Motorola 550. An example.
Larger meter, decent backlight of controls, and maybe a few upgrades as you others think appropriate.
A family friend as I was growing up was associated with Motorola. My Dad had a radiotelephone of theirs in his car after 1962. So the brand has meaning. Always thought highly of it.
Other family friends with Collins, TI, etc, well, it was avionics and space tech. Wandered far away from local yokels.
I look at that model above and think, “”yeah, I should scratch a note somewhere to remember to clean it off and check connections between Presidential elections”.
That it’s cast iron. Keeps on ticking. Energizer Bunny. Cobwebs on the Maytag Repairman. Etc.
So, linear, quality controls. A great mic. Dealer to set up rig that it all sounds great together. (What I’d like to imagine is the two-way professional service nowadays).
Would I be willing to pay for it? Ha! Of course. I can screw around with odd & sundry gear, but I’d want (as with cars, etc) to have the kind of long-term relation that keeps equipment in best shape.
Entry-level (almost) HAM gear (quality, not features).
Performance should be the reason a guy wants one. Mobile or as a base, the bar has to be raised high (for a guy new to any radio) in order to get past what it can do.
“Does it matter”, old greybeard asks, “ if you spend $$$ versus $?”
The radio above (and the advice mobile or otherwise) should make it EVERYONES recommendation in mind for any but the blind or broke when a new guy shows up.
The used market might have several levels of condition: Cosmetic, Minor and Major. Even a slow 14-yr old would know the basis of those values in that other world-line.
A Model T. Singer Sewing Machine. Westinghouse table fan. Philco All American Five Kitchen Radio. Winchester ‘86.
Now, just imagine the special supplemental JC Whitney catalog. HeathKit add-ons.
Center lower dash glovebox in cars makes a comeback. Drop-down lid.
Radio contest class: Stock and Unlimited.
And let’s simplify the name. Few syllables. Enter it into common slang.
High school Electronics shop class dissection & rebuild. (Screw them nasty frogs or piglets in Biology makes The RealPorkchop salivate . . . sorry, couldn’t resist).
(Thanks for the thread).
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