I have found that an large iron (100-200 watts) will work much better on PL-259s than an gun. 

Better not depend on hams with tube gear to save us as hams with working tube gear are getting mighty scarce and most are aging-out.  Sid.

A 100 watt iron works good on Pl-259s.  Sid.

I know those hams involved with "emergency communications" don't want to hear it , but the honest truth is that ham radio is not needed as it was back years ago.  Most government agencies now have much better equipment than the average ham and hams are not the only ones that have expertise in radio related equipment.   A ham station with no emergency power or someone with only a hand held radio will not be needed during a real emergency.  Just my opinion and I am sure others disagree. 

I will say A-Men to Mouser.  Great service, fast shipping, and have some parts not to be easily found elsewhere.  Sid.  WA4VBC 

I have always found HRO in VA to be great to do business with.  Don't know about how it was years ago, but in recent years their service has been good.  Sid.

Sometimes if you are in a high RF area (such as near a TV or broadcast transmitter) the reading will be erratic.   

I would keep quite about it, however, from a liability standpoint, assure you have code clearance from any power wires or other above ground wires and code clearance  above the traveled part of the street.  During  many years with a utility company I was involved with a good number of legal actions related to those issues.    Sid. 

It would be a sad world if nobody joined any organization due to politics.  Most of us southern good old boys seem to get along fairly well with each other, even on repeaters. 
Sid. 

Use another radio and set it to a simplex frequency and set a CTCSS tone in the PL decoder in that radio and set it for PL only access. Then use the Kenwood and set the Pl encode to the same CTCSS tone.  If you can hear the Kenwood on the other radio , the encoder is working.  Sid. 

The DB-224 is a great antenna and it is no surprize that the connector is a N type that is superior to less expensive types. They did not expect you to put a lightning arrestor at the junction. They expected you would use a matching N connector on the coax.  Sid.

Wondering if anyone has ordered and installed a Universal Tower recently?  If so, what was your experience and what is the lead time now?  Thanks.  Sid.

The only real way to check the receiver sensitivity is with a calibrated service monitor.  Sid.

Just keep in mind that there are many different qualities of RG8X, some are junk and some very good.  Sid.

You could go to a home improvement/building supply store, get them to cut a piece of plexiglass to the exact size of your window pane, install a few bulkhead UHF connectors (like the UG-263) and you are all set and saved a few dollars.  Sid.  WA4VBC