[TenTec] Looking for "cheap" rig or honest and patient ham

[Steve Mercure]

No disrespect intended but for a first rig I'm not certain a QRP rig is the way to go.  I have operated many different qrp stations including some of the fine gear from Small Wonder and Oak Hill but I've been a ham and operated CW for many years now.  
 
As a first rig I would think an Omni C or 546 would be excellent.  In fact my primary radio right now is a 546, although sadly Ten Tec is running out of parts for that fine line of equipment.   I have seen IC-718 in that price range at hamfests, especially if they do not have the DSP unit, which in my opinion is a waste in that radio.  The last TS 830 that I purchased cost $350 and that is one fine CW rig, especially if you can find one with the 500 hz filter.  
 
Good Luck!
 
73 de W5EN Steve 
 
> Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 10:03:12 -0700
> From: atrampler at att.net
> To: tentec at contesting.com
> Subject: [TenTec] Looking for "cheap" rig or honest and patient ham
> 
> 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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