HELP! Overwhelming response to slopbucket rig wanted!

[K7NCR]

Hey Everybody!
I've had a surprisingly good response to my WTB ads, particularly the QTH ad. The following is a list of rigs offered for sale. Any comments on the rigs and/or pricing?
Kenwood TS440SAT    $400
Kenwood TS430         $350 W/PS30  $450
Icom IC730          $200
Yaesu FT757        $300
Kenwood TS440SAT   $300  (described as "ugly, but functional")
Kenwood TS430    $200  same person, same description
Kenwood TS820S  Best Offer  (my favorite of these choices)
Kenwood TS180   $250
Yaesu FT101    (no suffix)  $125
I'm asking because I trust your judgment and experience. Let fly with the dialog!!
Norm K7NCR

[KF1Z]

Buy the 440SAT.... for $300

Rip the autotuner out of it and sell it on ebay  for $150 +

Then use that $150 to buy the FT101.

Use the $25 for frosty cold ones to celebrate.

[K7NCR]

I did already splurge a little. I wanted an inexpensive mobile as well, and found one (TS130S) on e-pay. Bought today for $199. Its my idea of a mobile, as I have plenty of room in the old 91 GMC.
Norm K7NCR
Ah, yes, will save some $ for cold ones!

[Opcom]

I bought a TS-430S with 3rd party power supply for $200 about 5 years ago. It was a good deal.

[K7NCR]

Had a call from another ham,
Kenwood TS830, w/speaker, mic, manuals  $400
Kenwood TS130  $275

Prev. posting of another TS820S set price at $250

Norm

[K1JJ]

Wow, nice response.

QTH.com really rocks for buying and selling gear and parts.

I've put wanted ads for many things and have gotten responses quickly. Always square deals.


T

[KF1Z]

Had a call from another ham,
Kenwood TS830, w/speaker, mic, manuals  $400
Kenwood TS130  $275

Prev. posting of another TS820S set price at $250

Norm

Those are all fine, and good...   But none do AM.. (I'm sure you're already aware of that) ?

[K7NCR]

Yea, I know, none have AM. But then, these would be for general qsos, nets, corntests, etc. I have the Apache for quality AM. And soon, I'll have a Marauder project to go with that station as well! I hope my desk is up to it!!
I still lean toward the Kenwoods, the TS 820 or 830. I still can't decide if the warc bands, speaker/audio filter, mic and manual with the 830 are worth the extra $150.
I guess I could always hope for a cheap FT102!
Norm K7NCR

[K1JJ]

I guess I could always hope for a cheap FT102!
Norm K7NCR

Now you're talking, Norm!

The FT-102 is possibly the best "older" rig you can get  for the money.  The AM mod makes it DC-20kc.  The receiver is about as good as the FT-1000D. (same design)

Put an ad out looking for a clean FT-102 for $250 and see what happens. In this economy, you will probably get some nibbles.

I own four and use them all for one thing or another here.  (Main backup rig, bedside RX, 6M w/transverter, spare)

Tom, K1JJ

[WD8BIL]

Yea, I know, none have AM.

Not really. I use(d) a 430S on AM from the cabin. It needs the AM filter but it does come with AM.
The FT101 has AM. Just ask Derb!!

[KF1Z]

Yea, I know, none have AM.

Not really. I use(d) a 430S on AM from the cabin. It needs the AM filter but it does come with AM.
The FT101 has AM. Just ask Derb!!

I should have said specifically non of the ones in this specific quote do AM..

Had a call from another ham,
Kenwood TS830, w/speaker, mic, manuals  $400
Kenwood TS130  $275

Prev. posting of another TS820S set price at $250

Norm

[N3DRB The Derb]

I'm scared of a FT102. damn things have like, 11 relays, right? pretty much a given a few of them are gonna be ripe for the replacing.

[K7NCR]

FoxTango group on yahoo groups sells a relay kit. The FT102 is not as simple to work on as the FT101 or the Kenwood hybrids. But it is a smokin' rig! I have had 1 response to last nights QTH post for a FT102. Fellow said he would be home next weekend. I don't know if it has the AM board or not. His is inop, probably due to relay issues!
I still like those old kenwoods,,,,

[WQ9E]

I have an FT-102 on my bench right now doing relay surgery, in a couple of days I can tell you whether it is a painful operation or not.

For moderately vintage SSB (and CW) the TS-820 is a great rig.  I have the TS-820S variant with its external VFO and matching R-820 receiver and it has been an extremely reliable setup.  It is also one of the nicest looking rigs of that era (in my opinion); how can you help but love the Japanese interpretation of the classic National PW dial?  On my to do list it to finish up an article for ER comparing my Drake TR-7A / R-7 station to the Kenwood TS-820S / R-820 station since they are roughly of the same vintage; I guess since these are transceiver/receiver pairs instead of twins they are cousins.

Rodger WQ9E

[K1JJ]

The FT-102 relays can be replaced - depends on your patience and skill level. I know of many who have done it including Gary/INR and Bill DUQ.  The newer relays are much better than the originals and will last the life of the rig.


You do NOT need the AM board to get full transmit and rx AM. In fact I sought mine w/o the boards to get a cheaper price.  The mods as described on the AM Window include DUQ's and my instructions to build the NE-602 balanced modulator board and how to hook it up w/o the AM board.

The external VFO is a nice acessery too, but not needed for AM operation unless you want to have separate VFOs - tune off freq while the tx stays put..

Compared to the FT-101, the FT-102 is a joy to listen to when on a crowded channel pulling out a weak one.  You can run them side by side to hear the difference in overload and side channel rejection specs.  I believe this shows up in Jay, W1VD's tests of receivers too, but I'd have to look again. With (3) 6146's in the final it will put out some good soup to drive any linear.

In its favor, I think the FT-101 is easier to work on than the 102, assuming you have board extenders.  It may also be more durably built too and can take more physical abuse. Be careful not to push or lift the front tuning VFO knob of the 102 - it's easy to bend the shaft and get a wobble / indent feel.

All in all, the only rig I would operate for receive use other than the very inexpensive FT-102 wud be the more expensive FT-1000D or the newer (top dollar) riceboxes. 

T

[WB2YGF]

While we are on the topic of FT-101 vs FT-102, there is also the FT-101ZD MKII which is in-between the two.  Has the WARC bands & digital readout. 

Right now I have the FM board in mine but I plan to swap the AM board in since I have the 706MKIIG & Pro II which are better suited for FM.

When I got the 101ZD, what I REALLY wanted was the 902DM with the optional built-in transverters but I didn't have that kind of money.

[K7NCR]

For moderately vintage SSB (and CW) the TS-820 is a great rig.  I have the TS-820S variant with its external VFO and matching R-820 receiver and it has been an extremely reliable setup.  It is also one of the nicest looking rigs of that era (in my opinion); how can you help but love the Japanese interpretation of the classic National PW dial? 

Rodger WQ9E

I feel the same way. Either the TS820 or TS830 would really compliment my RH operating postition, next to my TS700. They would be as easy to repair also, with a minimum of unobtainium components. Maybe I can sell my RME vhf converter/ameco 2m am tx for further funding.
Norm K7NCR