[Heathkit] Play Solamon

[Chris Kepus]

I suppose I could play coy and tell some tale that I would try to make
amusing...but it's not my style to mislead....besides, my XYL, who actually
puts up with my hobbies [old cars and old radios] tells me *all* the time
that I'm *not* funny.  I claim she overlooks my version of a sense of humor.

Anyway, to those who have asked privately and publically what I'm up to, I
will hereby confess.

I have been gathering wonderful smelling and good looking and sometimes
"working" old Greenie radios (am I not alone in this?!!).  In regard to the.
I currently have a number of each. I also have a couple of SB-401's.  For
some time, I have been pondering which receiver would best go with the
SB-401.  In the last couple of weeks, I have been carefully firing up the
receivers. All of them work...but not one of them, IMHO, is working as well
as I know they should.  So how could I reasonably judge that the SB-301 was
better/worse than the SB-303?  Hence, the bright idea to have a SB-301 and
303 poll and have all of you help me!!!  

As you all know, specs don't tell us everything.  Prior to the poll, I was
leaning towards the SB-301.  It is tube tech, with which I am more
comfortable, it's physical layout is more spacious and components are more
accessible. As pointed out, it is physically the same width and height as
the 401, the specs for the 301 are as good or as close to the 303's as
needed for casual CW and SSB use, and finally, they both have the same (or
should have the same) feel when spinning the main tuning dial.

With that bias in mind, I figured your responses to my poll might give me
enough insight into some of the more subjective aspects of each..plus the
objectives..reliability, etc., to help me make a decision. Many of your
really struck a chord with some of your comments.  It was also clear that
each RX has a very loyal following.  Plus, when all comments from both lists
are taken together, they are a motherload of info for the next reader.  

To those who suggested (very nicely) that I stop peeing upwind and just keep
both, I would say that remains a possibility.  My problem is that the
challenge to me (lack of experience, etc.) to get just one of them playing
to spec will be daunting.  My best shot at that would probably be with the
301.  I also have a few other projects I would to get to before "you know
when".  My beloved SP-600 is needing a recap, the A4 is hurting,  my C line
needs CPR, etc., etc.  Bottom line is that I only want to do a SB-301 *or* a
SB-303 and move on. 

I just wish there were a bunch of you whom I know have "been there and back"
with these sets were neighbors of mine. Maybe we could have a Heath
Restorathon, then a Drake Restorathon...anyway, even if you can't make the
trip to California, I know I can count on many on these reflectors when the
soldering iron is hot.  
	
The summary of all this stuff and the choice of "Door 1 or Door 2" will all
be announced next week.

Many thanks to all you who have shared your thoughts and preferences.  

73,
Chris
W7JPG