WS4E - Let's take your idea one step further for boneheads like me. Set it up so that we can select what class of license we have and then it can keep us with-in our limits also. 

I also have a IC7000 but I haven't noticed the audio being quite that bad. Of the various external speakers that I've tried, I think my favorite is a 6 x 9 that I mounted in a small plywood box. The speaker is a 'tri-axial'. In other words it is three speakers in one. A full 6 x 9 and a smaller midrange and tweeter mounted in the middle. The box was made from 3/4 inch plywood to make it very solid. I place it on the rear deck facing forward and it works great.

If in fact it is a thermal problem, try using freeze spray to isolate the problem area and maybe the faulty component.

I can see one other cause for the out of band problem. Excitement!!! Even I was guilty of it once (not being out of band, BUT!). When I was a new general class I heard a DX station with a pile-up on 14,215. I got excited and didn't even think about it till after the fact and I did make contact on the second call but I was out of my band privilege's. As I said, it never occurred to me till it was all done and over with. I felt bad (but good for the DX contact). Since then it has been something I pay better attention too. Just got caught-up in the action and didn't think!

KASSY, Technically you may be correct but you have the wrong attitude. When you have nets set up to handle emergencies like 14,300 maritime mobile net or 14,325 for hurricane Sandy, does it make sense that they should have to waste precious time trying to clear the frequency to be able to assist in emergency communications? Point #2 - If an emergency does arise and other stations are contesting on or near those frequencies, a call for help may never be heard!
My thoughts may be hogwash but they make sense to me. I think the best amateur practice is to just stay clear of frequencies like that.

They even supplied a special 'tweezer like' heat sink that had a cup that fit over the insulation and the end of the tweezer clamped around the wire to take away heat and not allow the solder to wick up past the pin.  I wish I could find mine!

...bill nr4c
Bill - Look up 'Micromart Tools'.   www.micromark.com/

I believe that is where I bought the tweezers you refer to.

Crimp!!!  If you solder the connection it will make the wire stiff creating a weakness where the wire will break if bent too often. Also there is a lot of play in the housing between the housing and the terminal and the stiff wires will cause stress possibly causing the terminal to break free from the housing.

My guess on the 7000 is antenna. I have the same radio and have no problem receiving the AM MV band. Just the other night I had nothing but a test lead draped over a curtain rod and was receiving a football game from over a 100 miles away with no problem.
I also have the TH-F6 and agree that it leaves a lot to be desired on any of the HF but the better the antennas the better the results. Just don't expect a lot with the tiny handheld on HF & below.

Another way to narrow down the culprit is to use freeze spray. Let the radio warm up and stabilise and then use short controlled bursts of spray till the radio becomes unstable. Use the spray tube that came with the can of spray to try and only hit certain components. I'd start with the electrolytic caps on the DC to DC converter.

I agree with K1WJ. You have to be careful about your selection of fluorescent or LED. Many of the LED use small switching suppies that will generate hash on the HF bands. Some of the newer fluorescent fixtures use switching supplies also as they have found using higher frequencies gives better efficiency and longer bulb life. The old ballast transformers are now switching supplies.

Thanks John. I kind of figured that but couldn't find any reference to it. I must have been searching the wrong terms or something. Thanks for the quick reply.

73s,
Win (KB5ZSM)

I'll check that link also. Thanks Dieter  :-)

Probably a dumb question but...  I contacted a station 'CT9/DJ6QT' tonight on 20 meters. I know the operators home is in Germany but he was operating from an island (Madeira) off the west coast of Africa. Now my question is what is the 'CT9' in his call and how does it pertain to his location or is the 'CT9' used for other reasons?

Thanks, Win (KB5ZSM)

"If you don't keep a log and somebody accuses you of interference then how can you prove you were not on air?"

How is a log book going to prove that you were not on the air???  I could talk to a dozen people and not log it! Guess I wasn't on the air....

That is the date that commercial radios will all have to use narrow FM to allow more users to fit in to the spectrum allotted.

It should work fine BUT I agree about adding the diode to protect the power supply. If the diode drops your voltage too much then open the power supply and adjust to compensate. Be sure to select a diode that can easily handle the current. I used a 50A stud diode mounted on a heat sink.