"USED TRANSCEIVER PRICING ODDITIES"
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There are several HAM rigs that seem to defy logic in pricing and/or continuation of manufacturing. Here's a few examples (I'm sure you can think of others as well):
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Let's start with a new rig, still available on the market, Alinco's DX-70th HF+6m radio. The rig it
self looks good, has a nice big display which is easy to read, has great transmit audio, but a terrible, terrible noise blanker (which at times, actually adds noise into the receiver). But the real deal is that it's an HF+6m mobile that is selling (new) for about $800. There are several other alternatives (some less expensive) which offer HF-440 coverage, yet this dinosaur continues to roam the catalog pages of HRO and AES.
self looks good, has a nice big display which is easy to read, has great transmit audio, but a terrible, terrible noise blanker (which at times, actually adds noise into the receiver). But the real deal is that it's an HF+6m mobile that is selling (new) for about $800. There are several other alternatives (some less expensive) which offer HF-440 coverage, yet this dinosaur continues to roam the catalog pages of HRO and AES.-
Moving along quickly, I have examples of a couple other used rigs that fetch very, VERY good pricing for what they are:
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Kenwood's TS-711a, 2meter 25watt base which looks like a
TS-430 (made around the same time) and fetches a price in the range of $500-600 dollars (close to original retail).
TS-430 (made around the same time) and fetches a price in the range of $500-600 dollars (close to original retail).-
I owned one of these rigs back in the 80's and loved it. Nice receiver, nice looking single band base station, but (IMO) over-priced in the used market considering it's about 20 years old! (in this same category, ICOM's IC-271a and 275a are a tad over-priced).
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Last (at least for this brief writings), but not least, Kenwood's 
TS-50, and HF mobile rig. A favorite of HAM's and Freebanders alike, this was a popular rig while in production (in fact it competed directly with Alinco's DX-70t) and remains popular on the used radio market at a high range of $400-$550 dollars. I have nothing to say about the rig itself, except that when you breach the $500 mark, you should be asking yourself "Should I pay this much for a used, 20-yearold HF mobile? Or should I kick in another $100-$200 and get a newer, smaller rig with a warranty and VHF-UHF coverage?"
TS-50, and HF mobile rig. A favorite of HAM's and Freebanders alike, this was a popular rig while in production (in fact it competed directly with Alinco's DX-70t) and remains popular on the used radio market at a high range of $400-$550 dollars. I have nothing to say about the rig itself, except that when you breach the $500 mark, you should be asking yourself "Should I pay this much for a used, 20-yearold HF mobile? Or should I kick in another $100-$200 and get a newer, smaller rig with a warranty and VHF-UHF coverage?"-
However (you knew a "However" was coming didn't ya?) when faced with a choice between a used TS-50 and an Alinco DX-70, I pick the TS-50 because the DX-70 noise blanker sucks so bad.
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There is a flip side to my story (i.e.- rigs that are a bargain in the used market and well worth the purchase) which I'll cover on another post. But for now - get back to your spreadsheets or other work and come back later to waste some time!
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