You did not mention it in your post, so I just wanted to ask if you first yanked and reseated the pin-type connector that comes from the display unit?   It is a well-known malady....very common.  I gave mine a touch of de-oxit, and that cured it.....although I have not had the rig turned on in over a year, so it may re-appear!!
....Dave

Yes, that's the one...well, it looks like I just need to compare prices and features and see how they shake out.
Thanks everyone!!

That looks like it...Doesn't look like the one I remember (was it from AEA???) But, I guess it is the current version.
If anyone knows if there is another...please let me know!
Thanks everyone!!

Can someone tell me who makes that battery operated LCD graphing SWR indicator? Last I followed it, someone made it..stopped making it, and now someone else makes it. Can someone point me in the right direction?
Thanks!!   Dave

Can someone tell me who makes that battery operated LCD graphing SWR indicator? Last I followed it, someone made it..stopped making it, and now someone else makes it. Can someone point me in the right direction?
Thanks!!   Dave

Can someone tell me who makes that battery operated LCD graphing SWR indicator? Last I followed it, someone made it..stopped making it, and now someone else makes it. Can someone point me in the right direction?
Thanks!!   Dave

Yes, but there is a diff!!
I have played around with having two of them hooked up at once, one is showing perfect copy, the other is missing one sometimes two or three letters at a time.
You just have to experiment. For computer readers...you need a good sound card and a quiet connection (no hum, noise).
For old technology, The HAL ones were hard to beat. A favorite of mine is the Kantronics Field Day 2. You can see the eham reviews of it here...Hard to find, but a treasure!!

I have seen advertised an antenna support for portable operation where at the base is a horizontal plate...that you drive your car on top of, to keep it secure. Actually, a friend of mine made one in metal shop way back when I was in high school . Now many years later...I've seen one advertised.
Anyone know who is peddling such and item?
Thanks!!!
...Dave

Well, one factor always is....If it fell in any direction, could it hit a neighbors property, or power line, or anything other than grass? My 25G is about the same height with about the same antenna (TH3) but 6 meter beam above that, and 2 meter vertical at the top....probably 15 feet above the hf beam. Been up for 11 years now without a problem. But...it should probably be guyed. I will at least guy it temporarilly when I go up soon to do maintenance.

It's a nice rig....but so was almost everything Kenwood made.
The only common problem with the 820S is the connector for the digital readout gets intermittant.
The 820  is kind-of halfway between a 520 and an 830.
It <may> be single conversion...can't remember. But that seems to ring a bell...thus the quiet receiver!

.....Dave

"and be prepared to occasionally change traps!! "

That is not exactly a great recommendation is it?

For a 600 watt max antenna to occasionally handle the output of a 1 KW amp???
I'd say its a GREAT recommendation!!!!

(Of course, it should be fed with no more than the suggested power level...but if you can't control yourself, and want to push the envelope....It will handle it....most of the time....just be prepared..as I said... to occasionally change traps.

If you use it with a normal 100 watt rig, or 200 watt variety....it'l play happily for years!!!!

W8KQE has the right idea...The Mosley jr!   Also, I had the HyGain version up for almost 20 years!  TH3JR.

Same gain as the heavy version, but light as a feather! Just don't pump a kw into it....and actually, you can. I did...just make sure the SWR is low, and be prepared to occasionally change traps!!

Those "mini" beams are just not worth the effort...better off putting up dipoles.

Measured for real, or with the front panel multifunction meter??
...Dave

Thanks guys for all the advice. Yes, having owned a boat, and living by the ocean...I like to use stainless. I'll research the subject further. It seems the galling effect of stainless, and the fact tht the Rohn bolts are fine thread and the fact that if the thing ever came smashing down and insurance found out I was using non factory spec'ed bolts....well anyway... I ordered some from Texas Towers today. Then, a little while ago I saw a post where someone mentioned the plastic tube that Rohn supplies these bolts. I remembered "I have some of those tubes!!!"   Sure enough, looked in my box of antenna junk and found 3 sets of new Rohn bolts that I bought to have extra when I installed the tower. Well...now I still have extras!! How many times do you buy stuff 'cuz you don't remember (or can't find) the ones you already have!!!!
Thanks again guys...I know what I'm doing this weekend!!

Hey folks...thanks for the input...By the way...want to do some tower inspecting from the comfort of your PC???   Here is a close up with my digital camera of what I'm talking about. Fun to have a look!!
http://home.comcast.net/~kd2e/bolts.JPG
Better get up there soon, right?