I heard a rumor that they are working on a modified design for future marketing.

I would suspect a bad T/R relay in the amplifier.  You're not the first one to experience this problem with that amplifier!

Several manufacturers make a device to switch your antenna between transmitter and receiver.  MFJ sells an RF-sensing T/R switch (Model 1708) that allows you to receive on the antenna and when you transmit it senses the RF and connects your antenna to your transmitter.  I believe it costs around $80.

Hey man, get used to it.  This is modern day ham radio with the AH's prevailing!

I have 450 kV lines within 1000 feet of my VA QTH.  Absolutely no noise.  I did have a noise problem from those lines about 7 years ago and the power company took care of it after I complained about it.  Call them up and ask for their EMI guy.  As for the MK-V field and the FT-2000, the last radio that Yaesu made that's any good is the 5000 and previously the 1000D.  Even the Yaesu sales VP, and I won't mention his name, told me so!

Take it to your local ham radio store and have them take a look at it.  That's what I did with a TS-940 that was suspect for a lightning hit and they gave me a letter that stated the radio had been hit by lightning.  The insurance company bought me a new radio!  Don't try to repair that radio yourself...you may end up burning something else up unless you have SMT equipment.

Some folks prefer Postal Money Orders, others prefer Bank checks.  I've used both and never had any problems.  In recent sales of my equipment I have used PayPal, and currently that seems to be the method of choice with most ham buyers that have PayPal accounts.  The only problem I have with using PayPal is they charge a hefty fee to the seller.  I sold a PROIII for $1700 a couple of years ago and PayPal charged me a $50 fee.

If your 7 address is the one in the FCC database you don't need to add portable.  I'm a 4 in Maine and I don't bother giving portable, however when I operate in Virginia I usually say I'm portable.  Lots of people look me up on QRZ and if they see Maine when I'm in Virginia they always ask why.

I've had 9913 for at least 20 years, above and below ground.  A loss test tells me it's as good as RG-213 at this point, so I have not replaced it.  I also have some RG-213 which has been laying on the ground for about 13 years, and the jacket is cracking in some places; the portions that are buried don't have that problem.  The sun seems to cause more damage than burying it. 

Your getting plenty of advice from the YL on hiding your antennas/transmission line.  Can you imagine what you would not be allowed to do if you had an XYL??

Great for your invention.  But, rather than posting this on a thread, why don't you buy an ad from eham.  It may result in more viewership.

You've been off the air for too darn long.  PSK is not a high power operation.  10-30 watts will allow you to work the world!!

Home Depot sells 1-1/2 in. ID x 50 ft. Spa-Flex Tubing for $3.76.  They also sell similar tubing in longer lengths.  You could use something like this for a conduit to run your coax and control lines to the tower or antenna.  I have a 100-foot run of RG-213 that's been buried 2 inches deep for the past 12 years.  When I do a loss check on it, it has changedminimally in all those years...so I doubt water has gotten inside the jacket...the same coax on the ground shows more deterioration than the buried one. Go figure.

I don't operate FM on 6 but last night the 6 meter band was wide open.  I worked a few stations on the west coast and points in between on SSB.  I live in northern Maine.  I run 1 kilowatt with a ground mounted vertical, and when the band is open I can work anything I can hear.  . 

Good idea.  Next time I go to Harbor Freight I'll check and see if they have these hammers real cheap.  I bought a reciprocating saw from them a couple years ago for about $30.