I have sent several email about my QSO that is not in the online log and have received no answers to my emails.
Details:
WS4V 06-OCT-09 1818Z freq. 14.2255 mhz 59 59
Your operator repeated my call two time correctly since he had it incorrect the first time. I know I worked FT5GA. Please check you log.

Actually the phone pole is not used for anything, nothing else attached except the Windom. It belongs to the town and they were kind enough to let me attach the antenna to it, even provided the bucket truck to attach the pulley to the top of the pole.
Nothing has changed as far as the power lines and the windom used to be relatively quiet.

As far as comparing the two antennas, I can hear DX on the tower and hear them with a good S/N ratio but can't hear squat on the windom as far as DX is concerned. My gut feeling is that something as happened to the windom since it worked great last winter and I worked many DX stations, this year I can't even hear them because of the much higher noise level. I'm just trying to get some input before I lower it to the ground. I'll probably shotgun the baluns with a known quantity such as Radio Works if they make a current balun with SO-239s on both ends.

The antenna has a current balun 21 ft. down the coax from the 4:1 balun that feeds the OCF dipole. I also have six ferite blocks where the coax enters the house. I have manually tuned the tuner with the same results. Nothing has changed in the shack since before the noise appeared except for adding an MFJ 1700C antenna switch which I opened and resoldered some connections in before installing. It could be a horizontally polarized noise source external to the house since the tower is vertically polarized. I am considering a large loop antenna to see how that works. I have a friend who has one and it is extremely quiet but may be at the expense of less ERP the same as I am seeing now from loading the tower.

Lately I have noticed the noise level on my homebrew Carolina Windom has gone really high. It is the standard 80 meter design and about 125 ft. in length. One end is at 40 ft., tied to my VHF/UHF tower and the other is to a phone pole 50 ft. high. Since ground is never level the average height above ground is probably somewhere around 50 feet. The ground between the two supports drops between them. It is fed with an RG8 (super flex by the Wireman) thru a current balun then 20 some ft of RG8 to a 4:1 balun feeding the OCF dipole.

In the past I have worked a lot of DX on the windom, mostly CW since I only run 100 watts on 40 & 80, but now the noise level is constantly around S9. I forgot to mention that between the TS-2000 and the coax is an LDG AT-11MP autotuner.

Lately I have started switching to my Mosley TA33 which is on 50 foot tower for 40 meters and tuning it through the tuner which gives me a much better S/N ratio on 40 meters. I did this out of frustration since I couldn't hear anything on the Windom except the strongest station.

I just took some S-meter reading with a good signal on 40 meters and here are the results:
Freq: 7.023 mhz
Windom, noise level S9
Windom, stateside CW signal S9+20 (20 db difference)
Tower, Noise level (tuned thru tuner) S 0.5
Tower, same CW signal S9(aprox 50 db difference)
or 30 db better S/N ratio using the tower/Mosley

The tower seems to be loading pretty good (thru tuner SWR is 1.2:1) and the 20db loss in signal is much more than offset by the lower noise loading the tower. To me this also means that my transmitted signal is attenuated by 20db which means I can hear the stations now but they can't hear me. If my calculations are correct output equals 1 watt, QRPp.

Although I weatherproofed the baluns extremely well 2 years ago when I installed the windom I'm thinking water contamination although the tuner will match it on any band. The baluns I used were made locally, I don't remember by whom now, but am suspecting them. I just can't understand why it would raise the noise so much (it used to run maybe S4-6) but attenuate the signal.

I hope that I have included enough information to diagnoise the problem.
Thanks and 73 to all,
Ken, WS4V

Probably won't affect your HF reception much but think of the entertainment value when the bands are down and the big moths are out! Sometimes you'll get a real big bug in there and wedge itself inside. The frying can go on for minutes! Guess it's the bug's version of an electric chair. I can see I've already admitted to having too much time on my hands so I'll leave now in disgrace....

No brainer, my friend. Buy ANYTHING but a Radio Shack brand. Buy an AZDEN if you have to but avoid Radio Shack "You've got questions, we've got blind stares back at you" brands.

One simple solution I found---
Take a metal book end (found at Target, Walmart, etc.) and bend it to the angle you like for viewing the radio. Add velcro to the bottom and attach. Simple but works great.

Hello. I am in the market for a easy to install/easy to tune vertical and am considering the Cushcraft R8 or Titan DX. However I've seen recent ads for the BiggIR 7 to 54 mhz continuous coverage, no trap,coil,capacitors, full coverage fiberglass verticals and they look interesting. Does anyone have one or know how they work? The ad says "low SWR with reasonable grounding system" but I wonder what that entails.  The price tag is a bit higher than the R8 or Titan but not by much and it may be worth it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks to all and 73!

