I somewhat resent your generalization.  I live in AL and I have completed many successful deals on eHam and QTH swap boards.  Where were you last November when N6YYI from California was attempting to defraud me and some other hams across the U. S.?

The area in which a person lives has nothing to do with his/her credibility.  I think it has more to do with one's character. 

I have several posts to my credit on this site from hams with whom I have done business that back this up.  A ham doesn't have to reside in any particular State to be someone who will take your money. 

De NI4Z Condy in Alabama!

Sorry to say I have also had some recent difficulty with N6YYI.  I responded to his ad for a Kenwood TH-6 handheld and paid with PayPal on November 25, 2012.  Four days later he claimed to have shipped this item via USPS but would not furnish tracking information.  To cut to the chase, he has not shipped the radio.  I have opened a case with PayPal and hopefully this will result in a refund.  I think this may be a good case to use PayPal regardless of the fees involved.  A small percentage is lots better than getting dinged for a few hundred bucks.  NOTE: N6YYI still has several ads still open on eHam.  Two others have responded that N6YYI has failed to ship items.  I have bought and sold quite a number of items here and on QTH.com and this is the first time I have had this experience from a fellow ham.


Condy NI4Z

I tried a Wilson 801201 with an external antenna on my camper.  It worked well for cell phone (voice) but proved to have a not so good signal to noise ratio for data.  I realize an antenna would likely give you a boost, but in these days of digital communication, it takes only a small drop out to mess up your internet access.  The Wilson 801201 would show a full scale RX but still internet access via air card was not good. 

Condy NI4Z

My first source of information is usually via Internet.  Radiowavz website is pretty vague as to information on their products.  I called them a few weeks ago and asked them for specific information which they stated they would email to me.  When I didn't receive anything in 24 hours I emailed the person with whom I spoke and asked for the information I wanted.  I never got a reply. After a wait of 3 or 4 days I called back and reminded them I was looking for product information.  I was assured it would be promptly forthcoming.  It's been quite some time now, and I have decided Radiowavz doesn't need to sell me anything.  The only reason I can come up with for a manufacturer to be so vague is there are problems with some of their products. 

If someone at Radiowavz happens to read this, I no longer desire information.  Another manufacturer provided good information and I purchased their product.


Condy NI4Z

The band switch issue with the 6N2 Thunderbolt is caused when a band change is attempted when the amplifier is powered ON.  There is high voltage on the band switch and this causes an arc.  The only way to change bands is power down.  The instructions are in the manual, but it's easy to forget. The band switch can be rebuilt but it is a monumental job.

Condy NI4Z

Robert,

I was very active for several years on VHF and UHF.  I have owned the Kenwood TS-790 with all three bands and an FT-736 with 6M and 222 added.  Both these rigs shipped with 2M and 70 cm.  Of the two, my choice would be the Kenwood.  It's built like a tank!  I used mine for several years and had zero problems or failures.  I was not the first owner and don't really know the history.  I sold the rig in 2003. 

One of the best features of the TS-790 is the dual receive.  You can switch bands with the touch of a button. 

Hope this helps your decision.

Condy NI4Z

Chris,

You mentioned an all mode rig in your query.  The only stand alone 222 rig that was all mode was the Icom 375.  Yaesu made a 222 module for their FT-736.  Both are quite rare pieces.  Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood, and Alinco have offered 222 FM rigs and they are now joined by JetStream.  If you wish to get on 222 SSB / CW now the simplest way (provided you have an HF rig) is to use a transverter.  Down East Microwave has an excellent name in the VHF-UHF community.  I hope this fills in some blanks in your investigation.

Condy NI4Z

The Swan antennas were originally manufactured and sold by Hornet Antennas of Oklahoma.  I don't know the full history on Swan's acquisition.  Swan sold 2, 3 and 4 element tribanders. They also had a line of mobile antennas.

de NI4Z

This guy has most things for Bird Meters

http://www.nm3e.com/

The sensitivity is not adjustable, but the delay of the relay is.  If the amp will not key when RF is applied there is most likely a defective component (diode) in the sensing circuit.  As you know it is a lot more sanitary to har key anyway.

Hello,

The early TR-9000 rigs had some poor audio problems.  One was due to a carrier balance problem and the other was FM being introduced to the SSB signal.  There are two service bulletins which explain fixes.

http://inform3.kenwoodusa.com/AMA_Service_Bulletins/ASB0824.JPG

http://inform3.kenwoodusa.com/AMA_Service_Bulletins/ASB0849A.JPG

I hope this will help you fix your problem.  I kept my TR-9000 a number of years and never had another problem after performing the stability mod.

When you did your Google on Lunar Amplifiers I strongly suspect you ended up on the K1FO Lunar Link site.  Lunar (nothing else) manufactured solid state VHF amplifiers in the 1980s.  I owned a 6 meter Lunar which was 10 watts in 120 watts out.  It would not help your cause since you already have 100 watts.  Tokyo Hy-Power offers a 6 meter tube type amplifier which runs a pair of 4CX-250 ceramic tubes.  You might wish to do a search for that amplifier.  Cushcraft has a five element yagi that is not a great deal longer than the three element.  You may want to investigate that.

de NI4Z

Look here:  http://www.thp.co.jp/thp%20hp%20Eng/amateur_eng/manual.htm

If the manual you desire is not here, send them an email and they can email you a PDF copy of the one you want.  The reply should be fairly quick.

73,

ed NI4Z

I don't know where you got this URL
http://homepage3.nifty.com/dx/cat817_e.htm  
but it comes up with what looks like a Japanese dating site?

I would like to see the display you recommended, so if you have a correct URL, please repost.

Tnx

Hello,

I have an FT-857 (not a D) .  I sold an IC-706MK II G to purchase it.  I had a "screwdriver" type antenna that I used with the 706. I had various troubles from the 706 just shutting off to feedback in the vehicle radio speakers.  Another complaint I had was the way the menu system in the 706 worked.  I was never able to become familiar with the menu paths.  The display in the 706 is larger, and is easier to see.  Some of the features however do not work on both HF and VHF.  The SWR function is one of those.  

I purchased the FT-857 and an ATAS 120 antenna which is matched to the radio and will tune the antenna through the coax cable.  I have found the 857 easier for ME to operate.  I have had little trouble with the menu system.  I will insult no one's intelligence on this forum by trying to say this ATAS works as well as a large screwdriver antenna.  I will say that I am a "casual" mobile operator and for what I do with the mobile setup, I am quite pleased with the 857 and the way it works.  The display is smaller, but the color settings have quite a few more color choices.  I also have an FT-817 and the menus are quite similar.  

Just so you know I am not being partial to Yaesu I also own an IC-746 Pro.  It's perhaps the finest HF rig I have ever owned.  It doesn't have the menu system I had problems with.  It has KNOBS and SWITCHES.  

Good luck with your decision.

Differences of opinion are why we have horse races I suppose.