There is a place where you suggest. This would be my first choice. Unfortunatley that is where the 12 volt utility socket, the USB port and the line in port is. Thanks for the suggestion.

That is an option but I prefer that it not be that visible.

Has anyone put a radio in the newer (I think this body style came out in 2011) Explorer? I have a Yaesu 8800 with the removable face plate. I just can't seem to find a good location to mount the face plate. Any help would be appreciated.

Jim N0WE

N3FJP's software is great. He has updated the contest programs. I don't do digital so for me that is not a concern. I also use N1MM but N3FJP is very easy to use and network.

I have a Butternut HF2 mounted with buried radials. I am bulding another vertical that I want to mount close (maybe 15') away from it. What are your thought about using the same radial system? Just run a wire from one antanna to the other.

Not as worried about getting the bandwidth as I am about moving the reonant frequency higher.

Jim

Assembled the antenna and used a 1:1 balun instead of a coax choke.

The antenna is set for the phone band. It is on a 35 foot tower. No other antennas on the tower.

Even with adjusted for the phone band the antenna is resonant closer to what they call the mid between the CW and phone band. Width on 15 and 20 seem to be in spec. 10 meters seems to be narrow. Specs say it should be about 750 wide and it is about 500.

Can the resonance be adjusted with the beta match or do I need to adjust elements?

I am thinking about getting a new computer for the shack. Any opinions about a flat screen VS a regular monitor. I know some monitors are pretty noisy I was just wondering if the flat screen have noise problems on the HF bands.

Thanks for all the responses. I am leaning toward a new Ameritron but I am a little concerned about the negative reviews. I suppose it's like most MFJ products, very little quality control. $1299 is definatley within the budget.

I am looking for a dependable amp that will do at least 1 KW in the $1000 to $1200 range. Anyone have any recomendation on a used amp?

If you really want an Orion wait until the Orion II is available. Take a look at the Ten Tec reflector. Original Orion is still full of bugs hence the Orion II so soon after the original Orion.

I always read with interest when people say they "fold back" the braid. Are they saying they are folding it back without un-braiding it? In the process of un-braiding I always find I lose some of the braid because a small amout breaks off. To me this is always the toughest part of installing PL-259's on the coax sizes that need adaptors.

I wish I could agree with you. It would be great to have a competitive radio store within 100 miles of where I live. I have found Radio City to be overpriced on most items and they carry very little inventory. The times I have stopped there they were never able to fill more than half of what I needed on very comon items.

They were also the ones that complained to the State of MN that out of state vendors at hamfests were not charging sales tax. The results were that AES and Burgharts attend few if any hamfests here in MN.

Used a G5RV for field day this year. Worked great! My FT-900's auto tuner had no problems tuning the antenna.

73 Jim

W6AQQ the father of the screwdriver antenna used to sell detailed plans along with some of the machined parts. Not sure if they are still available or not.

73 Jim