John wrote
"I feel your pain." Seriously, you have a great point. I am now studying
to re-acquire my General license (I'm 50). Yes, things have changed quite
a bit since my days with a reasonably priced HW-101.


john

In 1980 the HW-101 sold, in kit form, for $399.95 in the fall 1980 Heathkit
catalog, with the optional CW filter adding another $44.95.

See URL: http://www.elinkusa.com/hw-101/HISTORY.htm

Using an inflation rate of 3.5 %; $400 in 1980 is $978 today -- the cost
of a IC 706 MK 2
And the ICOM is Factory assembled, all mode, and covers HF and 6 meters
(100Watts) and 50 watts on 2 meters plus 20 watts on 440 MHz. It receives
from 30 kHz to 199 MHz and from 400 to 470 MHz.

--
CL -- I doubt, therefore I might be !