[NLRS] Transverters

[Dan Larson]

Greetings All,

I'm new to the list here, so please forgive a few long-winded newbie questions:

1) What is the cheapest way to get on 2m SSB? 

(Really a moot point because I have already ordered the Ten-Tec
1210 2m transverter kit to use with my HTX-10)

Lets see: $90 for the HTX-10 and $139 for the Ten-Tec 1210....
That comes to $239. That 2m all mode sitting at the candy store
is going for $259, IIRC.. But I really have two bands in the end
with this setup (10m & 2m), and I bought the HTX-10 as my
first HF rig a while ago.

2) From there I want to move on to 432 SSB & 1.2G FM & SSB
So whats the cheapest way there, considering that I have 
good building skills & have done some homebrew for HF?
(I wield a soldering iron skillfully because I've had one in my hands
since I was 10 !)

I'd really prefer to build transverters for these bands, but, by the
time I buy the 432 & 1296 transverter kits from DEM, I have spent
enough money to just go buy an FT-857 and I'd have 2m & 70cm
taken care of & be happy until I wanted to go up to 1.2G or higher.

Cheaper kits, homebrew plans (as long as parts can be had), 
and even converting/hacking surplus & junk electronics are all
possibilities I have been considering
.

3) Are there any caveats having a daisy chain of two or more transverters?
HTX-10 -> 10m/2m xvtr -> 2m/70cm or 23cm  xvtr ?


Thanks much for your time to read this and / or reply!

Dan 
KC0LUY