I have been looking at the Heathkit hw-101, the atlas 210x, and various alinco
mobiles. My main concern is cost. I only have 250-300 to spend on this unit.
I am obviously not particular about type. Is it cheaper to get a mobile and
use it as a transceiver or just get an old base station and use that? I am
really quite interested in the old analog dial types. Any suggestions? CW is
a must.

G. Doughty
KI4BBL
remove nojunk to email

Perhaps an IC-735 which you can get for say 300 to 375 or so if you try hard
enough. That way it is solid state and doesn't require tubes or tuning. But
a TS-520 would be a good pickup or a Yaesu FT-101ZD or any of the 101
series.

"Allodoxaphobia" wrote in message
...
On 07 Jul 2003 18:40:58 GMT, G. Doughty hath writ:
I have been looking at the Heathkit hw-101, the atlas 210x, and various
alinco
mobiles. My main concern is cost. I only have 250-300 to spend on this
unit.
I am obviously not particular about type. Is it cheaper to get a mobile
and
use it as a transceiver or just get an old base station and use that? I
am
really quite interested in the old analog dial types. Any suggestions?
CW is
a must.

A TS-520 ?

73
Jonesy
--
| Marvin L Jones | jonz | W3DHJ | OS/2
| Gunnison, Colorado | @ | Jonesy | linux __
| 7,703' -- 2,345m | config.com | DM68mn SK

Perhaps an IC-735 which you can get for say 300 to 375 or so if you try hard
enough. That way it is solid state and doesn't require tubes or tuning. But
a TS-520 would be a good pickup or a Yaesu FT-101ZD or any of the 101
series.

"Allodoxaphobia" wrote in message
...
On 07 Jul 2003 18:40:58 GMT, G. Doughty hath writ:
I have been looking at the Heathkit hw-101, the atlas 210x, and various
alinco
mobiles. My main concern is cost. I only have 250-300 to spend on this
unit.
I am obviously not particular about type. Is it cheaper to get a mobile
and
use it as a transceiver or just get an old base station and use that? I
am
really quite interested in the old analog dial types. Any suggestions?
CW is
a must.

A TS-520 ?

73
Jonesy
--
| Marvin L Jones | jonz | W3DHJ | OS/2
| Gunnison, Colorado | @ | Jonesy | linux __
| 7,703' -- 2,345m | config.com | DM68mn SK

I have been looking at the Heathkit hw-101, the atlas 210x, and various
alinco
mobiles. My main concern is cost. I only have 250-300 to spend on this
unit.
I am obviously not particular about type. Is it cheaper to get a mobile
and
use it as a transceiver or just get an old base station and use that? I
am
really quite interested in the old analog dial types. Any suggestions?
CW is
a must.

G. Doughty
KI4BBL

An older Kenwood might be good to look at also. If you do not have an
antenna tuner then do not get one with all solid state output. The rigs
that have 6146 tubes in the output will be able to tune a small range of
antenna mismatches.
The Yeasu units that have 6146 tubes and not the sweep tubes in the finals
are good also if you have to get an older rig.
If you have a 12 volt power supply make sure it is good for atleast 20 amps
and more like 25 for the solid stare rigs.

I have been looking at the Heathkit hw-101, the atlas 210x, and various
alinco
mobiles. My main concern is cost. I only have 250-300 to spend on this
unit.
I am obviously not particular about type. Is it cheaper to get a mobile
and
use it as a transceiver or just get an old base station and use that? I
am
really quite interested in the old analog dial types. Any suggestions?
CW is
a must.

G. Doughty
KI4BBL

An older Kenwood might be good to look at also. If you do not have an
antenna tuner then do not get one with all solid state output. The rigs
that have 6146 tubes in the output will be able to tune a small range of
antenna mismatches.
The Yeasu units that have 6146 tubes and not the sweep tubes in the finals
are good also if you have to get an older rig.
If you have a 12 volt power supply make sure it is good for atleast 20 amps
and more like 25 for the solid stare rigs.

Thank you for all the responses. You guys are most helpful. Here is my next
step. There is the BRATS hamfest in Maryland that I will be going to at the
end of the month. It will be my first fest. I'm rolling out of here at 2:00am
to get there when tailgate sales begin. Are the products pretty good from
hamfests in general. The radios I have my eyes on are the ts-520, ft-101, ten
tec 555(not sure but if the price is right why not), and still the atlas 210x.
What do i need to look for to keep from getting suckered. Hams are a pretty
honest bunch from what I have learned, but I still do not want to be taken for
a ride. I do have some electrical experience( avionics in the Navy).

Thanks
G. Doughty
KI4BBL
remove nojunk to email

Thank you for all the responses. You guys are most helpful. Here is my next
step. There is the BRATS hamfest in Maryland that I will be going to at the
end of the month. It will be my first fest. I'm rolling out of here at 2:00am
to get there when tailgate sales begin. Are the products pretty good from
hamfests in general. The radios I have my eyes on are the ts-520, ft-101, ten
tec 555(not sure but if the price is right why not), and still the atlas 210x.
What do i need to look for to keep from getting suckered. Hams are a pretty
honest bunch from what I have learned, but I still do not want to be taken for
a ride. I do have some electrical experience( avionics in the Navy).

