That's great advice Dave, I've had my Tech license for 20 years and I'm getting back in ham radio so I purchased the IC-7300 after watching you explain and demonstrate some of it's features.
I’ve been licensed for 45 years and I hold an extra class ticket. And I’ve never bought a new radio. In fact, I’ve only had two radios in my whole life. My first radio as a novice was a USED Kenwood TS 520. Great Radio never had a problem. I bought it at a ham fest from someone I did not know! Made a million contacts on it. I finally let it go, grudgingly, and bought another used Kenwood TS 830S Gold addition. Absolutely love this radio and has the best receiver I’ve heard. I get nothing but great comments on the audio. But remember 80 to 90% of your signal and success comes from your Antenna. Hope you score a good radio and get upgraded as soon as you can! Have fun and good Luck!
After a year or so of seeing used radios at new prices, I bought a Yaesu FT891 and a power supply. Upgraded to the FT710 when they came out. It's probably a good idea to have one new rig you can fall back on if intending to play with used rigs.
I would throw the G90 into the mix for new hams. It’s only 20W, but the built in ATU could tune a wet piece of string, meaning you can really compromise on your antenna setup when you’re just getting started.
I bought my first HF rig 25 years ago. It was a used, tube type, Kenwood TS-530s. I made a lot of contacts on that radio. When I stepped away from the hobby for a while, after I sat in it for a few years, I sold it. The tubes weren't soft or anything. It was a solid radio... Uncomplicated, reliable, and it just worked. I wish I still had it now that I'm getting back ham radio. BUT that being said... I needed an external antenna tuner, a portable air conditioner to offset the internal space heater (vacuum tubes or if A LOT OF HEAT), etc. While I wish I still had it, I'm happy with my Yaesu FT-991A.
Being "Only Technician" is becoming a popular excuse. Skywarn Special Event - The ARRL Field day - Linear Satellites - Help out at a Contesting station and operate under their (most likely) Extra Class license... etc... Loads of opportunity to gain experience - you simply have to open your eyes.
1st- your antenna is 90% of your station. You can buy a 48' LED TV and hook it to a piece of wire and get very little. 2nd- get a good radio. Hams pretty much have an unwritten code of ethics as far as honesty (so I have found) My IC-9700 used (guy bought it and didn't like it after 1 week), IC 756Pro III used (with a lot of options added), IC 251A used, ALS-500 used not working which I knew but I repaired it, IC 2730 new. My first 2 meter rig (in the 70's) was Crystal controlled Regency commercial which I install a CommSpec tone board in. I was a novice and it was my Carrot. I hung with hams daily and could listen to the local repeater but couldn't talk. They even taunted me. Like they'd say I know Dave's out there, too bad he can't jump in. AS a joke they took my mic and said they'd give it back when I got my tech ticket.
IMHO, I think the Yaesu FT-991A and Icom 7300 are excellent choices especially for first rigs. If you can save up to get either I say that is a great place to start, also Black Friday sales are right around the corner and yes they get discounted
Avoid the frustration. Get an FTdx10 and a good antenna. The recent technology has jumped from previous generations and you can do more with the one radio. From there you can go any direction you want later down the road. If you go with the older ones first, it will cost you more in the long run than you may want to spend.
Avoid the frustration? You mean spend a couple thousand dollars on a hobby you may find out you don't even enjoy after you get into it, and also pass up all the opportunity to learn about the hobby and how it started and learn how to fix, maintain, repair? Why not just tell people to go buy the latest Apple Phone and join a chat group? That would be better right? Or maybe you like to spend all your money on a radio you cannot repair yourself and when you send it back to the shop they tell you it's out of warranty or they don't fix those any more. Or maybe you like to just put it on a frequency and then brag about how much money you spent and you tell everyone else they are off frequency? Do you know what a clarifier is? You say "technology has jumped from previous generations" Some aspects yes, but there are many old radios that will out talk and out hear the new expensive crap. And just so you know, I have owned and do own dozens of old and new radios.
