I was very surprised — and happily so — to hear my doorbell ring early this afternoon and find a big box shipped here via UPS.
The return address confirmed it was the Heathkit SB-1400 and power supply that I had won on eBay a couple of days ago. Man, that's FAST shipping!
The package was solid, and I didn't hear anything rattling around inside, both good signs (I'm always wary of UPS-shipped parcels).
In short, the SB-1400 is a real gem! It's got a good receiver and operates well. It has good output, though I don't have a mic to check the audio. I'm convinced the rig is fully functional.
I've got the rig playing now, listening to 3898 kHz, and it's rock solid stable. I really just need to either make or buy a Heil AD-1 cable, since my boom mike is set up for that. I've also got my headsets to run with it too. If I can find the cable I might try to cobble up one on my own. I found an 8-pin mic plug I bought at the last hamfest.
I don't know if this rig has the optional FM board or not. It has some quirks that are a bit, well … quirky.
For starters, the tuning knob is detented. It clicks every time it moves. I don't particularly like that, and I wish it was user selectable.
The other odd thing is the band change switch. You punch the “Band” button, and then you tune the main tuning knob to jump in 500 kHz steps to go to the band you want. Once you're close, you then tune to the frequency you want. It's a bit unusual, but not unworkable.
I got the money order today for the Yaesu receiver I sold on eBay this week, so that will go out tomorrow. I'm still in the hunt for a Yaesu FT-757GX, but I'm actually thinking of longer term plans … I've got my eye on a couple of different projects.
For starters, I would like to sell “stuff” I have extra and buy a new Yaesu FT-2000. I played with one at AES in Orlando and enjoyed using it. If I start selling “stuff” I could possibly raise that much to buy one without selling my baby — my Icom IC-756PROIII.
If I knew I would love the 2000 I would trade in my PRO in a heartbeat. The PRO will be hard to top, but I really want to try a Yaesu.
Anyway, I've got a lot of stuff laying around I could sell to reach that end … for starters, a Kenwood TS-50 and AT-50; an extra Icom IC-706 and a Alinco DX-70T. I could probably get about $1300 tops for all of that, and that's nearly halfway to a new FT-2000.
The “other” project is to buy some antennas. I have a tower I've never put up, mostly because I haven't sprung for a tribander. I want a Cushcraft A-3, runs about $400 or so.
Well I'm off to enjoy the new rig. More later.
73 es CUL de KY4Z … dit dit ….