Hi Kelly, iv'e got a 2 meter radio with a scanning board from the same outfit. It's called aed electronics.  Contact info I have is circa 1978.  514-737-7293.
750 lucerne road, Montreal, Que.   Don't know if that helps.  Cheers.  Scott.

I found that I operate always off an external 12 vdc source, so I just removed the internal battery.  Don't miss it at all and can always install if there would be a need.  I use a SLA type for potable or the car cig hole.  Anyway you go, it's a sweet transceiver, it doesn't do anything great, but does most things pretty good including 60 meters and vhf, uhf.  Just wish it covered 222mhz and the WX freqs.  7 years old and never even one glitch or problem.  cheers scott.

Hey Norm, did you find a manual?  I have one and would see about making you a copy if need be.  I think I asked Astron and they sent me a copy.  You might see if they can help you too.  If all else fails contact me at

swduncan57@juno.com. 

cheers, scott.

I think your friend needs a manual.  A reset is usually holding a button or two down, while powering up.  I never leave on a trip without a hard copy or a pdf version of the manual of the radio I'm planning to operate.  So easy to do now a days.  seems lots of people just want to be told the answer, not read a manual.  Good luck to your friend.  cheers.

Wow, you are really overthinking this.  Figure out how much money you can spend, then go shopping.  You can find a working HF transceiver for around $300.00 or less, and a VHF mobile from $20.00 to $75.00.  I just sold a 100% working IC-735 for $250.00 shipped.  Just purchased a beautiful FT-450 used for $450.00.  Stay away from E-bay in my opinion. 
As far as antennas, just home brew some.  Bits of wire and some SO-239's and you will be in business. 
Other good choice for around $250.00 as far as HF is concerned are the Kenwood TS-520 hybrids. 
Non PL VHF radios are ultra cheap, such as FT-227 (2 meter). I've got 3 of them and only have $20.00 in all of them combined.  Just go for it.  good luck and cheers.

Phil is correct.  My FT-450 has a "SWR" item that can be programmed to a button on the radio or the optional hand mic.  When pressed it sends a 10 watt CW carrier and then reverts to the original mode and power level.  Very useful.  Lots of features mean menus I guess.  Good for me as I like lots of features and parameters to set.  cheers.

Call Universal Radio.  They sell a small diameter cable made with low loss LMR-100.  It's 4 feet long and has an SO-239 on one end and either a SMA or a BNC on the other, depending on your radio.  Also beyond the obvious benefit of connecting to an external antenna, the small cable won't stress your radios connector.  The number (s) are :
ARC 109 or ARC 110, depending on the radio end connector.  cheers.

Where is there a switch in the bottom left corner? I have a Yaeu FT-450At 2007 model and I do not see a program switch on the fron left bottom corner. You sure you have the right radio?
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You have to remove the bottom cover, if I remember correctly.  I've seen it (the switch) when I was installing the flip up feet.  cheers.

I think your key pad may be locked.  I left a reply that might help in Elmers in response to your inquiry in that forum.  Cheers.

I'm not sure, if you mean that the key pad doesn't respond, perhaps it is just locked.  I don't know any thing about that radio, but if there is a lock button on the key pad try holding it down for 2 seconds or so and see if that helps.  cheers. and good luck. 

There is a optional bracket/kit that makes 480 all one piece. It is called a MB-480  and adds a side carry handle too. Funny thing is it ships with overseas radios but not with ones sold in US. It's about 45 bucks.
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I saw the mb-480 but it seemed to me as a bit of an after thought.  Kenwood should of just done like most radios that separate and have the face snap on.  Oh well, to each his/her own.  cheers.

Just my opinion, I have owned the 718, from new (3 years) and although it seemed to have good TX audio the receive audio was so harsh and tiring to listen to.  Also another common fault was the volume pot, it was impossible to turn down to a low level, at a certain point it was off or too loud.  It seems this problem still exists.  If you listen a lot I think the receive will wear you down.
You didn't ask, but I did buy the FT-450 used for $500.00 and love it.  The receive is a pleasure to listen to, and the IF DSP is really worthwhile when necessary.  A lot of radio for the money.  The IC-718 is really an old design radio now.   
I can't comment on the ts-480, except on TX they sound good.  I considered it before the Yaesu, but did not like the panel and body separate thing.  Cheers.

I have to agree on the Knd 520 series.  I've owned 3 of them over the years and they are great rigs still today.  If I ever see a super clean, non-smoking one for sale I would buy it. Thread  hi-jack over, sorry.

All the Yaesu radios I've owned only allow you to "mask" an unwanted freq.  It will disappear from view and basically be deleted, but unless you overwrite it or do a reset you can get the data back at some point if you want.  Just the way Yaesu do things.  cheers.

I use a LDG tuner to load random wires and they will do a pretty good job, as someone else said make sure you don't have a multiple of a half wave at the frequency you want to use.  Lengthen or shorten your wire, and you need a counterpoise as well as a electrical safety ground.  A copper rod in the ground is not enough for an effective RF ground usually.  Run some radials from the tuners ground lug.  Also LDG will help with your set up if you call or e-mail.  cheers.