Actually, Mike, you did tell me some things here that I didn't know.

Thanks for this info.

Hope others will find it interesting as well.

Tom Behler: KB8TYJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Duke, K5XU" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 8:48 PM
Subject: The Scout


> Tom knows much of this, but some others may find it interesting.
> 
> The Scout covers 160 through 10 meters, ham bands only. The 555 is a 
> 50 watt output model, and the 556 is a 5 watt version. There is no 
> internal antenna tuner or voice readout option.
> 
> You change bands by way of a separate plug in module for each band, 
> with only one module in the radio at a time. The modules are about the 
> size of some ink jet cartridges.
> 
> This band module approach meant that people could choose to buy only 
> the band modules they planned to use, which is what most Scout owners 
> did. So, if I knew I wasn't going to operate on 160 or 12 meters, I 
> very likely would not buy those modules.
> 
> That, of course now means that since the radio and its modules are no 
> longer in production, certain modules, such as 160 and 12 meters, are 
> somewhat rare, and bring a good price for the seller. Finding a Scout 
> with a complete set of modules all at the same time is almost unheard 
> of. So, the more band modules you have with the Scout, the higher the 
> resale value.
> 
> I have never operated a Scout, but have at least 3 friends who either 
> own or have owned them. All 3 friends like them.
> 
> I have encountered more of them on CW than on SSB, but every one I 
> ever heard sounded good.
> 
> Because of their 50 watt transmitter power level and relatively low 
> receiver current drain, they make good rigs to use as a battery or 
> solar powered HF station.
> 
> On a somewhat related subject, Scott mentioned the SCAF filter. SCAF 
> stands for switched capacitance audio filter. That basically means 
> that the audio bandwidth of the filter is changed by switching among a 
> bank of capacitors. This approach works very well for a CW filter.
> 
> 
> Mike Duke, K5XU
> American Council of Blind Radio Amateurs
> 
> Mike Duke, K5XU
> American Council of Blind Radio Amateurs
>