I use the K1500 to raise/lower my HyGain 52SS tower and it will "squeal" as well....I've found that simply lubricating the parts that rotate with 30W motor oil from an eye dropper does away with just about all of the noise.  Note -- keep that stuff away from the brake pads!  A little auto grease on the geared wheel helps as well.  I also keep the winch covered from the elements to minimize deterioration.

I usually do the lube thing every time she goes up and down as it seems to dry up pretty quickly.

Hope this helps.

Dino KL0S

Once you get it working you should also consider a well documented mod that mutes the mic audio when you input tones into the ACCY2 connector.

Connect a diode (1N914 is fine) between pins 9 and 13, with the cathode on pin 9.   This prevents a "hot-mic" when you're doing digital and precludes audio getting into the stream from the front panel mic jack.

There is no switch/adjustment for the ACCY2 input; it either functions or it doesn't.  The likelihood that the rig connector has failed is pretty small.  A breakout box like the one made by LDG was VERY useful when I was troubleshooting similar problems in my shack.

Dino KL0S

Here's how I interfaced my Communications Specialists TE-32 tone encoder to my IC-211 a long time ago.

I injected t the tone into pin #5 of the 24-pin Molex connector on the back of the rig (pin #8 is ground and you can pick off 13.8 VDC at pin #2)....that will put the PL tone just downstream of the mic input.

I then adjusted the input temporarily with a pot for a deviation of 3 kHz as I recall (I think that was the standard).  Did this on my service monitor which made it simple....then simply measured the resistance of the pot and installed a fixed resistor at that value in the line from the encoder to the injection point.

If you don't have a way to directly measure deviation another way to do it is increase the deviation from minimum while listening on another receiver....when you hear an increase in the background "white noise" level that is probably close enough.  Then test with a repeater and see if it works....if not bring it up a little more until it does.

Hope this helps.

Dino KL0S

My E44M RTTY QSO was correctly reflected in their online log immediately following the DXpedition; a few days later it disappeared from that log (my SSB/CW) QSOs remain correct).  I have e-mailed the POC listed on the log page (qsle44m@gmail.com) twice now without any reply.  My second note included screen shots of both the original display with the RTTY QSO displayed and one of the current display w/o the RTTY QSO.

I'm not up on LOTW yet so I can't check the status that way.  Anyone else have this happen to them and gotten it resolved?

Dino KL0S

I enjoyed the 2008 Frostfest much more than at the old location.  Think the change in venue may have kept some folks from setting up a table but now in its second year it may get better.  Restroom facilities MUCH better now!

I've got my table and tickets and am ready to go!

73 - Dino KL0S

Most Mac users have had the best luck with the Keyspan USB to serial converters; they make several models with between one and four serial ports.  I use a Keyspan with MLDX and it works just fine.  Other brands have been problematic (but not all) so look before you leap!

GL!

Dino KL0S

Joe -- send me your e-mail address and I'll provide a copy of the W2JAV circuit described in "The New RTTY Handbook" by Kretzman.

Dino KL0S

kl0s at cox dot net

http://www.lnatechnology.com/lnatech_017.htm

for Bird, Drake, Collins and other vintage watt meters.  I've used both the models for the Drake W-4 and MN-2000 and they work great.

Dino KL0S/4

There's a little pricey solution:

http://www.ncsradio.com/m_rx.html

I've been using one of these in the shack for several years and it works great....allows up to six receivers simultaneously AND with two speakers allows you to send each audio to the left, right, or "middle".  Makes it real easy to tell which radio is talking without looking.

Dino KL0S/4

Zeke - the "Workman" brand might be what you're looking for.  See:

http://www.palcoelectronics.com/p1003003.aspx

73 -- Dino KL0S/4

Some utility companies do a good job addressing noise issues.  See the article at:

http://www.remote.arrl.org/news/features/2003/08/10/1/?nc=1

for my success story.  Since that problem the same folks have expeditiously resolved two other noise sources as well.

YMMV.

73 -- Dino KL0S/4

I don't know if this will help you but I had a long time intermittent transmit problem on 15m with my 940; the last time I changed the memory/CPU batteries after I reseated all the screws and connectors INSIDE the CPU box that intermittent went away.  No one could point me in the right direction for that problem and I solved it by accident....good news all is well now!

GL -- Dino KL0S/4

Or for VERY light weight applications a SHORT section of PVC electrical conduit works well.  I recently used a 4 foot section on top of a aluminum tower as a support for a Weather Satellite antenna.  And it's cheap too....about $3 for a ten foot section.  Cuts easily with a hack saw.

Dino KL0S/4

Have you checked/changed the two memory/CPU backup batteries?  They last a long time but not forever!  I had an intermittent 15m transmit problem that was solved the last time I replaced the CPU battery and reseated/tightened the screws that hold down the cover over the CPU PCB.

Dino KL0S/4

Although probably not the issue here but every once in a while on my 940S if I twist the bandwidth control just right it gets "stuck" on a detent and the audio disappears....simply moving it off that spot returns audio to normal....something to try.

Dino KL0S/4