Good TechNote on this subject at

http://www.bencher.com/pdfs/00361ZZV.pdf

When we moved into our new home, there was still a lot of construction going on.  The on-site dumpsters (one per building permit - required by law) were a rich source of CAT 5 remnants when the electricians were through!  It was not unusual to find 25 - 50 feet of the tail end of a spool just tossed away.  There are 8 - yes 8! - insulated conductors per foot. If you don't mind "dumpster diving" and have the time and temperment to strip the outer insulation and untwist the pairs, it makes fine buried radials.  It's going to a landfill otherwise.  Avoid CAT 6.  It's shielded and harder to strip.

de AI4LG - Rick
Leesburg, FL

Richard-
Congrats on the new ticket and welcome to this fine hobby.  Something is fundamentally wrong! Some things to check out - easy ones first.
 1) the FT-897 has two antenna connections.  Make sure that the X50 is connected to the 144/430 antenna jack (pg 18 of manual).  
2) Make sure you are on the correct band/frequency (pg. 13) 146.520 is the national calling frequency and a good one to use.  
3) make sure you are in the correct mode (pg.13) FM.
 Try it. BRIEFLY!
If still HSWR, it is probably a bad coax connector, bad coax, or a faulty antenna.  At this point, web help will be difficult, but a local Elmer becomes very helpful.  The club where you took your test should have lots of people willing and able to help.  
There is a yahoo user's group you might want to check out at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FT897/
If this isn't clear, feel free to email me at mycall at comcast.net.  The FT897 is a great rig.  You'll love it.  And again, Congrats and Welcome!

de AI4LG - Rick

Good Morning Wally-
   One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the difference between a good VHF/UHF mobile installation and a good HF mobile installlation.  It's kind of like the difference between changing a light bulb and wiring a house.  Both have to do with electricity, but wiring a house right takes a lot more knowledge to make it all work!  Spend some time on Alan's (K0BG) website for good info about mobile HF.
   I encourage you to get that General and get on HF.  Lot's more, lot's more to the hobby than just VHF/UHF and the whole world is out there on HF!  But I also would encourage you to get into HF with a simple base station.  It's too easy to hit barriers with a mobile HF as your first experience. That can lead to becoming frustrated and discouraged and giving up on HF.  And those who do will miss 90% of this wonderful hobby.  My two cents.
  Good luck!  And go get that General!
  de AI4LG - Rick  

Carl-

Primary difference is in terminal configuration.  The DCM has 1/4-20 bolts that screw down into the post while the DCS has a vertical lug that the bolt passes through.  The DCS case is slightly larger and it is heavier - about 4 lbs.

Hope that helps. 73,

de AI4LG - Rick

I want to use my D700 as a portable for Emcomms from county emergency shelters, but would like to use my Heil headset (HTSS w/ HTSA-KM adapter) AND still have DTMF capability. I need to be able to send stored DTMF strings from memory channels. It’s a snap with the MC-53DM mike, but the HTSS has only PTT, UP, & DWN buttons. Is there a way to transmit the string using the front panel?  Or some other way?  Been through the manual over and over, Googled for days, and experimented till the dummy load glowed. It's probably simple, but I can’t figure out how. Has someone out there figured this out? Tnx for any help.

(Also posted this question on the Elmers Forum.)

de AI4LG - Rick

Many good suggestions!  You might also want to look at Interstate Batteries Mobility line.
http://www.interstatebatteries.com/www_2001/content/products/product_mobility.asp
AGM batteries in sizes up to 100 AH. Large distributor network with a distributor in most mid-sized cities nationwide.  And my ISB distributor discounts 25% for ARES/Emcomm members.  Just ask and show them your ID.  No connection to ISB, just like their products and their service.

de AI4LG - Rick

Anyone know how to run the Kenwood D700 using my Heil headset (HTSS w/ HTSA-KM adapter) AND still have DTMF capability?  I need to send stored DTMF strings from memory channels.  It’s a snap with the MC-53DM mike, but the HTSS has only PTT, UP, & DWN buttons.  Is there a way to transmit the string using the front panel?  Or some other way?  Been through the manual over and over, Googled for days, and experimented till the dummy load glowed.  It's probably simple, but I can’t figure out how.  Has someone out there figured this out?  Tnx for any help.

de AI4LG - Rick

David, I'd suggest a look at the FT-897D from Yaesu. Not the best at any one thing, but does an acceptable job at everything - HF(including 60m), VHF, UHF, and all mode - SSB, FM, digital.  And if you hit a sale, within your price range.

