Topic: K1QAR's boatanchor alignment free clinic

[K1QAR]

Those old radios were meant to play, not sit and decay.  If you're man enough to lug it here, I'll try to get it working.  Just powering it up is therapeutic.  (initially with a light bulb in series in case of shorts).    Warming it up with electrons puts the heat where it counts - inside the components. Also reforms condensers, and evicts bugs and mildew.   For those with the R 390A, advanced troubleshooting and alignment.  Zero dollars.  Will hopefully be located out of the rain in the Commercial building by the Church Ladies' Cafe.

[W1RC]

Thanks Ted for the generous offer.  I hope that some of the folks will take you up on it.  Perhaps you could expand on that a bit by offering to evaluate BOATANCHORS radios that someone is contemplating on purchasing, especially if they are in the "big bucks" category.

It's very kind of you, Ted, to offer your skill and experience for free but I hope that folks will offer a generous donation to show their gratitude and appreciation.  At least they could buy you a nice lunch at the Church ladies booth.

73,

MrMike

[K1QAR]

Great idea, O benevolent One. 

The availability of a pre-buy test would certainly remove a lot of the uncertainty, for both buyers and sellers, since it seems much of the stuff on hamfest tables is untested.  Even the small bux stuff can be powered up and tested in a few minutes.   (I recently got an 'estate fresh' Drake R2B going just after the guy bought it, by wiggling the tubes.)   And if an obviously cooked component or dead tube is discovered, what better place to shop for replacement parts than right at the Fester.

 
As for $$, I think the "free" aspect is truer to the spirit of ham radio.  Also,  tinkering, troubleshooting and fixing radios apparently has a certain entertainment value, as shown by the number of people far more expert than I who have stopped by the table and end up spending serious time helping out.

Coming to Marlboro?  I have a spare white jacket. 

[K1QAR]

Is radio dead?  Are only SW Bible thumpers and  Ham Old Buzzards left?

A different type of radio experience was written up recently.  I'm not going to admit to helping with their antenna....

http://www.blockislandtimes.com/article/block-island-pirates-taking-airwaves/25178

 (Any boaters in the vicinity are welcome to tie up to my 1000# Old Harbor mooring and meet the perpetrators)

[K1QAR]

Bummer  Bummer  Bummer

Change of plan.  There is a high probability your tech be stuck 12 timezones away in 3W-land (Hanoi) during the Fester Weekend.   Will try to find a substitute tech to man the booth. 

73,

Ted,  K1QAR

[GuinnessJohn]

I think that Ted is really going to North Korea to buy all of the R390 radios that are on the USS Pueblo!

John Flood KB1FQG