[OKDXA] Best low band rig <$600

[Nelson Derks]

> I have never used a FT901 or FT902 but have always wanted to.  I almost ended up with a FT902 once and wish I had made the deal.  They were really advanced for their day with the built in keyer, FM, and the memory that would allow you to run split frequency. Plus the peak filter is a real bonus on CW.  I wonder how they compare to the Kenwood TS830. Lots of people like that in the hybred camp.
>
>   
Hate to admit it, but I have an FT-901DM that has never made a Q since I 
got it...

Bought it in '81 with every intention of getting licensed but time moved 
on and it wasn't until '95 when I had the paper to make it happen. 
During the interim the radio sat mostly unused as I got into computerz 
around that time. The rotary switches are now intermittent while the 
pushbuttons stick a bit. Not uncommon for that model and it hasn't been 
modded for the dreaded exploding HV electrolytic buglet. Seems that in 
stock form if one of the 6146's shorts a screen grid the filter board 
goes out with a bang... Mine hasn't done that (and won't) as it will see 
a full tear-down and restoration before it gets the chance.

Someday.

Very impressive rig in terms of appearance, feel and overall heft. 
Biggest complaint I had with it is no gen'l coverage RX and a VFO knob 
that spins backwards. No Joke... The Japanese read right to left and the 
VFO makes perfect sense if your mind goes the other way. Also a touch 
drifty from a cold start but there are mods. Aside from that, excellent 
noise floor and SSB sounds almost as good as AM with decent skirts on 
the bandpass. Damn shame that I celebrated my upgrade to Advanced at Ham 
Holiday in '96 by scoring a good deal on a TS-690S otherwise the Yaesu 
might have seen more use.

On the flip side of that, the TS-690S has been a real workhorse for me 
and the Yaesu will see a better restore now than it would have then. 
Better test gear, web resources, and I like to think I'm a better tech 
now than I was then... ;) Fact is, the radio was pearls before swine 
when I got it and maybe I needed to grow into it.

For the full rundown on the FT-901DM and FT-902DM, surf this: 
http://foxtango.org/FT901/FT-901-902%20Web%20Page.htm and be sure to 
look at http://foxtango.org/Files/FT-901DMsg.pdf

(You can also find the service manuals at the Fox Tango web site. Free 
download.)

OTOH, check this out: 
http://www.shopgoodwill.com/viewItem.asp?ItemID=4495783

Not that anyone waxes poetic about the virtues of the TS-530, but 
assuming it's not a total basket case CB refugee that could have been a 
good winter project for someone. And whooda' thot the Goodwill has OM 
potential like that?

There's a fair chance I'll be darkening the doorway at Green Country 
this weekend just for grins. Haven't had any spare cash for a while and 
don't plan to spend any, but I am curious how the junque has aged since 
the last time I looked. With the economy in the crapper I figure there 
may be some downward pressure on prices overall but it could just as 
easily go the other way... When money gets tight the interest in 
"experienced" gear tends to increase.

If anyone catches me dragging a Viking II out of there, please shoot 
me.............. I don't need another bench buddy!