Thanks
G. Doughty
KI4BBL
remove nojunk to email

" Thank you for all the responses. You guys are most helpful. Here is my
next
step. There is the BRATS hamfest in Maryland that I will be going to at
the
end of the month. It will be my first fest. I'm rolling out of here at
2:00am
to get there when tailgate sales begin. Are the products pretty good from
hamfests in general. The radios I have my eyes on are the ts-520, ft-101,
ten
tec 555(not sure but if the price is right why not), and still the atlas
210x.
What do i need to look for to keep from getting suckered. Hams are a
pretty
honest bunch from what I have learned, but I still do not want to be taken
for
a ride. I do have some electrical experience( avionics in the Navy).

Thanks
G. Doughty
KI4BBL
remove nojunk to email

I can't speek for the hamfest that you are going to but from going to them
for the last 30 years in a 200 mile radius from the house here are some of
my observations. Do not be afraid to bargain with the sellers. Offer them
less than what they are asking. You may want to go to e-bay and see what
the rigs are selling for there. I have noticed in the last 5 years or so
there seem to be what I call simi-professional dealers. They get to the
fests eairly and buy up anything they think they can sell of e-bay or later
in the day for a profit. I hate this about the ham comunity. Think they
should be hung.... I don't think this is good ham spirit.. Enough of that
soap[ box... Make sure you get the sellers name, call and address on the
items and make sure he will take it back if it is not as he says it is.
Friend of mine stopped me at a fest and was showing me a radio with tubes
missing and was told it was working just fine !! If the screws look like
they are worn out I would stay away from the rig. Going into an old rig
once or twice is ok, but there are too many 'golden screwdrivers' around
that mess up the rigs. Be sure to get a manual or know where to download
one on the internet for the stuff you buy.Here is a place to look for some.

http://hamradio.online.ru/sch_eng.html

Also make sure you get the mic or key for the transmitter.

Save some money for antennas and any other stuff you may need to get the
station going.

" Thank you for all the responses. You guys are most helpful. Here is my
next
step. There is the BRATS hamfest in Maryland that I will be going to at
the
end of the month. It will be my first fest. I'm rolling out of here at
2:00am
to get there when tailgate sales begin. Are the products pretty good from
hamfests in general. The radios I have my eyes on are the ts-520, ft-101,
ten
tec 555(not sure but if the price is right why not), and still the atlas
210x.
What do i need to look for to keep from getting suckered. Hams are a
pretty
honest bunch from what I have learned, but I still do not want to be taken
for
a ride. I do have some electrical experience( avionics in the Navy).

Thanks
G. Doughty
KI4BBL
remove nojunk to email

I can't speek for the hamfest that you are going to but from going to them
for the last 30 years in a 200 mile radius from the house here are some of
my observations. Do not be afraid to bargain with the sellers. Offer them
less than what they are asking. You may want to go to e-bay and see what
the rigs are selling for there. I have noticed in the last 5 years or so
there seem to be what I call simi-professional dealers. They get to the
fests eairly and buy up anything they think they can sell of e-bay or later
in the day for a profit. I hate this about the ham comunity. Think they
should be hung.... I don't think this is good ham spirit.. Enough of that
soap[ box... Make sure you get the sellers name, call and address on the
items and make sure he will take it back if it is not as he says it is.
Friend of mine stopped me at a fest and was showing me a radio with tubes
missing and was told it was working just fine !! If the screws look like
they are worn out I would stay away from the rig. Going into an old rig
once or twice is ok, but there are too many 'golden screwdrivers' around
that mess up the rigs. Be sure to get a manual or know where to download
one on the internet for the stuff you buy.Here is a place to look for some.

http://hamradio.online.ru/sch_eng.html

Also make sure you get the mic or key for the transmitter.

Save some money for antennas and any other stuff you may need to get the
station going.

On 08 Jul 2003 18:17:50 GMT, ojunk (G. Doughty)
wrote:

Thank you for all the responses. You guys are most helpful. Here is my next
step. There is the BRATS hamfest in Maryland that I will be going to at the
end of the month. It will be my first fest. I'm rolling out of here at 2:00am
to get there when tailgate sales begin. Are the products pretty good from
hamfests in general. The radios I have my eyes on are the ts-520, ft-101, ten
tec 555(not sure but if the price is right why not), and still the atlas 210x.
What do i need to look for to keep from getting suckered. Hams are a pretty
honest bunch from what I have learned, but I still do not want to be taken for
a ride. I do have some electrical experience( avionics in the Navy).

Thanks
G. Doughty
KI4BBL
remove nojunk to email

Ten tec still provides service & parts for its older rigs. I'd beware
of "orphaned" radios like the Atlas, unless you can get a service
manual and know what you're doing.

A service technician recently told me the manufactuers are only
required to make parts available for seven years after a radio is
sold. So the newer the better -- or, at least, the easier to repair,
the better.

Bob
k5qwg