These NVIS myths you speak of...which, specifically? NVIS is claimed by some to happen as high as 15 Mhz (see wikipedia) but others say it's most likely between 2 and 10 Mhz. What makes this frustrating is that you have to jump bands, which means switching antennas or having a multiband. Well OK you might be able to get the 80 meter antenna tuned on 40 meters, and load the 60 on 30. But what's most irritating is the regulations on modes in the diferent bands: USB in 60 meters, digital/CW in 30 meters.

I'd gladly trade a bit of the 40 meters or 80 meter spectrum (or even better, 10 meter) for some narrow slices at each Mhz 2 through 10. Even if it means going digital instead of SSB. It would be nicer still if some of the bands were harmonically related so antenna requirements are less. But I don't see this happening.

I think that, in the 200-300 mile range required, that the first thing to try is knife-edge diffraction on VHF. It may be hard to a 'the sweet spot', if there even IS one, but once found it will be stable. Well, maybe I am overestimating the directionality here, I am used to attempting knife-edge at 2.4 ghz!

If the system in question required periodic bursts of packet data, than tropo or even meteor might work. But I've never used these modes so I can't say for sure.

The most certain way to have this path is via repeater on this intermediate mountain range, 100 watts and some good yagis at the base stations. 

My Sommerkamp PA-150 amplifier arrived in the mail. It's a nice looking unit. The manual gives an address for Sommerkamp in Lugano, Switzerland, but I thought this was a German company. I've read that they imported Yaesu into Europe. But I have no idea if this is a Yaesu amplifier made in Japan, or something else, as there is no indication of origin on it.

I have the manual, if anyone else out there needs me to scan it in I can send a copy.

Now, the only thing that's preventing me from using the amplifier is I don't have a big enough power supply. I plan on modifying a PC power supply for the job.

Perhaps my distaste for relays is not reasonable. I think of them as noisy, slow, and short-lived. But it occurs to me that I won't be doing very much ARQ work, and when I am, I may not need the amplifier.

Why, do some ask, don't I just go out and buy a high-power rig? Well, sometimes I wish I had. But I am trying to stick to the promise I made to myself to not acquire more equipment than I need (a good reason to stay away from hamfests). I thought that the FT-817 would free me from having a pile of single-band portable radios and also serve as a base xcvr.

It is true, that I would benefit greatly from a better antenna. Unfortunately I rent in the city, so my antenna options are limited.

I went out on a limb and just now bought a Sommerkamp PA-150. It seems to be a bit more respectable than many other amplifier brands. It's rated at 150W, so I figure I can run it at less than that and clean up the signal.  The amplifier was not what I had in mind before, when I explored CB amps as a 'virtual parts box'. I paid more than the $25 parts-box budget I had in mind for an amplifier of in good repair. The $85 I spent is still much less than I would have spent on a Tokyo Hy-Power. I may get lucky, but even if I do, that doesn't mean that I made a good choice.

I found this ironic, how so often CBers talk amongst each others about adapting ham amplifiers to CB service, and here I am, talking about the reverse.

73,
N1YRK

Right now, I have a dipole on 20 meters. I have a Miracle Whip, but I wouldn't want to load it very heavily.  For my hfpack,
I guess a long wire will do (I have an LDG z-100). I used to have a MFJ magnetic loop, and that thing was amazing. I wish I still had it.
Yes filters are a big part of any high-power design, and the values can be calculated easily. If I had that magnetic loop, I'd have to worry about spurious emissions much less (but I like having a clean signal going into the antenna as well).
Planning on it, yes. Not so sure my skills are up to the task.
Yes, we're thinking alike on this point.
A crappy amplifier is going to be less efficient, and efficiency is important when running on batteries in HFpack mode.
Hrm that looks like an interesting spectrum analyzer. I'll have to give that a close read.
The designs I saw use relays.

Anyhow, there's a swapmeet nearby in a few hours. Maybe I'll go and maybe I'll get lucky. It's unlikely, because I agree with your estimation of CB amps as being, on the whole, below par.

