SB-104a vs. KWM-2

[WB2TBB]

Well, there is something to be said about the prices the Collins stuff is
bringing. What is more surprising is to look at the sale of Collins stuff
when it was sold during SB104 years.
I was looking through some '73' magazines I have from the late '70s.
They use to fill up the magazine with a catalog from Tuft's.
That KWM-2A sold for over a grand, without power supply, or provision
for CW filter, and no RIT. It has essentially nothing! For about half the
price,
the Kenwood TS520 had everything. If you wanted to purchase USA made,
even the Drake TR4CW/RIT was a better buy.  If you didn't mind building, and
knew you could do a good job, the SB102 was (clearly) a KWM-2A copy.
I remember those days and am not surprised why there were so many
TS520s around. They did, and still do work great. I also remember what a
joke the SB104 was. I knew when the price of the HW101 went through the
roof,
and then later the SB104 was a clear failure that Heathkit's days were soon
over.
It cannot be explained until you live with a (good) KWM-2A for awhile. Then
if you can appreciate small subtle-ties, you realize that this..is why they
cost so much.
The shortcomings and soft spots of the SB104 are not a secret.  Many people
know them and still love there SB104s.
I love my Eico 753 too, but only 'cuz I built it. It also has many
shortcomings.
It has RIT, but I wouldn't compare it to a KWM-2A...unless I also were
looking
for a laugh!
..Dave
-----Original Message-----
From: J. Douglas Hensley <nfmk at JUNO.COM>
To: HEATH at LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV <HEATH at LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV>
Date: Friday, May 21, 1999 12:14 AM
Subject: Re: SB-104a vs. KWM-2


>Good evening everyone, i can't resist a little fun here.  To my
>learned colleague within the Winged Emblem clan, I say:
>
>Humbug. :-)   He's just jealous folks.  Imagine an S-line trying
>to compete with the SB-104A/SB-230 combination.  It can't do it.
>
>It cannot QSY or band change without preselection retuning,
>dial recalibration, or transmitter retuning.  It cannot keep its
>sensitivity, noise figure, or power output throughout the upper
>amateur bands.   The KWM-2 drops to about 75 watts on 10
>meters and is as sensitive on 10 meters as a National HRO.
>The KWM-2 can suffer backlash and is famous for problematic
>dial zeroing and set point.  Just wait until you experience the
>non-repeating PTO end points.  Then you'll really love your KWM2.
>
>It can't run a certified QRP mode.  It can't run on a gellcell or
>backpack.
>The S line is more prone to floating ground and AC hum problems.
>It requires regular maintenance and has many times the expected
>downtime over what you "might" experience with the SB-104.  The
>noise blanker alone can cost you more than the SB-104 and, now
>listen to this, does not really work according to CCA member reports.
>
>And so it makes sense to buy a KWM2?  That's ridiculous.  The only
>thing that makes sense regarding the KWM-2 is that if you get stuck
>with one, use the Heath HP-23A power supply instead of the 516F2
>and look for a Heath SB-600 speaker so that the SSB will not sound
>like it is coming out of a pork and bean can.  You should also consi-
>der the HW-101 whose production was astonishing; something like
>29000 units I believe?  So well made that even Kenwood and Yaesu
>freely copied the designs in whole or in part.
>
>Your mileage of course may vary but if you've ever been around KWM-2's
>you'll probably agree that the money you have spent makes you defend
>it for being more than it really is.  Not knocking the KWM2 you under-
>stand, just setting the record straight.   Imagine a Collins S-line owner
>saying that you should be aware that transistors can be expensive. :-).
>
>Good night everyone.
>
>On Thu, 20 May 1999 21:01:37 EDT Chuck W4MIL <CEMILTON at AOL.COM> writes:
>>Folks,
>>
>>To those who have never owned an SB104a be forewarned that, while its
>>a real
>>cutie in the looks department it does have its limitations.  CW
>>operation is
>>based on a Heath prescribed "duty cycle" and heat is the enemy.
>>Output will
>>drop like dead flies if the minimums are exceeded.  And the output
>>transistors are: A) Harder to locate in NOS quads and are very
>>expensive
>>otherwise.  B) the Low power mode uses the driver as the output.
>>This
>>transistor is also a bit pricey.......
>>
>>If the 104a does not meet its match with a very low SWR then one can
>>expect
>>troubles.  The use of plug-in IC's opens the door for intermittent
>>display
>>problems not only in the transceiver but in the station clock console
>>as
>>well.  Some parts are very hard to locate and can be expensive as
>>well.
>>
>>This is not intended to "knock" the unit.  Had one myself and still
>>think its
>>one of the nicer rigs around for general use.  However, I'll take my
>>Collins
>>S-Line anyday, anywhere over the 104a.  I would only suggest that
>>anyone
>>contemplating the 104a be prepared to work on it and not subject it
>>to
>>conditions other transceivers take in stride.  As for
>>CW-----------forget
>>it!!!!!!
>>
>>73
>>Chuck
>>
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