Jim,
I think you offer a great proposal.  Finding builders might be a bit 
of a challenge but probably not undoable.  i fear that my 
building/soldering days are about over.  At 70+ my fingers and hands 
are so damned uncoordinated and inflexible that things that used to 
be easy and fun aren't any more?  Yet another joy of being old!
Lets see if we can't make this project work.
pat, K9JAUAt 03:08 PM 5/11/2013, you wrote:
>Hi list,  I am wondering if we could get a  group of interested folks who
>would like an audible SWR meter and could get some other interested people
>to build them?  Yah, I know, in the true spirit of ham radio, we should all
>be getting down, burning our fingers, noses, or whatever, and soldering our
>own stuff together.  However, how many of us really build home brew stuff?
>I for one would love to get a good audible SWR meter or antenna analyzer
>that would work on HF as well as VHF and UHF.  Is that a pipe dream or what?
>I am prompted to even think about this because of the great article in the
>April QST written by Bill Gerrey.  I won't ask him about building them
>because he would just say, "Great, come on over and solder it up!"  OK, well
>what do folks think about that?  We have the perfect starting point, that
>QST article, now we just need to figure out how many folks would like one of
>these things and someone or ones to build them for a reasonable cost.  Maybe
>since Butch has so much money he can buy that Kenwood 990, he can subsidize
>the project.  However, now that he has that Kenwood, he is more than likely
>broke!  In case this just goes to Howard, could you please forward to the
>list?  73, Jim
>
>
>     -----Original Message-----
>From: Howard, W A 9 Y B W
>Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2013 12:44 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Encouragement for apartment dwellers
>
>I want to comment on those of us who have great supportive X Y L's.
>
>While my wife is not a ham nor is she interested in being one, she is in
>full support of my hobby and generally doesn't complain about me spending
>money except she thinks everything is so expensive.  Well, so do I.
>
>The only negative comments are, "Why do you need so many radios, you can
>only use one at a time".
>
>I own 2 Kenwood radios and four Drake stations and am still collecting Drake
>equipment.  I may get some static if I got too interested in the new Kenwood
>990 though!!
>
>When I spent several thousand dollars putting up new antennas, rotor and
>controller last year after being dormant for some 20 years, she said, "You
>better use it".
>
>One of the aggravating and costly aspects of this hobby is all the
>miscellaneous stuff you need to buy in order to make it all work together.
>
>We will have been married for 31 years this coming June.
>
>She is Great and a keeper!
>
>73
>
>Howard #3
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Tom Behler" <
>[log in to unmask]>
>
>To: <
>[log in to unmask]>
>
>Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2013 1:41 PM
>Subject: Re: Encouragement for apartment dwellers
>
> > All:
> >
> > I have been reading this thread for a while now with great interest.
> >
> > Thanks so much for getting it started, Ron.
> >
> > And, I do think it is providing the encouragement that you intended for
> > hams
> > who must operate with low-profile stations.
> >
> > I don't want to sound too sappy here, but I truly believe those of us who
> > have great XYL's who support us in this hobby and for what we try to do in
> > life are some of the luckiest and most fortunate men on earth.  Like Pat
> > and
> > Ron, my XYL, Sue, is the most awesome person I have ever met, and I am
> > thankful for that every day.  We have been married for 38 years this June,
> > and are looking forward to many many more.
> >
> > For those who are not so fortunate, please at least know that we
> > appreciate
> > what we have.
> >
> > Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