Ive had a general license for a few years and just recently got a proper HF rig: a second hand, new in box FT-710. I consider this radio to be "best in class" (there are certainly better contesting rigs, but for the size and price it's phenomenal) and even having very limited space Ive got a 40-10 antenna up and I'm making contacts and having great fun. Last weekend i got a screamin deal on a Kenwood TS-180S at the Rickreall hamfest. It's older than I am but looks better I have always thought that Kenwood makes, far and away, the best looking radios, doubly so for their vintage units. Something about them, they just have that je ne sais quoi and are gorgeous. The radio works perfectly, is beautiful, and Im so glad I bought it. That being said, I would NOT recommend someone buy this vintage rig for their first radio. They're weird, they're frustrating, they're different, and if it's your first time running a radio it may just turn you off to the hobby. Having a more modern rig to learn on makes the quirks of vintage units fun and interesting. and really, used prices are insane anyway. you can buy a crusty 30-40 year old unit and hope for the best or get a BRAND NEW FT-710 or IC-7300 for a couple hundred dollars more, and they have factory warranties and access to fun new digital modes, remote operation, USB programming, touch screen waterfalls (the biggest advancement in a long time, IMHO) etc etc. Bottom line is: get a newer radio, learn the craft, then buy, collect, and enjoy the older stuff. I LOVE my old kenwood, but only because I know I can turn to my yaesu when things aren't going well.
Well balanced advice, although I have more than my fair share of older radios which I do like to give airtime occasionally the newer radios are less stressful to use in a noisy environment. Arguably the later radios are more versatile, integral sound cards and decent CAT control are great for a variety of purposes and really add nothing to the cost of the radio. A general coverage modern rig on the desk is also very useful while fixing older rigs, if that is the direction someone wants to go in.
great advice ! I have the IC 7300 was not hard to learn. with a Tech license you do have part of 10 meters and all of 6 meters. so give the bands a try . they have been open. make a HF antenna. or buy a kit. so many now. just watch you tube videos on antenna's like a end fed half wave . can get them on 10 meters and 6 meters. just cut length of wire. easy way to have fun. you can go to a park and do POTA ! or just a deploy of antenna at home. and the IC 7300 does POTA very well . runs on a LiFePO4 or NiCad or lead 12V or 14V will be just fine. great back up for home use as well. 73's
A few years ago, I bought an Alinco DX-sr8t for about $350. I think today they are still below $500 new. It has some modern features, such as filters, memory, but it does not have CAT control.
The main advantages of new rigs are: 1) DSP for effective noise reduction 2) designed for operating in digital modes ( connectors, wide band receive, etc.)
I don't want a modern radio which does everything for me. FT817ND modern enough for me. I'd say anything going back to the FT101E and similar would be a good choice in older sets. Mine did what I wanted, I added 30 metre tx and the 250 Hz c.w. receive filter was excellent. Before that I had a KW202 rx and 204 tx, I liked the 202, might be a bit wide with it's mechanical filter but signals sounded nice. I added the KW Q Multiplier. Sold the 101 and went QRP with cw/ssb homebrew gear. No fancy gimmicks just an audio c.w. filter. Stability good. Something like my 1944 Wireless 19 Set shows how things improved in the 1970's and 80's. A wide receiver often with two c.w. signals at once. It's why I use it on 5.262 MHz where there is less congestion. Very modified and I made it xtal on tx for stability and easy to get on the QRP frequencies of 3.560, 5.262 and 7.030 MHz. G4GHB.
Some say you’re buying someone else’s problems. I look at it as buying someone’s broken dreams. An older rig can give you a bunch of experience at fixing things. We are hams by the way. We’re meant to tinker The older the radio, typically they’re easier to work on, and more info you’ll find on them.
I must be the odd one, i sarted off on one of those ft101f, which i still have, i moved up fo a Yaesu ft 757 gxii, again i still have an final is my Kenwood ts 2000, which will probably be the last radio i will purchase.
What I wish my old Swan 350C that I have at the cabin I wish it had a receiver offset feature. My newer Icom 751 has one and it sure makes a difference in the reception of SSB.
The prices on rigs like the 7300, FT710 and the new Xiegu toys have make it harder to buy an older rig. The new panoramic displays make the older generations obsolete for the prices sellers are asking. The previous generation is a superhet DSP, like the Jupiter. Great DSP sound and filters, but without the panoramic display or the display will be slow. The next older generation has fully synthesized tuning but a fully analog signal path or just audio DSP. These will be more stable than older rigs with an analog VFO and will have plenty of knobs and buttons. I wouldn't go any older than this for a rig you plan to use and not just collect or play with.
