-100.....
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K1VSK

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Re: what makes a boat anchor?
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2023, 03:16:32 PM »

Another clue is if there is a digital readout anywhere. Or no tubes.
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KF6QEX

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Re: what makes a boat anchor?
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2023, 03:34:17 PM »

Quote
my personal criteria is that a rig is a boat anchor when 1) the manufacturer goes out of business 2) the rig is discontinued with no parts availability and 3) when LIDs try charging outrageous prices for used gear

None of the above :)

You'll know what it is when you try to lift one.
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sdrawkcab daer tseb si txet sihT

WW5F

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Re: what makes a boat anchor?
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2023, 04:38:17 PM »

To me, if it doesn't have a USB "B female" interface on the back of it, it's a boat anchor.
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W6SDW

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Re: what makes a boat anchor?
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2023, 05:15:51 PM »


 My "baseline"... anything heavier than a Central Electronics 100V...

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KE0ZU

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Re: what makes a boat anchor?
« Reply #8 on: February 10, 2023, 06:40:32 PM »

I don't think you'll find a "definitive answer anywhere, but for me it must have tubes, a Big cabinet, cannot be a "rice burner" and generally have been built during the 70's or earlier.
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Regards, Mike
https://mikeharrison.smugmug.com/
Pics and bold print are usually links.

K6AER

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Re: what makes a boat anchor?
« Reply #9 on: February 10, 2023, 07:33:18 PM »

Anything you can't sell on QTH.com.

Any thing that requires warm up.

Anything thing you can repair yourself.
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N8NK

  • Posts: 179
    • N8NK QRP
Re: what makes a boat anchor?
« Reply #10 on: February 10, 2023, 10:26:45 PM »

If the damn thing consumes 125 watts to generate my one-watt QRP CW signal (my SB-101) it MUST be a boat anchor.
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N8NK

  • Posts: 179
    • N8NK QRP
Re: what makes a boat anchor?
« Reply #11 on: February 10, 2023, 10:33:09 PM »

Dear Sir:
Peer inside in a dark room...
Is she all light up with little red dots that kinda looks like a starry sky at night? Uh huh...
and does she smell like hot dust when your nose ventures near the back or the top openings?
I see.
When you do that- smell inside- does it snap you back to your teenage (or younger) years with mom and dad's TV?
If so, I do believe you have a boat anchor there, son. Be careful- she's a beaut. A real looker.. and she's worth more than gold to old buzzards like myself  :)
Chuck, N8NK (sometimes called Blowzo the Humble Ham on the YouTubes)
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WA2CWA

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    • ManualMan
Re: what makes a boat anchor?
« Reply #12 on: February 10, 2023, 11:57:21 PM »

Good quality steel makes a great boat anchor:



In the world of radio, there is the term
"boatanchor" which is obviously different then a "boat anchor".

Pete, wa2cwa
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G3RZP

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Re: what makes a boat anchor?
« Reply #13 on: February 11, 2023, 01:33:56 AM »

Surely something as big as a Collins KW1 is a "ship'sanchor"? Even an RCA ET4336 counts as that...
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W3SLK

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Re: what makes a boat anchor?
« Reply #14 on: February 11, 2023, 06:54:49 AM »

I have an assortment of the previous 'boatanchors' mentioned. I don't have a KW1 but I do have an ET4336F(that right now requires a modulation transformer). My definition of a boatanchor is that if you imagine a tornado strikes your house and the radio that hasn't moved from its location could probably be a good candidate! ;)
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