73,
N1YRK

KB4QAA & N6AJR: Yes, been down that route, but didn't find anything that stood out from the crowd. That's why I asked here at Eham.

K7ZRZ & N4TD: Thanks for mentioning Tokyo high-power. I had heard that name a while back but forgot it. The problem with their equipment is the high cost.

KZ1X: Yes, I Have heard of Virgil's good kits. The problem is, all his amplifiers use relays. These are not suitable.

I am thinking of something from Communications Concepts, but these seem to be rather minimally kitted. Either CC, or find the money to buy an amplifier from RMItaly (good reputation, less expensive than Tokyo - but as good?). I could go to a swapfest and perhaps find some rusty dusty old CB 'lineer' and hope for the best, but I feel like pairing something like that with such a nice radio as the FT-817 would be a bit obscene. I'd rather get an amplifier of quality build and lower output power than some over-driven 'memphis footwarmer' from 1978.

I am very far from an expert in this field, but you may find the programs and documentation at http://www.linuxcnc.org to be useful.

I am an experienced programmer, but not in CNC. Over the years I have learned many programming languages. I have found that the most important parts of learning programming languages are patience and a clear mind. The other learning method I have used is experimentation, but this may not be so well suited to CNC where experiments have material cost (as opposed to writing, for example, a program to design inductors..if it doesn't work, you can just try again, wasting only your time).

Congratulations on your wise decision to educate yourself. But I caution you to be careful in spending your efforts learning skills for which there is little market.  I suggest looking at the 'positions available' in your area and somewhat related to your expertise, and see what skills are commonly called for.

I have an FT-817 that just doesn't have enough power to do what I want it to. I figure that 50-100 watts PEP would probably solve the problem. I need something portable (HFpack), solid state, rugged, and inexpensive. Because I am doing packet work with ARQ, I need something truely solid state - no relays to burn around. The amplifier needs to have quick response time. I need to save money, so I don't want to buy a RMItaly unit. I've been looking out for some old CB amplifiers, but I am wary of buying something which is sketchy for so many reasons.

I am not sure I even need 50 watts. Perhaps 25 to 35 would be okay. More than 100 watts would have declining utility due to size, power demands, and expense.

I haven't been burned by this guy, but he offers the world for a cheap price and then when you challenge him to provide some sort of credentials or recommendations, he ignores the messages. I have communicated with him several times regarding proving who he is.

What I know is his email account is under "Nick and Stacy Honeybourne"  (nickhoneybourne1@gmail.com). He claims to be from the UK. Specifically, 69 Barrass Lane CV1 4AQ, Coventry, West Midland, UK.

He was offering me an FT-817 with accessories and solar panel for $350, requesting a western-union payment, and holding the shipment at the shipper "First Freight" (http://www.firstflightupdate.co.cc/) until payment had been received. All sorts of alarm bells here. I did a web search for him and found he has come under suspicion on other forums as well.

Unlike the typical scammer, he seems to have a reasonably good command of the English language. He has a small amount of knowledge regarding radio, so it seems, so he may be able to con others by it. But his language seems more American than British.

I wish to reiterate that I do not know for sure than he is a thief or liar. But his communications with me seems to fit the profile. Beware!

So, I have a pile of old CBs. Most of them are AM, old xtal mixing types. The sole SSB radio is a Sears SSB. This is not labeled 'roadtalker', so it's older I guess. Model 61-36772, with a built-in power supply...but I need to find the pinouts for the power jack, as the cable wasn't included (anyone have this?) My desire is to use this as a PSK31 rig, so it needs to be lifted to 28.120 Mhz.

The crystals are soldered. My idea is to cannibalize one of the AM radios for a crystal, and replace one of the ones in the SSB radio, to bring it up over a Mhz. Of course, I'll need to re-tune the filters and so forth. Luckily, this radio was made before large-scale integration was the norm, so many inductors have tunable slugs.

