Actually {VB GRIN!} it wouldn't be all that bad an idea to pick up a good example of one of those `Olde Classics' while you can. I'd still plan on getting one of the new `programmable' scanners, too, if I were you. My reasoning is that as time passes getting both one that actually still works *and* getting the crystals will get progressively harder to do. Not only is `age' an `issue' but there is the `Roadshow Factor', so-called in reference to the PBS show "Antiques Roadshow" which basically is that as people start collecting something because it starts `coming up on the radar of collectors' both the availability starts dropping and the price starts climbing. (The corollary to this is... As the `interest increases and more are collected if it turns out that there are more out there than first suspected the price drops'. But, with the `age factor' being something that is a major factor with electronics and the components that make them up the corollary probably won't apply like it does for many other things.) Crystals will *definitely* go up in price especially if one is after *new* ones. Yeah, if one is willing to spend time searching through flea markets and hamswaps one *can* sometimes find great deals but, even then sometimes used crystals can bring near new prices if they are for `interesting' freqs. The real `call' that one has to make is, "Is this unit sufficently good condition-wise, are there enough still out there that I might be able to find another like or better than this, and will I be able to get another for this or a better price if I wait?" Luckily right now collecting old scanners is pretty much still in it's infancy and you've still got a fairly big window of opportunity to find an `interesting' example if you take and look around. Having said all that I'd still say that you'd best take and do a bit more serious looking around and keep on planning to get one of the new scanners. That one in the picture looks like it's had a pretty hard life and you most likley can find a better example if you look a bit. On top of that it is also better to actually be able to `fondle', so to speak, the unit rather than depend upon a picture and some faceless person online. Go to a few Flea Markets and HamSwaps instead and maybe after a while you might then consider online purchasing after you've gotten a bit more familiar with what's out there.
Just an `Olde Fart's' 2¢ worth and `rambling'! {VB GRIN!}
