DaveInDenver
Middle Income Semi-Redneck
The Elecraft is beyond cool, but jealous of the PRC-70, too.
Teotwaki's comms ramblings...
- Thread starter teotwaki
- Start date
teotwaki
Excelsior!
It is an amazing radio. The learning curve is not too bad either!
The 70 was amazing for 40 year-old technology. Not having any microprocessors was sort of an advantage but a lot of the other parts in it are difficult to find if needed.
DaveInDenver
Middle Income Semi-Redneck
I hear you on parts, but that's not just old radios. Goodness help you if you ever blow out the finals in a FT-817. The current production RD07MVS1 is not super common but the original 2SK2975 is unobtainium. Component availability has taken models out of catalogs when a manufacturer could no longer source something or an equivalent reliably. Several times I've been involved with lifetime buys, you keep the current production churning with one hand while you redesign with the other.
teotwaki
Excelsior!
When I retire I plan to take a lot of the old electronic parts out in my garage and put them on eBay, LOL
teotwaki
Excelsior!
I am not so familiar with Bearcats anymore. I generally buy Radio Shack scanners that are made for them by a company called GRE. Note that not all of what they sell are made by GRE.
You'll need two aircraft frequency ranges in whatever you buy:
118 - 140 MHz (military has channels above 136 that are in AM, not FM)
225 - 400 MHz AM mode
Do you want a handheld scanner?
Radio Shack Pro-164s can be had for a decent price on eBay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RadioShack-...mm_Scanners&hash=item1c32ca9e67#ht_1024wt_903
Rallyroo
Expedition Leader
So pretty. You'll have to do a show-and-tell the next time I see you since I have not seen a KX-3 in person yet.
teotwaki
Excelsior!
I also got to be a Beta tester for these brand new accessories from GEMS products!
http://gemsproducts.com/
New endplates with pseudo "rack ears"
protecting the knobs and display bezel
Cover that snaps over the front. My beta version is black but I might get my hands on the smoked-clear version
Really nice ways to gild a really fine HF "lily", LOL
http://gemsproducts.com/
New endplates with pseudo "rack ears"
protecting the knobs and display bezel
Cover that snaps over the front. My beta version is black but I might get my hands on the smoked-clear version
Really nice ways to gild a really fine HF "lily", LOL
teotwaki
Excelsior!
Old news. I already saw your post on the KX3 Yahoo group today.
...looks like a great product!
Do you have a KX3 too? :sombrero:
I don't have one quite yet, but am planning on ordering one within the next two weeks. So, I have been looking at all the options for it from the various sources - Gems Poducts, Begali, etc. Having fun designing a little station.
As for the KX3 Yahoo group, I am really surprised at the number of strong opinions and amount of arguing there.
teotwaki
Excelsior!
I ordered almost all of the factory options more as a convenience. The free Gems aftermarket plates and case were a stroke of luck for me but I would still be willing to buy them. Having said that I would say try to imagine how you will use and transport the KX3 and then choose the case option that works best. Right now I have a Pelican case that the radio, accessories, manuals and 26W folding solar panel go in. When I am on foot I just bring the few things that I need to use and leave the rest behind. I'd like to look at LiPO batteries but for now I have some gel cell batteries. For a nice lightweight antenna take a look at the Par EndFedz sold at LNR Precision. http://www.lnrprecision.com/endfedz/ I have the Trail model.
The Yahoo group is a bit rowdy and as always, what we type is subject to endless misinterpretation. The good thing is that the Elecraft folks pay close attention to it and information on their 100W PA is shared there.
teotwaki
Excelsior!
Portable telescoping fiberglass pole for lightweight long wire antenns. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=161029678484#ht_305wt_903
In case you don't have a tree or other tall object to attach to.
In case you don't have a tree or other tall object to attach to.
We looked at using Stiffy Push Poles for some of our Omni deployments. These are very rigid and can be purchased in small sections that join together.
Throw some guy wire and rings on there and you could very easily have a 50' mast that is man portable and can be set up by one operator.
-Mack
Throw some guy wire and rings on there and you could very easily have a 50' mast that is man portable and can be set up by one operator.
-Mack
That looks like my fiberglass fishing pole. Single string and bait, thats it.