Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020
My goal is finally in reach, and from what I’ve read, I better be prepared to go for it before next Tuesday.
Next Tuesday is when the current $800 discount coupon expires on the Yaesu FTDX-101MP, the 200-watt version of the much celebrated FTDX-101D.
The MP version is roughly $1,000 more than the D model; in addition to 200 watts output, the MP includes additional filtering as standard equipment. The MP is also sold with it power supply that is built into the matching speaker.
For the past couple of months, I’ve been selling everything I own (ham-wise) that wasn’t nailed down. In fact, I don’t have a transceiver here in my library shack; I just sold my Yaesu FT-950 and sent it on its way this morning to its new owner in New York.
I hadn’t intended to buy my radio this soon; my plan was to continue to sell equipment. But with the $800 discount expiring Tuesday, I don’t really have a choice.
Right now, I’m planning to also order some accessories for the radio — a new Heil high-end aviation-style headset; a lightweight Heil headset to replace my aging BM-10s; and possibly a VHF antenna for my 2-meter / 440 needs. Also considering a 6-meter vertical to replace the 6M J-pole I once had.
As I said, I really did not want to buy the radio this quickly; for starters, I really need to do a major cleaing out of the ham shack. I have a lot of “stuff” in boxes on the floor and there’s a clear path to the operating position but not much room due to stacks of “stuff”.
If I order my radio on Monday as planned, I’m probably NOT going to open the boxes immediately. I really need to bulldoze the shack first before I haul in new equipment. I need to buy some storage bins and cardboard boxes for a lot of the “stuff” in the shack. Hell, I’m probably going to buy some shelving for the basement to help properly store my the stuff.
Some of the “stuff” will head for eBay eventually. Some will not. But what’s important is cleaning up the shack so I can move around.
I also have to figure out where to put my Yaesu FT-2000 that’s presently my main rig. It may end up here in the library; its a fairly large radio and I’m not sure how well it will fit in the bookcase. We’ll see.
I have been using a Cross Country SDR+4 receiver here in the library, and its done an impressive job. I’ve switched to my RS-918 QRP transceiver for now. I missing have a “real” radio next to me here in the libary, hi hi.
73 es CUL … de KY4Z .. SK … SK ….. (dit dit)