I got both my Novice & Tech tickets at the same time in 1966, so I started out with a Hammarlund HQ-170AC-VHF receiver/expensive boat anchor (all ham bands through 6, plus 2 via a transverter) and an Ameco TX-62 AM/CW transmitter, running into a Hy-Gain 6 & 2 meter 6-element beam.