I am wondering, firstly, if anyone has experience with this radio, particularly in 10 meters conversions. Next, if someone knows what the mixing scheme is. Thirdly, any crystal sources which are useful - either from other radios mixing, or microproccessor cyrstals, or what have you. I'd also like to get an idea of what I need to tune. Perhaps a schematic would be useful.

If I don't get any info on the mixing scheme, I'll get out my dentist's tools and start to read the xtals, hopefully they are marked. And I'll do that for the AM rigs I have as well. But before I do anythnig, I should probably test these would to see that they are functional CBs, and the ones that aren't get marked for canniblization.  I'll post the model and test results here, for anyone who wants to help me to see.

73,
N1YRK

Thanks for the hints. What eventually panned out was using mods.dk...though their rather strict download limitations is distasteful. Now I just have to get to the workbench and not screw up the soldering job on the main tuning knob, and hopefully be able to clean the contacts on the multifunction knob so it works well again (instead of going back when you turn it forward, or the reverse).

The mic I am using for it is an old kenwood, with no model number on it. Unfortunately, the connector on the mic is too large so it doesn't clear the face plate. I was thinking of making an extension cable anyhow, so that should fit the problem - as long as i used the right connector.

Hello,
I just bought a DX-70 on ebay - it is in really rough shape! It looks like physical abuse of the VFO broke it, by causing the separation of the leads fro the PCB. But I want to check on the schematic to see exactly what is supposed to go to where, but alas no manual came with the radio (no surprise) and I can't locate a schematic in either the owners or service manual that Alinco has available for download. Anyone have a digital copy, or can look on their paper copy and tell me that the leads off of the an VFO go to where they seem to?

The other problem I have identified (so far) is the screwy multi-function control. I understand that the contacts in these get oxidized. I recall hearing that tv-tuner cleaner is actually the wrong solution for such a problem is the wrong solution and so i ask Elmer what to do.

oh yes, i am looking for a main tuning know as well. The one I have is functional, but scraped up, as is the front panel plastic. ouch. poor radio!

73,
N1YRK

Are there any 6M SSB HTs? I know of several FM portables, but that mode just won't have the range that SSB will. Otherwise, I'll just have to put my DX70T in a bag with batteries!

Hello,
I have a project where I will have a radio box up on a roof in an aluminum enclosure. This will be powered by a wind turbine or PV (solar) source.

I need to find a good power connector solution. There are punchouts on the chassis, .810" and .625" diameter. I could drill another sized hole but I'd rather not. I am looking for a jack/plug combo that is: screw-on, panel/chassis mount, weatherproof, 12V 1A, and reasonably cheap to get. Any recommendations?

Other things I am looking for is a good source of this new nanosolar material.

I have manuals for this and the DM-0530. They're in poor condition, but someday I'll try to scan them in.

Pinout:

1 Data In
2 Data Out
3 PTT
4 gnd
5 Vcc
6 CD

What I'd like is a good source of cheap crystals so I can use these on the amateur band. I have about 8 of these radios ready to make a 9600 bps network.

What assets does the club have? If  you can tell people "hey join us and you can play with all this cool gear", that may help.

Survey your remaining membership and see what your strengths and weaknesses are, in terms of skills, personalities/politics. Narrowing  your charter to a specific interest will make you seem more serious among those that share that interest. But you will probably remain small in numbers.

Linking up with other organizations has worked, I hear. Boy scouts, volunteer FDs (though I don't know that you'll find a volunteer FD in Houston!), etc.

As far as repeater sites, if you put some time into a document explaining how repeater sites help hams serve the community in times of disaster, you may be able to convince a few places to host you. Government/pseudo-government agencies may respond best to this.

Maybe you could build a linked network of repeaters. This is complex and expensive though.

As far as pager transmitter interference, well the pager industry is dying, pushed out by cellphones. Good riddance, I say, as far as hams are concerned!