I've bought two of these speakers. They are fine speakers but I've noticed, if looked closely, tiny superficial scratches along the front grill panel and scuff marks next to the screws on the front panel.
Is this normal? In other words, can anyone else verify their new SP20s having these slight flaws? The metal paneling seems perfect but it just shows along the front panel sides. (I've noticed the same thing on the Yaesu FT100D front detachable face. Along some of the buttons there are minute scratches.)
Is this simply a QC issue with ICOM or a regular part of production?

If this is the case then I'll feel better knowing that this is normal with the SP20's.
Thanks for your help!
Rob,ws4v

Wait a minute! Your WIFE is telling you to buy a new HF rig!?! There's not even room to start complaining or worrying here...let me state this again...YOUR WIFE IS TELLING YOU YOU NEED A NEW RIG! Sir, you have NO WORRIES.
Seriously...an ICOM 746 is a nice advanced rig, the Yaesu FT900/990 are nice, and the Kenwood TS2000, although a little pricier, are nice rigs, too.
A know nothing of the Ten Tec Jupiter's performance but I did see one at a hamfest. I was NOT impressed. You complain that the 718 is tiny and weightless..well, the Jupiter is, in my opinion, constructed of light weight material and the push of a button would cause the rig to scoot across the desk.
So, if you are looking for something between a Yaesu FT817 and an FT1000D I think the 746, 990 (both now out of production but can be found for good used prices) or TS2000 would be nice.
Also consider an FT920.
Good luck and go get your wife a gift just for being so supportive of your hobby!

Hello to all. I have an opportunity to buy an SM220 but was wondering if this could be used with a Kenwood TS950SDX. I know it of course was built to interface directly with the 940SAT but since SM230s are so rare or still expensive on the used market I was hoping to see if I could use an SM220.
If so, what does the the SM220 lack that the SM230 has or are there any real benefits of having the SM230 over the SM220 when using the 950SDX?
Tnx and 73!
Rob,ws4v

Hello to all! Knowing what is known about rigs and if
one had a chance to buy a like new used FT1000D or Kenwood TS950SDX what would be the better choice?
I realize this is a tough question to answer but I am having a hard time deciding on which one to lean towards.
The FT1000D may have a 50 watts advantage which is negligible but the TS950SDX seems to have a few more advanced features and a more updated/sophisticated look to it. Plus, there is DSP implementation in the 950SDX.
I use CW about 75% of the time and enjoy DX'ing and contesting.
I've already ruled out the 775dsp (just can't warm up to the large amber readout and too close to a 781 I use) and 870S (the TS2000 seems more advanced).
Any help would be appreciated.
Tnx and 73!

Has anyone heard of plans to update the 775dsp by ICOM?
I hear rumours of an ICOM 775dspMKII or ICOM 775dspPRO version coming around the bend but cannot seem to confirm this anywhere. I know the 775dsp has just been put out of production but that means very little since the PROII is their new "top of the line" besides the ever famous 781.
I'm considering buying a 775dsp over the MKV but if there's a new updated 775dsp soon to come I'd rather wait and see. Having a real hard time deciding between the 775dsp or MKV..or perhaps even going with the 1000D (tough sale though without the new technology and lack of DSP).
Any help would be really appreciated.
Tnx and 73.

Hello to all. I am trying to decide on whether the ICOM 775dsp or FT1000MP Field would be a better buy for the radio. The Field is currently around $1999 to 2200 depending on the dealer whereas the ICOM 775dsp runs near $3000. I hear reports that the FIELD has a bad digital display (not very bright and dull appearance) (and truly is not LCD); on the other hand the LCD display on the 775 is large and very readable. I also like the S meter on the 775 instead of the bar graph on the Field. But then again, the FIELD has "newer" DSP. Also, the 775dsp is 200w -vs- the Field's 100 watts.
I saw the MK V but was not impressed with having to set up the rinky dink Yaesu power supply right new to the rig. Plus, I thought the heatsink was a little bizarre looking.
Also, if I go with the 775dsp I don't know if it would really be worth it since I also own a 781. (of course, no DSP in that! Everything is a trade-off!)
Does anyone have any comments on either the 775 or the Field? I've read all the eham reviews of both and I realize it depends on the user but I'd like to hear other opinions of those who may own both or those who have done an A/B test on either.

Thanks to all and 73!
Tnx and 73.

Hello. I have a couple older ICOM rigs that have a few scratches on the sides. Does anyone know if there is a company, etc. out there that specializes in equipment/appliance painting or restoration? I understand electrostatic painting may be helpful in making the radio's cabinet look like new. Any ideas or suggestions?
Tnx and 73.