What is a Heathkit??

[Keith Rowland]

Chuck:

You have captured the feeling.  A best-selling author couldn't have done it as well.
Thanks.

73,

Keith

Chuck K3FT wrote:

> What is a Heathkit?
>
> It's a mysterious collection of parts, metal, and paper wrapped in a box.
> It's the trepidation that fills the newly minted constructor as he pores over the manual
> comparing pictures and words with that LARGE and COMPLEX pile of parts, metal, and
> paper... thinking "I'm GONNA BUILD THIS and IT WILL WORK??"
> It's the manual telling you "WE WON'T LET YOU FAIL!"
> It's the learning what those colored bands on those little cylinders mean
> (and recalling the military mnemonic for the resistor color code.. which taught us
> about someone named Violet and what bad boys do to girls!),
> It's the checking off of boxes, being careful not to 'S' when it clearly says 'NS'!
> It's the missed sleep, missed school, missed work, while the hours pass as we solder,
> clip, check, and wire.
> It's the final box checked, the resistances checked, the pots and switches preseet, the
> AC plug inserted, and the momentary panic that preceeds the FLIPPING OF THE SWITCH!
>
> It's the flush of "HOLY SH--!! NO SMOKE! IT WORKS!, as the rush of white noise pours
> from the speaker, the meters flicker and the pilot lights light up. (AND STILL NO
> SMOKE!)
>
> It's the sitting there for a while just staring at the assembled collection of 'stuff'
> and THEN.. aligning it and hearing it receive signals.. SSB, CW, AM, RTTY..
>
> It's that INDESCRIBALY DELICIOUS FEELING that sweeps over you as you realize YOU BUILT
> IT! IT WORKS! and YOU DID IT!
>
> That is what a Heathkit is.
>
> 73
>
> Chuck k3ft
>
> C'mon you guys.. admit it. No one can see you. I see you all shaking your head and going
> UH HUH! You ALL feel the same thing!
>
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