Craig,

Go to http://www.ameritron.com/man/pdf/AL-811.pdf and get the tuning instructions from the manual.

73 DE Bert @ KA2UUP

Calling Art Bell!!!!!  Two second delay?  Sure!  Two years???  Unless you are in the same fictional situation as in the movie "Frequency" with Dennis Quaid or "Contact" with Jodie Foster, it is impossible!

73 DE Bert @ KA2UUP

Robert,

I have had a MFJ-1798 vertical for more than 10 years in my backyard.  Properly tuned, it will give you a lot of years of good service.  As always with an "all-band" antenna, there will be compromises.  You can get a 2:1 SWR in 100 kHz on 80 meters, so be sure to tune for the part of the band that you would like to operate on.  Also, 6 meters and 17 meters share the same tuning stub, so there will be a compromise based on the band you want to operate on.

Good luck in your quest!

73 DE Bert, KA2UUP

Jordan,

You mentioned they were "fused".  There is no way that could happen unless the paddles have been connected to a high current outlet directly and causing the paddles to solder themselves to the contacts.

I own the BY-1 myself.  My experience is that the adjustments tend to be very hard to move.  Have you tried to loosen the contacts with the Allen wrench provided?  Corrosion may the problem.  Try a drop of WD-40 oil right on the contacts and then turn the adjustment to see of they will loosen up.

I don't think this is a spring problem.  The spring does not have the force to tighten the paddles with that force.

Good luck!

Bert @ KA2UUP

You have several solutions.

I use a D-104 with my ICOM IC-746.  However, in order to use it, I have to turn the amplifier all the way dwon to the point where it will almost cut off.

Another choice is, like another poster said, use the Heil element.  Heli sells a complete conversion kit for this.

Lastly, you can use an equalizer.  I also use this option and it works well.

Good luck!

KA2UUP

I bit the bullet and bought the Multicomm for Windows.  However, you can use the regular winTerm software for the packet, PACTOR, AMTOR and RTTY stuff(provided you have the manual with the commands) and use MMSSTV or something else for the other modes with a soundcard.  I found that Multicomm is limited on the SSTV modes.

That is a good compromise!

Good luck and 73 DE Bert, KA2UUP

Quote:  "Guys, don't be silly...we all know that we live in a country where nothing can be forced on us by the Government."

That is, unless the Great and Dear Leader wants it to be forced on us, but that is another topic!

I have had a MFJ-1798 for ten years at my QTH.  As a previous poster said, an antenna analyzer is a must.  I tuned my roughly and worked well for 8 years until I decided to get serious.

I can't tell you about 2 meter performance because I do not use the antenna on that band.  However, durability and performance are as advertised if you assemble the antenna properly and tune it IAW the manual.

Be aware of a couple of things:

1)  The 17 meter stub is also used to tune the 6 meter band.  So, you will have to make some compromises.  6 meter coverage in my area is spotty so I have my antenna optimized for the 17 meter band and have a beam (not assembled yet) for 6 meters.

2)  Your coverage in the 80 meter band is limited to an SWR ratio of 2:1 in a bandwidth of 150 kHz.  So, you need to tune to the upper or lower part of the band.

10-20 meter coverage is great, with 40 being good and 80 being decent in the tuning range you select.

As always, multiband antennas are "compromise" antennas.

Good luck and 73 DE Bert @ KA2UUP

Why should I do that?  I am not the PO-LICE, Fuzz, or whatever creative names are used today!  In the case of the FCC, they cannot even PO-LICE 14.275 MHz!!!!  Why bother, then?

73 and

Suggest checking with Tom, W8JI.  He designed the AL-811H and is a frequent contributor to this forum.

Good luck DE KA2UUP, Bert

Ditto!

It all depends, as everything is in this hobby.

This is what you need:

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1251

It will convert round 8-pin connector to RJ-45 and vice versa.

Cheers!

Bert @ KA2UUP

You have the option of the Heil elements.  These people claim to have the elements for the D-104:
http://www.rbmicro.com/index.php?page=details&prod=2&cat=6&group=11

I was able to get the original elements about three years ago but I don't have the company papers anymore.  However, the RBMicro site above may be able to help.

Good luck de Bert @ KA2UUP

I have an old Alinco dual bander (605) and Diamond lip mount with a dual band antenna and it works extremely well in the Boston metro area in my Saturn Vue.  5/50 W on 2 meters and 5/35 on 70 cm. with no problems.  It has a good heat sink in the back, internal duplexer (just one antenna cable to worry about) and no fans.  Works as advetised with no overheating.

Simple radio.

Good luck from KA2UUP, Bert