Linears: Tell me what I need to know before I buy

I am an old Ham, not much to getting a ham ticket today, no code needed, all test questions are public, learn the answers and you can be an extra class in no time. Not active much anymore, most of my old crowd is long dead along with the hobby.
My first rig was part home made and store bought, took up part of a garage wall. Today you can buy one that will do all the bands (HF) and carry it in a briefcase.

A word on amps and such...Ham or CB

"Put your money in the antenna not the amp".

 

Once you maximize performance with 4 watts like the 45 mile cobra 29 video, then you are ready for amps. Until then, there is more antenna work to be done and amplifiers are a waste of money.

 

Wait a minute everybody I think rabbi just made a joke ....... clap clap clap applause applause.... by God above there is a human being in there !!!! Now quiet please may we all have a moment of silence for rabbi s dearly departed anytone.......quiet please I said quiet ok -------- thank you///// you may all go back to your regularly scheduled programming

 

Again only your opinion don't go off the deep end again on us it's only your opinion.. you've been doing so well lately...stay with us !!!!!

 

Or go park on a hill if you want 45 miles dependably.... Have your radio tuned to about a half watt dead bkey with max clean upwards modulation, then you can fairly much pick out the 100 up to 400 watt amp. Its best to tune the radio with the amp. Again, if your antenna is not up to the task it is all for not. I run phased 5.5 francis mazers and love'um. 1.2 match, But I also use a Galaxy 95t it puts out a clean 95 to 100, more if you dont mind distorsion, but I want it clean. I tuned the radio using a Motorola r2001 Monitor and bird 43 watt meter

Francis antennas are no tune but Ive been using them for years never had a problem.

 

when I was a kid, anARC5 transmitter was $4.99 at the surplus store, pull the dynamo and iinstall a power supply and you had your transmitter

 

I've never been a fan of Morse code. After the code requirement was lifted, I got my general class. Before getting my Class A , I was a repair technician for Kraft Systems, Micro Avionics and Orbit Electronics. All three companies made remote control systems for model aircraft. All this electronics is now imported. With the invention of integrated circuits, repairs meant replace the board. No challenge there compared to having to find the defective component and replace it.

 

Well ya didn't master something ya sent that poor ole anytone to its grave !!! Now what did that anytone ever do to you for you to kill it like that......

 

Radiotelephone license is no longer available, you are grandfathered into a general radio operator's license - GROL.

They still have a form of the old Radiotelegraph license, that is a grol with the telegraph endorsements added to it.