Hilberling PT-8000 series of HF/VHF-Transceivers - no more

So, while at Dayton this year I saw a demonstration of this new German Ham radio. The quality was obviously German, through the roof one hell of a well made radio. Cost, between $12,000 and $16,000 so clearly out of my league, for now.


While browsing the web to learn more about properly grounding my shack I chanced upon this note from Hans Hilberling found here -> http://k9zw.wordpress.com/2008/07/24/hilberling-pt-8000-production-canceled/

"Message from Hans Hilberling
I regret to announce today that Hilberling GmbH has cancelled the production of the PT-8000 series of transceivers.I am really sorry that this will cause disappointment on your side. Let me explainbrieflywhat had led to this decision:

Hilberling had to counteract continuously obstacles to meet EU wide requirements. This has forced us multiple times to change the design of this high-end transceiver which often has been in conflict to our design goals. We finally could meet all our design numbers within a few prototypes but we and the numerous suppliers were not able to guarantee these numbers for the line production. Measures that would have to be taken to guarantee the specifications are in no way cost effective.

All this has led to the a.m. decision to put everything on hold.
Hilberling apologises for any inconvenience you had. We deeply appreciated the confidenceyou demonstrated for the PT-8000 series of HF/VHF-Transceivers.

Hans Hilberling July 24, 2008"

While there I picked up a brochure and felt maybe someday down the road it would be nice to see about these radios. Sadly they won't be made. I wonder whats going to happen to the ones I saw? Maybe Hans will use them and now I have a brochure for something that will never be.

To buy or not to buy, that is the question

Ok, pondering if I should buy a new Icom IC-7700 or not. Is this something a lowly Tech like myself can really use? I bought the Icom 746Pro prior to getting my Tech since using it fully required at minimum a Tech license. Here is a snapshot of the awesome 7700.



I figure my goal of being an Extra class licensee by the end of this year is reason enough to upgrade to this radio and use the 746Pro for 2m and for general RX on the bands since the 7700 lacks dual receive. Why not go 7800 or Yaesu 9000? I like the big Yaesu's, don't get me wrong but they are as expensive as the 7700 and 7800. The 7800 is almost twice as much as the 7700 and I already have the 746Pro so can't see spending another 5k for dual receive, ok, there is other things about the 7800 as well but come on, $11,000 to buy one?? WOW!!!

So, the question remains, to buy or not to buy... gut says yes, the Supercharged Mustang GT costing me big money in the garage says no way. The XYL says, sell the Mustang and buy any radio you want, but we both know you can't do both, not at this cost level. She is right, dammit they always are!! So, do I sell the Mustang, that I love and have waited for but costs much more to run that any Ham radio, even an expensive Ham radio?

I'll be honest, this is the place for that right? I love my Mustang, really, that car is something special. However I cannot afford to do to that car to take it to the next level and I won't be happy with it unless I take it to the next level, status quo ain't for me. I think I may just sell the 505hp fast as all hell Mustang GT to up the ante in Ham Radio. I enjoy the technical aspect of radio, it makes me think and frankly makes me feel pretty smart at times. :)

Driving the 505hp Mustang makes one feel powerful, fast and free, when I drive that car it feels like an extension of me. More so than any car I have ever owned BUT I know I can't have both, well, truth be told I could, if I take myself further into debt I could do both but who needs more debt, just not smart right, nope, sure isn't.

So, know anybody who wants a mint condition 2006 505hp Mustang GT? Contact me, we'll discuss price. I'm going to have a drink now, that car has been good to me.

20m open tonight

Fortunately and unfortunately all at the same time 20m was open tonight.
Fortunate because I could hear many good QSO's.
Unfortunate because I could hear Karol Madera VE7KFM as well, but a quick QSY and that was solved.

The weather was the best it's been in some time, 79f and mostly sunny. A perfect day for drag racing!

73's all, time for some zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's.

Channon Christian and Chris Newsom Hate Crime

Channon Christian and Chris Newsom

Originally posted 05/17/07 on my web site. Haven't heard of this story, of course not, they aren't part of the agenda.


- How does the mainstream media not cover the Channon Christian and Chris Newsom hate crime? They were gang raped, sodomized, peed on, spit on,tortured, mutilated and then shot/murdered?!?!? How does a press vilify the Duke Lacrosse players for a rape they didn’t commit every week in the printed and viewable press all but ignore an obvious hate crime such as this???

It seems to me that the press will indulge themselves on rumors and even use blogs for actual news when it fits their agenda yet won't cover a story about two people who were the obvious victim of a hate crime. Anybody who knows me knows that I consider any form of physical violence a hate crime but these days we define and seperate everything and I guess these two were just not worthy of the American press.

For more details about this disgusting hate crime check out this link - Wikipedia Link
To quote Charlie Daniels "Is reporting the latest lewd episode of Paris Hilton's privileged life or playing Alex Baldwin¹s raging diatribe for the thousandth time really more important than letting the public know about a cruel and demented crime like this? Shame on the American media for letting such a violent crime as this slip through the cracks. I wonder what else they're not reporting." Well said Mr. Daniels, well said.

Unfortunately this tragedy seems to have brought out the worst in many people. Look at most blog sites that allow comments about this story and you'll see a mix of people actually proud of the crime, or threatening those that are making racist comments, generally because they’re simply to ignorant and stupid to know better. You'll see racists of different ethnic backgrounds (white is assumed of course) making the usual racist comments about the couple who were white and the 4 perpetrators who were black. None of whom seem to know they are as bad as the racists they are either cheering on or threatening, ironic isn't it. A racist is a racist, I don't care what color you are or how ok you think your reasons are or what was done to you, one bad apple does not a whole race make, don't understand this concept?

You need help then. I digress...


Had this been a crime against a black couple Jesse and Al would be screaming (imagine the energy they spent on Imus, this would be wildfire in the press by now) for all to hear but they were off someplace else not to be bothered with such things leaving one to believe it is about color, these two were simply not part of the "agenda". We as a people want everybody equal, we all want color to be neutral, maybe the status quo IS the agenda, how pathetic that would be if it were true, I must be wrong no? I don’t think so, I doubt either even know the names of these two victims. They were there for the alleged victim at Duke and no proof needed to be given, perhaps a word or two for these two, maybe, no?

Think about it and think about how it must have felt for him to watch his girlfriend, black or white get raped and urinated on, then think about how it must have been for her to watch her boyfriend get raped and his genitals sliced off and then think, should color matter when reporting this? No? Then why did it.

Yes, I'll be just as angry if this were a white on black crime, a white on Asian crime or a white on white crime, but that really isn’t the point.