tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581307197111318645.post5810120596804223726..comments2023-05-27T08:59:22.970-07:00Comments on An Infinite Number of Cats on Keyboards: Best Starter Ham Shack for saundbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472603072142005189noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581307197111318645.post-82051570951649300382011-12-16T22:42:23.315-08:002011-12-16T22:42:23.315-08:00Charlie, thanks a lot for your comments!
I'd ...Charlie, thanks a lot for your comments!<br /><br />I'd about come to the conclusion that I'd have to wait for more paychecks to come in to do what I want. What you says reassures me that that's the best course of action.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I'm going to keep trying to get a signal past the trees with 2m using what I've got.saundbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05472603072142005189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581307197111318645.post-66706002506398551962011-12-16T11:21:30.835-08:002011-12-16T11:21:30.835-08:00Hi, Mark - I'd call MFJ, AEA and HRO and ask t...Hi, Mark - I'd call MFJ, AEA and HRO and ask them to mail you their catalogs. It's much easier to dig through paper, filling it with stickys and cryptic notes. I also always have a text file full of stuff I've cut-n-paste from the 'net, or overheard from some genial but unreliable source.<br /><br />I favor Yaesu newer equipment. My HF rig is a Icom IC-730 I bought from the club. The club also has a newer rig - it might be an IC-765, we can find out. Seems like it is worth something above $500, but check with KI6CM. We make a good deal to club members because the rigs the club gets are donated.<br /><br />For that matter, I'd let my '730 go for about $250. I had Dave at Radio Supply go through it and align it, so it's good to go. I'd like to get a new rig.<br /><br />I don't think you will find a new rig with HF in your price range. Talk to W6PD, KI6CM and the guys about older rigs. Some folks - e.g., Burl K4VYL have been fleeced using eBay, so have some other preferred on-line auction sites.<br /><br />A decent new rig, with "stuff" is probably going to cost you $2k or more. The $1500 rigs are fine, and then you "need" coax, antenna, lightening arrestor, coax switch, balun, and possibly a power supply, tuner, computer interface, 24-hour clock. You see why I put need in quotes.<br /><br />ALWAYS USE GOOD COAX and CONNECTORS, not the cheapest crap. And use good sealant or you will be out of luck some rainy day, maybe a month or maybe five years from now.<br /><br />Antenna - <br /><br />Cheapest: Consider a dipole cut for some band you really want to use. <br /><br />A good bit more: A buckmaster like we have at the club. Still easy to put up and not expensive. G5RVs are cheap (and most are cheaply built). That's why the Buckmaster is so dear. You could build your own, of course. <br /><br />In the middle - a used 40M-10M vertical, but you want to get it up in the air a bit.<br /><br />Beam and rotor - new really expensive, used fairly inexpensive, but might need some TLC.<br /><br />A tower - plan on lots of cement! And a big hole. You can usually find somebody wanting to get rid of a good tower several times a year - free to a good home or not much $$. There are ham swap shops on the air.<br /><br />Nice blog, and congrats on the new ticket!<br /><br />I'd like to see your CNC sometime.<br /><br />Charlie K0TANCharliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02543984630262563473noreply@blogger.com