A fork in the road.

[N3DRB The Derb]

Peeps,

I have made a executive decision regarding my operations here. It's become pretty plain that I'm no longer able to do the kind of metal work needed to homebrew my own transmitters. Operating any kind of power tool larger than a dremel on slow speed is a big problem as it aggravates my seizures.  I have been trying to finish a single rf deck for over a year now and I simply cant handle the metal work involved. At this rate it will take me years to finish a medium sized rig.

This was the main motivation for me to go ahead and buy the Raytheon broadcast rig when Phred asked me if I had any interest in it. I was going nowhere with the homebrew efforts, and here was a ready made maul that I knew worked and sounded better than any transmitter I would be able to build. So I committed to buying it and come April it should be down here and ready to put on the air, provided I do some fundraising for the moving costs. I am having a mover do the work for a lot of good reasons. It's going to take anywhere from 600 to 800 bucks to move it.

So the upshot of all this is that I am going to hold some auctions on ebay to raise the money needed to get the thing down here. I have a lot of things that I personally bought off ebay that are mine, that didnt have anything to do with AM Fone. I'm gonna put em on the block.

Then I have a lot of parts like breadsclicers of good sizes and iron of various kinds fil, plate, and modulation that did come from AM fone gangsters. I'm not comfy selling these without explaining why and letting those that donated the item have it back if they desire.

Some of the items I have lost track of who provided, but if you see an item you provided to me in one of the auctions that you want back, just let me know and I will pull the auction in question and get it back to you. of course anything not belonging to me 100% goes nowhere. The object of me doing this is to break this logjam and be able to clear out all the room I need for the Raytheon.

Many items critical to the operation of the station also are going nowhere, like the Yaesu that works and the Gonset amp and the KW matchbox, the Bird, slugs for Bird... if selling it would put me off the air, it stays. All gear for use with the Raytheon
obviously is going nowhere either.

I need to make a fresh start and get this transmitter down here ASAP. the homebrewing parts are no longer of any use to me since I cant make use of them. Better they get into use with other people who can use em to put mauls on the air.

So that's it, wanted to explain what I am doing and why. all the auctions will be held under my call so just do a search under my call on ebay and you will see whatever I have on. All proceeds go to the Derb Transmitter Relocation Fund.  

Hope everyone understands. I think a working Raytheon RA 250 in my shack beats a bunch of transmitter parts I cant use. Feedback's welcome even if negative.

[WA1GFZ]

Derb,
Scale back the HB operations. You went crazy buying parts then got saturated.
Yup clean it out but save a few things to keep your mind busy. Sitting on the chair yacking gets old after a while.

[W1RKW]

Tim,
Why not outsource the metal work to someone here? Or any other work you may not be able to do.  I'm sure some of the gangstas here can help.

Granted the situations are different but like Frank said about saturation, I got saturated when building the 813 rig.  I started it ten  year ago, took a break for a while, resumed, took another break.  Went nuts for 2 years.  Approached the finish line but the race seemed like it wouldn't end.  Problems and frustrations and the mess of junk collected made me want to chuck the whole effort.

[N3DRB The Derb]

Well, I'm going to start putting things on and see what happens. Wifey is of the opinion that I've been spinning my wheels out there for over a year or better n dont have much of anything to show for it, which is the same way I feel. I'm presuming thats some of the motivation for her to not only say it's ok to get it but pay for most of it!

basically she's buying it for my birthday present. I trust Glo's intuition and we usually see 100% the same on such observations of each others behavior. I probably have parts to make 3 or 4 transmitters. I dont see myself being able to even make one.

[N3DRB The Derb]

N. Young is the King!  

I'm out in the shack building the audio rack for Uncle Ray. (if JJ can name his transmitters so can I, dammit!) 

Gotta eat something. break time.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

As Yogi Berra said, "If you come to a fork in the road, take it."

It's your station and your life. Run it as you see fit.

Hope to hear you on the air soon.

[K9ACT]

I suspect I would buy a good deal of what you have but I refuse to play that idiotic "auction" game.

Why don't you just list the stuff here and tell us what you want and get it over with.  If no one is interested then move it to Ebay.

I have had a search on Ebay for big caps and chokes for months and have not seen a big bread slicer ever or a filter choke for anything like a reasonable price.

I have been looking for bread slicers literally for years so I thought this automatic search would find something but there just is nothing out there.

It's your fork but for me, Ebay is buy it now or never.  I loathe playing games.

js

js

[w1vtp]

Tim,
Why not outsource the metal work to someone here? Or any other work you may not be able to do.  I'm sure some of the gangstas here can help.

Granted the situations are different but like Frank said about saturation, I got saturated when building the 813 rig.  I started it ten  year ago, took a break for a while, resumed, took another break.  Went nuts for 2 years.  Approached the finish line but the race seemed like it wouldn't end.  Problems and frustrations and the mess of junk collected made me want to chuck the whole effort.

