Sally,

I am not familiar with Netlogger.  But, I use Vista and Windows 7 and have been dealing with compatibility problems with Ham software.

If you are running Windows 7 professional, enterprise or ultimate you could use XP mode (basically, a more tightly integrated version of Virtual PC that comes with XP).  All of the ham software I have had trouble with in Vista and Windows 7 runs fine in Virtual PC (Vista) or XP Mode (Windows 7).

Just curious, where are the Netlogger program files installed?  Is it under "Program Files"?  I've had problems with older software packages like ACLog and Orbitron.  I was about to pull my hair out with Orbitron.  I was pulling down the updated TLE files but Orbitron wasn't updating the satellite positions.  I finally found that the new files were being sent to 'Virtual Store'.  But, they were not then being read from Virtual Store.  Talk about a crazy problem to diagnose. 

I found that once I deleted the data files from the Program Files area, the OS would read the ones in the Virtual Store area.  Crazy.

73,
Richard -K4KRW

A HF/6M/2M/70cm all mode radio is not bad to have around when you are a new ham. 

Unfortunately, most of them are getting to be pretty old designs (The IC-7000 is probably the exception)

I was originally only interested in HF and CW. 

My Elmer advised that I get something that would give me all modes on HF, 6M, 2M and .70M. 

I bought a Yaesu FT-897D and have found I really enjoy bands I never really thought much about.
I have found that I really enjoy SSB on 10 meters, 6 meters and when a VHF contest is going on 2 meters.

It does quite well on CW on HF. I did not buy any extra filters.  The DSP works pretty well.  Plus, it is easy to take to the field.

But, while it works quite well it is getting to be a pretty old design.

Also, if you are truly interested in CW on HF, Elecraft and Ten Tec make some of the best radios for that mode.
Another radio I would look at is the Yeasu FT-950.  It appears to be a phenomenal value. 

Newer radios can take firmware updates.  Many of them have also added 6 meters which is a great band.

If it were me, I'd look around more.  The TS-2000 is getting to be a pretty old radio. 

Whatever you choose, I hope you find something you like.

73,

Richard - K4KRW

As mentioned above, ACLog is a very good logging program.  I use it myself.  It works fine on Windows XP.  While I like it, I have had trouble running it on both Vista and Windows 7.  I've run it on two different computers (one Vista and one Windows 7) and it crashes periodically on both.  I've played with compatibility settings and all of that and never could make it stable.  I finally used Windows 7's XP Mode (an XP virtual PC) to run it on my laptop.  It works fine there.

Ham radio deluxe has built in logging capabilities and it is free.

73,

Richard - K4KRW

You need good vision and steady hands and patience.

But, it is definitely doable.

This is the method I used when I built my Appalachian Trail Sprint IIIa.

http://www.al7fs.us/AL7FS5ATSprint2.html

Don't mix up your parts (especially capacitors as they sometimes have no markings).

The other method (I have not used this) is this:

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/tutorial_info.php?tutorials_id=59

73,
Richard - K4KRW

To VK2TIL,

Thanks for posting your pictures.  Nice work.
I'll remember that little trick.

73,

Richard - K4KRW

The K2 is an excellent radio.  It is purely HF (at most 160M to 10M unless you add transverters).  I have found 6 meters and 2 meters to be a lot of fun at times.  But, I am in an area where there is a fair amount of VHF SSB/CW activity (at least at contest times).

The K2 is probably not a 'first time' kit.  I would try to find a starter kit of some sort to use to get familiar with the process of building an electronic kit.  Ten Tec has some simple receiver kits you could play with.  That Aussie antenna analyzer mentioned above would be a great tool to have around the shack.  There are other great kits around too.  There are lots of small QRP (5 watts or less) radio kits on the market.  You probably don't want to start out operating QRP though.  But, if you built one and kept it around for after you get more comfortable with operating (most are CW only) they are fun to play with.

Once you get a feel for all of the different kinds of parts you will be handling and have soldering mastered (it is not terribly difficult, but you do need to learn how to best do it) tackle the K2.

I have an FT-897D.  I love the radio.  Mine works fine for me.  But, it is getting a little dated.  I have built kits too (mostly QRP rigs).  The K2 will definitely have a better receiver than my radio.  But, the 897D (and the IC-7000) have everything up to 70cms.  There are trade offs.

My elmer suggested I get an all band radio just so I could experience all of those bands.  For me, it was good advice.  You don't really know what you will like until you play a little bit (APRS, Satellite, building VHF and UHF antennas is fun (small size makes it easy), ...).

73,
Richard
K4KRW

If you are wanting to convey or receive position information, the standard for now is certainly APRS.  Some of the D-Star radios allow you to add a GPS and use D-PRS.  I am not an expert on this functionality.  But from what I have read, it looks like its capabilities are quite limited.  It is probably OK if you are interested in reporting your position as you transmit.  But, it doesn't sound like it is very useful for anything else.

For example, my friend and I launch weather balloons carrying APRS transmitters.  We use a Kenwood HT with built in APRS capabilities.  When we are tracking the balloon during recovery, the HT decodes the APRS data from the balloon and using data from the GPS connected to the HT it gives us bearing and range information to the payload.  DPRS would be useless for this type of work.

