Joe,
 I use MacLogger with a Yaesu FT-847.  The software is very, very good.  It can control the rig, set up a list of scheduled programs to tune into, and log the contact with a mouse click.  

 Give it a try and I think you will be pleased.  I think it will operate in some sort of demo mode.

73,
Joe, K5AD

I'd like to mount a quad band (70, 2, 6, 10m) antenna on the roof rack of my SUV.  Due to the height of 55" on top of the 75" ht of the SUV I need some sort of folding mount.

The Diamond K9000 mt. caught my eye (or the Comet equivalent).  I wonder if it would be too high to allow adequate ground plane coupling.  I called Diamond and they didn't know if it would work "try it and see."

It looks like the mount on a roof rack would put the antenna about 4 to 6 inches off the roof.  Do you think this is too high to allow adequate coupling at 2 and 70cm?  I suppose I can make a mount to drop it lower if necessary.  Unfortunately, the roof rack is a lot higher than typical (it came with a options package that I wanted); wish I had the standard model which is 3 inches closer to the roof.  Putting the mount low and inside the front of the rack might be pretty slick - when it's folded it could be completely hidden withing the rack - a real stealth set up.

 Anyone have experience using one of the electric mounts on a roof rack?

73,
 Joe, K5AD

Does anyone have any experience in installing a second battery in a new style ('02 up) Suburban or full size GM Truck?  I'd like to install a deep cycle battery as a secondary, both for Ham and for wench use.  The stock battery is only 82 amp-hours and relatively small; there's no room to even replace it with a larger capacity battery.

 The only space under the hood is near the rear area on the passenger side, though I don't know if one will fit.  The stock battery is near the front right side.  For such a huge body, there really isn't much room under the hood.  My '95 Tahoe had room for about a dozen batteries....

Evidently some of these vehicles have a second battery as an option as it is mentioned in the owners manual, but doesn' state where it would be mounted.

 I have looked at the West Marine site and they have about 10 items for splitting the charging from the alternator to the two batteries.  Not sure if I'd use a "battery isolator" or "battery combiner".  On the surface I'd think battery isolator, but the description of the combiner states "Our voltage-sensing Battery Combiner relays connect two batteries during charging to ensure even energy replenishment, yet isolates the batteries during use, so both banks are not discharged."  which sounds like the correct goal to prevent both from discharging, but would put too high a load on the alternator.  Thoughts?

73,
 Joe, K5AD

I was looking in the mobile transceiver section of the Yaesu web site and they have a YSK-7100 in the menu with "more information coming."

 Any idea as to what it will be?

73
K5AD

Joseph,
 I wouldn't be too discouraged about the thru glass antennas.  I have a Larson on my '95 Yukon.  I can hit the local repeater at 45 miles out on 20 watts, which is as good as anyone else does.  I think the Larson may be a bit superior to some other brands; the thru glass connector is fairly large and I think this represents a pretty robust inductor connection.

You can always use the glass mt. for a while, then add something else when you feel more secure about drilling holes.  I'm not sure if the glass on the newer ones has metallic component or not, the old ones didn't.  Height is an issue with roof mts as the things are so tall to begin with.  Even the glass mt. hits on some parking lots; I have to flip it down not infrequently.

 I'm about to get a new 'burb and don't really relish drilling a hole in the roof, don't mind the firewall or floorboard as much.  I'll probably put the Larson on it for a while.

 I'd like to go whole hog and put in a FT-8900, Icom 706, GPS for APRS, etc.  Need to do some planning as to where I will install all of it....  Almost wrote the check yesterday, but the ones they had on the lot didn't have all the options I wanted.  It's a buyer's market right now, there must be 50 or so on the lot in our small town (80,000 pop) plus they bumped the rebate up another $1000 this week.

73,
 Joe K5AD