[Elecraft] Heathkit Returns!

[Phillip Shepard]

I will second that.  As a novice in 1973, I had a Viking Challenger and a
VF-1.  That combo gave me a "QSL" card from an Official Observer.  I then
built a stand alone power supply for the VF-1 and things settled down.  The
following year I got QRP fever, so I built an HW-7 (what a problem child
that rig was).  Then I got a factory built Ten-Tec Argonaut, and the world
improved.  I built a number of Heathkits through the years - some worked
very well and a few not so much.  My Novice receiver was an HR-10B that I
built; and that was OK, but not great.  Memories ...

73,

Phil NS7P

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Jack Smith
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 4:05 PM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Heathkit Returns!


The VF-1 could be considerably improved if operated from a separate
power supply and left on long enough to thermally stabilize.  Not saying
it could be confused with a crystal controlled oscillator, but a lot of
its problems were related to voltage changes from the associated
transmitter.

Jack K8ZOA

On 9/8/2011 6:46 PM, k6rb at baymoon.com wrote:
> In the 1950s, the Heathkit AT-1 and AR-3 were pure junk. Yes, the prices
> were low, but the design quality was awful. The DX-20, DX-35 and DX-40
> were just okay but the VF-1 was trash. The DX-100 and DX-100B were okay if
> you were "rock bound," but if you used the VFO - it was a VF-1 - and it
> was terrible on CW and drifty on AM.
>
> By the 1960s, Heathkit had decided to be the poor man's alternative to
> Collins KWM-2. And, to their credit, the SB- and HW- series transceivers
> were a good value for the money.
>
> But, once the Japanese came in with FT-101B and TS-520, Heathkit's
> response was inferior and could not compete on price. That was the
> beginning of the end of its ham-radio kit line.
>
> In terms of design quality and value, Elecraft blows Heathkit, Collins,
> and Drake away and is certainly giving Yaesu and ICOM a run for their
> money.
>
> So, who cares if Heathkit may make ham-radio kits, again? They've lost
> several decades of experience which they'll never regain.
>
> Rob K6RB
>
>
>
>
>> Elecraft List,
>>
>> FYI:
>>
>>
http://www.eetimes.com/discussion/break-points/4219631/Heathkit-returns-?cid
=NL_Embedded&Ecosystem=embedded
>>
>> 73's,
>> John C. Westmoreland, P.E.
>> AJ6BC
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mail¹
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html