I bought a new rig, got lost in the bids … (apologies to Britney Spears).
Yeah, I did it again. Saw something on eBay — a like-new Icom IC-706MKIIG at a bargain Buy It Now price — and couldn't pass it up. Not no way, not no how.
I've always wanted the MKIIG, but never bought one. I have two 706s, both the original version. I'll probably sell the 706 I used as my main 6-meter station, or put that 706 in my Suzuki and eliminate my 2-meter only rig.
No, I didn't need to buy the rig. Someone had just listed the thing Sunday night, and the price was too low to pass up. I was at least responsible about it — I checked my bank balance first to be certain there was plenty of cash to cover it. One of the things that people don't like that this seller had was the requirement for instant payment at time of purchase via PayPal. Not everyone has cash in their PayPal account to make a purchase like this, and it takes 3 days to transfer money to an account.
I think of the rigs I've got boxed up at present and I realize I really need to sell some. In addition to the 746PRO and the PROIII, I've got an extra Tempo 2020 station — the whole shooting match — I've got at a couple of yaesu 2-meter rigs in boxes, new or nearly new; I have at least one more Yaesu FT-7800 dual band mobile in the box. I sold one to my nephew a few months ago. Add to this list a couple of old National transceivers in the attic, and I could probably finance the purchase of an IC-7700 (or at least the IC-7600).
I'm still using and enjoying the FT-2000. There's part of me that really likes the PROIII better. Perhaps its the display on the front panel. I dunno. A radio friend in Tenn., Danny, just bought a new PROIII, and he seems happy with it. His only complaint was the radio didn't seem large enough (?). Larry also has a new HF rig, he picked up a used PROII. He's another guy whose about as radio poor as I am. He has his 751A, his 746PRO and the PROII all set up. He's as bad as I am!
Oh, and speaking of eBay … I also picked up an Allied SX-190 receiver for a pretty good price. I have the amateur version of this receiver, the AX-190. It's a pretty hot little receiver, too. The SX-190 is the shortwave version, and I'm thinking of using it as my monitoring radio in the library. To be honest, the receive audio is just much more pleasant to listen to that the FT-757GX or any other newer rig. It's plenty hot for amateur band listening and SWL'ing. The SX-190 includes 80, 40 and 20 meter ham bands. It has two open spots for adding extra bands. I would like to add the 60 meter band, which is only adding a crystal. One open xtal slot is for 3.5-10 MHz, the other is for 10-30 MHz xtals. The thing includes the 11-meter band, which I would consider removing and putting in a 10-meter crystal.
I've been following a few things on eBay lately, but nothing much in the way of CW keys. I've got plenty, and I'm only really interested in something new or different (or a bargain!). I missed several McElroy keys that were sold dirt cheap. If thou snoozeth, thou loseth.
That's all this time … 73 es CUL … de KY4Z dit dit ……….