Lou,

When I was a Novice in 1961, I dreamed about having an HR10.  At the time, 
all I had was a Heathkit AR2 with a Q-multiplier which doubled as a BFO 
before I got that part of the receiver working.  That old AR2 drifted as 
much as your VF-1, and the only thing that kept me from being a 40-meter 
nomad was the fact that my DX40 was crystal controlled.  Funny how your 
perspective changes.  Now I find myself thinking I might want to upgrade my 
TS-480, but it's so much better than any of that old Heath gear I had.  I 
still think about getting a DX-100, which was my dream transmitter, but I 
guess I'll have to take the HR-10 off my wish list.

Steve

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Louis Kim Kline" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 19:55
Subject: Re: Out Of Date


> Hi.
>
> John's message made me think back to my early days, some 30 years
> ago.  And, my activities as an SWL go back further than that--about 35
> years.  I had all tube gear--a couple of Hallicrafters receivers (the S20R
> Sky Champion, and a Hallicrafters S108).  I came on the air with a Heath
> HW16 with the HG10B VFO (Ok, I ewas spoiled with the VFO!), and a little
> while later bought a Heath DX40, a VF1 VFO, and a Heath HR10B receiver.
>
> The VF1 walked all over the band, and the HR10B is probably one of the 
> most
> worthless receivers I've ever owned.  I used the Hallicrafters receivers
> because they could hear a lot better.  I took the antenna off the HR10B,
> and set it on the bbottom shelf.  When I would work CW, I would tune it to
> my operating frequency and use it as a rather overcomplicated side tone
> oscillator!
>
> I finally graduated to the Heath TX1 Apache with the SB10 sideband
> adapter.  Now there was a beautiful transmitter, if a little cumbersome to
> tune.  I bought it, thinking I would like to play a little AM with it, but
> in the end, only used it on SSB and CW.
>
> During that time I started buying solid state equipment, which was a dream
> to operate, although the nuisance of having to plunk down another $100 for
> a power supply was a pain.  Also, during that time I bought a Heath HW8,
> still in kit form.  I was going to put it together with my father, but I
> went away to college, and he got laid off from work, and in his boredom, 
> he
> built the thing while I was at school.
>
> When I think about how equipment has changed since I started, it is mind
> boggling.  Radios like the Icom 706 MkII G weren't even possible in that
> time period.  Even the worst of the radios being produced today would
> outperform the stuff I was using at the beginning.  My receivers had 
> images
> almost as strong as the fundamental signals, the transmitters and 
> receivers
> drifted all over the place, there were no CW filters, at least until I
> bought a MFJ audio filter, I had to mess with crystal calibrators and
> dials, and through all of that the message still got through.  And, I
> enjoyed it.
>
> 73, de Lou K2LKK
>
>
>
> Louis Kim Kline
> A.R.S. K2LKK
> Home e-mail:  [log in to unmask]
> Work e-mail:  [log in to unmask]
> Work Telephone:  (585) 697-5740
>