bcdlr wrote:
I know I'm not ready to build my own receiver, unless I went the micro
R2 route (I'm going to build one some day).

You can build yourself a regen out of literally junk box parts. Direct
conversion is a step up and not much harder. The micro R2 is even
nicer.

But that still doesn't solve my need for a ham band(s) receiver - to
use as a receiver and as a necessary piece of test equipment.

If you are looking for "the ultimate receiver as a first step" then
homebrewing is NOT for you.

I know that the Drake 2b is good. But how easy (and cheap) is it to get
one? Are most "wore" out?
I've heard that a common ailment is that the mechanical filter will be
screwed up.

They weren't talking about the 2B then. The 2B is LC filtering
throughout. It's nice for the era.

What are some receivers to look for (don't say the Collins - I don't
have enough money)?

The new $100 shortwave receivers with a BFO will get CW and SSB OK. Not
spectacularly well.

Again, you seem to be struggling with both building your first
receiver, and making it the end-all-and-be-all-receiver that you'll
never need another one. Those are largely incompatible goals.

You can build yourself a little QRP transceiver for a smallish amount
of money. Will probably only cover one band and only the CW section,
but that's OK.

You can buy an older all-ham-band (well, pre-WARC) transceiver for
circa $100-$200. Might take some tweaking/cleaning, but that'll be good
for you to learn. Will do CW and SSB just fine, maybe even AM and FM
too if you want that (of very marginal use for most ham activities).

Test equipment on the used market is outrageously cheap. You could set
yourself up with a dual-channel scope and a frequency counter for $200
real easy, less if you shop around. This sort of stuff would've been
unobtanium to a ham in the 60's or early 70's.

Tim.