I have read in Icom's brochure & in HRO's catalog that this radio will do crossband. For some reason, no one at HRO knows how this works and better yet the Icom manual for this rig dosen't address this feature. Dose anyone know how I can turn this feature on? I have also looked in the "Nifty Accessories" quick users guide. Again, no mention on how to use this feature. I have searched the net, again no dice. Does this rig even have this function?  I am starting to wonder.

I have read in Icom's brochure & in HRO's catalog that this radio will do crossband. For some reason, no one at HRO knows how this works and better yet the Icom manual for this rig dosen't address this feature. Dose anyone know how I can turn this feature on? I have also looked in the "Nifty Accessories" quick users guide. Again, no mention on how to use this feature. I have searched the net, again no dice. Does this rig even have this function?  I am starting to wonder.

I agree with Wireless, although the name calling is unecessary. If shortened veritcals were so bad then explain to me whay I have been able to work Europe & South America on 40 meters from my car with only a 6 foot antenna and 100 watts! I know they are a compromise, but they do work.  I have a Hustler 5BTV and have added elements for 12&17 meters and yesterday I worked a ship in the pacific from central VA with only 100 watts on 17. I have busted up pile ups with this antenna. I just want to experiment with the new 60 meter band since I have never been on it.  
Space it extreamly limitted so I can only go up with an antenna at my QTH, so that means a vertical.

Thank you to all for the advice.

I didn't mean for anybody to get insulted or yelled at.

I have been hamming for over 20 years and I look at other people's  advice and build on it. We can all learn something from everyone, no matter how dumb or inexpierenced we think they are.

Anybody experimented with a shortened 1/4 wave for 60 meter? I am looking for something not taller than 15 feet. I can wind a coil if I need too.

Are the 572's direct replacements or do I have to do any mods?

I just want to get to 1KW or a little over I don't want to go passed 1.3Kw since my antennas are only rated at 1.5Kw. I run a Carolina Windom 40 and a Hustler 5BTV. I am extreamely limitted in space. Right now it does about 650W on SSB. I wish I had $5000 for an Alpha, but I can't swing that, not even close.

Has anybody added the 4th tube to the 811 amp to make it an 811H? If so I would love the mod for this amp. This would give me an additional 200 watts from what I gather.

TNX

Jaime - KA3NXN

I have had Dish Network and am very active on all bands from 80 M to 70 CM, and yes even the odd ones, i.e. 50m & 1.25m I have NEVER had any interference from the dish. Even now where my HF Carolina Windom has one leg only about 10 feet above the dish. I also run a KW on HF and do not interfere with the dish operation at all. I think it is a coincidence

KZ1X is right about verticals. They are a lot of work to install and maintain. I gave up after 3 years of messing  with 2 different GAP verticals, and moved up to the Carolina Windom antennas, and have been much happier with the performance. To me verticals are like real expensive unreliable sports cars. They spend more time in the shop than on the road.

I am in the same boat as you. I purchased a Carolina Windom from www.radioworks.com. and it works great. I have a Carolina Windom 40 which is 56' long and requires about 20' of hieght to install, and works all bands between 40-10. This antenna works wonderfully on all bands.  I can usually be found on 7.238MHz  in the evenings for the "Rotten Apples Net". I highly suggest one of these, you won't be sorry you bought it. They also have 160-10 or 80-10 versions, but of course they will be longer. I believe the Carolina Windom 80 is about 132' long and requires about 35' in height. Look them up. I busted up a pileup on 14.256 this weekend and worked 5U7B and came back to me with a 20 over S9 report. All with only 85 watts!

That's is what we suspect the cause to be. Norm KB6KQ sent me some new Teflon insulators that are made out of the same material that the 6 meter pair use. The problem still persists on the 2 meter pair, but it is not present on the 6 meter pair.

Have you seen this problem before? I have read nothing but good reviews on the KB6KQ stuff, but I am now having doubts now.

I am at a loss.

I will try your suggestion. I notice that another maufacturer does not use insulators on his loops.

I am waiting to hear from Norm. I have left him several emails & voicemails over the last few days and haven't heard back from him.

Thank you for your input.

Jaime KA3NXN

I have a pair of 2 meter loop antennas that get detuned everytime it rains. I have made sure that the coax is well sealed and have worked with KB6KQ to find out what could be causing this issue but have not been able to correct the issue. When they are dry the resonant freq is 144.200, but as soon as they get wet the resonant freq drops to 143.00 and the SWR at 144.200 is over 3:1 . I have replaced insulators and done everything I could think of. I have also been working with KB6KQ to resolve this issue but have had no luck. I also have a pair of 6 meter loops that aren't affected by the weather, but the 2 meter units are unusable when they get wet. Does anybody have any ideas?

 

I have a 3 week old 746 Pro that is doing something peculiar. On 2 meter SSB the radio reports a high SWR over 3:1 at 144.200MHz.  I thought I had an antenna problem, so I checked it with an SWR analyzer and the analyzer shows an SWR of 1.4:1. I called Icom and they told me that the SWR circuit in the 746 is much more sophisticated than that of the analyzer. Where do I go from here? Since the rig thinks the SWR is high, it backs the output power down from 100 watts to only about 20.  I did check with the rig to see if I could find a resonant point on the antenna and it does report a flat SWR at 143.640MHz. My SWR analyzer shows a higher than 3:1 at this frequency.

Which do I believe?

Jaime KA3NXN

While I agree with the others that the Larson 5/8th wave is an excellent antenna. The best 2 meter mobile antenna and has been so for over 20 years is the Hustler CG-144, if you can put one of these on your car. It's a colinear antenna that is a bout 7' tall and is quite an eye-sore by to day's stealthy standards. But WOW does it perform well. Look it up. I own one for 2 meters & one for 220 & I have yet to find better.

73's de KA3NXN

 

Does anybody have the modification to open up the HF transmit on a IC-746 Pro? If so please email it to me.
ka3nxn@arrl.net

Thank you in advance.

Jaime