[ARC5] dying hobby?

[scottjohnson1 at cox.net]

I did this electronics thing for a living, as a technician in the USAF, FAA Avionics shop owner, then as an engineer, engineering manager, a tech start-up partner, and finally as a consultant, so for me, making chips, solder smoke, and sparks is much more fulfilling and therapeutic. In the past, I went through my CAP/EMCOM/MARS phase, and a short DX phase, always pressing into service whatever commercial or military surplus I could scrounge to communicate.  Now, nearing retirement, I have virtually no interest in anything modern.  I enjoy old buzzard chats, bringing up and operating 80-year-old technology, and talking about it all with all of you.  I have been a ham now for 50 years, since I was 9 years old, and it is the only hobby that has been a constant throughout my life. ( I blow hot and cold on airplanes, hot rods, military vehicles, RC aircraft, HiFi, and shooting/hunting)  Ham radio for me has morphed over the years, but that is the beauty of amateur radio, and how it stays relevant to me.  

Scott W7SVJ

-----Original Message-----
From: arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net <arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Bob Camp
Sent: Sunday, August 6, 2023 18:51
To: mstangelo at comcast.net
Cc: ARC-5 <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [ARC5] dying hobby?

Hi

It’s actually better today DIY wise than it’s ever been.You can do your design and analyze it with free tools. Once you are pretty sure it’s right, there are outfits that will make the board and do the SMT assembly. 
They do it for near nothing labor wise. The biggest single cost may be the $30 shipping charge. 

Bob

> On Aug 6, 2023, at 9:02 PM, mstangelo at comcast.net wrote:
> 
> I got my Novice License in 1969. My Elmer was a member of the Engineering Staff at Brookhaven National Labs. He was also a Vice-President of Engineering at a local radio station, having literally built the station. He Had a Collins S-Line but the rest of his equipment, including a Linear Amplifier.
> 
> He was looking for a mobile rig for this car but was not satisfied with what was on the market and the necessity of having to buy third party accessories such as Noise Blankers. 
> 
> Yaesu introduced the FT-101B. It was a complete transceiver in a package, including an AC/DC power supply, Noise Blanker and microphone. He picked one up and was amazed with the performance and features for the price. He told me, "Mike, The Japanese are going to put the American manufacturers out of business" and he was right.
> 
> We lament about the demise of Heathkit but today is the golden age of kit building and do it yourself assembly with the proliferation of QRP radios and accessories. You may have to do some surface mount soldering and use modules but the variety of kits and modules is amazing.
> 
> Mike N2MS
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> On 08/06/2023 5:45 PM EDT Mike Morrow <kk5f at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> The "obscenity" of expensive ham radios was back in the "good ol' days" before the Japanese started to dominate the market with better designs, better quality, and better prices.
>> 
>> When introduced in 1965 at $585, the Drake TR-4 just by itself with no options or accessories cost the 2023 equivalent of $5,800.
>> 
>> When introduced in 1961 at $1,250, the Collins KWM-2A just by itself with no options or accessories cost the 2023 equivalent of $13,000.
>> 
>> Even when I bought one as a kit in 1976 at $340, the Heathkit HW-101 just by irself with no options or accessories cost the 2023 equivalent of $1,900.
>> 
>> Today a very capable Yaesu FT-891 street price is barely $600. This radio will run circles around any of the earlier rigs.
>> 
>> Hams today are in the salad days of high performance to price ratios, thanks to the Japanese.
>> 
>> Mike / KK5F
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