An interesting little rig to follow is the UBitx at http://www.hfsignals.com/
$199 gets you a 3-30 MHz SSB/cw rig. Sure, no cw filter, and I’m sure the receiver ain’t no KX3 or even K2, but it’s hackable and pretty darned interesting for $200, or even as little as $150. Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA Email: [email protected] Mobile: (814) 431-0962 > On Dec 16, 2019, at 9:37 PM, Don Wilhelm <[email protected]> wrote: > > Ted and all, > > I do not think restricting the choices to VHF and UHF gear is going to "save > the hobby". > > There are few inexpensive ventures into HF available today. There are a few > inexpensive CW only kits available from QRPme.com, but those are quite > limited and are CW only. Oh to have the Dave Benson SWL series back. Those > were good kits which could put the new ham on the air with a good receiver, > but again CW only. I do not see any equivalent today. > > The QRPme kits are interesting, but being CW only, they are limited to those > willing to learn CW. Even a 'knock-off' of the K1 is CW only. > > For potentially new hams, we hams need to have something that is viable for > HF and not expensive. Remember the high schooler and the recent college > graduate who does not a lot of extra money. I do not see many choices for > them other than the inexpensive VHF/UHF FM transceivers, which work fine with > repeaters, but do nothing for the HF spectrum. > I built my first transmitter of salvaged TV parts at a very, very low cost, > but that was back in the late 1950's when such parts were available many for > the asking at the local TV repair shop. > > A used HF transceiver may the only current logical choice. > > Elecraft has championed the high performance, high end market, and has done > well at it, but that performance comes at a price. Few beginners in ham > radio can afford a K3S let alone a KX2, so for beginners, they are "left in > the lurch" with choices mainly in the used gear market. > > Nostalgia for 'what was' is interesting, but does nothing for the newcomers > to HF with limited funds. Even the era of cheap surplus military gear is > gone. I used to buy Command set transmitters and receivers for $5 each at > the surplus store, and you could salvage parts from them to build > transmitters and receivers, but those rigs are collectors items today and are > expensive. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > > On 12/16/2019 4:44 PM, Ted Edwards W3TB wrote: >> More... >> Although it has not happened, I have long expected June VHF and Sept VHF to >> displace Field Day and then get more of those many new Techs active. >> On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 3:42 PM Ted Edwards W3TB <[email protected]> wrote: >>> Yet, here is another product idea that is driven by my concern that so >>> many new Techs get an HT and don't develop further into our fine >>> hobby/avocation. >>> A Transceiver more significant than a Chinese cheapie for getting on other >>> modes in the VHF and/or UHF bands. >>> I do wish there were a quality-yet-simple radio for 6m/2m would be so >>> handy to them to discover SSB and Digital work on those bands. CW, too. >>> >>> On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 12:52 PM Jim Brown <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [email protected]