I agree wholeheartedly with this Tim.  The problem is that once it's gone, it's gone.  Unless you really need the room or the money, your junk box is important to keep.  My biggest regret in my hobby was "cleaning house" during my last move,  Good luck and decide after thinking hard about it.  I do like the idea of that Raytheon xmtr getting some air time 

[Opcom]

Sorry to hear you are stopping HB activity Derb, but you have to do what you think is right. Outsourcing the big stuff is a good idea too.

[Ed/KB1HYS]

Do what you gotta do and no worries.

Hey, when you said Uncle Ray this is what popped into my mind:

[N3DRB The Derb]

I'm not going to 'clean house' , I'm just going to sell the things I know I'm not going to use and apply the money to moving the BC transmitter down here ASAP. I think it's the best way to move forward.

[flintstone mop]

Tim,
Why not outsource the metal work to someone here? Or any other work you may not be able to do.  I'm sure some of the gangstas here can help.

Granted the situations are different but like Frank said about saturation, I got saturated when building the 813 rig.  I started it ten  year ago, took a break for a while, resumed, took another break.  Went nuts for 2 years.  Approached the finish line but the race seemed like it wouldn't end.  Problems and frustrations and the mess of junk collected made me want to chuck the whole effort.

I agree wholeheartedly with this Tim.  The problem is that once it's gone, it's gone.  Unless you really need the room or the money, your junk box is important to keep.  My biggest regret in my hobby was "cleaning house" during my last move,  Good luck and decide after thinking hard about it.  I do like the idea of that Raytheon xmtr getting some air time 

I've been down those moving roads too. A lot of good radio stuff was sold off or  gotten rid of coz I didn't want to haul it in the move. It would have cost maybe another $500 to move the b'cast transmitters I HAD!!!!

Phred

[W1UJR]

Hi Derb, do what feels right to you.
There are many here that will help you with parts if you find you need them in the future.
Material things which are not used don't bring joy, but rather are a burden.

I wish you well in your efforts and other areas of your life OM!

-Bruce W1UJR

[K1JJ]

Hi Derb,

No need to feel reluctant to do what ya gotta do there.  We all understand, of course. Move out the boat anchor building parts and eventually you can do even better!

Here's a few ideas:

1) To keep your hand in the homebrew area and satisfied to some extent, why not build up a small two-fet 100w class E rig? (Or 4-fets for 200-250w?)  The kits are available with boards and the two-fet RF final is easy. You could even mount the rig on a piece of plywood, if need be... or grab a small sheet of aluminum and build it BC style. It will be cool in the summer and sound as good or better than your new BC rig. Bulletproof and dependable.


2) I'll bet if we talked it up, a posse of friends in your area (and you have many) would gladly take a Saturday and move that big rig to your pad for a shushi dinner later..  You would save a bundle and have enuff cash to pay for parts to build the class E rig and furnish the new BC rig with big maul trimmings.  

In the end, you would have two highly respected rigs that are both BC quality in sound. The maintenance wud be minimal as the BJB got older with the rest of us.

Catch ya on the air, OM.
T

[K5UJ]

I have had a search on Ebay for big caps and chokes for months and have not seen a big bread slicer ever or a filter choke for anything like a reasonable price.

I have been looking for bread slicers literally for years so I thought this automatic search would find something but there just is nothing out there.

Jack,

Define big bread slicer--KV?  pF?  do you ever go to hamfests?  check the for sale stuff here and at KC3OL's forum; and listen to the midwest classic radio net.  The really good components usually don't make it to eBay.   Not all hamfests are gold mines but if you go to every one around here, and get to them right when they open the first day, you'll eventually fine what you are after or something acceptable. 

Rob

[N3DRB The Derb]

well, the first item sold to a midwest AM gangsta, KG8LB, who everybody here knows and I'm sure he'll use it in a rig. it was the low power modulator I got offa ebay about 3 years ago and never used. just sitting on my shelf for 3 years. So I'm happy about that.

I will be putting up many other things over the next couple days.

Tom, the class E idea is a good one, but I'd still have the same problems I think. drillage and blastage and is just hard on me. I'm thinking my homebrew days are behind me. it's the power tools - they totally screw me p for days afterward.

I would actually rather have a crew of gangsters do the move - under the following condx - they allow me to pay gas expenses and dont mind getting treated to a buffet dinner over at the race track at completion. I would rather the money raised from the clear out to go to gangstas, as they would know what they were dealing with. The iron could come out and then we could use the pickup truck.  Either way, I need to raise some bux! 

I have 4 volunteers now.....but I think 6 would be needed.

[K5UJ]

Derb, good to stay focused and clear out the excess.   nothing wrong with that at all.

Maybe buying and modding something already built like beefing up a GK500 is a possibility.  I know a rig like that isn't cheap these days but maybe one like that 400 out your way will turn up eventually.  Or a hb 4x1 amp you could drive with a Ranger.  If I lived within a couple hundred miles of you I'd be glad to come over and move stuff around.  

rob

[K5UJ]

oops i meant a 4x1 amp already built by someone else.