[SixClub] Real value

[AA6DX - Mark]

Awww, come on guys and gals .. this "hobby" can be really inexpensive to 
join.   Just depends on which level you are speaking of.... for example, you 
can get a driver's license and buy a $200 Gremlin to drive around .. or .. 
well, you get the idea.   If you are HF oriented, a Kenwood TS-120 will get 
you going .. if you cannot afford a 12VDC supply, borrow your vehicle's 
battery .. or, whatever ...... the further into Amateur Radio you get, the 
more options show themselves!  That is the beauty of the "hobby" ... which, 
by the way, in the past, we did not call ham radio ..  it was "Public 
Service" ..  so we could keep our ham bands.   Now -- for 6M .. there are a 
lot of rigs available, but I highly suggest the newbie not to buy at first 
glimpse...   As has been pointed out here on this reflector, a mono band 
rig, like the Ranger, is just fine, but. .. ...  for the money spent, you 
might find more use down the line for a multi-band rig.  You probably should 
think ahead .. and, methinks, do not buy a DINOSAUR .. unless you want one! 
I have several of those, by the way .. but I have a bunch of radios.  Set a 
flexible budget, and see what you can find.... eBay is OK, but not 
necessarily the best place to buy .. ARRL has great ad listings, too ... and 
other places, including your local ham radio club!  73
Mark Nelson  -  AA6DX

mailto: AA6DX at ARRL.NET

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "martin glazer" <martinsglazer at yahoo.com>
To: "World Wide Six Meter Club" <sixclub at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 3:41 PM
Subject: Re: [SixClub] Real value


Ham radio is definitely not a inexpensive hobby to get into.

John Carson <em15hf at yahoo.com> wrote:   Well put Mike...

In my humble opinion, if you like a rig and you can afford it new or used, 
then buy what you like...if you get in the old "cost is most important" 
mindset then you may miss out on some very nice equipment. Just because one 
rig is lower priced than another is no way to judge its performance. Cheaper 
is not always good or bad... Maybe the question should be, does the rig do 
what you want it to do? . Just take real good care of your rig and when and 
if you choose to sell it to "upgrade" or whatever price it fairly to the 
market and go from there. So what if a fellow ham gets a good deal, you 
promote the healthly attitude of this hobby and hopefully the other ham you 
helped will pass it on....
Perhaps I should end this by saying , if you're in this for the money, 
you're in it truly for the wrong reason...this is not an ego trip. I am sure 
we have all encountered Hams with a shack full of the latest and the 
greatest, with no concern for cost whatsoever, more power to them...That 
said, is it a useful tool or just something to brag about...

I you have it and you can affort it by all means use it...

I could be wrong on all counts, but to quote Randy Newman in the Monk TV 
show theme song..."I don't Think so...."

My thoughts only, agree or disagree.

73de kd5srw

"Mike (KA5CVH) Urich" wrote:
I think what a some people, myself included, have in the back of our
minds but haven't verbalized is, if I buy this rig and don't like it
(or any other reason), what would the resale value be? Thus with that
in mind I think some people again myself included, will look at the
cost of a Ranger or MFJ-9406 and go ... gee for $XX more I can pick up
a used IC706 or FT100 or any other of the HF w/V/UHF and have a much
better rig, that will be easier to sell if I need too. Or if you do
upgrade to Gen/Extra you now have an HF rig to get on the air with
too. Even if you don't it will be much more down the road than the
Ranger. When you look at cost per band say a new 100 w Ranger 5054 @ ~
$400 times the 12 bands in my FT-100 makes my FT-100 equivalently
worth $4800 (less being 5 years old and original purchase price of
~$750), kinda puts things into perspective doesn't it!