Rascal's for me at least for HF work.  VHF is a combo of Rascal's and conventional TNC's.
I own 3 or 4 Rascals and they have performed great.  Not saying I won't try a Signalink or other flavor however.
But for now the Rascal has been the mainstay for me.  Used it at home, in the mobile and even maritime mobile.  Worked the ARISS with the Rascal on Packet in fact.
I have Kam's and AEA's even an MFJ TNC.  Each has it's own best place for use.  
For the money the Rascal is hard to beat IMHO.

No matter what device you chose to use.  Use it and get on the air!  From FM Packet to AMTOR or Olivia it's a great way to work weak signal stations with low power.

Ron, KL7YK

Agree have purchased several items off Buck and always satisified with the result.  From the Rascal's to cables to misc odd and ends.  Always first rate service.  If your wanting to get into the digital modes you really need to give the Rascal GLX's try.
Have three in use and all are 100% good to go.

Ron, KL7YK
Anchorage

The Elmendorf Amateur Radio Society maintains a website for the KL7AIR Military Amateur Radio Club Station.  The club dates back to 1996 and the call dates back into the 60s.

Small group maintains the station for use by Military Hams in the Anchorage area.  It also is an Army MARS Station - ALM7BAA and is recognized as an alternate HF station by the Air Force.

Located on Elmendorf AFB, Alaska and the url is http://www.kl7air.us

Ron Keech, KL7AIR
President, EARS

I would like to express my opinion on the changes that have been coming out in recent months.
I say it's high time!
In some areas there are simply are not enough operators to cover the need when it comes up.  This merging of operations between the services makes perfect sense.  In the states where there are few operators for a particular service there are gaps in operational coverage.  However, when mixed with another one or two of the services you have coverage again.  I will use Alaska as an example since that's where I live and operate.  The Alaska Army MARS Program is small compared to the size of the state, not nearly enough coverage to really do the job right.  The Alaska Navy/Marine MARS Program by itself here also suffers from a shortage of operators.  There is no AF MARS in Alaska that I can find.  
By combing the assets of the Army and Navy/Marine MARS Programs and we have much better coverage for operations.  No we are not 100% combined...yet.
But in Alaska anyway we work as one team.  Since the rules of operations are being consolidated between the services it makes sense that we work together.
There will be a few who will hate the idea of a Joint MARS Operation. They are stuck in the 1960's when there were MARS Operators all over the place.
Welcome to the way things are, we have a shortage of operators and have had for quite some time now.  
Recruitment for MARS is suffering the same issues Amatuer Radio is suffering.  Attracting new operators is tough, the public still see's us as only MARS Grams.  Or worse has forgotten about us altogether.

We are part of a bigger picture now, since 9/11 we have been included in Federal Response processes.  Even now some Federal Managers are of the mindset of "why HF?", they have the internet after all.  We know the answer to that don't we.  As MARS Operators and Hams we have seen the loss of communications from a disaster and how long it took those normal channels to be restored.  Between natural disasters and other threats you would think those narrow minded folks would have learned.  Time will tell.
Combining MARS? Yes!  Alone each service has gaps, together we are a effective tool for those who will call on our help.

MARS Dead?  Not in Alaska it's not, nor it is anywhere else I know of.  Reduced coverage maybe, that is being fixed as I type.  This is not your Dad's MARS Program, this is the natural evolution of the support process.

Be Proud, Professional and Ready!

Ron Keech, ALM7AK
SD Alaska Army MARS

I have the 857, 897 and the 450...love em..  But for portability if you want to stay Yaesu then the 897 is the ticket.
All mode HF-UHF, good general purpose rig.
With the bolt on LDG897 Tuner and a good battery pack makes a fine portable rig.
Modding is kinda of a pain so if you can get the vendor to do that for you.  Harder than the 857/450 as the solder pads are REALLY small!


Ron Keech, KL7YK
AAA0AK/ALM7AAK/ALM7BC
Anchorage

G5RV mounted on the roof, literally on the roof. Lying right on the shingles.  Roof is non-conductive. Have antenna restrictions and the antenna is invisable.  Not that you need worry about that.

102' model not grounded other than by the coax.  Operates 10-80m daily with 100 watts.  Have worked into Eastern Europe, New Zealand, Mexico and even some of the Pacific DXpeditions.  Overall above ground is 30 feet, space between shingles and antenna nadda.

RFI? Only if I run over 100 watts and then only on 20m.

Main point, G5RV will work about anywhere.  No not the greatest DX antenna but it will work DX.  Best compromise antenna I have seen.  Get it 25-35 feet off the ground, bend it whatever way you need to and go for it!

Ron, KL7YK
Anchorage


Remember, it's a Hobby not a Religion!

Army and Navy MARS is alive and well in Alaska.  AF MARS is still struggling but not for lack of trying.  Army has come out and stated they WILL NOT require MARS operators to be NTIA compliant, period.
We are an all volunteer force and 90% of the gear is private not government owned.
Why the AF would require NTIA is beyond me and as far as I can tell HQ AF MARS has not actually come out and dictated such.  Yes the goverment owned gear has to be NTIA, private is not.  Thats due to the law that spcifies by 2008 all federal systems will be NTIA compliant.  That law does not involve no goverment systems.  Amateur Radio is exempt as are Army/Navy MARS private operators.  Digital modes are being used everyday on non-NTIA gear with no effect on the data.

As to whether MARS is dead, yeah right and so is Ham Radio with FM, SSB, No Tubes, No CW Testing...name your rumor/complaint.  Fact remains Ham Radio and MARS are alive and well, in spite of the predictions that the sky is falling.

Ron ALM7BC

Ok you got me it's an AEA device.  Matters not what it's called she has yet to respond to emails and has not sent the TNC or a refund. A thief is still a thief.

Sold me a Kam Packratt 232MBX but never delivered.  That was in late December 06, in early Feb 07 someone on her behalf wrote saying "sorry and the item would be shipped".  Never got it.  That's $50 I will never see again.

So buyer beware she is not current on EBay but I am sure will return to rip off others.  I have contacted EBay as well on this though they will not act due to the time expired issue involved.  Help us all by refusing to deal with theives.

No matter what handle she uses she is still:

Gloria Cipollono
Green Creek  NJ
United States

If anyone is interested I have her Phone number as well.

Also,

NTIA will not apply to ARMY MARS for quite some time.  AF and NAVY may be thinking about it but they do not have the funds to buy every member NTIA compliant radios.  Since MARS is a voluntary service it is very unlikely NTIA will be an issue for us for years yet if even then.

Glad to see the interest in getting on board, here in Alaska even the AF Program is getting back online.

ALM7BC/ALM7AAK

www.akmars.org

Army MARS as the others requires ANY class of license to operate.  Keep in mind you will be operating on federal not FCC controlled freqs.
Any class of FCC Ham License is good.  Simple a prereq for getting into the program.
So you do not technically have to upgrade to General.  Enjoy!

ALM7BC

Go to MODS.DK, the mod listed there works fine.  Used it on two 857Ds.

Just remember to verify orientation, real easy to get it backwards.  All your doing is changing jump pads, but most of the directions read reversed from the actual radio.  Double check before you change the pads.

Takes a steady hand to do it and yes I screwed it the fist time out.  However no harm just reversed what I had done and all was well again.