[AMRadio] AM Power Obsession

[Bernie Doran]

I think the days of finding a retired BC xmtr for $0 are nearly gone, I paid 
$1,000 for my BC1G about five years ago and $1,200 for my 20V2 that is still 
waiting to be converted.  I think they will hold and increase in value and I 
or others can even repair them!!

 I know they are from probably a by gone era, so am I. The audio system in 
both is simply supurb, I have the performance testing for the Gates as 
installed. distortion and frequency response is better  than any Hi-Fi from 
the 50 and 60s that I have ever seen.    Certainly it is much larger and 
heavier than necessary for amateur use. Consider it this way, I still love 
seeing  a large locomotive under steam, a P51, B17 or any number of other 
"real" aircraft.   I also like seeing the new technology from all areas. 
Remember though that the new stuff did not simply pop into existence it was 
a progression with the old "junk" as the basis.

Younger hams and people  sometimes consider old stuff to be simply junk, 
that is their opinion and there is no correct answer to resolve if that be 
true or not.
 The old stuff was not designed by computer, rather a slide rule and scratch 
paper.   The P51 was designed, built, and in the air for its first flight in 
102 days, try that now. The R390 and 390As  are marvels of 
design/construction and still the equal or better than the receivers 
available now.   I doubt that one could be produced now for less that $50K.

My Gates first air  time was 1962 and now it lives again.   How many of the 
current crop of transceivers will be on air in 50 years?

Don proposed that we may not be legal, I say I  certainly am. " ye shall use 
only sufficient power to accomplish the desired communicaton."     I desire 
to sound on the receiving end exactly as I sound when standing in front of 
you. And, the received signal should be strong enough to light a small pilot 
lamp.

I wonder how much  AM activaty there would be, if we did not spend so much 
time on here?     I will be on 3705 or nearby after dark.  73