LOGic from http://www.hosenose.com

I've used mine mobile for several years and never seen, nor heard of this. AFAIK, it's not normal for the 700.

I suspect Bud's support group response level is simply due to that backpack bunch having been his initial, and largest, target group. The Buddipole was not initially targeted at the general ham population for good reason. It was targeted at the folks who enjoy the challenge of portable  operation in less than desirable environs. For this it does the job and many living in ham unfriendly environs have found it to be adequate for their use.

One with a modicum of ambition and only a little more than memorization skills can build a better performing dipole for their home station. If you throw your credit card out for a Buddipole, expecting it to compete with any "full-size" antenna you will be disappointed. "Simple to set up" assumes the user has some understanding of how  the antenna works.

When you see the asteric (*) character come up hit <ENTER>.

By default, the KAM will send each line at a different baud rate. When you see the english string with the asteric it has matched your COMPort speed. After hitting <ENTER> you set MYCALL and ABAUD. It should remember as long as there is 12VDC attached.

I've used APRS100 for several years as do a few others in the North 'burbs of Chicago. When out of the area I usually use a Beacon Text of "Monitoring APRS100 / 146.52". I find it a real boon to APRS.

FWIW, I've been active in Northern Lake County since 1973 including Lake County RACES and other organizations and I don't recall that call. Callbook comes up negative so he may be an SK.

I use the basic components (antennas) without the polarization relays. Mine are some 15-20 years old. I was able to get replacement parts for the VHF yagi and use apiece of mast for the cross-boom rather than a non-metallic boom. I am pleased with their operation HTH.

You should take your business elsewhere as SWL will obviously not meet your expectations. As I read your original post, and maybe I am mistaken, you didn't order anything. You asked a question and didn't like the quick but honest answer.

Try MFJ. They will sell you advertised items that aren't scheduled for production for 6-8 weeks without telling you. They won't, however, bore you with excuses as they won't answer email queries!

In short, you can't get rid of that birdie. You can overcome it to some extent with a good preamp and antenna to get the received signal robust enough to overcome the birdie. I have also had some luck working folks as the satellite is descending. The birdie is more pronounced on ascent than descent. Ain't modern digital technology great!

Hi Kurt,
I am a new FT-857D owner but have been around a while and have done some satellite work with the TS-2000.

For weather sats you should use wide-band FM which, to my knowledge, the FT-857D does not do. That said, you may still be able to get images. Easiest way I know of is to use one of the sound card based applications and a Rascal or other similar interface.

For most satellite work full-duplex is recommended. The FT-857D does not do that either but you can always use a separate receiver/transceiver to accomplish this. I've tried turnstile type antennas and prefer the yagi for my uses. Check out the Arrow Antenna Company for a relatively inexpensive 2xband satellite antenna.

If you have a Windows Mobile hand-held computer you can use that with either NetStumbler or Wififofum, though bouth have PC versions as well.

Even worse, I ask why I keep buying their stuff.

I've owned several MFJ items, two of which never gave me problems, but the rest reassured me that they have engineers that never use their designs, and they have no quality control.

Sad thing is that I'm even more afraid to return items for repair, warranty or otherwise, given the state of their new items. My one experience with this was a disaster.

The correct path will depend upon local convention but, in most cases, APRS via WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2 should be appropriate and remain within recommended conventions.

As to the way points; I presume you have the GPS set to send NMEA sentences/strings to the radio. I use the eMap with my D700 and it works but I am at work without my manual.

I'll try to get back during the day if no one has already provided the answer.

Dang, sorry I missed this. Though I've lived up north for many years I actually helped make the North Carolina a shrine and would have enjoyed the contact and QSL.

As a kid in NC schools we donated nickels and dimes toward the restoration project and got some kind of pin and an admission ticket, as I recall. I never visited her until I was nearly 50.