How about the old kenwood ts-440s/at? I got a used one no issues. Im studying for my tech and general at the moment. After getting this radio to just listen on its motivated me to get my license. Im a CB'r currently and after listening on the ts-440s i want to get my license. I know its a old radio that was known to be good and bad because of the dot problem. How would it be for a beginner radio? I know it doesn't cover all the tech license, but i plan on taking the tech and general tests on the same day. Itll be a lot of studying, but i think it will be worth it.
I still have a Yaesu FT 101E, was made fun of by fellow local amateurs who had the Drake equipment and Kenwood TS 520s. I was the outsider to the point of absolute ridicule by a local contester type.
I disagree, The Yaesu 991A would in my opinion be the best choice for a new ham. All modes and the most bands you will need are there and any tech can gracefully lean into the next level with the options on this radio. If the scope is the big sales pitch then get a 30$ SDR dongle and split off the signal to your PC. When you are at Extra level work on selling the 991A for a DX10 or even better depending on your finances. A 7300 is old tech and is quickly getting older when compared to the new radios out there by Yaesu and even some of the Chinese ones. Again, in my opinion.
So sorry but THe AARL has made the magazine such and extra expense the Technicians don’t know it’s worth the extra to get and I’ve been told they won’t pay it.
You never bought a used radio, but yet you are giving advice on buying one. I see this So often, HAM Operators that profess to be experts on a subject that they have no experience in. Typically HAMs putting down CB'ers and their "dirty amplifiers", or a HAM telling another HAM he is "off frequency" and he should buy a better radio. I would think a HAM would know what a clarifier is and how to use it, but I guess not. And then, I had to laugh out loud, really out loud, when you said you had to send your radio to have the buttons cleaned. ROFLMAO
WD40 or similar. People get modern radios and seem afraid to open them. Not me, I replaced an r.f. choke and resistor in my Racal RA17L five years ago which has gone a bit deaf now so I need to look at that again. I did a cheap c.w. filter for my FT817ND, a single HC6U 455 kHz xtal, tried it and then soldered it in. No doubt not as good as the proper one but cheaper and works reasonably well. G4GHB.
@@oldolfmann8927 Fun yes,, I came into the hobby with an H.A.C. one valve kit then built 3, 4 and 5 valve radios from circuits in Practical Wireless so dabbling with radio has always been my interest. Had K.W. 202/204, FT101E. Then went QRP with G4CLF main p.c.b., added a mixer for all h.f. ssb and cw. Still got it. Racal RA17L needs attention, FT817ND and my latest buy in 2017 a very deaf modified Wireless 19 Set, 2 Watts c.w. only. Working well now, replaced all R's and C's in audio c.w. filter. I mainly use 5.262 MHz xtal on tx for stability and easy to get on QRP freq. and better because less crowded for the wide rx. 73, G4GHB.
@@oldolfmann8927 My very latest three weeks ago were 5 Pye Bantams, two chargers and 4 battery boxes all for £6. It said £10 o.n.o. I don't like paying a lot of money! I buy the junk other people walk past. One is on 70.26 MHz, one on 144.450 MHz rx only and 3 unmodified. An unknown, no identification, scruffy T.W. TopBander for £5 about 8 years ago. 73, Bill.
![[MV] A leap of faith...ความเชื่อใจครั้งสุดท้าย (From "Petrichor the series")](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1piZH2CNXA/mqdefault.jpg)
That's great advice Dave, I've had my Tech license for 20 years and I'm getting back in ham radio so I purchased the IC-7300 after watching you explain and demonstrate some of it's features.
I’ve been licensed for 45 years and I hold an extra class ticket. And I’ve never bought a new radio. In fact, I’ve only had two radios in my whole life. My first radio as a novice was a USED Kenwood TS 520. Great Radio never had a problem. I bought it at a ham fest from someone I did not know! Made a million contacts on it. I finally let it go, grudgingly, and bought another used Kenwood TS 830S Gold addition. Absolutely love this radio and has the best receiver I’ve heard. I get nothing but great comments on the audio. But remember 80 to 90% of your signal and success comes from your Antenna. Hope you score a good radio and get upgraded as soon as you can! Have fun and good Luck!
Yes, it's all about the antenna
I love that FT101B.I miss mine almost every day. 73.
Buy another and start enjoying it.
