Most, if not all of the hams that trash isotrons never used one.  I've been using them for 10 years and they work well.  Proof is in the log book.  Bob WD8LIC

I live in a no antenna hoa.  I donated a flagpole to the cause.  everybody loves it.  They even bought a special 9-11 flag for the occassion to display over the weekend.  Needless to say, I work 10-80 with ease including WARC and can run 160 in an emergency.  8 radials in the grass.  didn't even bury them.  can't see them at all.  Bob WD8LIC

nice job!  I had a dentron one like it, but it was 20w ssb only.  put a video on youtube and sell them on ebay.  will get more sales if you have a US distributor or shipper.  What price range are you looking to sell these for? 

I used to be a club member but dropped out.  Several reasons:
1.  Time.  Seems like ham radio is the only life they have.  I've got a career, spouse, kids, grandkids, etc.etc.etc.  Monthly meetings are just not in the cards.  Quarterly maybe, semi annual much better.  Or how about only having a meeting when the club has something worthwhile to say.  Meeting just to meet and be seen is unnecessary.
2.  Technoiditis:  I love to operate, not design or build equipment.  I feel that unless you are a electrical engineer who is building moonbounce gear you are just not part of the inner circle
3.  Good ole boy network:  6-8 hams run everything.  No fun

I'm not cynical, just sharing my thoughts as an ex club member.  Maybe my comments will help.

For what it is worth, I bought an ICOM 718.  Only problem was the bandpass filter is too broad.  Installed an aftermarked cw filter and problem solved.  I'm very happy with my 718.
Bob WD8LIC

Jim:  As you shorted a vertical antenna, two things happen, everything else being equal:
1.  angle of radiation increases and 2.  inefficiency of the antenna increases.  As a reasonable compromise, I homebrewed my own vertical and I love the results.  I have a 20 ft. 5 section vertical flagpole mounted ina  pvc sleeve which is cemented into the ground surrounded by a stainless steel radial plate from DX Engineering.  om top of the flagpole I have a 40 meter hustler super resonator rated for 1 KW.  At the bottom I have 8 radials with assorted lengths randing from 20-67 ft. 

I run barefoot into either a Tokyo Hi-Power 200W autotuner or a MFJ 962D roller inductor manual tuner.  Tunes to 1:5 or better SWR at 100W on all bands from 80-10m.  I can work short and long distance stations well although the long ones do come in a few S units better, but the short ones are definately workable.

Oh, by the way, the flag on top is really nice.  The Condo HOA is pretty pleased with my patriotism.  One word of caution:  you need a good mosquito repellant to lay radials in the grass in the cover of night.  Hi-Hi.  BOB WD8LIC

Don't know, but I run Russian tubes in my Tempo one and it works fine.

Bob WD8LIC

I use RG-6 cable TV coax.  Very low loss.  75 ohm but the mismatch is negligible.  1.3 vswr with no tuner.

Cable company runs it to my house from the street 300 ft. away.  Good stuff and very inexpensive.  Buy a good name brand such as Phillips.

Bob
WD8LIC

There is a tone knob to adjust the tone.  u probably have the wrong tone set for that repeater.  many are ct100 but a lot are ct 103.5.  I have the same problem with my icom v8.  adjust to the correct tone and you'll be ok.

Bob WD8LIC

This is a long shot, but the one thing the two things you mentioned have in common is ground.  Might try to make sure you've got a good and continuous ground system.

It is a long shot, but best I could come up with.

Bob

Most verticals will work fine for long distance if a good radial system is present.  If no or poor radials, makes a good local or short distance antenna.

Bob

I've used a 5-BTV with a tuner to roam the full band width of the band with no problems, but it does reduce the power, presumably from heat dissipation.  Power will be reduced by 30% or more moving from 75 to 80m.

Bob

old but nice rig.  But, an old TS140S solid state is no tune and a better rig.
bob WD8LIC

I have a 20A Astron with a similar problem and traced the problem to the large blue capacitor inside the power supply.  They are very expensive, but I bought a government surplus one from an outfit in Canada for about $10 and that solved the problem.

FYI,

Bob WD8LIC

Hi:  Do not use a car battery!  Too much voltage and not enough current.  Battery will poop out too soon.  Use a DEEP CYCLE MARINE battery, the type used for a trolling motor.  Will run for a real long time without charging.  I use them all the time with great results.  Bob