KI6KQD:

In $600-$800 range I would go with the new Yaesu FT-450, if you are looking at HF & 6m. Read the new review in the Dec. QST 2007. This rig does alot for the money. That is the rig I would buy. Early production #'s have yeilded not major issues that I'm aware of.

If looking at HF only the value leader is the Icom 718.

If you want HF/6m/2m/440 then I would go with the Yaesu FT-857 or the FT-897. Of the two I would prefer the bigger FT-897.

KK5JLF: My friend has a FT-897, no issues, very menu driven rig, no reason not to consider.

Everyone will have different opinions on this question

73 K1WJ David

RG8X, good cost per loss on 100ft for HF bands

Yes, to protect them, all QSL cards I get that are not in an envelope look worn from the mail sorting process.

If in an envelope, they tend to show up at destination in much better condition.

That's my take. 73 K1WJ

I think 2khz is good. At .5khz he is pushing it.

Listen to stations, normal to hear them 1-2khz away, more if the station is trying to use EQ's,processing & so called HI-FI SSB.

73, K1WJ

Coax loss is normal to be given in db loss per 100 ft of type of cable.

The are charts on this, at sites like Cable Experts & HRO catalog.

I'm not sure of the lengths, or type of coax you are using. Freq. being used in relation to coax type also determines the amount of loss.

Your losses seem low. And that's good.

I like the best 9913 for vhf/uhf & 213 for hf.

73, K1WJ

Mistaken on my last post: 897 has 100 watts on 6m.
Both radio have good price points, toss up.

73 K1WJ

Well Guys,

I added a 1/4 wave wire 7ft up just below the 10m trap out to a tree terminated 12ft up. I had to cut some off to get around 3.85mhz. However best SWR is 2.2. Tuned easy from 3.9 to 3.7mhz with my TS-940SAT.

Did effect 15 & 20m. SWR higher.

Talked 5-9 to OH,NC,SC,GA. 100 watts. Could hear all well.

Not bad 80m for 60ft- #14 wire, metal hose clamp, egg insulator, some small rope, tape. Cheap!

N5LRZ: the subject WAS NOT the cost of wire. When you see my posts: move on.

73 K1WJ

I would go with the FT-897, it has a battery option for 20 watts output, great for portable & has 2m & 440.

The FT-897 may be a little more menu driven than the FT-450. Compare the brochures for each radio & study the differences. The FT-450 has 100w on 6m, the 897 has 50 watts, working 6 meters?

73 K1WJ

Right now I have 16 ground radials, the longest ones are 33 ft. As stated at this time, I'm thinking of adding just one 62ft radial for the 80m mod I'm going to try. Ofcourse the other 16 ground radials will still be present.

K1WJ

I recently added a 13ft wire to my 4BTV for 17 meters, mod can be seen on Hamuniverse.com. It works great, DX & state-side. SWR is great, very happy with results.

Now I'm thinking of adding a 62ft wire for 75 meters, except this wire will be more horizonal, the 17m mod I did was vertical.

Im planning on connecting the wire just below the 10m trap, extending it out 62ft horizonally with a slight upward slope to about 12 ft terninated with an insulator / rope to a tree. I'm also going to put one ground radial of 62ft in the same direction as the slopping wire.

Has anyone tried this? Right now Im just trying to get on 75 meters ssb voice section. Crazy or worth a try?

73 K1WJ David

Take into account the time difference in Poland to try calling/listening on their active times.

Try 17 or 20 meters for Europe contacts, yesterday talked to a PA3 station out of Netherlands on a ground mounted vertical (Hustler 4-BTV with 17m mod I did myself).With 16 ground radials. TS940S / 100watts.

Conditions & Timing are the real controlling factors, spend more time on the air to increase contacts.

If you set up a dipole, run it so your nulls are not facing Poland.

73 K1WJ

 
5 db of noise, about 1.5 S-units?? 1.5 s units is low.

S-5 of noise can be very common on 40 meters, it's day to day.

Ruled out ignition noise? or local interference?

K1WJ

I take it the steppIR is going to handle the 6m ssb horizonal work.

For FM vertical work, a Cushcraft AR-6 1/2 wave vertical has about 3dbi gain. Proven to work good & good value on cost. Make sure to run good low loss coax like 9913.

AS stated by another, the PAR OA-50 omni looks good also. It has some directivity, but I think OEM states it as -1bdi.

73, K1WJ David

KC2BYV

Sorry to hear you having a hard time on 40m with your g5rv at 25 ft.

I can tell you this: I have a Hustler 4BTV ground mounted with 16 ground radials of various lengths. I talk on 40m everday state-side & getting across the Atlantic is workable also. Rig: TS-940S and 100w.

I talk to guys on g5rv's on 40m all the time,some with antenna heights the same as you 25ft+- Maybe conditions or other facters pertaining to your performance?

It sounds like you could put radials if you had a ground mounted antenna. Hopefully the tall buildings are at least 20+ feet away. My 4BTV has trees around it at about 16ft away.

I'm not sure if the BTV series will help you outperform your g5rv, but for the cost of the BTV type anttenas it may be worth a try.

If you go to install a BTV & have an questions contact my email on QRZ. I have installed a couple of these on the ground and know them very well.

You should be talking on 40m daily. Try 7.238 mhz.

73 K1WJ David

10M is USB for SSB

Band has been closed for the most part, there was a 7 hour opening about 21 days ago, state-side contacts.

28.385 is the calling freq. I'm hoping the band will open up soon.

73, K1WJ