A week ago my HF radio took me off the Air (HF,DC, Contest Wise) with a frozen VF shaft encoder.  It's been somewhat depressing and I feel out of touch.

The penetrating oil did not work.  It's stuck.  I have found a couple of repair possibilities, both on the East Coast.  The question is one of whether or not repair is worth it for the age of the radio.  I believe my limited funds should go for a new radio.  After 17 years, a lot of technology has come along that could greatly help my radio efforts.  So the process of research is underway.  I'm a Yaesu guy, so the FT-950 looks like the best fit.  It would replace the FT990, the IC-551 and Timewave DSP-9+, with one box.  I would also replace the old Pyramid power supply with a new switching supply.  I don't know how much selling the old gear would bring to offset the new investment.

In the meantime, KF6JOQ had offered me a TS-440 to use while I'm in between radios.  I'll pick it up later today, and I'm sure it will help my off the air blues.