I just want to point out an obvious but sometimes misunderstood or overlooked rule....6 and 2 meters are totally unique in that the bottom 100 kHz is strictly limited to A1 emission (on/off cw keying), regardless of license class; by FCC rules and regulations.

No MCW, no digital, no RTTY, no PSK....just plain ol' cw.

There "ain't no kinda privicy no more".

In most states, license plate registration is public information...........they make you jump thru hoops to get it but its available none the less.

The biggest 'con' as far as I am concerned is the way the fee system works.  I can go along with an extra fee on the first issue, I mean after all, the state prison has to drag some rufus away from his favorite cable TV program to make it (them) but to re-cram you every year for the same "lick'em, stick'um" renewal tab as regular plates use just frosts my donut.  

I displayed them proudly for years until Missouri got so darn greedy.  Even in the tenth call district with the way cool slashed zero, most people have no earthly idea anymore what they are.

One last sort of 'con'...it used to be fun to toot CQ or HI in code at a fellow ham with call plates but sadly those days too are gone.

Save your money and get a window decal showing your call or a coupl'a cups of good coffee.


 

Your "Caps lock" button is stuck.

If they are not too deep, I have always used and had great luck with Semi-Chrome......available at most motorcycle shops. Use with a damp cloth and do small circular rubs (like spit shinning shoes...if you've ever done that.)

Our radio repair shop had some goo they used for polishing up the Visa-bars on our police cars.  I'm sure with a little whimpering and snivelling they might give you a little bit.

One last thought; auto supply stores have stuff now to buff out cloudy headlight covers.

Assuming nothing is screwed up, like the SWR meter is wired to the ant. side rather than to the transmitter, I might suggest tuning to a band and twiddle all the knobs (starting with the inductor) for max. band noise or S meter reading on the receiver.  

From there usually just a final tweeking while transmitting should do the trick.
If all the knob twisting doesn't change anything on the receiver noise, it may be time to start looking for some other mess up in the unit's meter or the wiring. If rotory waffer switches were used, check them carefully.  If the previous owner had some arc overs they could be FUBAR'ed.
 
BTW,  the further off resonance the antenna the touchier the adjustments will be; sometimes they are easy to pass by.

You were looking for yet another challenge, right?

After emerging from your "Waazu", who'd want them?  Reinsertion may be an option.

I have a DSL modem with a firewall, a router with a firewall and a firewall that may or may not have a good fire wall.  Obviously it IS do-able but not for me. I have tried every suggestion echolink offers and finally just gave up in disgust.

If/when echolink is made more everyday computer friendly I may give it another try but until then the heck with it.  Even if I could figure it out, I can't say as I'm crazy about opening up ports that the XP OS seems to feel is best blocked.  Guess I'll stick with the old "wireless".

With the over whelming number of XP with SP2 systems in exsistance it should be clear that something needs to be changed in the program.

Not what was asked but a general suggestion for mag-mounts of any size............Keep jar lid(s), like on jars of coffee creamer, and if you remove the mag-mount for any reason, put the lid on the magnet.   It keeps all sorts of little medal bits and other thingies off it plus helps keep the magnet strong.

Obviously, if you have the multi-magnet units, find something else that will fit.

In a pinch, put a thicker plastic bag, like a freezer bag, over the magnet(s) to keep them clean when off vehicle.

CLEAN is the key to paint surface happiness.

 

"A thousand receivers do not make a sound"

Scott,

My 735 does the same thing when it's cold but seems to ease up after a bit of dial spinning.

Pop off an e-mail inquiry to another Scott.....
http://www.angelfire.com/biz2/mts/

He is the best repair guy I have ever found and is always ready to help out with an answer rather than the old "just send it in" line.  BTW; although he's an old Icom bench guy, he works on them all.

I sure love my old 735 (and my even older 730)..They both have a home for life.

BTW.....he has found a great LED replacement fo the dial lights.  You may lose the green but you'll never have them winking out again.

73,  Bob

One broadcaster is dropping it.

http://www.southgatearc.org/news/february2007/english_drm_cancelled.htm

Most commercial units are active antennas with a signal amplifier built in so the GPS unit puts a phantom voltage from the GPS to the antenna line to power it. I know for sure Garmin does it this way.
 
If you do try to whomp up a homebrew antenna be sure it is NOT a DC short or you may FUBAR your GPS unit.

I'm all for homebrewing but in this case the gentleman who suggested springing fifteen bucks or so for an off the shelf device was right on.

 

Hate to poke my cold nose in here but check what it is made of.  

A lot of the ones I have seen are made of lead and won't take much clamping or provide much support.

I believe the closest thing you will find are 'service nets' like Mid-Cars.

Another problem is if you find someone on a HF 'calling frequency'  where are you going to move? More often than not that will be the last you hear of each other.    

BTW..They only work in theory on VHF.  In reality there usually one local putz that insists on rag chewing there instead of moving up or down.   Monitoring 50.125 and/or 144.200 is sometimes a lost cause because of it.

In all my years I have only heard one guy during a 6 meter opening call CQ on .125 and add he will be listening and respond on another frequency.  Now that's a first class operator!

"""Even worse is a bad fist...sending dahs at 10 WPM but dits at 25...eeek!!"""

AMEN Brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!