So, if you want APRS capabilities, count on using APRS.  Not D-Star.  

Note: There is nothing stopping you from using your D-Star radio in an analog mode and hooking it to a laptop computer.  Then (with the proper software) you can let the laptop handle the APRS functionality.

Same goes for devices like OpenTrackers.  You can hook them up with a GPS to your D-Star radio and use your radio in analog FM mode on the standard APRS frequency and it would report your position.

But, don't plan on using the radio both for standard 2 meter communications (analog or digital) and for APRS.  

One of the advantages of the better radios with built in APRS is they can serve both purposes at the same time.

73,
K4KRW

QRP rigs are a lot of fun.  It is especially fun to use one you designed and/or assembled yourself.

But, use any radio you want.  Operating at low power has so many challenges, any one of which can help you become a better operator.  

73,

Richard
K4KRW

Dene,

Glenn is talking about full duplex.  The split mode you describe is not the same.  

Full duplex means you can hear the downlink frequency (ex: on the 2 meter band) at the same time you are transmitting on the uplink frequency (ex: on the 70 centimeter band).  

Your radio can transmit on 70 centimeters and after you un-key listen on 2 meters.  It can't transmit on 70 centimeters while you are listening to 2 meters.

There are not many all mode transceivers that do this.  The Icom IC-910 was one.  The Yaesu FT-847 was another.

73,

Richard
K4KRW

Oak Hills Research makes a nice 100 watt dummy load kit.  It is a very simple kit and includes a very nice enclosure.    

http://www.ohr.com/rfl100.htm

73,

Richard
K4KRW

I also recommend of LaTeX.

Once you learn how to use it, the results are phenomenal.

73,

Richard
K4KRW

The price you get for any equipment at a hamfest depends greatly on what it is and who is buying it.  Yesterday and today in Charlotte I was selling equipment for an old friend.  Some items, I easily got E-bay prices for.  For example, I had an MFJ antenna analyzer, a recent Yaesu 2M mobile rig, a recent Yaesu dual band mobile rig.  All were in very good or great condition.  I'm very happy with what I got for them.  

On the other hand, older equipment or equipment that needed some TLC was hard to sell and when I did sell them I did not get an E-bay price.

Other items were relatively new items in very nice condition but were specialty items.  I had a very nice QRP rig.  The "purchase at a low-ball price and re-sell" crowd offered me ridiculously low prices on which I passed.  Others didn't know what it was and couldn't understand why anyone would buy a radio that only put out 5 watts and had one band.  But, if I found the right person (a QRP enthusiast who wants a really nice radio) I could get my asking price or very close to it.

So for me, I'm glad E-bay is there.  It really is a great resource for getting a feel for what people are paying for old equipment.  Also, I do buy things off of E-bay all of the time (I have not been selling things there).  

I'm very glad hamfests are still here.  I'm very grateful for the hard work the W4BFB club puts into the Charlotte hamfest.  We have a very nice hamfest going on this weekend.  

I sold a lot of equipment today.  Everyone who bought was glad they could see what they were getting right there in front of them.  They had a test bench they could take equipment to if they were wondering how well it worked.  And I didn't have to box the five very heavy tube radios I had and mail them hoping they arrived in one piece.  

In closing, askin' and gettin' are two different things.  Anything is worth what someone will pay for it.  If what you are selling is new enough that most would expect it to still be reliable, if it is in nice shape and if it is something that people commonly want to buy, you can expect to get an E-bay price.  For other items, don't be surprised if you have to discount to get it sold at a hamfest.  But, if the right person walks by, you may get even more than the E-Bay price on any given item.

73,

Richard
K4KRW

Don't control your output power with the radio.  On my FT-897 I leave the power setting at full output (100 watts) and I instead control the output power with the volume control on the computer.  Also, make sure any mic compression circuitry is turned off.  

It is best if you can get your transmit side configured using a dummy load (just so you aren't QRM'ing the band).  Turn your computer sound card output (speaker volume) all the way down.  Then start transmitting.  Turn the volume up at the computer until you get 30 watts or so indicated output on the radio.  That should do it.  

As long as your signal levels are compatible between the computer and the radio (you arent' having to run the computer at full volume to get your 30 watts) doing this should give you a nice clean signal.

73,

Richard
K4KRW

Additional note on XP Mode.

Your PC's processor has to support virtualization.  If it does not, XP Mode won't work on your PC.

73,

Richard
K4KRW

Alternate solution to consider.

I was running Windows 7 64 bit on my laptop.  I had a USB cat interface and there was no compatible 64 bit driver.

But, I was able to use the device in Windows 7's 'XP Mode'.  Not all versions of Windows 7 support XP Mode.  I think Professional and Ultimate are the only versions that do.  XP Mode is basically a more tightly integrated version of Virtual PC.  You download it and with it comes a licensed copy of XP to run within your Virtual PC session.  In the past, you would have had to provide your own version of XP.

XP Mode saw my device in the USB port and loaded the correct driver (within XP).  Everything worked fine.

This also solved another problem I had run into.  Older software (like most Ham software) often has data and configuration files in the program folder where the application is installed.  Vista and Windows 7 don't like it when apps want to write to the program files area.  I had flaky behavior from ACLog and Orbitron.  XP Mode solved that problem too.

73,

Richard
K4KRW