Relax  They are all caused by the newest ham radio contest:
SWEEPERSTAKES!!!

   Actually, for fast energy during a prolonged ham radio frenzy.
nothing beats a "Chicken Fried" Crisco Sandwich on gummy white bread.
YUMM!!!!

Cal,  K4JSR

 Maggiore makes a fine repeater for 222 MHz. 
Check out the review http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2849.
You may have to research their website, but they do advertise in QST.
222 is a great band. I had a a Maggiore Hi-Pro repeater on 224.98 MHz
for 15 years before the last lightning hit turned it into a charcoal briquet.

73,

Cal  K4JSR

Cecil asked, "I wonder if Einstein, while riding the crest of the EM wave, could detect a change in momentum?"

He could not because he was crestfallen!   

73,  Cal  K4JSR

I be so happy dat I gots gud grammar. My pride makes me just bust a gut!
Now, if only we could work on this here Eham "Spiel Check".

73,
Cal  K4JSR

PS. Anyone else notice that N6AJR is an "OLD CROW?"

Try Max Gain Systems from the land of the "BIG CHICKEN".
That would be Marietta, Ga. for the uninitiated.   I have done business with them for years and have always been well pleased.
  http://www.mgs4u.com/index.html

73,
Cal Neff  K4JSR

Reading this thread brought back a dose of nostalgia from my early days
(Teenager) as an amateur radio practitioner.  The Sun Spot Cycle in 1957-
1958 was great!  Although as a teenager I was aware of the Sun Spots, I didn't have any appreciation for them.  Typical iconoclastic teenager!
However the Sun Spots and the Pi Network output of the Globe Scout 65A
provided endless entertainment for the teen age hams around Atlanta.
 We would load up anything from rain gutters, bed springs, heating duct work, 75 Watt light bulbs, etc., to stray cats.   We would try to load anything we could get to
hold still.  The cats would not hold still once the Globe Scout was keyed up!
I worked 14 countries and 21 States on my bed springs!
The only thing that kept a bunch of us from selling bed spring antennas to
other hams was the fact that Gotham Antennas were cheaper!!!
So much for getting rich young!   

Everything radiated.  It would have been a good season for even selling Isotrons.

73,   Cal  K4JSR

I knew it all along!!!  Pardon me while I gloat for a few hours! 
Seriously, Mike,  when in doubt ask the nice folks at Caig what they recommend.  They have a vested interest in your success.
I have seen their stuff rejuvenate switches and pots that I would have sworn
were far beyond redemption.

Another cute thing that will happen to folks who use a silicone lubricant will
find that they cannot repaint any surfaces that the silicone has come in contact.  Years ago auto folks recommended silicone polishes for long lasting
shine.  Then when collision repair or other body work became necessary,
they had to apply a "silicon killer" to the surface(s) to be repainted or the
paint would simply flake and fall off!

Enjoy your Collins gear for many more years.  I would fire it up regularly
though just to keep the electrolytic caps from reforming.   Just another
friendly "gotcha" from Chemistry in electronics.

73,  Cal  K4JSR  CET 

Caig Laboratories DeOxIt.   Caig makes a number of products for the
commercial market.  Boat Anchor lovers swear by the stuff.  I've used it
for years since the EPA made them quit selling Camolin.(SP?)
Google Caig Laboratories for their website and on line catalog.
73,
Cal  K4JSR  CET

   Yeah!  Like the HMO said, "Menus are for restaurants. I like my Kenwood TS-520S and 530S!  Grin"

If it weren't for menus I would weigh about 110 lbs less!  

73,  Cal  K4JSR

Jonathon, there is nothing strange about what you are observing.
VHF through microwaves all display the tendency to to shift their paths
of propagation especially in warm months and over bodies of water.
(Or marshy areas.)
AT&T Long Lines noted the same problem a long time ago regarding path
shifting of their microwave long distance relay links.  Most especially in
in the southern part of the USA.
They developed a method of Space Diversity Antennas and switching systems that cleverly fixed the problem.   You can read about the early
research here:  http://www.micropath.com/downloads/Docs/RF%20Engineering%20-%20Misc/BSTJ%20Jan%201975%20%20Space-Diversity%20Engineering.pdf

Oddly enough, in most applications the diversity antenna was lower than the main antenna.    This was due primarily to refraction of the signal and
not multipath.  Remember that these were point-to-point highly directional
antennas they used and that pretty much deleted multipath IMD from the
equation.

Enjoy the read.  Your brought up an excellent question that many folks
in the electronics world are not aware exists.  You just don't run into the
situation unless you get involved in point-to-point communication.

73,
Cal  K4JSR

 

  I was going to get a bag of popcorn and watch this thread.

  Instead I am going to get a bucket of coffee and an aspirin sandwich.

My goodness! My head hurts!    Cal  K4JSR

  Be certain to check the continuity of the vertical before transmitting.

   I hope you have a good "KEG-OHM METER"!!!   

      73,  Cal  K4JSR

Joe White, KE4TV, is definitely SK.
I, along with several of his friends attended his funeral
a while back.
Joe is most definitely missed within the Northeast Georgia ham radio community.
I think the only thing Joe is worried about these days is that
they would hold down the Harp music while he tries to work
another "rare one"!

73,  Cal Neff  K4JSR