Back in 1978 when I was first licensed my first rig was a used Drake TR22.
It had 6 crystal positions, a bullet shaped mic with a coil cord, leather
caring case and ran on 10 aa nicad batteries. I sold the radio a few years
later. I had since upgraded my 2 meter station to a WE800 from Wilson.
That was one of the first if not the first portable synthesized rigs for 2
meters. I remember when talking to people on the local repeaters when you
wanted to go to another frequency the question was whether you were crystal
or synthesized. I would guess that synthesized rigs on 2 meters had maybe
less than 50% penetration into the market at that point. Those were fun
days.
Dave Marthouse N2AAM
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