In the 1950s, the Heathkit AT-1 and AR-3 were pure junk. Yes, the prices were low, but the design quality was awful. The DX-20, DX-35 and DX-40 were just okay but the VF-1 was trash. The DX-100 and DX-100B were okay if you were "rock bound," but if you used the VFO - it was a VF-1 - and it was terrible on CW and drifty on AM.
By the 1960s, Heathkit had decided to be the poor man's alternative to Collins KWM-2. And, to their credit, the SB- and HW- series transceivers were a good value for the money. But, once the Japanese came in with FT-101B and TS-520, Heathkit's response was inferior and could not compete on price. That was the beginning of the end of its ham-radio kit line. In terms of design quality and value, Elecraft blows Heathkit, Collins, and Drake away and is certainly giving Yaesu and ICOM a run for their money. So, who cares if Heathkit may make ham-radio kits, again? They've lost several decades of experience which they'll never regain. Rob K6RB > Elecraft List, > > FYI: > > http://www.eetimes.com/discussion/break-points/4219631/Heathkit-returns-?cid=NL_Embedded&Ecosystem=embedded > > 73's, > John C. Westmoreland, P.E. > AJ6BC > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mail¹ ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
