I filmed a quick video how to of the MARS/CAP mod for the ID-31.
enjoy!

Video --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibobQubbDQk

K1LA

A few things to consider is the size of the remote heads. I own both the Kenwood TM-D710a and the Icom 2820h and neither have particularly small remote heads (they're giant). Some of the Yaesu's mentioned here have more compact heads which you may enjoy based on your dashboard / console space availability.

that being said, if the size of the remote unit isn't a bother then I personally really love the two Mobile's I mentioned. The Kenwood is cheaper and if you don't need DSTAR then it's a really excellent way to go (APRS, greenlight labs GPS compat) or its little brother the TM-V71a(for the smaller head) get great compliments from my on TX and I love their programability and ease of operation. The 2820 is a beast and is wonderful to work VHF/UHF and Dstar all on one mobile. You'll enjoy Cross Band Repeating on both of those so you can use a little HT to walk around your house or car depending on where they are.

lastly, just my opinion, its worth springing for the RT systems software. Both Kenwood and Icom offer free programs for memory management but they don't compare to RT systems and their plug and play cables.

I just started a Yahoo Group for the ID-31

hoping it'll be a wonderful resource online of support and information

Please support by joining if you're interested in the ID-31 or own it

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/icomid31/join


Thanks!

Thanks a lot gents.
I'll read those articles right away. For the interim I've been getting by with pretty good results using the Front End attenuator but it appears that the permanent solution will involve simply buying a 2M/440 mobile & 220 mobile for the house and I'll use my HTs in the car and for walkin around.

First off all,
thanks in advance for any help, I really appreciate it.

I've got two HTs a Yaesu VX8DR and a FT-60R(I usually keep the latter in the car). I had been using a Daimond SRH 320A & SRH77CA on the two HTs for slightly better performance in my house but finally decided to make the move and put up an antenna on my roof to better operate 2M, 200 & 400. Anyway, I bought a Diamond X3200a and mounted it high atop my house (which is up in the hills of Sherman Oaks CA), used high quality coax and ran it directly to my little shack in the house and eagerly awaited the performance increase I was hoping for........Unfortunately, to my disappointment the increase in range and clarity(which has been significant) has been overshadowed by harsh RF across the whole radio. I've tried many different frequencies, bands, even various operating power modes but the interference and noise is everywhere I go. I tried adjusted the squelch thresholds to the maximum but that did nothing. My friends at Ham Radio Outlet say I am likely picking up all the extra "junk" in the air now since I'm so high up in the hills and using a good antenna. I'm just wondering if/how I can eliminate this noise, at present it really makes using it nearly impossible since its just nonstop stabs(every second or two) of random transmissions, static, noise and other stuff(I'm getting all sorts of TV, VHF FD, and other hams as well as radio stations). Will using CTCSS and tone squelch(or whatever advice you guys give me) sacrifice my ability to TX/RX in other ways?

Thanks again, I can't wait for the help!
KJ6BUR