I, too, have walked longingly past great tables of parts. I did not buy
because of lack of some motivation.
I walked on because, FOR A GUY LIKE ME, I would need a KIT that includes the
bent metal parts, and punched.... all, I say ALL, the parts in one place, and
full English instructions.
That is a fact of my ham life. I would love to build something big, but I have
no test equipment, no metal working shop, and no knowledge to start from
scratch. All the guys NOT like me have likely already had their fill of
building from scratch.
I enjoyed the ten plus years of collecting parts to make a HyGain Xmas tree. I
am now enjoying the parts put together. But antennas are very easy compared to
electronics.
The will is there but some spoon feeding is needed. 73,
Charles Harpole k4vud@hotmail.com
> From: philc@texascellnet.com
> To: vk6apk@bigpond.com; k4vud@hotmail.com
> CC: amps@contesting.com
> Subject: RE: [Amps] why did Heath die?
> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 06:26:08 -0600
>
>
>
>
> > I have a table at our hamfest every year and I sell used and new bits
> > and pieces that hams can use in their construction projects . Mainly
> > amplifier and high voltage stuff.
> >
> > Out every 100 people that go past, only 5 will look at the stuff and
> > 2 will buy something. My prices are dirt cheap as my motive is not to
> > make money but rather give the builders in our small ham community
> > access to stuff that is hard to find and that they would have to pay
> > an arm and leg for elsewhere.
>
> Things are exactly the same here in Texas, Alek!
> After 56 years in ham radio, I have no desire to build anymore. I have tons
> of amp parts, complete RF decks and power supplies. For several years, I
> loaded up trailers full of goodies, and attended ham fests and flea markets
> all over Texas. I never sold enough stuff to meet expenses. Finally, I sold
> my trailer and gave up. I have enough gear and parts for people to build
> legal-limit + amps at less than 10 cents on the dollar. My observation is
> that they will not buy anything that cannot be carried away under one arm,
> regardless of the value and price.
>
> Do not feel that you are alone down-under; builders are truly a vanishing
> breed. When we old Codgers are finally SK, the hobby will have completely
> morphed into a plug-and-play situation. It is very sad that not enough books
> and archives will exist 20 years from now to even mark our existence! CW
> operators will not need to own keys, paddles, or bugs, or know Morse code.
>
> (((73)))
> Phil, K5PC (enjoying life to the fullest!)
>
>
>
>
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