Brian, VE7NGR, wrote: If it was available factory-assembled for less than the cost of the kit, I would still buy the kit. I suppose that doesn't help you determine the value... :-)
--------------------- About four years ago I was lusting after an all-band HF rig that was CW and SSB capable and wasn't in the mood to build something from scratch. For the previous 45+ years operating, every HF band and most VHF transmitters and most of the receivers I had owned were built from scratch or from a kit. I was beginning to wonder if I wanted something that ambitious if I was going to have to break down and buy my first "factory assembled" rig. Then I worked a fellow using this nice-sounding rig called a "K2"... And, as they say, "the rest was history". Why such a fixation on building? I can still remember sitting at a state-of-the art station owned by a very wealthy Ham in my home town back in the 1950's. I was running NCS for a RACES SET (simulated emergency test) and enjoying myself pushing traffic through the system. But, sitting back and looking at the racks of gear in the shack that came to life when I hit the key or pressed the PTT on the ol' D-104, I can still remember thinking there was something more special about making a contact using my 6L6 crystal oscillator back home. I'd never pass up a chance to work Brooks' station. He was a great guy, a great Elmer and a good friend for this confused teenager, and his station made me drool. Still, I knew it was more fun hooking up with a ham across town using my 6L6. There's something about making contacts on a rig that was once a box of parts on my work bench that makes it more fun to operate. Ron AC7AC _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