Good luck and 73,

AI4LG - Rick

I use a microHam USB II interface from my laptop to the FT-897D.  The interface does not have a sound card, but it is easy to set up. Comes with a made for the 897 cable for CAT/Data/key connections. I run HRD/PSK31 Deluxe for HF and AGW/Winpack for packet on 2m.  Functions perfectly in both modes.  The microHam software has a nice feature that not only lets you create a ton of virtual serial ports, but lets you configure profiles for different programs so you can switch from one application to another, say PSK31 to AGW/WinPack, with one click.  No need to screw around resetting sound card levels!

And the support from microHam is unbelievably great!!

First, I don't own and haven't used the MFJ - so I can't comment on it.  Second, I have no connection to LDG other than I use and like their products. That said, I really love my LDG Z-11 Pro with my FT-897d. Some of the positives:

1. Can run a long time (year +) on 8 AA's mounted inside the case! Great for portable/mobile use.

2. Selectable modes: Autotune, semiauto, manual touch-up, and Hi Z/Low Z antennas

3. Selectable SWR threshold for autotune

4. LED displays SWR when transmitting.

4. Unique memory setup that in conjunction with the LDG DTS-4 coax switch lets you run 4 seperate HF antennas with autotune for each one.  The Z-11 Pro has 8000 seperate memory slots arranged in 4 banks. Within each bank, each of the 2000 slots is associated with a given frequency range. Thus one frequency can have 4 different L-C solutions. When automatically tuning, the Z-11 Pro senses the frequency, associates it with the appropriate 4
slots, tests all 4 stored memory contents against the preselected SWR threshold and automatically selects the best match to whatever is on the port - faster than you can blink an eye. If no match, it goes into tune mode and generally matches in less than a few seconds.  The beauty of this 3-D memory is that it in effect remembers not only the frequency but the associated antenna! Couple it with an LDG DTS-4 coax switch, and it's like having a seperate auto tuner for each antenna. This was a MAJOR factor in my choosing the Z-11 Pro. Awesome technology elegantly executed.

There is a great explanation of this on W4RT Electronics at http://www.w4wb.com/index.htm Look at Block 4 - Frequency-Sensing Memory Tune.

5. Will tune all types - verticals, dipoles, beams, and long wires or ladder fed(with a balun).

6. Support from Dwayne Kincaid at LDG that is unbeatable!

My only negative - sounds like a blender with ice cubes while it does the initial tune! But I just think "margaritas!" and the noise is done before I know it!

You can download the manual from http://www.ldgelectronics.com/c/261/product-manuals

If it meets your power out range, the Z-11 Pro is my vote. It does "Get her done!"

Rick - AI4LG

I need some help. I have an old Hy-Gain 14 AVQ that has been in storage for 25+ years and I am trying to put it back in service. It is mast mounted (HOA regs) with the feed point at 10 feet and 8 elevated radials (2 per band) cut to specs per the manual. I did the rough setup by using the suggested measurements in the manual. But I cannot get 10m anywhere close! I know you are supposed to adjust for 10m and then work your way up, but there is no way! I’ve got 15m, 20m, and 40m to about 1:1.1 by adjusting the segment lengths. But with those bands set, and using an MFJ 259b, the closest I can get in the 10m band is about 1:6.1, and at that setting, the closest resonate point (1:1) above 15m is at 40.037 MHz where R=50 X=1.

I’m not knowledgeable about trap verticals, and this has me totally confused. Maybe a bad 10m trap? Any and all advice greatly appreciated.

Tnx & 73
Rick – AI4LG

I need some help.  I have an old Hy-Gain 14 AVQ that has been in storage for 25+ years and I am trying to put it back in service.  It is mast mounted (HOA regs) with the feed point at 10 feet and 8 elevated radials (2 per band) cut to specs per the manual.  I did the rough setup by using the suggested measurements in the manual.  But I cannot get 10m anywhere close!  I know you are supposed to adjust for 10m and then work your way up, but there is no way!  I’ve got 15m, 20m, and 40m to about 1:1.1 by adjusting the segment lengths.  But with those bands set, and using an MFJ 259b, the closest I can get in the 10m band is about 1:6.1, and at that setting, the closest resonate point (1:1) above 15m is at 40.037 MHz where R=50 X=1.

I’m not knowledgeable about trap verticals, and this has me totally confused.  Maybe a bad 10m trap?  Any and all advice greatly appreciated.

Tnx & 73
Rick – AI4LG

This is standard shipping configuration.  You must enable the "extended Menu Mode" - Menu 001.  See page 54 of the manual.  

73,
Rick AI4LG

Building a station after 20+ year absence. Much has changed! Intend to use 50% home base and 50% portable during extended motorhome trips - CW, phone, digital. Can someone help me with the +/- of the HF/UHF/VHF All Mode rig vs seperate rigs - beyond the obvious ability to monitor both simultaneously? Is the performance of the 'one rig' models compromised? If so, biased in which direction? Other things to consider in making this decison?

No luck on a search on this specific issue. If I missed it, please point me to the thread!

TNX