Hey Richard,
Very nicely said. I too am on a shoestring and while I have had a bit more $$ to use than I have in the past, I've still spent far less than buying an HF rig new, and probably used! It's been a rocky path for me for similar reasons, but I've learned tons and have even been able to help others here and there. I recently wrote on my blog asking the question "Is the BITX40 a good beginners radio?" and for folks like you and I the answer is most definitely yes! Have a read if you like:
Here's the Facebook group that Philip mentioned:
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Ryan Flowers W7RLF
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?<-- Learn how to go digital on the BITX40
