Universal is an ICOM servicing center.  Hence they  should be capable of doing what needs to be done...be it repairs or modifications.

However when my IC7600 failed, I called  ICOM Bellvue, Washington, and when I asked about taking it in to the close by Universal  Repair Center, they told me to send it to them in WA.  Hmmm.

On a side note: I once found the perfect Ford conversion van new at a huge Columbus OH dealer. Told the saleman Id be back first thing tomorrow with my trade in and the cash necessary to buy the van.  You got it. I returned the next morning at 9 am and the van was nowhere to be found.  SOLD! right out from under me.  Last time I dealt with R......I mean THEM!  Grrr.

or are they all the same - other than price?

Am looking for easy assemble-easy take-down-simple reassembly without the parts getting scrambled in the process.

Also, any opeating differences of note between the three main competitors that I know of?

And reliability/durability issues?

Impact of height above ground on performance?  Although we plan to use ours at around 30 ft...it might go as high as 50 ft.

Tnx.

I found my MFJ259 to be far too broad to accurately cut the 71 and 84 degree phasing lines for my 40m  2 el phased array.  Results were not as expected.

Who has had good success with another method?

The club is mulling over its options for a portable antenna that can go up on a mast for a variety of contest applications.

So, should it be a hexxbeam or a small 3 el triband yagi?

Been looking for a cheaper but good linear, which would be mostly used on CW, and have read about hot switching issues.

Does anyone have  experience with an IC7600 and TL922  on CW that could tell me one way or the other if there are issues here?

Thanks

Change the SES frequency  to 7180 plus or minus.

Dawes Arboretum in located due south of Newark, and 2 miles north of I-70 on Rte 13.  Entrances (2) are on the west side of Rte 13.

COOKEN ARC will once again be manning W8TNX at the well-known Dawes Arboretum, in Licking County, Central Ohio,   

W8TNX activity will be  SSB only,  around 7.225khz. eQSLs  via LOTW.

If you're in Ohio, think about taking a spin to see the arboretum's Spring Offerings, programs, gift shop, etc.  And maybe even have an eye-ball qso with the COOKEN gang while youre at it.

If driving  in is out of the question,  please say Hi! on 40m or via the 88 machine.

Talk-in is via the 146.88 machine in Newark. 

                              ................The Cooken Gang.

Here's one more option, for larger antennas, and for stacking them vertically. 

I used quarter inch wall x 2 ID x 20 ft length of
6061T6 aluminum alloy , set into  the Ham 4 rotator installed at the base of my top 8 ft aluminum tower section.  A thrust bearing was mounted  into the top flat section of the tower.

So 8 ft of  mast  was inside the tower and 12 ft. extended above it, where I mounted a KT-34XA 32 ft boom tribander about 2 ft up from the tower, and an 11 el. 2m Boomer  7 ft above that.

Originally, I started out with a  HyGain 204BA yagi at the bottom and a DB10-15 duoband yagi 8 ft above and  the 2m Boomer  3 ft above that.
I designed wind loads for 100 mph winds with 20% safety factor.

This was on top of a Heights  56 ft aluminum tower.  Again, designed to handle  100 mph winds  with the original antennas, and no guys.  Then I guyed the tower at the top only, for another safety factor.

Never had a problem with the tower, though I did have one element come loose and rotate,  one time.  And one of he two antenna to mast u bolts snapped in extreme winter cold ( presumably from overtightening).

I also drilled thru the mast and installed a set screw to keep the mast from changing direction in winds. 

The tower was up for 18 years.

When I took it down the last time ( to move to a deed restricted area) I noticed the three 3/8" dia. bolts through the base of the hinged tower upon which the mast sat had  worn through by about  a third, and the holes in the tower that they ran through had enlarged by about a third. I couldnt tell any difference in the towers behavior in winds although Im sure  it may have moved a bit.  So old  especially aluminum towers should be examined at the base bolts, but since the steel bolts  wore, Id extend that to say ALL towers should have their bolts examined and replaced as necessary, with stainless steel bolts ( as these were.)

The antennas  on that 20 ft mast ( 12' exposed) would dance definitely around and sway but the strength of the aluminum alloy was enough to handle it through several instances of 70-75 mph winds and many days of winds in the 50+ range.

Overdesigning the mast ( the most common failure point) is always a good move.  And using set screws  to lock the mast to the rotator will save you tower climbing for sure.

Good luck.

Yep.  Unconventional.  And while there are those who only operate within the GAAP (generally accepted amateur practices)  there are those who revel in doing the opposite.

You can join them or  choose to ignore them, whichever the case may be. 

Just like intentional interference, growling at the clowns only makes them more motived to create their form of mayhem.  Gritting your teeth  and ignoring them is the best way.

Time for ARRL to get things resolved. 

60 has been enjoyable here in Ohio, and only one strong but reasonably polite request for a Quick EMCOMM Net  to go elsewhere since the channel is a recognized DX  channel.
Since the primary  purpose of  60M is for emcomm raffic ( which is very limited to date) Id say the nets can have their quick schedules to get the hang of the propagation and each others capabilities. 

That said, we use the channels or lose them so all kinds of approved activities should be encouraged until Disaster Time/Emcomm/.

1. 10-15-20 and 25 ft long telescoping light wt fiberglas fishing poles for $10-15 each, available at a few places like Gander Mtn.(you may have to ask) They last years.
2. pvc pipe of the 1.5-2" variety from Home Depot etc.  Lets you put one of the above fishing poles in it to get to  the length needed for a wire 40M Vert or GP antenna
3. trashed yagis if you can find them cheap.
4. others..?

Congrats on your terrific club station.  Not many are so fortunate. 

Ive heard your club call on the air, and look forward to working you.

73 de Bob, W3HKK
Local Club:  WW8OH -W8TNX -W8FD
LICKING COUNTY, OHIO.

The OhQP is exceptionally well run, and points out the number of ways a club can get involved in the fun:  portable ops, mobiling through rare counties, qrp/low or high power, single or multi-op, aeronautical mobile!, etc.   I like the multi-op, multi-station,  portable approach, running 100w.  Gets a lot of guys  involved.  Lets each one organize around  one or two bands.  Experiment with antennas. Form small groups and get the job done.  You dont need   an hierarchy.  Just guys who can work together.  Even guys who cant work together! 

A one day contest in nature during  late August is a great way to spend some time. 

IF you already have water inside, it will never escape, and you will have sealed the problem in.  Id pull it apart and wipe dry, just to be sure, then  install new plastic caps.