"Steve" wrote in message
...
Ya, and you're not a 'real' bowler either unless you have a $500 bowling
ball.

And you're not a 'real' fisherman until you've caught a Marlin off the
coast of Mexico either.

It's only a hobby. If you don't like it, pick another one!




You use what you can afford. I bought my first ham set up for like $50
used - it was all I could afford at the time AND I had to fabricate some
things to boot. I got my feet wet with it and it kept me interested. Not
everyone can afford the "best". It doesn't mean they're any less of a
hobbiest in that particular field. "I" do not try to keep up with the Jones'
as they say. IF my friend comes home with a brand new radio - it doesn't
mean I'll run out to buy one. Same with a bowling ball, etc. That NEW radio,
bowling ball, fishing (equipment) / expedition, hunting rifle - isn't going
to promise a damned thing. Human intervention "still" counts. Take astronomy
as a hobby...... there are bigger and better(?) telescopes supported by
large universities or other groups. Still - many finds are done with the
smaller back yard telescopes. It's not the size - the cost that count. The
"user" has to do something to make it count. AND in many cases - be it
finding a rare station on the bands, an asteroid, bowling all strikes,
etc........ LUCK has a hell of a lot to do with it. Even the best in
esperience and equipment - fail - sometimes.

Given a choice between a new H.F. rig and either an old boat anchor OR a
homebrew rig to make a contact with, I'd pick the latter - hands down. It
tends to give you a tad more pride using such old equipment that maybe you
repaired or bought cheap OR built from scratch. Personally, I had an HW 101
and now have a TS440S (bought new when offered). If the Heathkit had as many
bells and whistles as the Kenwood - only in the extra bands - I'd take it
hands down. I love the audio of the tube radios over the newer radios. The
Kenwood had an Autotuner - I could tune the Heath with an outboard tuner
faster than that dumb autotuner did the Kenwood - in many cases. Point
being, those older radios are not as sophisticated as the new stuff, but
they sure still performed. Being new, being eh - better(?) isn't what it is
always about. And even the homebrew stuff, be it solid state OR tube - when
it comes alive with audio out of the speaker - or putting out that first
signal over the air waves - there is no better feeling.

You have a ham license and buy a used rig - you're a ham. Buy a used bowling
ball, go bowling as often as possible - you're a bowler. Go fishing as often
as possible even with a $10 fishing pole, you're a fisherman. Pitch a tent
with a sheet over a line - you're a camper. Too many people worry about
"impressing" others. Do you do code? IF so, is it at 5 wpm or 60? WHO
CARES - you're enjoying the hobby at your own level.

lou-ka3flu