Some years ago, the USA got their hands on a
soviet MIG and were laughing about the all-tube
radios inside..... until they realized their MODERN
transistor radios would be toast in an EMP, whereas
tubes have a chance of survival. Old is not always
bad. 73
Charles Harpole
k4vud@hotmail.com
> Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2008 21:49:39 -0400
> From: wn3vaw@verizon.net
> To: tentec@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Product Obsolescence
>
> You can still get most tubes -- for a price, but you can get them.
>
> You can still get most discrete components of the thermionic era -- for a
> price, and sometimes you have to settle for a very close substitute, but you
> can get them.
>
> The day, though, is not far off where these components will become too
> expensive to obtain for the average ham, if they are at all available. And
> when that sad day happens, Jim's comments will be just as appropriate.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: tentec-bounces@contesting.com
> [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Martin, AA6E
> Sent: Friday, August 08, 2008 6:22 PM
> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Product Obsolescence
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 8, 2008 at 3:59 PM, Jim Brown K9YC
> wrote:
>
>> Any product is obsolete when it stops working and cannot readily be
>> repaired. The Hercules I with a blown output device is a prime
>> example of that. I own three Titan 425s and a Hercules II. I can
>> afford to own these nearly 30 year old products because they
>> reasonably well designed, are practical to work on myself, and are
>> utilize parts that I can find at low cost.
>>
>> ...
>
>
>
>>
>> Bottom line -- I'll take a software/firmware based radio any day!
>> The most important thing is buying one from a great company.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Jim Brown K9YC
>
>
> I'd accept your facts, but I might come to the opposite conclusion. My 30
> year old Kenwood TS-520S is completely pre-digital and works as well as it
> ever did - far from today's state of the art, but enough for lots of good HF
> work. There are no exotic parts (no ICs) that couldn't be replaced (or
> substituted for) if anything fails. It could probably run for another 30
> years.
>
> Any radio with custom ICs, microprocessors, etc. (like my Orion) is dead
> when a critical and irreplaceable part fails. In the extreme, you have to
> regard modern rigs as disposable. If they break, it may be more expensive
> to repair than to replace, if repair is even possible.
>
> The good news is that price/performance continues to improve, so maybe you
> would have wanted an excuse to upgrade. ;-)
>
> 73
>
> --
> Martin Ewing, AA6E
> Branford, CT
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