I'm not hearing it anymore here in central Kentucky.  I haven't heard it since maybe back in January, so my guess is it's no longer on the air.

73,
KU4UV

Nobody bought it because they are junk. 

I use an old Toshiba Satellite 110CS laptop from 1995 to run my logging and psk31/rtty/sstv programs, especially for events like Field Day.  The laptop does the job quite nicely, running Windows 98SE, and a lot of these old laptops can still be found on eBay for less than $20.

73,
KU4UV

Icom IC-2AT.  Doesn't get much simplier that that for an HT.  Look for them at hamfests or on eBay.

Thanks again everyone, lots of good information.

73,
Mike KU4UV

Thanks guys.

I have been using the cable with a SCI-6 interface kit from Unified Microsystems and not had any  problems with RF getting into anything.  The interface kit uses isolation on all cables from what I understand, so there shouldn't be any ground loops to begin with, but I never know what else I might need to use this cable for in the future, so I want to get it right.  I too have heard about grounding the shield on one plug, but leaving it ungrounded on the other.  I used to work at a radio station, as well as run the audio board for newscasts and productions at WTVQ-TV, the ABC affiliate in Lexington, KY.  I should KNOW some of this stuff, but never really had to fool with having to build audio cables or anything, just enough knowledge to be dangerous, but far from an expert.  Thanks gang!

73,
Mike KU4UV

OK, I hope this doesn't sound like a stupid question, and perhaps the topic has been covered before, I don't know.  I have a 3 conductor cable that I use for my sound card interface with my radio.  I made my own cable(s) using a 3-conductor cable that I purchased from Radio Shack.  The cable has two wires contained within a braided wire.  The way I currently have the connectors soldered to the phono plugs, I am just using the two inner wires, and not using the shield.  My question is, should I re-do the soldering on the connectors and use the shield as the wire that connects to the shield of the connector, OR am I ok with the way I currently have the plugs wired?  Wouldn't the wires inside the shield be "shielded" from any RFI pickup, since the braid essentially acts as a Faraday cage, even though it not grounded to anything?  I have had no problems so far in the way I have this wired.  Any suggestions?

73,
Mike KU4UV

Any word on when the new QRP transceiver from 4SQRP that was featured in CQ this month might be available for purchase?  I don't see it listed on their webpage, so maybe it is still in the early stages.

73,
KU4UV

I have mailed in my nomination for Joe Walsh, WB6ACU, to the 2013 CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame.  I thought that Joe was already in the hall, but after checking the list, he is not.  I think Joe is an excellent candidate for the hall, given both his career in the music and entertainment industry, as well as his support of amateur radio.  I hope that Joe will be nominated and get in the hall of fame this year, because he is certainly worthy of this honor.

73,
Mike KU4UV

I would like to see someone do a built walkthrough on one of the Ten-Tec 1300 series kits, such as the 1320 or 1340.

I have been wanting to build one of the OHR kits, maybe for 20 meters and use it on Field Day this year.  They look like really nice kits.

73,
KU4UV

I have built the Ten-Tec 4-band regenerative receiver.  I think it sells for something like $40.  I haven't built the 9-band kit.  The 4-band kit is an o.k. kit as far as your basic regen receiver kit goes.  I found I mainly used it as a WWV receiver though.  I found that I couldn't hear a whole lot of  SW stations on the bands that the receiver covers, so I sold it on eBay.  I haven't build the scout kit, so can comment on that.  I guess the regen kits are o.k., as long as you don't expect too much out of what they can do.  I like Ten-Tec's direct conversion single band kits kits much better than their regen kit that I built.

73,
Mike KU4UV

I consistently made contacts to the west coast during Field Day last year running about 4 Watts output from a Youkits 4-band transceiver into an inverted L about 50 feet up in the trees.  The whole setup I used, including the fan, was battery-powered.  This was west coast from southern Kentucky.  I even had a nice QSO on 30 meters on the Saturday evening of Field Day with a guy in Oregon.  I had a lot of fun running QRP CW during Field Day last year, now I am hooked!

73,
Mike KU4UV

I think the preacher that was mentioned was probably Brother Stair.  He has been on the shortwave bands for many years, as well as some of the MW stations.  Bill Cooper used to keep things interesting, that's for sure.  His broadcast on 9-11-01 was certainly interesting.  I used to listen to him on WBCQ at night before I would go to bed.  I work for Amazon.com, and his book, "Behold a Pale Horse" is actually still being printed and sold.  Anyone remember KUSW from the late 80's-early 90's?  I used to listen to them and WRNO quite a bit when I was a freshman in high school and had just purchased a Realistic shortwave radio from Radio Shack.  This was around the time I was really starting to get interested in shortwave listening and getting a ham license, but with no  driver's license at 15, and no job, I had to make do with what I had.  This usually involved talking to the local idiots on the CB.  Good times.

73,
KU4UV

The 2950 is indeed a good radio.  I can't really comment on how good the new version of the 2950 is, but the old 2950's were excellent radios with good quality.  I think the Ranger radios are manufactured by the same company that makes the Galaxy series of C.B. and 10 Meter radios.  I can remember easily working the world with a 2950 running 25 Watts into a Radio Shack mobile mount C.B. antenna cut down for 10 meters back in the summer of 1998 when 10 was in great shape.  You can literally work the world with this radio whenever 10 meters opens up.  The only bad thing about the 2950 is that it is a magnet for a lot of freeband CB'ers to modify since it can easily be made to operate between about 25-30MHz.  I wouldn't hesitate to purchase a 2950.  It sure beats a lot of the cheaply-made 10 meter rigs like the HTX-10 and similar clones like the Magnum radios that are on the market today.

73,
Mike KU4UV