Kits

[Steve Slate]

I may have missed a post on this, but go to
http://www.fix.net/~jparker/norcal/links/website1.html
and you can find lots of ham kit suppliers.  Most of
these are for QRP, but the world of kits is alive and
well.  Several people have mentioned Elecraft - it a
is a firm truly in the tradition of Heath, with lots
of help and now a K-1 transceiver that runs about
$265.

I would always welcome more kit manufacturers, but
don't blame the demise of Heath on Chinese or other
cheap labor.  I don't believe that for a minute.  If
true, then not one of the current firms would be
solvent.  I don't know much about Heath's downfall,
other than what I have read in books and on this and
other lists, but it looks an awful lot like Zenith
just had other things in mind and basically let the
company die.

And don't think the Chinese (or others) have a lock on
cheap labor.  Ever hear of UNICOR or FPI - short for
Federal Prison Industries.  Sells about $750M worth of
products to the US Govt each year.  No prisoner is
paid more than $1.50 an hour, most get a lot less.
Yeah, it does keep the prisoners busy and helps teach
them a trade, but that's a lot of jobs that could go
to law abiding folks.

72/73,

Steve, N4EUK


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