After a year or so of seeing used radios at new prices, I bought a Yaesu FT891 and a power supply. Upgraded to the FT710 when they came out. It's probably a good idea to have one new rig you can fall back on if intending to play with used rigs.
Those are the two radios I'm thinking of getting.
What's your opinion?
KO4HEK. 73
I would throw the G90 into the mix for new hams. It’s only 20W, but the built in ATU could tune a wet piece of string, meaning you can really compromise on your antenna setup when you’re just getting started.
I bought my first HF rig 25 years ago. It was a used, tube type, Kenwood TS-530s. I made a lot of contacts on that radio. When I stepped away from the hobby for a while, after I sat in it for a few years, I sold it. The tubes weren't soft or anything. It was a solid radio... Uncomplicated, reliable, and it just worked. I wish I still had it now that I'm getting back ham radio. BUT that being said... I needed an external antenna tuner, a portable air conditioner to offset the internal space heater (vacuum tubes or if A LOT OF HEAT), etc. While I wish I still had it, I'm happy with my Yaesu FT-991A.
Being "Only Technician" is becoming a popular excuse. Skywarn Special Event - The ARRL Field day - Linear Satellites - Help out at a Contesting station and operate under their (most likely) Extra Class license... etc... Loads of opportunity to gain experience - you simply have to open your eyes.
Technician licence holders also have CW privileges on HF.
And Phone on 10 meters.
1st- your antenna is 90% of your station. You can buy a 48' LED TV and hook it to a piece of wire and get very little.
2nd- get a good radio. Hams pretty much have an unwritten code of ethics as far as honesty (so I have found) My IC-9700 used (guy bought it and didn't like it after 1 week), IC 756Pro III used (with a lot of options added), IC 251A used, ALS-500 used not working which I knew but I repaired it, IC 2730 new.
My first 2 meter rig (in the 70's) was Crystal controlled Regency commercial which I install a CommSpec tone board in. I was a novice and it was my Carrot. I hung with hams daily and could listen to the local repeater but couldn't talk. They even taunted me. Like they'd say I know Dave's out there, too bad he can't jump in. AS a joke they took my mic and said they'd give it back when I got my tech ticket.
Good personal perspective on old equipment
IMHO, I think the Yaesu FT-991A and Icom 7300 are excellent choices especially for first rigs. If you can save up to get either I say that is a great place to start, also Black Friday sales are right around the corner and yes they get discounted
I thought that you might have hooked up an old radio and a new one and compared Dave? Thanks for the video.
Avoid the frustration. Get an FTdx10 and a good antenna. The recent technology has jumped from previous generations and you can do more with the one radio. From there you can go any direction you want later down the road. If you go with the older ones first, it will cost you more in the long run than you may want to spend.
I hope Santa brings me an FTdx10 this year. 73.
@@seankm6nfo990 I hope he brings you the radio and the 9 band vert
Avoid the frustration? You mean spend a couple thousand dollars on a hobby you may find out you don't even enjoy after you get into it, and also pass up all the opportunity to learn about the hobby and how it started and learn how to fix, maintain, repair? Why not just tell people to go buy the latest Apple Phone and join a chat group? That would be better right? Or maybe you like to spend all your money on a radio you cannot repair yourself and when you send it back to the shop they tell you it's out of warranty or they don't fix those any more. Or maybe you like to just put it on a frequency and then brag about how much money you spent and you tell everyone else they are off frequency? Do you know what a clarifier is? You say "technology has jumped from previous generations" Some aspects yes, but there are many old radios that will out talk and out hear the new expensive crap. And just so you know, I have owned and do own dozens of old and new radios.
@@oldolfmann8927 knock yourself out man.
