As Hams we are the Victims!
My Homebrew Designs and Home Built Radios are better than an ICOM 7300!
Hams are being victimized by the equipment manufacturers. There must be a cabal among the offshore ham radio manufacturers to gouge us for their products.
In the US those who are making antennas seem to have caught on. How can a simple commercial dipole cost over $100. The average ham radio operator, many of whom are too lazy to build things, simply pay the price. Thus, the high prices prevail, and those manufacturers are counting on your laziness.
I have designed and built over 50 homebrew SSB transceivers (some even do CW). They range from a simple 7 transistor rig to a very complex implementation of a Solid-State version of the Collins KWM2. Here is a not often seen N6QW design, a CW rig. The designs were good enough to become published articles in well-known journals.
A CW XCVR with Analog VFO!
The reason my designs are better is that they don't rip you off like what happens with the commercial radios. Are you serious -- $6K for a small circuit board with a computer like display? You are being misled that the complex design and software raises the cost of the appliance boxes.
The designs and software development were done offshore using cheap labor and the boards are made in China. The term American made refers to the case which was installed in America!
Aren't you tired of being ripped off by these ARRL supported manufacturers who take your hard-earned money? You are made to believe that you can only make contacts by using the $6K radio and nothing else will work.
The truth be known it is your antenna that is what makes contacts not the radio. Even the simplest of radios will net many contacts when used with a proper antenna! A very expensive radio feeding a poor antenna will give only marginal results.
The above regarding my designs is totally absurd and likely untrue! Hopefully you don't believe it like the MAGA Republicans believing that their man is a legitimate businessman and has not kept or divulged classified information.
But my statements have a ring of truth as we are indeed getting ripped off by the commercial manufacturers and the ARRL. But in no way are my designs necessarily better than an ICOM 7300.
A close friend has made DXCC using homebrew gear in two short months! Many of these contacts were accomplished running less than 5 watts. But he did invest in a superb Hex Beam for less cost than an ICOM 7300.
73's
Pete N6QW
