The heathkit transmitter ya'll have been referring to was
the HX-1681.....they did make them, for about 18 months..
It was a decent xmtr, as was the companion HR 1680 RX...
they were little 'twins', introduced at a relatively high
price when CW activity was down, and with WARC bands
on the horizon....construction was similar to the "104"
series, and Heath had a TERRIBLE reputation from those
rigs....
As a CW operator (70%?), I have to also be a realist....
T-T has long filled a "niche" market....purely and only
because of the best QSK....aided by superb after-sale
service. These attributes, plus patriotism, have kept
them a significant player with otherwise good, but not
superlative, rigs.....
However, looking around MY town, only about 10% of hams are
serious CW operators. As for more recent licensees, perhaps
5%....unless you consider computer CW on contest weekends
to be 'operating'....I don't..
It is truly unfortunate that the self-contained non-qrp
CW optimized gear has disappeared...but with the demise
of the novice operator in the 80s, would you bet your kids
inheritance on such gear?....Heck, even in the "good 'ol' days",
Johnson sold ten Rangers and Valiants for every navigator!!!
Walt
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