Wow, I feel like a young pup. Again. Huh. Always seems to be that way. Got licensed in 1987, at the age of 14. Started out with a set of Drake twins, but the filters on the receiver weren't aligned quite right, so USB had to be done on the 4.8 KHz wide setting. I set my sights relatively low as these things go and *really* wanted the Kenwood TS-440SAT, although I wouldn't have turned my nose up at an Icom IC-761. Had lots of fun though, and fell in love with cw in spite of my best efforts to hate it. Didn't get my hands on an iambic paddle until I'd been using a straight key for a fairly long time, about four or five years; also got a bug and learned to use it tolerably well, but never could, and still haven't, got the hang of squeeze keying. I'm definitely a single lever kind of guy and have used iambic paddles that way. Now I really want one of these Vizkey bugs by K4VIZ. And am very anxious to get my hands on the KX3, much as I love my K2/100. Which I shall keep forever and always no matter what, because of where it came from and how i came by it. I mean, besides its being a super fantastic little radio. I really should get it updated to latest spec and add the 160 meter module and noise blanker some day. Yeah, KDSP2 is tempting as well, but think I'll hold out for the KX3 for that.
Now if only I weren't all thumbs. Huh…no fixing that, I suppose. -- Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY On Jun 21, 2011, at 8:21 PM, k...@baymoon.com wrote: > For me it was 1958, age 11. My first station was a Viking Adventurer and > HQ-110 (had it for 12 years). Never touched anything more sophisticated > until I upgraded (in 1970) to an HW-100 (used it for 12 years, too). In > the early 1990s, I got into restoring and operating "vintage gear." I had > several stations on the air, sharing an antenna system. Viking > Valiant/NC-303; Viking Ranger/HQ-170; Viking Adventurer/HQ-110; Eico > 720/730/722 with Drake 2B/2BQ; Collins S-Line with 30L-1; Globe King > 500/75A-4. So, I finally had a chance to try all the radios over which I > had salivated as a teenager. Today, the only remaining jewels are Globe > King 500/75A-4. > > With regard to amplifiers, unlike transceivers, you're only dealing with > one of two "directions" - output. Issues like efficiency are important but > probably more important are issues of clean output and reliability. This > is especially true for contest use where the amplifier can be pounded for > 48 hours, straight, at maximum power out and greater than 50 percent duty > cycle. > > I am currently using an Alpha 87A and Ten-Tec Centurion in an SO2R set up. > Both work well, and work reliably. If I replace either with a KPA-500, it > will probably be the Centurion. Here, the KPA-500 has the instant > switching/instant tuning advantage. But, it runs half the power. It also > covers 6 meter - a band I have never tried, and for which I have no > antenna(s). I have no doubt about reliability or service responsiveness > when it comes to Elecraft. So, it will come down to how much is instant > bandswitch/instant tuning worth to me. And, will I miss the extra few dB > in signal strength. I have not even considered replacing the Centurion > with alternative solid-state amps from Ameritron, Tokyo Hy-Power, or the > one from Italy. > > Rob K6RB > > >> Ditto.... Except in my case I was 16 in 1963 when first licensed and I >> have >> less in the way of DXer antennas and much less in DXer skills (although I >> am >> getting better). The K-line is my Collins substitute. I had to buy an LDG >> AT-1000Pro to handle the KPA500, so I won't really have a complete K-line >> until the new autotuner becomes available. >> >> Just worked J48O a couple of daze ago. I know, not big DX, but for me???? >> yep it is. >> >> ..mike AI6II >> >> Others can argue the tech. advantages pro or con. Some feel they need >> >> 2 KW. I don't.. For a DXer antennas & skill are more important than a >> >> few more watts. I like the way it works with my K3. I've had less >> >> than stellar dealings with the Asian companies. Whether it's bias on my >> >> part or not I like the idea that it's made & serviced in my home >> >> country. >> >> >> >> On a more human note. I grew up as a new ham in 1959 at 13 yr.s old. I >> >> had the thrill of at least once having used the dream lines of the >> >> time. The Collins & Drake lines. I wasn't in the position to own one. >> >> I am now & I see the K line as the dream line. I now have a dream >> >> line. There ain't no way on Gods Green Earth I'm not going to live my >> >> dream. Soap Box over. >> >> >> >> K9IL >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> >> > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
