I have dealt with R&L since 1994 and have bought thousands of dollars of equipment from them, big radios, amps, and little things like coax sealant.  They are a class crowd and will help you find something or an alternative if they know of it.   Even since most of the business they probably do is over the internet or phone, they maintain a great ham store in Hamilton with numerous stations set up.  

If you want to try something out, they will hook it up and let you try it on the air.  I had a particularly hard problem and they even let me exchange a component to see if the was the problem.  They will do what they can within reason to help out a fellow ham (but don't take advantage of it).  

They also have a great used selection, and will let you try it out completely to make sure it all works.  Occassionally you'll find some mint boat anchors there too.

I also find they are about $10-$20 less on most items than other stores.

You can trust the people at R&L with your maoney and business!


Chris WO8USA

Has anyone tried the West Mountain Radio ClrDSP unit or the GAP Amplified Noise Elimination Module (ANEM) unit?  Wondering just how different the two are or if either are improvements over previous ones.  Not many eHam posings on them, but a recent QST article on the ANEM has me wondering!

Any expereinces welcome,
Chris WO8USA

About 3 weeks ago I sent an email to the sales at Sounds Sweet stating that I thought people may not return and would lose confidence in any company who does business over the internet but won't update their website, vis-a-vis the "April we'll return" statem,ent.  I've been wanting to order and did not know they'd re-tooled.

Soon after I did not get an email but did notice the web site had changed.  It changed again last week announcing the "August we'll return" date.

Needless to say I'll be waiting a while to see if they indeed are the same company with the same product before I place my order.  Did they sell out?  I see the proces have increased too.  I did not see them at Hamvention but may have missed them.

Chris WO8USA Dayton Ohio

Does anyone actaully know what language software defined radio is written in, and its ease/difficulty?  Anyone with experience actually getting one of these radios and making it different? Chris WO8USA

The IC-718 and FT840 were the best inexpensive rigs out there.  The FT840 seems to be discontinued now.  I owned 2 FT840s but upgraded.


At R&L the IC718 is about $500 now.  You might also look at a Alinco DX70TH---I've operated one for 12 years.  I agree on the used, be sure its checked out and operate it for some time before taking it.  Short keying may not reveal modulation problmes when heated up.

Good luck, Chris WO8USA

See my eham review-----they totally ignored by requests as well, I had to get a refund from my credit card company since CAllbook would not respond to my emails or phyone calls or letters.  The credit card company agreed with me that this was credit card fraud since the company did not deliver the product and would not respond.

My advice to all---BOYCOTT CALLBOOK----and go to another company.  My incident was in December, this one in May.  Anyway, it may be the same name but is not the same company or people which worked on the legendary hardcopy volumes.

Well, I completed the task today....FCC says its on the way.  I remember thee thrill of getting my license in the mail, I could not look it up to see I passed.  Today, its easier, but I remember the thrill both my sons (8 and 12) had when they saw their names on the internet.  Same thrill of the new licensee in a different way.  Still, that hardcopy in a frame is something.

Thanks again to all!

Thanks all.  Actually, what has happened is my son got his license--at 12--and we cannot remember actually getting his hardcopy although we checked daily and he is in the FCC database.  But, whether you need it or not, its the real thing, and while he has not missed it yet, I want to make sure it hangs prominently on the wall for him.

I am surprised I got the answers in this forum--some are very inactive---again thanks!

Chris WO8USA

Does anyone know how to obtain a new copy of a license from the FCC?  I need to get a new original, and cannot find any information on how to do this.

First, few radios on the market today are bad.  They will do what they are advertised to do, but you might want to use them in other ways.

I had the exact same question 18 months ago, and I thought I would get the TS2000.  Then trying them out and doing some thinking I discovered what I really wanted to do, not what I wanted.  I wanted to optimize HF DX.  The other bands would be worked very little and even then I could just use my HT.

So I got a Yaesu FT1000MP MkV---never been disappointed.  

The point is----don't look at the radio first----make yourself a list of what you want to do, know what you might be interested in, then choose.  Size is also important---will you want to go mobile or backpacking QRP?

I also determined that if I wanted a swiss army pocket knife, the TS2000 was the best, unless I cared a lot about Satellite then that little birdie gets really big on the '2000!  I've had a IC706MKIIG for years and love it.

Good luck, 73, Chris WO8USA

BEWARE!! When ordering the famous callbook on the internet from its American Distributor on the Internet, they charge your credit card and do not provide any answers.  I ordered my callbook in early December as advertised in QST it would be our in November.  I reached tme once on  phone, and hurredly was told "Its late".  3 emails and 4 phone calls since then they will not answer.  When late, most companies wait to charge until they prodive the product.

BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND NO PRODUCT YET---BEWARE ORDERING DIRECT FROM THIS COMPANY, I AM PREPARING TO SEE IF MY CREDIT CARD WILL CHALK THIS UP TO FRAUD!  I can understand if the callbook is late, but they could at least say this (I note their internet site does now say "soon" vice Novemeber as it used to.

Thanks---anyone else who is interested can see the Mark V site at Yahoo for more conversation.

Has anyone tried to open up the Mk V transmit for 60m?  Ont he VA3CR website I see instructions for opening up the transmit by a simple menu configuration procedure.  Has anyone done this, does it work and is it safe?

to quote:
"

Instructions for "Yaesu FT-1000MP Mark V"  to transmit out of band

1.   Confirm first... that the transceiver  IS NOT  transmitting outside of the band.
2.   Press  "Power on..."  while  Pressing  "Fast & Lock keys..." simultaneously.
3.   Then, go to  "Xpanded Menu  9 - 9".
4.   Then, Press   "Fast  and  the  Enter key".
5.   Turn the  "RF/Memory  knob  "VRF/Memory  Channel  knob"  to "Function 9 - 9".
6.   You will see  selection name:   "t-Select".
7.   Turn  the  "Main  VFO  A"   counter C.W.  until  you find "Gen".
8.   Then, Press the  "Enter Key".
9.   You're  Finished...

End..

" end quote..at:
http://www.va3cr.net/templates/60MTR%20Mod%20MarkV.html

Just wanting to see if this is a urban legend or reality.

Chris WO8USA

I have never dealt with TenTec and have never owned anything of theirs.  But I think the fact that a manufacturer keeps track of things like this is very commendable and shows the capability for personal service--good and bad!  

Good job Ten-Tec, if I was in the same boat I'd have done the same thing.

I had really not event heard of this until today---I may now consider ordering something from Ten-Tec!

I am looking for people who have used eith Behringer, and MFJ Sound Equalizer, or similar equipment to better their LISTENING (not transmit) experience.  I use a Yaesu Mark V and would love to make people sound like they are using the W2IHY all the time.

Does anyone have a Sounds Sweet or siilar large speaker on the Mark V?

I have used the internal DSP receive settings to their max--improvements, but I want more (I know SSB won't sound like WB-FM)

Just hoping not to spend a lot of money and find minimal improvement.

Thanks,

Chris WO8USA