I wanted to suggest the TS-120 or TS-130 too.
I have recently seen them for $200 and $300.
I have never been a Kenwood fan, but when you are looking for bangs for the
buck in this price class, they are hard to beat.
The comment on the front end is valid but probably not a problem in his
neighborhood.
As a CW rig I would prefer the Triton IV or Omni (original models), but you
have to be careful with the PTO; it might have to be rebuilt and that costs
a bit more.
I just helped a local ham in a similar situation.
We went with the TS-130.
One more thing to remember; he's going to probably need a matchbox, an SWR
or Watt Meter, and a couple of coax jumpers.
You're looking at another $50 to $100 to get all this stuff, and you still
don't have an antenna or coax.
Now days it's hard to get started on a shoestring budget.
You really need to budget for a bootstring.
73
Rick
-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com]
On Behalf Of Dr. Gerald N. Johnson
Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2010 12:33 PM
To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Looking for "cheap" rig or honest and patient ham
The TS-120 and TS130 were solid rigs, but didn't have the strong signal
handling receiver of the later Tentecs. The 820/830 is a bit more
complex and I've seen it confuse new hams. It also needs to be tuned
which complicates operation.
The only thing I know bad about the 120/130 is that the RF board
mounting screws will work loose and then it oscillates on transmit when
on the higher bands. Tightening the board mounting screws fixed it every
time. I had two 120 and a 130. The 130 is nice that filter selection is
independent of mode if desired.
At least on ICOM I used of that era didn't have working AGC on the
receiver which was very annoying. Sometime after that FD the owner
bought a TS-440 and was so enamoured by it that he ran it nearly
continuously the 23 hours after opening the box.
73, Jerry, K0CQ
On 9/2/2010 12:03 PM, Art Trampler wrote:
> Hey Gang,
>
> I've befriended a new ham who knows CW, and is working to get on HF. He's
sadly only on VHF. He's looking for his first rig and I think he and his
XYL are just making ends meet.
>
> I told him that I saw $300 as about the floor on anything worth buying.
What do you think? He only has about 1/3 of that put toward a rig and is
selling some surplus items to raise more.
>
> So is there anyone out there with an Omni C or similar that would be
priced in the range I suggested, who would be willing to consider holding
the rig while he paid for it? Would the Omni C be a good rig, or discourage
him?
>
> I'm looking at IC-725s, TS-530S, 520S, 820/830, but thought I'd check
here.
>
> When my XYL and I were selling my stepson's old saxophone we asked $300, I
think, which was fair. The girl who bought it had $75 to put down. We were
so taken by her enthusiasm toward playing that after she handed my XYL the
$$, my XYL said, "Here, you better take the sax home tonight, and by the
way, it's paid in full."
>
> Maybe one of you will have such a moment in this case. I just don't have
any extra rig!
>
> 73,
> Art
>
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