[Boatanchors] BA's 6M and up...

[Glen Zook]

Tube type receiving converters for 6 and 2 meters are
readily available for relatively low cost from eBay as
well as other sources.  Those made by Ameco work very
well.  Both "nuvistor" and "miniature" tube versions
are available.  I have both types and, again, they
work very well.  They have various i.f. frequencies
and will work with any communications receiver that
covers anywhere from 10 to 30 MHz depending on the
i.f. chosen.  They also work with amateur band only
receivers.

For 6 meter SSB there are several tube type
transceivers available including those made by Drake,
Swan, and Heath.  The Swan 250 (also known as the "2
drifty" because of its drift problems) is a
possibility, but I don't recommend it!  The Heath
SB-110 or even better the SB-110A is an excellent SSB
/ CW rig for 6 meters.  I have had one for about 30
years and it is still going strong!  Puts out about 80
watts and covers 50 to 52 MHz in four 500 KHz ranges.

For both 6 and 2 meters you can build or buy
transverters that take a 10 meter station to either 6
or 2 meters.  The old Hallicrafters HA-6 for 6-meters
and the HA-2 for 2-meters work very well.  I have had
an HA-2 for about 30 years and it is still going
strong.

Various companies made AM / CW transmitters that work
on 6 and/or 2 meters including Ameco, Heath, Johnson,
and many other companies.  A number of the older
transmitters had 6 meter coverage as well as HF
coverage.  A very few made 6 and/or 2 meter SSB
transmitters and a couple of companies did make SSB
transceivers other than the 3 listed above.

I don't recommend a "shack on your hip" (portable) as
your first radio.  A handheld is way too low powered,
normally has a -10dB gain antenna ("rubber ducky"),
and unless you are relatively close to a good
repeater, won't work many stations.  Too many new
amateurs have gone this route, got fed up with
repeaters after a short time, and have given up on
amateur radio altogether!

Glen, K9STH


--- jeff <jeffv at op.net> wrote:

I don't have any BA's that go over 32mhz and my
privileges won't start until 6M.  Aside from a newer
dual band HT that won't have tubes, what do the
experts recommend?

=====
Glen, K9STH

Web sites

http://home.comcast.net/~k9sth
http://home.comcast.net/~zcomco

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