Hello Tom,

  TW> In my case it is strictly a matter of Priorities. I would rather
    > support the Ham Community rather then have a DSL of Cable modem
    > setup.

For the first year that I had it, DSL cost me less than the dial-up account
it replaced.  Even now it costs about the same.  DSL provides enough
bandwidth for VoIP to be practical, which in turn saves me money because
all of my family live outside the U.S.

  TW> OR for that matter the latest and Greatesy in computers...

My primary desktop machine is built around a 450 MHz AMD K6-2+ chip, if
that gives you some idea.

  TW> ...or Ham gear.

US$ 50 HT and a borrowed IC-751 that I'm using as a receiver.

  TW> I firmly believe "IF it works, Don't FIX it. Adn my older Ham
    > G\ear works orr me as does the Dial Up Interent line.

If I'm careful (and lucky), I may be able to scrape together enough money
buy a radio in November provided I limit myself to an 70cm FM HT, 2m FM or
10m multimode mobile.  If I do that, I'll re-join the club for 2008.  Until
then, I'll try to build myself an antenna for use with my feeble 2m HT.

73 - Andy, KB9YLW

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