[SixClub] Newly Licensed Operators & Sticker Shock

[Howard Bingham]

At 04:18 PM 6/5/2006, Clark B.  Manor wrote:
>Hey you guys!
>
>The Ranger 5054 is a great entry level machine and for the money it goes a
>long way.
>
>Here is a thought about utilizing the Ranger, get a good beam antenna, and a
>rotor and about 30 feet of tower.  This combination works very well when
>there is a resonable band opening and the Rotor helps tune in long dx's.  It
>is not a power house but it does work well and has a reasonable group of
>features.
>
>I also use a Midland commerical grade FM rig with 100 watts on the same beam
>antenna.  When folks are talking on FM it is one heck of rig.
>
>CBM
>KG4JZU  EM91FF
--

I only wish Ranger would make installation easier in today's 
automobiles or pickups, by offering a remote head, as there are not 
that many places one can install a radio of this size given the 
design of todays vehicles & lack of solid metal to screw the mounting 
bracket into..

My other radios are mounted on the back wall of my pickup cab & only 
the control head & mike are visible.

Howard Bingham
KE5APJ

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>----- Original Message -----
>From: "martin glazer" <martinsglazer at yahoo.com>
>To: "World Wide Six Meter Club" <sixclub at mailman.qth.net>
>Sent: Monday, June 05, 2006 1:43 PM
>Subject: Re: [SixClub] Newly Licensed Operators & Sticker Shock
>
>
> > I would AVOID the Ranger, and try to stick with Icom or Kenwood, if at all
>possible.
> >
> >
> > Howard Bingham <howardb at hal-pc.org> wrote:
> >   I haven't seen any 6m rigs at Houston area swap meets either..
> >
> > Other than MFJ kits, the Ranger RCI-5054dx100 is probably the most
> > affordable rig, as most HF radios with 6m capacity cost many times
> > this. Alinco & Yaesu make FM radios with 6m among the VHF
> > selections, but these cost at least as much, if not more than the
> > "all-mode" Ranger radio.
> >
> > Howard Bingham
> > KE5APJ mobile
> >
> > --
> > At 09:51 AM 6/4/2006, Michael (KA5CVH) Urich wrote:
> > >----- Original Message -----
> > >From: "Steven Coles"
> > >Subject: [SixClub] Newly Licensed Operators & Sticker Shock
> > >
> > >
> > >I've heard that various barriers, of which sticker shock must be a major
> > >one, prevent 50% of new hams from ever getting on the air. A lot of teens
> > >and retired license holders don't have even $200 for a station.
> > >
> > >Mike wrote
> > >
> > >I hear what you are saying but I disagree. I tend to believe its a matter
> > >of priorities in many if not most cases.
> > >
> > >What would you give up to get on the air? You don't have a right to a
>Yaesu
> > >FTDX9000-Contest for $50 anymore than you have the right to a new Lexus
>for
> > >$1000. I mentor a number of new hams from time to time and I constantly
> > >advise them to just find something used in their price range and get on
>the
> > >air, the newer and better stuff will come in time. As they make contacts
> > >and friends they can begin expressing their desire for something better
>and
> > >hopefully WITHOUT WHINING let people know that they are on a fixed income
> > >and really need some help looking for an inexpensive upgrade.
>Unfortunately
> > >in this cradle to grave mentality we seem to be stuck in no one wants to
> > >make sacrifices and they want it now.
> > >
> > >I know a local ham who is retired and while on a fixed income, is not
> > >hurting that was complaining about having to pay $10 to take the ARECC-I
> > >test at a local VE-Test session. He thought that the government should
> > >cover the cost because he's retired and afterall its EmComm related.
>After
> > >listening to his complaints I noticed the cell phone on his side as he
>was
> > >headed out the door to get in his 30,000+ automobile and go home to watch
> > >some ball game on cable. I wanted to scream "SHUT UP ALREADY AND PAY THE
> > >STINKING TEN BUCKS"
> > >
> > >Anyone in business will tell you if you can't cover the costs of raw
> > >products, space, manufacturing equipment, payroll and TAXES you won't
>stay
> > >in business very long. The laborer, whether the employee building the
> > >product, or the business owner who has put capital on the line that pays
>all
> > >the above, is due is wage. If they can't make a profit we all go back to
> > >scrounging for parts and building our own gear from copied schematics on
> > >breadboards. OK, maybe I exaggerated a bit. Now, OTOH, I too would like
>to
> > >see more inexpensive gear offered by the big three. Yaesu recently
>dropped
> > >the FT-840. Apparently there was not enough interest in the radio to keep
> > >it profitable otherwise I don't think it would have disappeared.
> > >
> > >Soap box rant off.
> > >
> > >YMMV
> > >
> > >Mike Urich KA5CVH
> > >http://ka5cvh.com/democ.htm
> > >
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