On Sun, 7 Nov 2004 00:29:33 UTC, "Smokey"
wrote:

Thanks to all for a wealth of information. Now then...ahem...does anyone
know anything about the Model 390 Starflite ham transmitter? I believe early
Kenwood or Yaesu was manufacturing their other ham rigs but the Starflite
was a kit and I am wondering if it was an American effort on the part of
Lafayette? The circuit was almost identical to the DX-60 so I am wondering
if anyone knows if there was a Heath-Lafayette connection? Why was the
Starflite only offered for a year and a half or two years? Was it a dud? Or
was Heath and the DX-60 too much competition? Too many questions, I know. I
am doing a little research paper, of sorts. Thanks guys.


I've read that there was no connection other than Lafayette stole,
ah, honored the Heath design by copying it.

I was a Novice when the Starflite and the DX-60 were marketed and
thought hard and long about it, the Knight T-60, and the Eico 720.

Smart move, I bought the DX-60 kit and assembled it. The DX-60 was
much more substantial, as in heavy steel plate, than the
competition. The cast iron meter bezel alone stood out as unique
in the entry transmitter market.

I knew a fellow who got a 720. More expensive than the DX-60. Could
never figure it out as the 720 didn't include an AM modulator.

Bad move, I sold it a couple years later for $40 to put toward a
$200 used HT-37.

Fast forward 40 years and I'm buying a DX-60 off eBay for $70. Not
a nice as the one I built but looks restorable. I got the DX-60
as opposed to a 60A or 60B because of the meter bezel.

de ah6gi/4