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Reviews For: Collins Radio

Category: Amateur Radio Equipment Repair

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Review Summary For : Collins Radio
Reviews: 96MSRP:
Description:
For all your Collins repair and restoration needs, please contact me.

My speciality is the S-Line and KWM-2 equipment. Collins parts on stock, both new and used - please inquire on availability or from other sources. I know that many of you are new to Collins so if I can assist you, please feel free to call me at (814) 487-4403.

Also, allow me to assist you in buying or selling your Collins.

We are located near Johnstown, Pennsylvania, 70 miles east of Pittsburgh. Visitors to the Collins Radio Center are always welcome Drop off your Collins for repair/restoration if you wish.

Thank you - David Knepper, W3ST/W3CRA, editor of the Collins Journal and secretary to the CRA.

Join the largest Collins organization in the world today at www collinsra.com. Our email address is collinsradio@comcast.net

Product is in production
More Info: http://collinsra.org/home/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00965
N4EWW Rating: 2010-06-03
Collins Radio Repair - David Knepper Time Owned: more than 12 months.
WOW! I have a KWM-2 which quit working 15+ years ago and I had a couple of repair men to attempt to fix the problem....No luck. So I stored the rig on a shelf as a momento.
I found David by reading the reviews in this forum. After a few phone calls I realized this man is genuine. So I shipped my prized but very badly broken KWM-2 to him. I was prepared for another failed attempt to repair the unit. David was genuinely interested in repairing my unit. After a couple of weeks and a couple of calls to see if I wanted him the fix other problems he found in the unit, David called and proudly announced he had the KWM-2 repaired and it is a JEWEL.
I recieved the KWM-2 a few days ago and it works perfectly, it is a beautifuly restored unit and I am at peace having my prized KWM-2 back in service at my shack.

Thank You, David Knepper, your workman ship and dedication to perfection is AWESOME!!!!!
Terry Stewart - N4EWW
W4TCC Rating: 2010-04-28
kwm2 works perfectly great. thanks to david Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I sent David a KWM2A for repair. As it turned out it was almost a basket case. David repaired it and now it is as new. If you have Collins equipment in need of repair you can't go wrong in choosing David to to the work. He is amazing. richard
W3ST Rating: 2010-04-26
Expert Collins Technician Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Review from Richard D.Moore W4TCC.

DAVID KNEPPER IS A HAMS HAM. ONE OF THE NICEST GUYS YOU WILL EVER DEAL WITH. HE IS AN EXPERT AT REPAIRING MOST OF THE COLLINS EQUIPMET AND THE PRICE IS ALWAYS RIGHT. THANKS DAVID FOR YOUR HELP IN MY TIME OF NEED
WA4QKV Rating: 2010-04-18
really knows the collins radios! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought a 1958 S Line station and the 75s1 was a basket case!Dr Dave w3st up there in four feet of snow reworked alligned recapped and rebuilt the pto and sent me back a very capable reciever for everyday use!Dave does excellent repair work!Not many like him around any more!
N8OXC Rating: 2010-04-13
Great resource Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Dr. Knepper agreed to help me get my 75s1 back into shape. It was an "ebay" find that wasn't quite as advertised. It had multiple issues and needed parts that I couldn't locate. Dave has brought this one back! I didn't recognize it when I got it back! Looks awesome and everything just works! He's also been an excellent resource for assisting me in building my S line station.
WD4DMZ Rating: 2010-04-07
The reviewers are right about Dave! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Last November I purchased a KWM-2A that was supposed to be working properly. Unfortunately it came with more than a few issues.

Dave, as advertised, worked through the problems and returned the radio in fine working order and with a greatly improved appearance. And, his hourly rate is very affordable.

Today the radio took its permanent place in my shack.

Rich
KB1SIC Rating: 2010-02-23
a great guy! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The reason I got into amateur radio was because of all the nice people.Dr.Dave is one of the nicest people I have ever met.When he returned my KLM-2 to me it was like a brand new unit.Great communications and willing to answer any and all questions.A true credit to the radio community.Thank you so much.Your friend,John KB1SIC
K3VYY Rating: 2009-11-09
Great workmanship! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had emailed Dave, because my KWM-2A had a balanced modulator problem. He invited me to come by on a Saturday, because I only live about a two hour drive from his QTH. Dave took the rig out of the case, found a broken screw on a tube socket, replaced it. Tightened up everything, lubed the switches,and cleaned the rig up with his "super secret Ethiopian wax". Then he found a bad diode in the balance modulator, and replaced that. Gave it a quick alignment, and fully checked the rig out. Even showed me how to tell when it was manufactured. With all this work, we still had time for a great conversation, and I got to see the Collins Radio Center as well. It was a great day, and I think I have found a new friend. I'm also joing the CRA. Thanks Dave!
W3CRA Rating: 2009-11-03
Great Service Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Dave Knepper received my 75A-3 as an intact collection of ruined parts, promoted as a receiver that worked 'good' when last plugged in. It was immediately apparent to Dave and myself that I'd been had. Not to throw good money after bad, I decided to have Dave repair the radio as I used to operate that model in the Marine Corps back in the 50's on CW.
Needless to say Dave didn't want to waste the time to rebuild it as it was a mess, but he felt so sorry for my being deceived and out almost $400 dollars plus shipping, he decided to bring it into an operational state.
In the end Dave had to rewind coils, rebuild dial drums and replace a lot of tubes and parts--much against his better judgement. He did a magnificent job and repacked it for shipping in a way that was safe for the gear.
I know I could never find another person of Dave's expertise and experience willing to take on such a basket case and mess. My thanks to him for his honesty, hard work and character in the bringing back to life of what is now my cherished Collins reveiver.
As proof of Dave's hard work, I must tell you that on a Tuesday while waiting to sign on my local CW net, the background QRN sounded like I was standing under a waterfall
(at S3+) with no signals noticeable, except for a very faint CW signal coming in at about ten words per minute, but much out of phase.
I moved the dial to get the signal as solidly as I could and then turned on my FT-450 to see what the exact frequency was, and much to my surprised after ten minutes of hunting, I realized that the Collins had picked a signal out of the murk that the state-of-the-art solid state receiver couldn't find.
Thanks Dave for a job much appreciated and well done. I'm indebted to your kindness forever--
Much thanks, Bill Pohlmann WB6SIK.'
WA4FJQ Rating: 2009-09-14
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Dave repaired/restored an out of service for twenty years S Line set, working on it for several months and essentially returning it to "like new" status. While I haven't had a chance to fire up the rig yet (no antenna), from the appearence of the receiver, transmitter and amplifier I have no doubt they will perform as well as they look.
Dave is very detail oriented and precise and his work shows this.
I recommend him unconditionally!

He's also a really nice guy....

Tom White, WA4FJQ