The Hallicrafters FPM-200 was one of the most advanced radios of its time: very compact, mostly solid state, dual VFOs (accurate and stable), split VFO operation, electronic tuning of intermediate circuits tracking with VFOs, dual sided glass epoxy circuit boards, switching power supply, modular construction. It was 20 years before the rest of the industry caught up with the FPM-200 concepts.
The primary downsides of the FPM-200 were: the technology was not yet up to the vision (germanium transistors, receiver IMD, low frequency of the switching supply), and the street price was more than a complete S-Line at the time (75S-1, 32S-1, 30L-1). The KWM-1, announced in the same year as the FPM-200, paled in comparison in terms of vision and innovation. Tom, K7PJT -----Original Message----- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Paul Christensen Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 6:47 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] How long until K3 is declared the greatest rig ofall time? I couldn't resist: Grebe CR-18 (one of the 1st commercially-produced ham-only regen receivers - ca. 1926) National SW-3/Pilot Super Wasp - 1st mass-produced ham receivers (Pilot in kit form); National HRO - Revolutionized Superhet technology & My Vote for THE Receiver all of all time; KWS-1/75A4 - SSB implementation; KWM-1 - Transceiver concept; FT-101/TS-520 - Large-scale import revolution with high value in packaging & features; Ten Tec Triton series - SS finals; KWM-480/TR-7 - Digital tuning; TS-870S - IF DSP; and Flex SDR-1K - SDR concept to amateur radio. Nearly a ten-year interval in each category, beginning in the '20s. I wanted to include Hallicrafters (my call-sign after all), but cannot think of a really stand-out product, although the SX-28, SX-88, and DD receivers deserve a place in history. Paul, W9AC ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Wilhelm" <w3...@embarqmail.com> To: "Darwin, Keith" <keith.dar...@goodrich.com> Cc: <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 9:13 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] How long until K3 is declared the greatest rig of all time? > Kieth, > > My vote is for the KWM2 because it brought the concept of transceivers > to amateur radio. > My second vote is for the Drake C line. I believe that was the > turnaround point of amateur thinking about receiver performance. Prior > to that time, the major consideration for receiver specs was > 'sensitivity' - it did not matter how much noise was amplified, if it > was more sensitive, it was better. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > Darwin, Keith wrote: >> The K3's performance clearly exceeds its price (check it out, two >> possessives in once sentence and only 1 has an apostrophe) and I >> believe it is a contender for "greatest rig ever" or at least "very >> noteworthy in the historical radio timeline". >> >> How long do you think we have to wait before folks begin speaking of >> the K3 as one of the most influential rigs? >> >> And what rigs would you say are the most historically influential? >> Which ones caused a major shift in the history of amateur radio? >> >> KWM2A? >> TS-520? >> FT-101? >> Drake C-Line (esp R4-C)? >> FT-1000? >> Century 22? >> >> - Keith N1AS - >> - SKCC 344c - >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >> Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.10.25/1957 - Release Date: >> 02/17/09 07:07:00 >> >> > ______________________________________________________________ > 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
