[SixClub] Newly Licensed Operators & Sticker Shock

[Steven Coles]

Richard,

 

As far as radio communications goes I writing from a 1960s historical perspective.  However, the same factors still apply in technology fields I've worked in during the last decade.

 

No one engineering team knows everything-even about their specialty.  I guarantee if you peek inside enough equipment, you'll find something with a revision J.

 

In the 1960s somebody would come out with their latest and greatest.  A few weeks later we'd hear how a ham working for Tektronix found an improvement.  Then we'd hear of another from an HP ham and so on for several years.

 

Some improvements push some components close to their limits.  Others require a couple hours of careful round-robin tweaking not practical on a production line.  Some require tuning skills not every ham wants to acquire.  And many simply work.  It's not economically practical to have an engineering team testing and evaluating every improvement.  They have to concentrate on new products.

 

But sometimes they do try the improvements.  The original manufacturer's engineers try the ideas on their own time on their own equipment.  The good stuff gets more serious testing and evaluation for a new model.  The first Heathkit Teners and Sixers (Benton Harbor Lunch Boxes) appeared long before Heathkit released the kits.  Hams had converted Heathkit CB transceivers without any information from Heath.  A later add-on to use more common crystals was first developed by hams, and afterwards adopted by Heath as an option.

 

When the Heath DX-40 appeared a buyer would take his manual to a club meeting.  DX-35 owners would copy the changes into their manuals, go home, and convert their DX-35s to DX-40s.

 

As long as they are legal and do not cause interference to other hams, there are many right ways to assemble a station.

 

Best regards,

 

Steven, KD7YTE