I have been dabbling with electronics since the early 1950's, where at age 10, I was struck by the awesome power of a single CK722 germanium transistor. There were those who shouted from the roof tops: these will never replace vacuum tubes. Well, they did.
Throughout my 66 years as a licensed ham since 1959, I was witness to the many changes in our rigs all driven by advancing technologies. Now the move is from analog to digital, from conventional topologies to SDR. While it may be fun to build a crystal set or an all-discrete component analog DCR, the advantages of an SDR are astounding, which of course is mostly software based and less hardware dependent.
Several years ago, I built a homebrew SDR transceiver that at its core is nothing more than a pair of bi-directional Direct Conversion devices operating in quadrature -- even that is a topology from the 1950's only better as the 90-degree phase shift is very stable and precise owning to digital electronics.
This arrangement was initially controlled with a Raspberry Pi 2 and the QUISK software. That worked nicely. Now I am able to upgrade that SDR rig without touching a single piece of hardware of the rig itself.
Shortly we will be upgrading to the Raspberry Pi 5 which is 2 to 3 times faster than the RPi 4 and about an order of magnitude better than a RPi 2. The latest QUISK software while not in a league of Thetis, certainly will provide the spectrum, waterfalls and variable bandwidths, all modes including digital and a whole lot more capabilities.
One other plus of SDR is that I have also used the ASUS Tinker Board as a Host as well as the Atomic Pi running Linux Mint20. So, I have many choices and options for controlling the SDR hardware. That even extends to HDMI monitors where I can use a really big monitor or a 7-inch screen.
Stations at the other end are astounded that my QRP signal gets through the pileups and even have to admit -- it sounds great for a homebrew SDR. Give me a break -- it is a great signal!
It is time to move forward and get on the SDR bandwagon. Sure, you can keep your old analog stuff, and it will look great on a shelf. But if you want to follow the IARU convention and just plain operate or work all those contests then the ticket is SDR. POTA, SOTA and FT-8 are a few mice clicks away!
It is entirely OK to move away from ugly construction, HB DBM's and bits of analog circuits. You will not incur the rath of the Radio Gods. They will be smiling at you for moving on and forward.
HB 5W SDR with ASUS Tinker Board and Optimal Shop Sound Card
QUISK has the ability to record and play back the signal at the other end. So, when you tell the other station you sound like crap -- you can retransmit the recording to prove it. You would find that hard to do with many analog rigs.
So, where to start your transition to SDR. There are many groups undertaking a build of an SDR radio. You can also visit www.n6qwradiogenius.us. You Tube abounds with many videos, and I just saw a neat SDR receiver project called the Pi Pico that a friend put me on to.
Them that know can make it go!
BTW, Mr. Tesla is coming after your job if you work in the US government, so no one is safe or immune. Gosh will he try to fire old what's his name? Your Fired is no longer just reality TV!
Those who voted for all this chaos, Cognitive Dissonance is at your office door. It will be instructive to see what happens to the future inflation rates and the unemployment statistics -- will you be one of those chosen as redundant or considered as a waste by-product?
73's
Pete N6QW