Ive had a general license for a few years and just recently got a proper HF rig: a second hand, new in box FT-710. I consider this radio to be "best in class" (there are certainly better contesting rigs, but for the size and price it's phenomenal) and even having very limited space Ive got a 40-10 antenna up and I'm making contacts and having great fun. Last weekend i got a screamin deal on a Kenwood TS-180S at the Rickreall hamfest. It's older than I am but looks better I have always thought that Kenwood makes, far and away, the best looking radios, doubly so for their vintage units. Something about them, they just have that je ne sais quoi and are gorgeous. The radio works perfectly, is beautiful, and Im so glad I bought it. That being said, I would NOT recommend someone buy this vintage rig for their first radio. They're weird, they're frustrating, they're different, and if it's your first time running a radio it may just turn you off to the hobby. Having a more modern rig to learn on makes the quirks of vintage units fun and interesting. and really, used prices are insane anyway. you can buy a crusty 30-40 year old unit and hope for the best or get a BRAND NEW FT-710 or IC-7300 for a couple hundred dollars more, and they have factory warranties and access to fun new digital modes, remote operation, USB programming, touch screen waterfalls (the biggest advancement in a long time, IMHO) etc etc. Bottom line is: get a newer radio, learn the craft, then buy, collect, and enjoy the older stuff. I LOVE my old kenwood, but only because I know I can turn to my yaesu when things aren't going well.
Well balanced advice, although I have more than my fair share of older radios which I do like to give airtime occasionally the newer radios are less stressful to use in a noisy environment. Arguably the later radios are more versatile, integral sound cards and decent CAT control are great for a variety of purposes and really add nothing to the cost of the radio. A general coverage modern rig on the desk is also very useful while fixing older rigs, if that is the direction someone wants to go in.
great advice ! I have the IC 7300 was not hard to learn. with a Tech license you do have part of 10 meters and all of 6 meters. so give the bands a try . they have been open. make a HF antenna. or buy a kit. so many now. just watch you tube videos on antenna's like a end fed half wave . can get them on 10 meters and 6 meters. just cut length of wire. easy way to have fun. you can go to a park and do POTA ! or just a deploy of antenna at home. and the IC 7300 does POTA very well . runs on a LiFePO4 or NiCad or lead 12V or 14V will be just fine. great back up for home use as well. 73's
A few years ago, I bought an Alinco DX-sr8t for about $350. I think today they are still below $500 new. It has some modern features, such as filters, memory, but it does not have CAT control.
Sadly Alinco discontinued that rig a few years ago.
Excellent episode. Please keep them coming.
Great video KD2QMJ New Jersey.
The main advantages of new rigs are: 1) DSP for effective noise reduction 2) designed for operating in digital modes ( connectors, wide band receive, etc.)
Dude, great advice.
I don't want a modern radio which does everything for me. FT817ND modern enough for me.
I'd say anything going back to the FT101E and similar would be a good choice in older sets. Mine did what I wanted, I added 30 metre tx and the 250 Hz c.w. receive filter was excellent. Before that I had a KW202 rx and 204 tx, I liked the 202, might be a bit wide with it's mechanical filter but signals sounded nice. I added the KW Q Multiplier.
Sold the 101 and went QRP with cw/ssb homebrew gear. No fancy gimmicks just an audio c.w. filter. Stability good.
Something like my 1944 Wireless 19 Set shows how things improved in the 1970's and 80's. A wide receiver often with two c.w. signals at once. It's why I use it on 5.262 MHz where there is less congestion. Very modified and I made it xtal on tx for stability and easy to get on the QRP frequencies of 3.560, 5.262 and 7.030 MHz.
G4GHB.
Some say you’re buying someone else’s problems. I look at it as buying someone’s broken dreams.
An older rig can give you a bunch of experience at fixing things. We are hams by the way. We’re meant to tinker
The older the radio, typically they’re easier to work on, and more info you’ll find on them.
I must be the odd one, i sarted off on one of those ft101f, which i still have, i moved up fo a Yaesu ft 757 gxii, again i still have an final is my Kenwood ts 2000, which will probably be the last radio i will purchase.
What I wish my old Swan 350C that I have at the cabin I wish it had a receiver offset feature. My newer Icom 751 has one and it sure makes a difference in the reception of SSB.
My first HF rig many ears ago was an ICOM IC-751A. Quadruple Conversion receiver (quadruple!) and real quiet. Really sucked me into this hobby.
I still use it each day. @@georgeetherege8347
The prices on rigs like the 7300, FT710 and the new Xiegu toys have make it harder to buy an older rig. The new panoramic displays make the older generations obsolete for the prices sellers are asking. The previous generation is a superhet DSP, like the Jupiter. Great DSP sound and filters, but without the panoramic display or the display will be slow. The next older generation has fully synthesized tuning but a fully analog signal path or just audio DSP. These will be more stable than older rigs with an analog VFO and will have plenty of knobs and buttons. I wouldn't go any older than this for a rig you plan to use and not just collect or play with.
