[TenTec] In praise of older technology

[Kimberly Elmore]

I have to mostly agree. As I was growing up, my Dad (W5JHJ, SK 2007) always treated the place we owned a bit like a rental: no holes in walls, no permanent installations of antennas, etc. I never liked that much and have, ever since, done to a place whatever I wanted to make it mine. As examples, I've drilled holes in walls for transmission lines and control lines and left two big 6 cu yd concrete cubes, complete with base stubs, at two previous houses I've owned. Of course, the bases stayed and I patched the holes when I left, but nobody seemed to care. Dad always wanted to be able to liquidate stuff at the best possible price, though he never did. And he would modify gear, but always did a very professional job.

I have an AL-80A into which I built a new power supply good for 4 kV at 500 mA with a FWB and a custom Peter W. Dahl transformer (over 20 years ago, Peter designed it over the phone with me as we talked). The single 3-500Z does quite well with that level of B+, is easier to drive and generates a solid 1 kW CW, a bit more with SSB. I also know that very few would touch it now because it's not "original," so it's my spare amp in case my AL-1200 ever has trouble.

So, at least in that respect, I live for the moment!

Kim N5OP


________________________________
 From: Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP <Rick at DJ0IP.de>
To: bcarling at cfl.rr.com; 'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment' <tentec at contesting.com> 
Sent: Wednesday, March 5, 2014 7:35 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] In praise of older technology
 

"Live for today!"  (that's what I say)

I always use permanent ink! I don't care about the next owner.  
Besides, the next owner will have the same requirements as me.  
If he has half a brain, he'll appreciate the red mark!  (hi)
After all, the cost of one single new tube is far more than the loss in
value a small red mark on the plastic meter might cause.

I view ham radio as a hobby, not an investment.
I have always taken my equipment along on expeditions or even loaned it out
to others for that purpose.
And of course my rigs have the nicks, scratches and occasionally dents,
showing where they have been.

I never hesitate to modify me gear, either.
I know many hams won't buy modified gear but I don't care.

While I have a piece of equipment, I want the most out of it I can get.
That often requires a mod to the radio.  
Nearly every radio I ever owned got two new holes in the back panel and a
mod added to accept a pre-selector.  
Finally Ten-Tec threw in the towel and started offering this option with
their radios!

If they are good, mods to a radio don't depreciate its value, they just
reduce the size of the market willing to pay the fair price for it.

73 - Rick, DJ0IP
(Nr. Frankfurt am Main)


-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
bcarling at cfl.rr.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2014 1:14 PM
To: 'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment'
Subject: Re: [TenTec] In praise of older technology

Rick - make sure you use an ink that can be removed. The next owner may not
want that, and you may get less for the amplifier when reselling it.

On 4 Mar 2014 at 18:16, Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP wrote:

> I always marked the danger zone for Ig by drawing a red line on the 
> plastic meter front with a permanent marker (Sharpie or Eding).


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