Is there a ham operator in the north Minneapolis (55412) area who knows antennas who could advise me on whether to mount a tri-band beam on a roof tower or use a regular tower, and which beam antenna would give the best performance within my small lot? I've rented for decades but finally purchased a house (at age 69). I'd like to be active again but the last time I had a beam antenna and could be really active was 1974-1977.

I could also use help setting up software for digital modes (especially RTTY) once my radio gear is set up (Icom IC746ProII and Kenwood TS-830).

Not expecting help for free, at minimum I'll pay for your gasoline to make the trip to look at my lot and have no problem paying for your help.

George  W0XS
w0xs@comcast.net

Of course I know it's not, that was a rhetorical question. As it isn't legal why has the FCC allowed this to go on for so long? It gives other LIDS encouragement to do the same thing.

I was shocked to tune in 14.275 a few minutes ago and hear a commercial advertisment for hamtest.com plus news in broadcast format from K1MAN, Glen Baxter. I thought the FCC took care of him. What's going on? Is radio broadcasting with commercial announcements legal on the ham bands?

I have a IC-756PROII, a microHam DigiKeyer, a HP computer running Vista (64 bit OS) and I can't get MixW or Logic8 or TRX Manager to work.

Is there a ham near me (Bloomington MN) who is familiar with this software and hardware who can get me up and running on digital modes? I've not had any luck getting it all working myself.

I'm willing to pay a reasonable fee for expert help.

I purchased Logic8 logging software (along with TRX-Manager) in February along with a microHAM Digi Keyer and I still cannot make either software work through the Digi Keyer with my PROII.

The Digi Keyer works great with MixW however.

I've created virtual COM ports with the microHAM router (10, 9 & which work with MixW however none of these will work with Logic8 or TRX-Manager.

These virtual ports show up in my HP computer's Device Manager. Logic8 can't find the interface on the three COM ports I created. When the default of COM 3 is used it finds the interface (which isn't connected to that COM port) but can't find my PROII at address 64h.

I've sent several e-mails to HoseNose (Logic), TRX-Manager and microHAM with resolution so far. I've gone to the appropriate Yahoo Groups asking if any hams have the same software, interface and rig who would be willing to talk me through set-up if I called but no takers.

It's frustrating (I'm not genius with computers) to have invested over $500 in software and an interface and then only be able to use the interface with MixW.

Has anyone solved a similar problem who could help me?

Thanks!

George  W0XS   w0xs@arrl.net

My HP Media Center Pentium 4 computer had software installed to program my HT, my mobile VHF/UHF transceiver, my Uniden scanner and for controlling my ProII with MixW and a RigExpert interface. Everything worked fine until I took the computer to Best Buy for repair because the screen resolution kept resetting itself. They replaced the motherboard and now none of my software will connect with my radios. Recently I bought a microHam DigiKeyer and installed that software and also could not control my ProII with TRX-Manager or Logic8 even after creating virtual com ports.

I'm completely helpless when it comes to computers. Any suggestions on what to do to make my computer connect with my several radio software programs would be greatly appreciated. I see no COM1 or COM2 but there is a COM3 and COM4 and I created virtual COM ports 9 thru 12. I've tried every possible combination of those COM ports with MixW and TRX-Manager to no avail.

Thanks!

W0XS
Bloomington, Minnesota