How about the old kenwood ts-440s/at? I got a used one no issues. Im studying for my tech and general at the moment. After getting this radio to just listen on its motivated me to get my license. Im a CB'r currently and after listening on the ts-440s i want to get my license. I know its a old radio that was known to be good and bad because of the dot problem. How would it be for a beginner radio? I know it doesn't cover all the tech license, but i plan on taking the tech and general tests on the same day. Itll be a lot of studying, but i think it will be worth it.
Bottom line is the 7300 and it's siblings are computers in a transceiver case. I'm analogue guy but yes have a Smart phone tablet and laptop Bob R
One of the other issues with older radios is parts availability...
Maybe i.c.'s but not valves. I got spare valves for my 1944 Wireless 19 Set.
G4GHB.
You changed up something: the Harbor Freight clock was inaudible today!
I still have a Yaesu FT 101E, was made fun of by fellow local amateurs who had the Drake equipment and Kenwood TS 520s. I was the outsider to the point of absolute ridicule by a local contester type.
FT-101E, a Great Radio then and now
I disagree, The Yaesu 991A would in my opinion be the best choice for a new ham. All modes and the most bands you will need are there and any tech can gracefully lean into the next level with the options on this radio. If the scope is the big sales pitch then get a 30$ SDR dongle and split off the signal to your PC. When you are at Extra level work on selling the 991A for a DX10 or even better depending on your finances. A 7300 is old tech and is quickly getting older when compared to the new radios out there by Yaesu and even some of the Chinese ones. Again, in my opinion.
BTW I had a 7300 for 4 years
don't forget the "magic" band.. e.g.. 6meters...
True!
getting older radio is like getting older car. I would not get it unless you like working / repairing them. Newer radio are much more reliable. AG6JU
Q: New or used radio?
A: Yes.
RACES requires a general or higher license
Hi Dave how are yesu 450d let me know if you have it I have it have a goodday
So sorry but THe AARL has made the magazine such and extra expense the Technicians don’t know it’s worth the extra to get and I’ve been told they won’t pay it.
You never bought a used radio, but yet you are giving advice on buying one. I see this So often, HAM Operators that profess to be experts on a subject that they have no experience in. Typically HAMs putting down CB'ers and their "dirty amplifiers", or a HAM telling another HAM he is "off frequency" and he should buy a better radio. I would think a HAM would know what a clarifier is and how to use it, but I guess not. And then, I had to laugh out loud, really out loud, when you said you had to send your radio to have the buttons cleaned. ROFLMAO
WD40 or similar. People get modern radios and seem afraid to open them.
Not me, I replaced an r.f. choke and resistor in my Racal RA17L five years ago which has gone a bit deaf now so I need to look at that again.
I did a cheap c.w. filter for my FT817ND, a single HC6U 455 kHz xtal, tried it and then soldered it in. No doubt not as good as the proper one but cheaper and works reasonably well.
G4GHB.
@@bill-2018 Doing stuff like that is what makes the hobby fun. I have made/modified filters also.... Have Fun
@@oldolfmann8927 Fun yes,, I came into the hobby with an H.A.C. one valve kit then built 3, 4 and 5 valve radios from circuits in Practical Wireless so dabbling with radio has always been my interest.
Had K.W. 202/204, FT101E. Then went QRP with G4CLF main p.c.b., added a mixer for all h.f. ssb and cw. Still got it.
Racal RA17L needs attention, FT817ND and my latest buy in 2017 a very deaf modified Wireless 19 Set, 2 Watts c.w. only. Working well now, replaced all R's and C's in audio c.w. filter.
I mainly use 5.262 MHz xtal on tx for stability and easy to get on QRP freq. and better because less crowded for the wide rx.
73, G4GHB.
@@oldolfmann8927 My very latest three weeks ago were 5 Pye Bantams, two chargers and 4 battery boxes all for £6. It said £10 o.n.o.
I don't like paying a lot of money! I buy the junk other people walk past.
One is on 70.26 MHz, one on 144.450 MHz rx only and 3 unmodified.
An unknown, no identification, scruffy T.W. TopBander for £5 about 8 years ago.
73, Bill.
@@bill-2018 HaHa, definitely sounds like fun. I also buy what others pass and a lot of junk boxes. You get a lot of good stuff that way.