Comments on Other equipment used by
ZS6DX
Some statistics on failures in Equipment New
Heathkit
SB-102
Likes:
- A real trip down memory lane.
Dislikes:
- NONE for its age.
- Quality of VFO hardware not very good.
SB-200
Likes:
- Compact and easy to work on.
- Easy conversion to 6m, I can get 600w on 6 so it does not work too hard at
400w.
Dislikes:
- Uses expensive and scarce (in South Africa)572B tubes, I have found these
tubes to be less robust that for example tubes like the 3-500Z or 4-250/400
families. I have managed to wear out a pair of these tubes in two 48 hour
contests running 400w output !.
- Runs VERY hot unless you add additional fan.
- You really need to rebuild the power supply with new diodes and
capacitors.
- High keying voltage, will destroy the keying relay in most modern radios
!.
HL-2200
Likes:
- Very robust construction with a very heavy duty power supply.
- Easy to work on and modify for other bands like 10m and 6m.
- Uses REAL 3-500Z transmitting tubes that have a lifetime of more than 20000 hours at
full ratings.
Dislikes:
- High (115V DC) keying voltage, beware, it will damage most modern rigs
unmodified !
- Fan a bit noisy, maybe I just spoiled by solid state amplifiers !.
Alinco
DR-605T
Likes:
- Small and compact.
- Reliable, mine has been to the wars and survived !
- True dual-band with full duplex.
- I have had many satellite contacts with this little radio.
- Low cost.
Dislikes:
Atlas
210X
Likes:
- Small and compact for its age.
- Simple but solid construction.
- Great TX audio.
Dislikes:
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