I continue to enjoy very much my new-to-me Heathkit SB-1400 and the matching heavy duty power supply/speaker.
I've gotten accustomed to the rather odd band change method and the detented main dial. I've compared notes with the 1991 QST review of the SB-1400, and I agree with all its findings. The clicky VFO knob is a bit goofy, but this is a very solid, basic HF rig.
I previously owned a Yaesu FT-757GX, and that rigs design flaw was its receiver's tendency to overload from loud adjacent signals. The SB-1400 (a variant of the Yaesu FT-747GX) has none of these issues — happily noted, of course.
I've been using the radio daily and it is rock stable and a delight to listen to. I've not made the first contact yet because I don't have a mic wired for the rig. I've been working on cobbling up a Heil-style adapter for my Heil headsets so I can try the rig on phone. I can try it on CW, but with the rig and power supply neatly stacked at the operating position I don't have a lot of room left to operate a key or make notes while receiving.
The rig is destined to move into our library later this year, since this is where our wood stove is, thus it becomes the center of activity on cold winter nights.
ANOTHER ACQUISITION COMING. Yes, that's right, another eBay purchase. This time I'm going RETRO, baby — a Yaesu FT-757GX.
Now the 757 is NOT an old rig by any means, at least not in the way that I define “old” (with me pushing 50, that is). But the “retro” connotation comes from the fact that a 757 was my very first solid-state “modern” rig. I owned that rig for nearly 18 years, then like an idiot, sold it.
It's kind of fitting, I guess. I sold off all my boat anchor rigs to buy the Yaesu — I sold two completer Hallicrafter stations (SX-101A/HT32A, & SX-111/HT-37A), as well as a Heathkit SB-102 station, a Tempo and some other gear.
The Yaesu was a $650 purchase back then, which was a lot of money. Hell, it's still a lot of money.
Well, I've purchased another FT-757GX rig. This one was one that sold this week on eBay. I contacted the seller to let him know if the sale didn't go through to let me know.
Apparently there WAS a problem. The paypal thing wasn't working …. too many red flags, i.e., the guy wanted to use a card not in his name, he wanted it shipped to an odd address, etc. I let him know I would take it if the other guy backed out.
The seller must have told the guy I was willing to buy it, and I guess it was a case where he would not give him neg feedback. The agreed to not complete that sale.
I'm a little nervous about making a purchase outside the eBay arena. I don't know this guy from Adam; in fact, he could be scamming me. He could have sold the rig to that guy AND me.
I don't think that's the case, because someone whose that opportunistic wouldn't have 100 percent feedback still. Or that's my hope.
The rig looks unmolested and fully functional. There's some wear, but that's to be expected. I'm looking forward to getting it, but it will likely be more than 10 days before I see it. I mailed him a money order rather than PayPal.
That's about all for now. I better put my coffee cup away and get the day started.
73 de KY4Z … dit dit ….