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Re: [Amps] I dont accept answers to why did Heath die?

To: "Glen Zook" <gzook@yahoo.com>, <amps@contesting.com>, "Charles Harpole" <k4vud@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] I dont accept answers to why did Heath die?
From: "David H Craig" <davidhcraig@verizon.net>
Reply-to: David H Craig <davidhcraig@verizon.net>
Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:07:27 -0500
List-post: <amps@contesting.com">mailto:amps@contesting.com>
    As an attorney, I could not have said it better than Glen did (save the 
mine, wire & power-company thing- thr latter are "usually" immune). 
Money-hungry, greedy, J.D. BSTRDs are at the root of the problem.  Short of 
major tort-reform or my peers suddenly finding conscience trumping greed 
(not a chance in h#ll), forget the kits.  Read ALL a brand new household 
vacuum's warnings (and try not to LYAO) if you disagree.  I won't get into 
the legalisms- just understand this isn't the America you (or I for that 
matter) were born into, and suck it up, as it won't change in my lifetime 
for sure.

    David H. Craig, N3DB
    Attorney at Law


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Glen Zook" <gzook@yahoo.com>
To: <amps@contesting.com>; "Charles Harpole" <k4vud@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2010 11:58 PM
Subject: Re: [Amps] I dont accept answers to why did Heath die?


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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