Mike Coslo wrote:

Michael A. Terrell wrote:

The whole idea of a rig that isn't intended to be serviced is what
kills my interest in the hobby. Too many custom parts made of
"Unobtaium" and refusing to release schematics and manuals really don't
inspire any confidence in imported whiz bang rigs. Not that I prefer
tube only rigs, but they were built to do their job for years.

I like the modern equipment, but hollow state equipment is simply cool.
Now that I have my main station set up, I'm going to start putting
together some old tube rigs. Oh yeah!

Maybe
the rest of the ham's life if he took decent care of his equipment. A
lot of newer rigs end up as parts units because some cheap component is
NLA. Do you think many of these all plastic LCD display radios will
still work when they are 20 years old?


I was told that a couple retired EEs in the local club did all their
repairs and I didn't know enough to be of any help. Then they told me
to "stuff" my offer of free electronic components to help them with
repairs.

Mike, if I may be blunt, that is a pretty ****ty club. Pardon my French!


I wasn't impressed by them.

Sorry, but that analogy just doesn't work. Several members told me
they wanted to do minor repairs on their equipment but they didn't have
access to the tools or equipment anymore. I offered them free use of my
shop and to give them most of the components from my old repair business
if I had what they needed and was laughed at.

AS I said, a poor excuse for a club.....


I gave up on them and decide I don't want to join them. I offered to
help plan the next hamfest and maintain a E-mail list for them. They
asked if I had the money to pay the year's dues first, then told me,
"Real hams will know about it, anyway"

A lot of hams in Ohio were glad that I was willing to help out
including an old ham in his late 70s that brought me a home brew
receiver that a SK friend of his had built 20 years before. He had lost
the hand drawn schematics and had a tear rolling down his cheek as he
asked if there was any way I could possibly help him. He told me that
he had been to every two way shop and ham equipment dealer to try to
find someone to work on it and that one of them told him I was the only
one in the county crazy enough to even attempt a repair. I tore it down
and found a couple burnt resistors and shorted caps. I did a little
math, dug around and found the parts. He was crying when the receiver
came to life and kept thanking me. I charged him $10 and he hurried
home to get back on the air. Helping someone like that is better than
spending hours on the air to me. Different strokes?

Different strokes indeed. The ARS has room for many different types. It
sounds as if we would get along just fine.

I'll bet you felt just darn good when you got to help that fellow.


Yes, it was a good day at the bench. Much better than some whining
CBer who bitched at paying $7.50 to put a plug on their third microphone
that month.

Sounds to me as if you *have* found your place in the hobby. Seems like
a good one to me.

- Mike KB3EIA -

Yes, I've always enjoyed the equipment more than using it, and I have
lost interest in getting a station on the air so I'll keep collecting
and repairing old gear as long as I'm able to do it. I have a couple
kids who are supposed to help me clean out my shop this summer so i can
see how much equipment I can salvage. I still have the benches wrapped
in plastic from last year's hurricanes. I pray they miss us this year.
Three in my area were just too much.


I have a couple websites, but no good pictures of the three shop
buildings to put up, yet. Maybe I can do it this fall.

--
Former professional electron wrangler.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida