My Icom 735 sometimes take a minute or more to light up after I have pressed in the power switch. After it powers up, it works fine. I have tried it on a couple of different external power supplies with the same result. What could be the causes of this slow power up?
tnx and 73
Ed - N4GX

I received a new Alinco DR-135TP for Xmas from my brother. The TNC is integrated into the rig. I have followed the skimpy instructions in the manual by connecting an RS-232 cable from my 135TP to my computer. When I boot up the computer it does not see the radio. What am I missing here? What do I need to do next? I am using a US Robotics external modem on the computer that is hooked to serial port com 2. I have set Com 1 at 9600 baud and data length 8 bits, parity none, Flow control to Xon/Xoff as per the manual but how do I set up the EJ-41U (the internal TNC)? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks and 73's
Ed - N4GX

One thing you need to be careful of is having someone on the roof touch your antenna while you are transmitting. I know it's QRP but some people spend their life waiting for the opportunity to sue somebody. If you go with the loop, maybe you could protect it somehow with PVC pipe or something similar.
You could always have your wife run up on the roof and stand there while you transmit to keep people away from the antenna :-).
A better option might be to construct a vertical run up the side of the building where no one can reach it and end it before it gets up to roof level where some one might reach over and touch it.
Re ground. I have one ham friend who's shack is on the second story and he uses an artificial ground with very good results and lots of contacts.
Good Luck!
N4GX

I use a manual MFJ VERSA Tuner II 949E. I bought it at a ham fest for $65.00. I know MFJ makes some that are cheaper than the 949E and maybe you can pick one up on eham classifieds.  My 949E tunes up everything pretty well. My antennas are mostly inverted Vee's but I also use a Vertical. It will tune the various ham bands up on all ham freqs except 160 meters. (I don't have a 160 meter antenna). It actually tunes a greater range  than the built in tuner in my Kenwood TS 930 SAT.
If I you get enough money for an Automatic tuner, I would go with the LDG AT-11 or RT-11.