My main radio is a Yeasu FT1000MP mk5 "field" which i find to be a very nice radio. This one has the optional 2.0 khz (2x) filters fitted . The microphone is a HEIL PRO-SET plus head set with both the DX4 (narrow response) and DX5 (wide response) elements. This microphone system is very comfortable and can be used for long sessions without fatigue.

The Yeasu drives an excellent Heatherlite (now linear Amp UK, see commercial links) Hunter linear amplifier. This amp contains 2x3-500z valves and can produce nearly 1200 watts (this unit contains an larger power supply than most of the Hunters of this age on the market) which is more than capable of the legal limit of 400 watts. 

About 15 years ago i built myself an ATU from parts that i had bought. This atu will take the full legal limit and still have room for more. I like to use an atu even if the input impedance of the antenna is fairly low as it helps with filtering and out of band signals. If your atu is built with heavy duty components the the through loss should be low. Any heating is a sign of loss.

The Heatherlite Amp and Diawa SWR/power meter.

         

 Gm0vhr at the controls of the "mk5". Also in the picture is the Homebrew tuner (far left) , 2 meters fm (green light on the left) and the shack computer (far right) which is showing  the grey line in this shot.

" I am sure if you twiddle this control you can actually copy JA"

Sorry but I can dream, cant I?.

If you are wondering about the silver "wallpaper" it is insulation for the shack as an outside shack can become a bit cold during the winter.