Several years ago, I embarked with my bride on the 100 Mile Yard Sale. It primarily runs up along the east coast of Minnesota and the west coast of Wisconsin. Our first stop was in Winona, MN. I'm wandering about a cluttered garage, not really seeing anything that interests me, when I accidentally hit a box under a table with my foot. It's labeled with a price tag of $40 and has a Shure microphone sitting in it along with a rats nest of wires and other knick knacks. I decide to take a closer look. There's a Yaesu FL2100B amp in the bottom. I didn't hesitate. I grabbed it, nearly herniated myself, and threw my money at the lady running the sale as I fled the scene with my loot. I got it home, took it to my shack, where it sat. And sat, and sat. I was a little afraid to plug it in. I didn't have a variac and didn't know how long it had been sitting. When we moved this summer, I lugged the thing to the new house, and down the steps to my basement shack. I probably should have had help. Cut to a few weeks ago, I was a few whiskeys in and threw caution to the wind. I plugged it in. No smoke. I let it sit for a day like that, keeping an eye on it. Seemed OK. Last week I ordered a keying interface, a resonant antenna and a few other things I probably didn't need. Friday after work I hooked it all up. Thing runs like a champ. I have to build a riser at work Monday to get the monitor off it and open up the ventilation.
