Suggestions for a good but inexpensive QRP rig

[N2CHX]

Yeah, I miss HF. So... I'm anyone have any suggestions for a decent but inexpensive QRP rig? Something that will do CW and can be used for digital modes? I don't care for most of the voice communication on HF and I don't have a good antenna for it anyway, so CW and digital are what most interest me right now. Someday when money's not so tight I'll think about a new rig and antenna for HF phone.

Ideas?

EDIT: My Atlas 210x worked OK for digital but it drifted a lot, otherwise I would have kept it around.

[W3WN]

I really liked the Argonaut V, but inexpensive they're not. I've seen used ones in good condition go for $500 and up.

That said, some of the older Ten Tec rigs (Delta, Argosy, Triton) can be had a very reasonable price. Most will handle digital modes with little difficulty, and they're all great CW rigs. Some of these, though, are limited in WARC band accesss.

[N2CHX]

I really liked the Argonaut V, but inexpensive they're not. I've seen used ones in good condition go for $500 and up.

That said, some of the older Ten Tec rigs (Delta, Argosy, Triton) can be had a very reasonable price. Most will handle digital modes with little difficulty, and they're all great CW rigs. Some of these, though, are limited in WARC band accesss.

Yeah, after looking through ebay, pretty much everything is out of my reach right now. I even saw one for $1800. Are you kidding me? Anything worthwhile is in the $300-400 range and for that I may as well buy a full powered rig. I could easily do CW by rolling my own, I just enjoy digital modes.

[W3WN]

Yeah, after looking through ebay, pretty much everything is out of my reach right now. I even saw one for $1800. Are you kidding me? Anything worthwhile is in the $300-400 range and for that I may as well buy a full powered rig. I could easily do CW by rolling my own, I just enjoy digital modes.

What's your price range?

[N2CHX]

What's your price range?

Not nearly enough right now. I'm going to designate one piece of audio gear I'm selling off for the purpose of buying a "new" HF rig. I'll let you know in a week or two. I'm thinking $250. I remember the days when you could pick up a decent vintage rig for $100. Obviously those days are long over, I just didn't realize it. I haven't looked at buying an HF rig of any sort in quite a while.

[W3WN]

Not nearly enough right now. I'm going to designate one piece of audio gear I'm selling off for the purpose of buying a "new" HF rig. I'll let you know in a week or two. I'm thinking $250. I remember the days when you could pick up a decent vintage rig for $100. Obviously those days are long over, I just didn't realize it. I haven't looked at buying an HF rig of any sort in quite a while.

Well, also keep in mind that eBay prices get inflated, as they often get bid updated by people looking to flip them for a quick killing (Pat's infamous rat bastids), or by people who have more shekels than brains.

Don't give up. Keep looking. And keep an eye out at hamfests (if you still have any left in the calendar year).

[KC2UGV]

Not nearly enough right now. I'm going to designate one piece of audio gear I'm selling off for the purpose of buying a "new" HF rig. I'll let you know in a week or two. I'm thinking $250. I remember the days when you could pick up a decent vintage rig for $100. Obviously those days are long over, I just didn't realize it. I haven't looked at buying an HF rig of any sort in quite a while.

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Produc...uctid=MFJ-9420

[KJ3N]

I would think that, by default, any rig that will do digital, would have to be able to do phone as well. Nearly all the digital modes use SSB (usually USB) for TX. FSK RTTY would be one exception.

[N2CHX]

I would think that, by default, any rig that will do digital, would have to be able to do phone as well. Nearly all the digital modes use SSB (usually USB) for TX. FSK RTTY would be one exception.

Yep. I want to do PSK.

[W3WN]

Triton IV Digital (544) w/PS under $200: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ten-Tec-Trit...item2324263a5c

Argosy II Digital (525D) w/PS under $200: http://www.ebay.com/itm/TEN-TEC-ARGO...item4d06025bf4 (wish I had the shekels for that one right now)

There's also an Argonaut V up for auction under $200 as I type this, but that will get bid up pretty quickly (they usually do)

You can also sometimes find an Elecraft K2/10 at a good price (around $300 - 400 depending on condition), and those can normally be upgraded to a K2/100 down the road. But that may be outside of your price range at present.