I'm no expert here, but from what I have read, your radio is capable of operating on 9 VHF frequencies.  Of those 9, 5 are MURS frequencies with a 2W power limit, which you can operate on without a license.  The other 4 frequencies are not MURS frequencies and may have other power limits and do require a license.  

The MURS frequencies are:  151.820, 151.880, 151.940, 154.570, and 154.600.

 
Hope this helps,
Dan

Autotuners will allow you to operate on multiple bands with a single band antenna.  Such as mobile operation.  They also help you extend the range of a resonant antenna.  

I think its correct to view a balun as extending the range of an autotuner.  If you have a 450 ohm antenna and try to connect it to a 3:1 tuner, the tuner will not be able to handle the antenna Z.  With a 9:1 balun, you  don't need the tuner so lets look at a 4:1 balun.  Say you connect a 4:1 balun to your 450 ohm antenna.  Now you have 112.5 ohms to match to the rig.  The 3:1 tuner could not handle 450 ohms but it can probably handle 112.5 ohms.  Therefore a 4:1 balun extended the range so to speak of the tuner.  

I think thats a valid way to look at this.

I'm considering the LDG myself just because it will both interface with the Icom, and work with any other radio with the controls provided on the front panel.  

My question about the LDG versus the IC-AH4 is that the AH4 will tune up to a 10:1 mismatch while the LDG will only handle a 3:1 mismatch.  However LDG sells a 4:1 balun for use with wire antennas.  By adding the 4:1 to the LDG does that infact broaden its tuning range from a 3:1 mismatch capability to a 12:1 capability?

Thanks,
Dan

A power supply is the way to go.  Batteries are a pain to maintain and should only be used when necessary.

Alinco is offering a digital voice board in their new dualband HT, and apparently the new line of single band mobiles can use the internal TNC to operate with this same ITU-TV.32 protocol.  I'm wondering if anyone has tried this out.  

Using the ARRL program "TravelPlus For Repeaters" I clicked on your location and using a 20 mile radius I found three repeaters.  The three are:  Nags Head 146.835 (-), Mantero 146.940 (-), and Coinjock 145.290 (-).  With all the water around you the HT might do OK, but I'd have a little better antenna with me just to be sure.  Enjoy your vacation!

You're asking a pretty tough question.  All things being equal, the Alinco is about $80 less and is a good performing radio.  I have one and am very happy with it.  The radio has been out for several years and has a good track record.  The Kenwood is newer and has some nice features.  The display is pretty nice, its Kenwood Sky Command compatible (this may be important to you in the future) and its also compatible with the Kenwood SSTV visual communicator.  So my opinion is as follows:  the Alinco is a good dual band radio and if that's all your looking for its a good choice.  The Kenwood is slightly newer technology and gives you compatibility with some cool Kenwood devices. If you might have a use for some of the other Kenwood features in the future then you might as well go with the Kenwood.

For the OEM "T" connectors you might want to try www.powerwerx.com.  While you are on the powerwerx site take a look at the Anderson Powerpole 30 amp connectors too. I was in the same postion as you and decided I needed to use one standard connector on all of my gear.  I cut off the OEM connectors on my radios and use the 30 amp powerpoles instead.  All of my gear can be moved between the house and the cars with no trouble.  It makes for a little work up front but the convenience is worth the trouble.  Now when I buy a new radio I cut off the OEM plug, solder on the powerpoles and I can plug in anywhere.  

Various ARES/RACES groups are trying to make the Anderson a standard connectors within their groups. The ARRL recommends the previously mentioned plugs available at Radio Shack as a standard.  I have had some trouble with these connectors not mating well.  The Anderson's have been working well for me so I'll stick with them.  

This months QST has a slick project to convert a Ten-Tec transverter from 2M out to 222Mhz out.  The modification is so straight forward it prompts one to wonder why more 2M equipment can't be modified to work on 220Mhz.

I'm please to see the folks at Alinco marketing a 222 Mhz FM radio, but I can't help but wonder why we don't see more from MFJ and Ten-Tec.  MFJ has their line of "Adventure Radios".  I'd like to see a 222Mhz SSB/CW radio from them.  

Icom, Kenwood and Yaesu have some pretty nice all-mode radios but where is the 222 Mhz option?  With all of the bands they cram into a radio these days I can't help but think it would be pretty simple to stick 222 Mhz in them too.  They blockout the cellular portion of 900Mhz on radios sold in the US, they can blockout 222Mhz the same way in countries that aren't as lucky as we are to have the allocation.

The bottom line is that we need more equipment on this band.  This weekend I'm writing letters to all of my favorite radio manufactures asking them to include 222Mhz on more of their multi-band radios.  Please join me.

The MFJ-552 facilitates CW over an HT.

To add to the comments above, when I think of CB I also think of GMRS and FRS.  GMRS and FRS are frequency allocations around 460 MHz.  FRS is low power (1/2 of a watt max) and requires no license. GMRS requires a license, but there is no test involved, just write a check.  Your entire family is covered by the one license.  

Ham radio does not premit business type communication.  CB does premit business type communication.  Ham radio does not premit communication with non-Ham station.  Neither service permits "broadcasting."

CB radio gear can not be modified.  Ham radio operators can modify or build radio equipment for use on the air.  There is some responsibility that goes with this, but Ham radio is designed to allow for experimentation.  

Over the years Ham radio organizations have launched many satellites into orbit.  Not completely themselves, these satellites tend to ride along with commercial satellites, but none the less they get them into space.  As a result many Ham radio operators communication with each other via satellites.  The new ISS is Ham radio equipped too.  If you check out www.arrl.org, you can read about school children who have recently had opportunities to speak to the crew of the ISS.

So if you have a simple communications need, one of the CB services may be perfect for you.  However, if you consider yourself a communications enthusiast, then check out Ham radio.

 

I don't have your radio, I have the G5, but I can try to help.  In your manual you want to try to find instructions on either duplex operation or the instructions on frequency splits and shifts.  If that radio has the option to operate full duplex you want to read about that.  One VFO will be your receive and one will be your transmit.  You can set one VFO for 2M and one for 70cm.  Use a headphone to avoid feedback.  If that radio does not offer full duplex then read about frequency splits.  There should be a way to set non standard frequency splits.  This may be something like transmit on VFO A and recieve on VFO B.  If you can figure out how to make the radio transmit on one VFO and receive on another, it should be pretty straight forward to place one VFO on 2M and the other on 70cm.  If all else fails, call Alinco.  The are very good with support over the phone.  Good luck.

I'm trying to take a logic circuit that currently drives an LED and control a 5amp, 13.8 VDC load.  If anyone can save me the trouble of dragging my old text books out of the attic and trying to design this myself I would appreciate it.  Thanks!

I'm having some trouble getting good SWR on my 40M Hamstick.  The documentation from the manufacturer says that this is not uncommon and recommends using an inductive match at the base of the antenna.  Is the inductor basically a cheap and simple way to match to the antenna or is it really a better way to match than using a tuner at the radio?

Years ago I was able to receive the weather data transmitted on 147.060 simplex on my PK-232.  I have tried this recently with no success.  From the research I was able to do it appears that the data is being transmitted as 300 baud ASCII.  My PK-232 however can't make sense of the data.  I'm afraid the tones are not consistent with tones typically used for amateur radio.  I'm wonder if anyone can share with me the proper way to receive these signals.  Thanks, Dan.