A Heathkit Moment

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Thu, Mar 4, 2010 at 8:53 AM, Wilson Lamb <infomet at embarqmail.com> wrote:

> As I've said many times, I'd rather listen to a Heath than a KWM-2 or S-Line
> receiver.  This one is no exception.  Hopefully he will throw up a wire and
> get on a little.  Who knows, I may pick up another 101, after I fiinish the
> 10 or so projects already hanging around here.

GREAT story, Wilson. It's always amazing to hear what some of this old
gear is still capable of after years of disuse, neglect, abuse,
whatever it may be.

Heathkit, like the WRL stuff, got a bad rap with some folks for being
lower in quality than Collins, Johnson, National, etc, though I find
this to be more a symptom of the rebirth of boatanchor interest in the
last 10+ years. Both companies made some excellent gear that allowed
many more folks to get on the air who couldn't afford a  new
Hammarlund receiver, Johnson or Collins transmitter. And as nice as
the old A-Line gear is, the big Heathkit Injuns from the late
50s/early 60s are just a feast for the eyes IMO.

In fact, after the 32V crapped out again for the third time in less
than a year (lost audio this time), I pulled out the Apache and Mohawk
I got from JP last spring and plan to get it on the air this weekend.
Unfortunately the Mohawk is stock and suffers the typical bad audio as
a result, but the simple fixes in ER will address that.

It's all good, and we're fortunate to live in a time when we can enjoy
so much of it.

See you at the Raleigh 'fest next month -

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4

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