[Boatanchors] No code

[Ray Friess]

IF one is not adverse to using the knowledge one "supposedly" learned to 
get his license, you can
get on the air for way less than 500 dollars.  The old boatanchor tube 
equipment is very reasonable
in cost and works just great.  I have bought transceivers for as little 
as 75 dollars and used them on the air.  I currently have THREE Kenwood 
transceivers that I use.  For one of them I paid about 100.
I have bought transmitters for as little as 40 dollars, refurbed them 
and still have them on the air.
Receivers can go anywhere from as little as 75 dollars on up to whatever 
you want to spend.....
I have bought solid state two meter and 440 mhz FM rigs for as little as 
50 dollars and 80 dollars.  Still use them in the shack and in the car.....

BUT, that said, you may have to be willing to use the theory you 
allegedly learned to get your license or learn a little bit about tube 
type equipment.  THAT is the rub for a lot of new hams....  they want 
ham radio to be like their computers... plug n play.    IF thats what 
you want, then YES expect to pay 400    500   600 or more to get on the air.



Anthony W. DePrato wrote:

>
>> Roger KC6TRU
>> It cost most Amateurs well over $500.00 to get started.
>
>
> yes cost is up unless you go with used gear. but with the ebay thing 
> even old gear is sky high. i just sold a S 40B to a guy just getting 
> started for $40 bucks. could have gotten 3 times that on ebay. ugh. 
> but that is not what it is all about.
>
>
>
>
>> Cell phones are dealing us out of lots of emergency response activity.
>
>
> this may be true somewhere but here in KY last three really big storms 
> that hit . land line phones were out. cells were useless as they were 
> over loaded and the systems crashed. ham repeaters were use for comm's 
> even had a unit at the local police station as their system was down.
>
>> You can have a computer and Internet connection for less than an Amateur
>> radio station. Then you still need a computer and Internet connection 
>> to do RTTY,
>> digital modes, SSTV, and send in your contest log book.
>
>
> well some of us old rtty guys do not need soundcards to get on rtty. i 
> still have the chad flying when i want to. yes it takes some work to 
> get on rtty and those who were on for years were a driven lot. but 
> with the sound cards came a lot of new rtty guys and i am sorry to say 
> a lot of lids. I have found if you do not work for something you 
> really do not care that much about it.
>
>
>> Every time someone suggest home brew and low cost AM you catch an ear 
>> full
>> about using excess band width.
>
>
>
>>  i still use AM have 5 classis stations i have restored and are on 
>> the air. i agree that these HIFI AM boys sound good but they do not 
>> need to be 10kcs wide.
>
>
> What still drives me after 45+ years starting out as an SWL. is the 
> thrill of setting in my shack and hearing or talking to someone half 
> way around the world. my mind runs wild hi hi.. what is his town like 
> ? what does he do ? and more. I recall as a 16 yrs old looking at my 
> old world map and seeing an island group called the South Sandwich 
> Islands. who lives there . what do they do ?
> well 35 yrs later i lead a team of hams there and found out. VP8SSI.
> I love ham radio always have and always will.
> God Bess
> 73 Tony WA4JQS
>
>
>
>
> Anthony W. DePrato WA4JQS
> EXTRA - HEAVY CLASS
> Since 1962
> South Sandwich Island Antarctic Dxpedition Group
> VP8BZL VP8SSI 3Y0PI V31SS ZD8JQS  WA4JQS/4K1 WA4JQS/KC4 WA4JQS/ZS1
> CQ DX HALL OF FAME # 35
> A1-OP  FISTS # 10573  AMI
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>
>