Hi ZZ
I share that same appreciation for the little Johnson... it is a remarkably tough radio- well constructed from a bygone era of discrete components and handwired chassis's. Except for its changed Type acceptances, it still comports to all the current standards.
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( I politely informed this radio before its retirement-- "its not your fault, Old Friend, times have just changed.")**
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I will hold on to it; we have a remote, old mining claim with a cabin... Its right at timberline, and a favorite get-a-away for family and friends. Up there there is nothing... no AC power, no 'cel's, no ham repeaters, barely AM radio- Green Bank Observatory is metropolitan NYC compared to it. Handhelds on HP can talk back to the ranch -usually-. Now I have a new mission for the 6060.
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I seriously doubt any Radio Inspector is going to drive up there and want to check its Part Certification sticker.....
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Yes, a nice thing about the 6060 is how it can be Mod'd. I wasn't aware of the Duplex modification, but I did know it could be turned into quite a nice 440 repeater. But it is a dinosaur- especially as the price of crystals, if you can find a supplier- make that cost prohibitive. I think mine will be quite happy, up on its mountainside...
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Revisiting my comments about the volunteer rescue'rs use of the inexpensive radios made me give me pause to rethink my responses. I tend to be quite dogmatic (some would say I'm more of a doctrinaire
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Yesterday while driving back from a work site, I stopped for lunch in a small mountain towne (Population maybe 100.) I could not help seeing the little fire station (the antennas always attract me) and after eating, I walked over. The single bay door was open and I called out if anyone was inside. No answer. Then I noticed two guys checking out my government Blazer with its lights and antennas- seems like among like-minded folks, light bars and antennas are an attention magnet.
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They were volunteer firemen of that station, and after I show'd them the toys in my vehicle, they gave me a tour of their fire station.. small as it was. I was impressed with the professional, orderly appearance--- and yes, they had proper radios and a license displayed over the base station (I think they may have feared *I* was a radio inspector-- Heaven Forbid!) They told me things about the fire service that I knew nothing about- their training as volunteers, the mutual aid they lend other stations, the financial support they receive from the state and county.... neat stuff.
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I left feeling there is quite a difference between different senarios. My friend the Mayor and her towne of part time residents with what others may consider haphazard emergency services v.s a small towne's of substance, the cities..... - All I could come up with is that this is the West, and what fits one place doesn't in another. But there are no Hicks- its taken seriously everywhere- there is just a lot of space between settled areas, and lot of independent minds in between. And it all works.
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...................................CF
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(Photo is the cirque of the mine mention'd above... daring any RF signal's exit....
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** I must say that I am very pleased with the Vertex that replaced it (my previous posts.) It was super simple to program and cost in the same price range as any good ham counterpart.