[Elecraft] Sorta OT - assistive technology assistance

[Edward R Cole]

Al-W6LX,

Commendable.  I enjoy building stuff, too.  Not so far as to design a 
radio "ground up" but my first ham radio was a kit back when I was 14 
years old.  Mainly because it was cheaper ($19.95 in 1958).  When I 
got my Novice license my dad bought my elmer's DX35 for me (he wanted 
to upgrade to DX100).

Later getting on 2m AM a friend modified my WWII aircraft radio for 
me (still a teen with no experience or test equip) but I built two 
8-element yagis from conduit and aluminum ground wire and put up a 
small tower (with manual rotation).

Over time I learned more and took on bigger projects (see my website 
for examples).  Now on 630m to 3cm. EME on three bands going to five bands.

Along the way I got a college degree and had some nifty jobs (sent a 
few spacecraft out into the Universe).  Now retired and finishing up 
a 1200w sspa kit for 2m.  I built a few Heathkits in my time.  I 
consider a kit as something you solder vs just assembling hardware 
(sorry Elecraft).  My Elecraft are all "kits" partly because I am cheap.

But I also felt it made little sense to reinvent things one could buy 
good quality.  Thus I have my K3U and KX3-2M; an old FT-736R and an 
old MOT 900-MHz mobile radio.  I do not bake my own integrated ckts 
but will solder a few onto my custom pcb's.

Nothing wrong with buying vs building; you still have to put the 
station together as a system.

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com/

From: Al Lorona <alorona at sbcglobal.net>
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net, Richards <jrichards at k8jhr.com>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Sorta OT - assistive technology assistance
Message-ID: <662386660.10209974.1547236134380 at mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

JR - I have a folder of dozens of replies to Elecraft posts that I've 
never sent. (I try to exercise discipline so that the moderator 
doesn't have to slap me on the hand.) But your reply said *exactly* 
what a draft that I had written said. I'm very happy that you 
expressed the same idea.

Building vs. buying, especially when buying is cheaper, is the 
homebrewer's dilemma. You now have to really want to learn something 
to build something yourself, and not merely save money.? More and 
more, homebrewing is in effect paying "tuition" to learn by doing.

I built a QRP transceiver totally from scratch last year, and 
virtually everybody I told asked me, "Why?" It took me weeks and 
weeks and, had I not been blessed with a really good junk box, would 
have cost me more than a KX2. But... I got to work with some really 
cool ultra low noise op amps and figured out how to get a half-watt 
out of a 2N2222, so putting this particular rig on the air for the 
first time was my "diploma".

I hope your construction project goes well. Please let us know when 
you get it working.

Al? W6LX


73, Ed - KL7UW
   http://www.kl7uw.com
Dubus-NA Business mail:
   dubususa at gmail.com