There are some kits available, usually fairly simple, but there are a couple
complex ones out there.
But, Heath's "bread and butter" was NOT amateur radio although, for decades,
amateur radio equipment was very profitable. Heath sold many thousands of test
equipment, "hi-fi" equipment, and so forth.
Like it or not, amateur radio operators are a VERY small market when compared
to consumer items. Then "figure in" the actual number of operators who really
would build kits if they were available. Frankly, the economics are just not
there! The companies who are manufacturing kits today are generally doing so
as a "side line" and are not showing a large profit.
Next, we live in a society today that is very prone to "suing" someone if
things don't go right or if they are injured in any way. Frankly, someone
today building an amplifier kit with lethal voltages present is an open
invitation to a very large lawsuit. If liability insurance is available, the
cost of such insurance is going to increase the cost of the kit substantially.
Back when Heath was in its "hey day" if someone got shocked they figured out
why and tried not to get shocked again. Today, if someone gets shocked, or
worse, then the lawsuits start. It seems if the lawsuits include the
manufacturer of the device, the electric company that provides the electricity,
the manufacturer of the wire that conducted the electricity, the mine owner who
owned the mine from which the copper that was used in the wire came from, and
anyone else who is remotely a party.
I definitely would like to see a "new" Heathkit type of company. But,
realistically, it just isn't going to happen. At least on a scale that is even
a fraction of what Heath produced.
Glen, K9STH
Website: http://k9sth.com
--- On Sun, 1/31/10, Charles Harpole <k4vud@hotmail.com> wrote:
Sorry, but I do not accept the answers to why there are no more ham Heathkits,
at least today.
Today, hams are hungry for a safe and sure building projects which 1. includes
all all all the parts, 2. has good instructions in English, and 3 results in
something one would want. Elecraft may be partial proof of the consumer kit
choices.
Power supplies and RF amplifiers could be the items a person would want and
would be willing to build. Maybe add SWR meters, Keyers, advanced speaker
enclosures, remote touch pad for several rigs (K3 etc), and remote antenna
switches?
I get a laugh at the building projects in QST over the last few years.... Who
in the world actually builds these things? It looks to me like ARRL wants to
continue the idea, now a myth, that hams are overall very technically adept and
cutting edge regardless of if the articles are actually built by anybody.
To me, ham radio as a hobby today is much like the old car guys... Model T,
etc. Add old airplanes, or add your favorite. These are old technology played
with for fun and celebrated for what it is... a beautiful and wonderful part of
history. CW is the same thing, the practice of an elegant old communications
method. No one puts down a guy with a beautifully restored Model T Ford, and
hams should NOT stand being put down just because our technology does not
nearly equal what the military has, for example.
We should accept and celebrate the kind of radio hams do. The return of
point-to-point wiring! Hurray! Bring back kits!
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