About a year ago, on March 30, 2012, an acquaintance of mine, Don Culbertson K5LDD died. Although he had had cancer, my understanding is that he died of a heart attack. Since he had been sick, he had discussed with his wife who was to help her dismantle his ham shack, their home network, and various related things, and the person that he suggested help her with it was me.
Don had two complete ham stations complete with amplifiers, a Ten-Tec station, and one built around a Yaesu FT-102. I set about selling that equipment and I sold most of it, but the deal to sell the FT-102 fell through. It wasn't working, so I offered to purchase the radio for what I was planning to get for it. I would then get it repaired and use it as my own rig. This didn't happen until last fall, September or thereabouts. At about that time, one of the people I sold some of the other equipment to told me about Malcom Eiselman, MD who I understand has retired from the medical profession and now spends a lot of his time fixing FT-102's. You can visit Mal's Website here: http://www.w8kvk.com/nc4l
Anyway, I talked to Mal and sent him a LOT of money (at least for me) and then the radio. And I waited. And waited. He promised it before April 15, and it got here this week. He promised me it would be fantastic and it is! I've never heard such a wonderful audio coming from a transceiver. Now, I need an antenna farm appropriate for such a fine radio.