I have always had good luck with the Gordon West books.  He goes out of his way to explain everything in plain English and with a sense of humor.  You can get them from W5YI at www.w5yi.org.  I've spent some time with Gordon West and consider him a friend.  No, I don't get a percentage of the sales!

Good luck,

Don Wilbanks
KC5MFA

I had this same problem.  Take the covers off and look for the power amp rf modules.  I seem to remember there were 2 of them, one for 144, one for 440.  Anyway, they are near the rear of the radio on the heat sink.  Get some silicone heat sink grease and put some between the module and the heat sink.  It fixed mine.  I had it mounted in a motor home and, believe it or not, ants got in the radio and ate the grease!  I had hundreds of dead ants in the radio.  After I cleaned them out and replaced the grease between the module and the heat sink everything was back to normal.

Hope that helps.

73,

Don, KC5MFA

First, welcome to the family!

If you're looking for a small, portable TNC that runs on battery check out the Kantronics KPC3.  One of the best and most popular TNC's and it can run off of a 9 volt battery.  You can probably find a used one for a fair price.

73 & good luck!

Don
KC5MFA

I have my MkIIG mic gain set at 1 and the carrier offset at +120. It gives the radio plenty of audio with a little more "punch" on HF. I have found that setting the mic gain any higher than 1 or 2 while operating through some 2 meter repeaters resulted in clipping of the audio due to over-deviation. I also occasionally use the Heil HS706 headset. While I get good reports with the stock hand mic, the HS706 is vastly superior both on 2 meter FM and on HF sideband. I wish I could get that HS706 element in a DTMF hand mic. Email me and we can set up a sked in you want. kc5mfa@qsl.net 73!  
       

I just purchased my first boat anchor.  It isn't as popular as the Collins or Drake gear, but I like it just the same...and the price was right.  It's a Swan 500CX with the matching power supply/speaker.  My first real contact with it was the Czech Republic.  Pretty neat radio for $100.  

I've been using a Cushcraft dual band Ringo, model AR270B, in a closet for several years with excellent results.  I own my home and am not deed restricted, just haven't gotten around to putting it on a pole outside.  Great antenna!

73 & good luck!

Don Wilbanks, KC5MFA
www.qsl.net/kc5mfa

I attended a paperwork VE session for my General on April 17 and my upgrade was granted June 1.  The upgrade took almost as long to grant as my original Tech ticket in 1995.  That took exactly 2 months.