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"Plug it in and go"?
Don't You need to read the manual first?
In Your post to Ron You said something about the cost for a Rig.
Since I got internet access last January I haven't thought to see what Ham gear
is available and the cost.

Two years ago I saw the price of a XCVR that was over one thousand dollars
(USD).

In the early 1970's $350.00 was the price for a Kenwood TS-520.
I drooled over that rig.
I got really interested in buying it in 1974(or 1975).
The price has doubled.
My thinking the doubling was due to illegal operators on 27 Mc/s Citizen Band
freqs had been purchasing a XCVR Yaesu made that still had the old 27 Mc/s Band
Switch setting plus AM & SSB.

IIRC Citizen Band began in September 1958.
I got my KNovice License 3 Months earlier in June.

Other members of my greater family bought CB radios, and I probably would have
too if I hadn't got interested in Amateur Radio.

Thinking about the early days of CB, I remember in a Ham Magazine there was a
cartoon I remember Very Well.

It showed the back end of two parked Cars.
Both autos had a rear mounted Mobile Antenna on the Drivers side of those cars.

There was a Center Loaded Antenna on the left car.
The Antenna on the car on the right was a Quarter Wave CB Whip.
In the next picture the Antenna on the left shows that it was slightly
quivering.
The third picture the Ham Antenna was shaped like an enlarged > .
Like it was rearing back as a Rattlesnake would.
The last picture showed the Amateur Antenna curved from the Ham's car towards
the CB'ers car with a brilliant flash.
The last picture shows the Ham Antenna slightly shaking as it was coming to a
stand still, on the right was a pile of ashes.

Thinking of that cartoon caused me to remember a 75M QSO I heard back in the
early 1960's.
One Ham had put a Heathkit Mobile HF 1KW RF Amplifier in his pickup truck and
had been talking about it on his way home from work.

He arrived at his QTH and waited for his next turn to speak.
When his turn came he keyed the Mike and said he was home & 73 to all.

Some minutes later he came back on the air and told the group he had turned the
ignition off while was waiting to sign out.
After signing out he wondered if his truck would start up.
When he turned the key he heard the Started slowly turning but the truck
wouldn't start.
(I can't recall if he turned the RF AMP Off and tried starting the truck again
or not).
That Heathkit Amp must surely made a BIG DRAW on that 12 Volt Battery to suck
it dry.

I have had lots of good QSO's and heard/learned lots of good things back when I
was active on the air.

Not been on (or listened) airwaves for years.
Still licensed though.
Ed W9ODR  .  .
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