I think my transceiver is damaged. I am no longer able to tune up on 15 and 17 meters. When I turn the power all the way down and press MOX the radio puts out a 100W signal at high SWR and the my 20 amp power supply shows overload status. I have previously had trouble tuning up on those bands using multi-band antennas. Is it possible I've damaged the SWR protection circuitry? The other bands tune up fine. Kim AB7JK

I finally got my rig control software working and I found a digital program MMVARI that will send CW in SSB mode using the RTS control instead of via the keying circuit (I don't have time to build a keying interface right now). I've listened to the CW tone and it sounds ok. Question: Is it legal to use a CW signal keyed this way?

Yes, thanks. If you can email the schematic that would be helpful. My address is kimmed51@yahoo.com Kim AB7JK

A guy familiar with one of the programs told me the radio was not sending replies to the computer, if that helps. Kim

I'm using a homebrew DB9 to Cat cable, Pins 2 and 3 are data lines, serial pin 1 to Cat pin 5 as ground line. I don't use RTS or DTR since I'm not transmitting. I think these are the right connections since the CAT LCD on the radio comes on with each command. Kim

Has anyone been able to get an FT747GX to work using it's CAT connector with radio control software. I've tried several programs all with same results - radio does not acknowlege commands, then freezes with the radio in FM Narrow mode. Could be a bum chip in radio. Any help from someone experience with this problem is appreciated. Kim AB7JK

Has anyone been able to get an FT747GX to work using it's CAT connector using radio control software. I've tried several programs all with same results - radio does not acknowlege commands, then freezes with the radio in FM Narrow mode. Could be a bum chip in radio. Any help from someone experience with this problem is appreciated. Kim AB7JK

Thanks for all the useful information - something to think about. AB7JK

Well no one really amswered my question BTW I've had good success using hamsticks on 20 meters on up. Guess I'll try shortening the whip and see if the 20 meter tunes up on 17. Kim AB7JK

Thanks for the info. Kim

I'm as good as banned. I changed my email address and lost my username and password. Now I can't log in or reregister. AB7JK

It seems this type of antenna should work as a base antenna if a resonant counterpoise (1/4 wave) is connected to the coax braid where it connects to the magnet mount. This would make the antenna a vertical dipole assuming the magnet mount doesn't interfere with the resonance. I might try this myself sometime. Anyone think this will work?

Can a 20 meter Hamstick antenna be used on 17 or 15 meters by shortening the whip. If so 2-3 hamsticks could cover all bands. Anyone try this?

I am returning to ham radio after being QRT a few years. Question: Does the length of coax feeding a half wave dipole affect the performance of the dipole? Regarding a dipole fed by twin lead: I've read that this type of antenna should have a coax stub connected between the twin lead and the transciever (plus a balun). How do you determine the length of coax or the length of twinlead if the dipole is to be used on multiple bands? Thanks for your help. Kim

Anyone know if this rig has VOX or is it PTT only?  Thanks AB7JK