I discovered the problem with the knob tension...here's the fix:  Turned out to be simple when I thought about it for awhile.

Carefully remove the main knob...(pulls straight off), being careful not to lose the little curved spring inside the shaft hole, which holds the knob to the shaft.  The tensioning device is two little padded flat springs that rub against the back of the knob.  Slightly pull these outward for a bit more contact pressure.  If the shaft spring fell out, it goes in a little slot, with the outside of the curve towards the shaft hole.

73

Bruce, KK4IKO

Has anyone had trouble with the main control knob tensioner on a IC706MKIIG?  Mine is set to max tension (you can feel a small difference), but the radio will move off frequency by itself, sometimes by several hundred Kc.  The control knob will set it back where it belongs.  Even at max tension, the knob still moves all too easy for my taste.

73

Bruce, KK4IKO   

In the June issue of QST, there is a simple and neat-looking homemade portable Yagi for 2m handhelds.  I have two questions:  Will it take 20 to 50 watts from a regular radio, and is there any reason the 1x2 wood support cannot be made from 1" rigid PVC pipe?

73

KK4IKO

I get concerned when communication stops happening.

I've had dealings with someone who, it turned out, got deathly ill and went to the hospital the same day I paid for an ebay order.  I didn't hear from him for over a week.  When we got back together, he turned out to be a real fine gentleman to do business with. 

You might talk to your local constabulary and ask them to check through channels if perhaps something untoward has happened to the other person before pulling out the stops and getting angry, which should only take a few hours.  I hope you know the person's name and address, you apparently know the phone number already.

If it turns out the person is deliberately avoiding you, then maybe a few words with his local police will set things straight.

73
KK4IKO

Don't get me started on ebay.

1.  Their feedback system is overrated and misused.

2.  There's poor communication between buyers and sellers concerning what's going on with the transaction.

I'm a buyer...I pay immediately by paypal, or if a money order is required it's in the mail within a day or two, along with an e-mail saying it's on the way.

I'm a seller...I send the item the first business day after receiving payment, and an e-mail letting the customer know it's shipped and how.  If there's a snag, so I can't ship or pay right away, the customer gets an e-mail explaining the situation asap.

I hate folks who don't have the courtesy to keep me in the loop until the transaction is completed.

We are all customers of somebody.  Do we give as good as we get?

73
KK4IKO

I think the original poster made a valid point about elitism and how it can turn off the uninformed.  There will always be those who are members of certain organizations or groups who believe they are a cut above, and in some respects they are, but they don't need to behave as if they are more than they are.

EmComm is a serious business, providing important logistic support to police, fire, doctors, rescuers, etc. when the doo doo hits the fan.  As one who has dealt with the public most of my working life, I realize the importance of providing simple, direct and honest information about what I do, rather than copping the attitude that "you wouldn't ask the question if you knew what I know!"

Part of any public service position, paid or volunteer, no matter how minor, is patiently providing information that John Q. Public can understand, so let's not allow our attitudes to get in the way of that.   Stress the importance of the service you provide, not how important you may think you are.

When I ask a question of someone, expressing an interest in what they do, the last thing I want to hear is an attitude.  I'm going to be asking my fellow ARS club members and others, a lot of questions about EmComm in the next few months, with an eye towards getting involved. 

73

KK4IKO

If you don't use insulated wire, the cord, twine, or rope can hold rain water between the strands and become conductive.  However, the insulation, especially at the sharp bend where the cord attaches, will eventually be broken down by UV and age, allowing contact between the wet cord and wire.  Insulators (cheap insurance), will prevent even bare wire coming in contact with the rope and won't absorb moisture.  Teflon-insulated wire might hold up for the long term, but it's expensive.

73

Bruce, KK4IKO

Has anyone actually measured how much RF from their antennas is present in the ham shack or other rooms while transmitting at different power levels, or are we assuming they're at, or below known safe levels?  Just wondering...

WB6BYU

The ridge lines on each side are 450' higher than my house and about a half mile apart, maybe less  I'm pretty much centered between them.  I live a mile and a half up from the slightly wider E/W valley at the lower end, and the upper end is about 2 miles away and closed except for a high road gap.  My house is at 2400 feet elevation, so the ridges are about 2800+.

From my yard, I can access a 2meter repeater located at nearly 7000' and about 16 miles away on my mobile, but not any others unless I go to the top of the road gap at the upper end.

Bruce, KK4IKO

BTW...over 40 years experience as an industrial electrician who has seen the results of lightning strikes first hand, has led me to believe that lightning does whatever it wants, and very often the unexpected.  I highly recommend solid lightning protection and good ham shack practice (disconnecting), but even that might not be enough.

73

Bruce, KK4IKO

Food for thought:

Hi-potting a cable may be considered non-destructive, but it has been known to compromise insulation, even in new cable.  I was involved in such testing on new 17,000 volt feeders where I worked.  Recent research has shown that hi-pot testing, especially more than once, may not be recommended on new cable, even though there might be a requirement to do it, unless there is some question about the installation.  The jury is still out on that.  It will however, find a fault if there is one.

Reminds me of an article I once read on proof testing firearms...yes, I know this has nothing to do with ham radio, but the question put forth was whether or not the proof test itself introduces stresses which will show up later under normal use.  I don't know about now, but all gun makers used to proof test each and every one with at least a double load.

73

Bruce, KK4IKO

Thanks for the info folks, I've already been advised that an NVIS oriented with the valley can work out to 200+ miles, and that an inverted V placed crosswise might be able to direct signals over the peaks, but I'm still open to other suggestions.  It will be several months before I test for General so I can put my HF rig on the air, so I have plenty of time to ruminate over the possibilities for antennas.

Bruce, KK4IKO

Hi, do any of you folks have your stations in narrow, north-south oriented mountain valleys?  If so, what types of antenna setups do you use for DX on HF?  No fair putting the antenna on top of the mountain, LOL!

73
Bruce, KK4IKO

W8JX made a good point.  When running two batteries in parallel, a bad cell in one can affect the other.  If I were going to the expense of two deep cycle batteries, I would also invest in a good hydrometer and test my battery cells every few months, monitoring individual cell health and  electrolyte level.  You can get the old-fashioned glass tube and bulb hydrometers inexpensively, or the newer ones which pass light through a prism and a drop of electrolyte for more money.  They all work.  Don't forget temperature compensation, as specific gravity changes with temperature.

I was a Navy electrician, and worked in a shipboard battery shop.  We tested stand-by batteries quarterly, and active-use batteries weekly.  Quarterly included cleaning and re-applying Vaseline over all bare metal connections to prevent corrosion, in addition to cell testing and refilling.  Fill with distilled water when needed.

The worst thing you can do is charge them up and not use them for a long time.

73 KK4IKO

I will get the opportunity to set up my portable and give it a good workout, as I have been invited to sit in with a club in the Adirondacks, while on vacation over the ARRL Field Day weekend in June.  There will be several HF and VHF setups.  I'll take some pictures.

73

Bruce, KK4IKO