I don't even remember the model, but it was an old Telefunken portable that I got from good will back in the early 70's. It had retracting tape antennas and ran off batteries, but it was a tube rig. What memories!!!

Got you all beat I think,

From Charlottesville, VA I got 810KHz Radio Sutatenza from Colombia, 50KW RCA Xmitter
Also I get KWY 1060KHz from Philly this is a nightly event


Jaime-KA3NXN

I would go home…HK0

Just wait till 6 meters opens up for you. I had the 817 and a loop antenna on the top of a mountain. With 5 watts from VA worked every state on the east coast, and then into northern South America. HK's & YV's It's like a drug once you try it the first time you're hooked for life. I'm always experimenting with better portable antennas to take into rural places with me. I also have a collection of portable rigs.  Icom's IC-202, IC-502, IC-402, IC-505. Yaesu FT-817ND, FT-690, FT-290. Santec LS-202A. I'm always in the market for any portable SSB/CW rigs especially the old AEA's or Mizuho stuff. I even have a rare National/Panasonic RJX-610 portable 6 meter rig. Betcha didn't know Panasonic made 6 meter rigs!!

Enjoy

Jaime-KA3NXN

Hey Guys,

I did a search for 14AWG THNN on eBay and I have found 500' rolls from about $25-$45. Also look at the shipping. I'm also in the same boat, I just laid down a bunch of radials and I want to put some more but the wire os so expensive. At least on eBay it cheaper than Lowes. I'm getting a few 500' rolls delivered for $35.00 each.

Hi Gang,

I'm looking for a nice operating desk setup for my rigs. First I have to say as far as carpentry goes, I'm very challenged in this area. I couldn't cut a straight cut if my life depended on it.  For starters, if I can use it, I have a large flat very sturdy table that is 3x10' in size. I can either build on this or discard it. My gear consists of 2 amps, an Alpha 76 for HF and an SB-221 for six, the HF rig is a Ten Tec Omni VII. And a full size manual tuner , Palstar 2500. Then I have the VHF/UHF rigs with are all separate mobile type rigs for each band. Oh, and I can't forget the Sounds Sweet communications speaker. I have Alinco's Dr-135, 235 & 435, plus a Kenwood TK-981, and yes a mobile CB radio, Texas Ranger 396. I live near the interstate and monitor it in case someone has an emergency. The power supplies for all of this can be tucked away somewhere out of the way.

Suggestions? Pictures? Any input would be appreciated it, especially by my YL.

Jaime-KA3NXN

If your analyzer is working properly and the installation of the antenna is correct, than tuning around with your analyzer the SWR should drop. if it drops at a higher frequency than 2 meters than the antenna is too short, if it drops a a lower frequency than you 2m frequency it's too long. One way or another it should drop if the antenna is installed properly and your analyzer is working properly. I had an analyzer that drove me crazy because I couldn't get my swr down below 2.8:1 and then I put a dummy load on the analyzer and guess what? 2.8:1. BAD ANALYZER!!! Drove me crazy thinking that the problem was in my antenna. Also, is there anything near the whip like a truck box or anything metal that could possibly be detuning the 1/4 wave whip? That will reek havoc on an installation.


Jaime-KA3NXN

It's for both. The hamstick portion of the antenna is only 1/2 of the whole antenna, the radials or counterpoise is the other half. You don't need it for listening, although it will hear much better with the counterpoise. You do need it for transmitting. The antenna won't tune without a good counterpoise. An absolute minimum of 4 radials cut for the band should do O.K. Still it's one heck of a severe compromise compared to a dipole.

Jaime-KA3NXN

The Kenwood TH-F6A and the Alinco Tri Bander DJ-G7T both cover the AM & FM broadcast band

It's not just your power supply. I'm sorry to say but ALL MFJ products suffer from this extremely poor quality control issues. I had a portable antenna that broke and left parts inside the connector in my radio while I was in Europe, (a known issue). An MFJ-259 that quit after only 6 months, an MFJ 3KW tuner that cooked when I only put 600 watts to it, I have even had some items with screws loose and bouncing around inside the case right out of the box, and not to mention the countless cold solder joints…I can go on and on. I have made it a goal to NEVER support this company again and let folks know how horrible their support is. I tout an MFJ free shack at this point and everything is working quite well. It's ashamed, their ideas are great, their production and QA is probably the worst I have ever seen. The sad part is the Mr Jue doesn't seem to care. He has to know how upset people are with the quality of his products. I've been a ham for 25+ years and back then it was known that their products are crap. Oh! also stay away from Ameritron, Mirage, Vectronics, Cushcraft & Hygain. Look at their address, it's the same address as MFJ in Starkville, MS, or now Mississippi State, MS. They were all bought out and ruined by MFJ.  Unfortunately the only satisfaction you'll get is to vent in this forum because MFJ will not give you any satisfaction.
 
Jaime-KA3NXN

Nothing beats the good ole standard, Bird 43!! I own 2 of them

Jaime-KA3NXN

I have to ask, what stats do they have saying that hams are the cause of many accidents? I bet not many. My company is currently working on a technology that would prohibit any mobile phone from dialing any number except 911, while it's moving more than 10MPH.

Jaime-KA3NXN

I use a butane powered gun and it rocks!!! I used to use the electric guns and I had to keep tightening the element down every few connectors and eventually they would break. Just junk.

I now use the Solder-it Pro 180 which I can even solder connectors outside on a cold day if I torque it up.

Go here: http://www.solder-it.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=251

I would say it's 40% tool and 60% skill to install 259's especially on something heavy like LMR-400

Jaime-KA3NXN

I too have used good quality RG8-X for patch cables and have run 2KW through them  for almost 30 years with no issues what so ever. For connectors don't use the cheap Chinese imports. Use quality Amphenol solder-on connectors. In fact Radioworks, the company that makes the Carolina Windom antenna sells and recommends RG8-X for use with all their wire antennas.

Jaime-KA3NXN

K4JSG QSL's AWESOME, Jeff is an artist!!
Cheapham.com best prices and service on Heil & Alinco
DX Engineering. Great service and antenna!!