Fw: 104/104A

[Bill Coleman]

On 9/26/01 10:41 AM, Kechkaylo Dave (ATLINKS) at KechkayloD at TCE.COM wrote:

>I had to grin after reading your interpretation of how things came to be
>with the SB-104(A). I think you've just put on your glasses, and now with
>20/20 vision of the past, you gotta remember that the Elecraft, like other
>manufacturers' designs, are based on the hard work of those, like Heath, who
>struggled with new, ground-breaking circuit design, that today are old hat.

I thought that was my point number 2...?

>I think the Elecraft K2, while it is a nice, good performer, is way, way too
>expensive. Their little QRP job, the K1, using those NE-602 Gilbert-cell
>mixers overload even if you look cross-eyed at 'em, and for the money,
>really aren't worth it. But is it a good design? People years from now maybe
>could say the same thing about them. But people buy them 'cause there really
>aren't many other decent kits to choose from (if you really want to build a
>kit).

The K1 is clearly a very much compromised design -- but that's ok for
what it does. The K2, however, is a simple transceiver superbly executed.

>I think Heathkit did a fine job with the SB-104, considering what they had
>to work with....but don't forget, Heath was a hard place for a design
>engineer to work because of the intense cost pressure. Could Heathkit had
>built a better receiver in the SB-104 for the money? You bet, and mistakes
>were made in this area. But having designed an affordable all solid state
>transceiver, and produce it as a kit in 1974, was a tribute to its principal
>designer (I think many of us know who he is).

I didn't mean to impugn the reputation of anyone with my speculation.
1974 was a very early time for all-solid state transceivers. I wonder why
the SB-104 didn't borrow more from the SB-303 receiver, or why Heath
didn't introduce the SB-103 (hybrid), and later work to evolve the
all-solid state design. Perhaps trying to meet all these goals (time,
cost, sophisticated design) set Heath up to produce a less than
spectacular product.

Seems to me that's exactly what the Japanese transceiver makers did --
they evolved their products over time. First with the hybrids, then will
the all transistor rigs.

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
            -- Wilbur Wright, 1901

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