Operational
notes
on
equipment used by NA4IT
LDG
AT-100ProII Autotuner
This
tuner is coupled to my FT-857D on base. It works very well.
It will
tune all bands on my antennas except 160M. On a full size
160M dipole,
it will tune a 60KHz spread of the band, depending on where
the antenna
is resonant. Only other problem is when operating the
FT-857D on the
70CM band, you have to fully bypass the tuner (put it in
semi-auto mode
and bypass) or it will attempt to do a tune cycle. THIS IS
NOT a fault
of the tuner, but the FT-857D. Seems there is a vry
miniscule amount of
RF that goes out of the HF antenna port when the radio is on
70CM.
Timewave DSP-9
I
bought my unit used. Not much to say except IT WORKS! And
works well!
Yaesu FT-857D
Well,
I have two of these. I
started with one as a mobile rig that
replaced an Icom IC-706MKIIG. I now also have one I use as a
base
radio.
This radio has a great receiver. The DSP functions are good
and work
well. The menus are easy to understand once you get used to
the layout.
As with most Yaesu radios I have had, the automatic notch
filter has a
lot to be desired. I run a Timewave DSP-9 externally to the
rig and use
the notch filter in it. I have literally run the radio on
all bands all
modes, and have not found a problem. I highly recommend this
radio to
someone starting out as a general class ham.
Yaesu FT-450 & FT-450AT
Well, I did some hoss trading, and
have
aquired a Yaesu FT-450. I am totally amazed at the receive in
this
radio. I am also getting "awesome" audio and signal reports. I
have
found 3 things I wish were different...
1. Unfortunately my rig has the 450hz TX audio hum. This rig
was at
Yaesu in April 2008 before I aquired it, and the TX problem
was either
not found, not mentioned, or ignored. Since it is not
considered a
warranty item, I have decide to wait until the "fix" gets
posted to the
web, and then I will repair it myself. It is low level, and
not heard
when I am talking or on digital. (NOTE:
I did repair this problem by adding grounding straps between
the face
and body of the radio!)
2. With such a great receiver, I can't understand why there is
a
manually tuned notch filter. It would be nice if it had been
an
auto-notch.
3. I have found the audio out in the "data jack' is a little
low. I am
having to run my sound card modes with the line in wide open.
BUT...as far as I am concerned, all of it is liveable. The
newer
FT-450's don't have the TX audio problem. If you are looking
at an
entry level rig, save a few extra pennies and get one of
these, you
won't be disappointed!
Later, I did trade into a FT-450AT model. The autotuner lacks
much to
be desired. It will only tune at the max a 3:1 SWR down to
useable
levels. If you buy the AT model, buy a good manual tuner
also...
Yaesu FT-8800R VHF / UHF
Best radio I have ever owned for a dual band
rig. Has
an extensive memory system that makes it highly changeable in
configuration. Has the 6-pin mini din packet jack in back and
works
excellent for ARPS, Packet or Sound Card digital. Does
crossband repeat
well... highly recommend this radio and the software for
programming.
Alinco
DR-235
(non TNC model)
This series of Alinco radios (the 135 2M, 235 220MHz, and 435
70CM) all
are worth the money. They are a little tough to program and
sometimes
the TX audio is a little too loud (deviation too high). Other
than
that,
they all have a DB-9 jack in the back for connecting to TNCs,
Sound
Cards, or even to another radio. These make good repeaters,
but a lot
of cooling is needed. Work very well for linking radios.
Yaesu
FT-60
VHF / UHF Handie Talkie
Again, I highly recommend this radio. Flat does everything
well.
Rechargeable battery lasts a long time in RX mode, and AA
battery case
available. Not fond of the SMA antenna connector, but I'll
live with
it. Get the MFJ-1715S antenna for extended range.
Azden
PCS-6000H
2M VHF
A friend of mine gave me this radio. I have had it on packet
ever
since. Works well for me... (You got one you wanna sell?
Contact
me!)
Icom
IC-718
HF
Good entry level HF rig. A lot of these being used by MARS
members, and
quite a few in service as WL2K PMBO (RMS) stations. Once used
to the
menus, easy to operate. One needs to remember, the DSP
filtering is a
NOISE filtering unit, not audio. I chose instead of buying
filters that
are set to a certain band width, to spend $50 on a used
Heathkit
HD-1418 Active Audio Filter, and it works well, combined with
the 718's
DSP noise filter and automatic notch. The 718 is a little
finicky on
input voltage, and will run less output on even slightly lower
voltage.
All in all, good radio.
Icom
IC-706MKIIG
(NOTE: Mine is used mobile with a VHF / UHF antenna and a
K4POZ
Screwdriver for HF)
Good radio, a lot of bang for the buck. I would be torn
between it and
the Yaesu FT-857D, but would probably opt for the Icom,
because all the
buttons face front. Mine has the 1.9KHz SSB filter, works so
so. Other
than that, I get great reports on my mobile signal!
AEA
PK232MBX
TNC
My choice for a TNC to use on packet and Pactor I. Get the 7.2
version
EPROMS. If you are going to RTTY or something else it will do,
just
download the free sound card software and forget using the
TNC... too
much trouble. And the Sound Card Interface add on for the
PK232MBX... a
waste of time. Sure, it is a sound card interface, but the PTT
switching
requires and extra piece of software.
TNC-X/USB
If you want a TNC for APRS to use with software, this is it.
It does it
and does it well. It also does packet well with AGWPE and an
AGWPE
compatable terminal program (Winpack recommended). Fun easy
kit to
build, and the USB option makes it good for portable laptop
use.
My
dream
shack:
VHF / UHF Voice - Yaesu FT-8800R
APRS / Ham Packet / MARS Packet - (3) Alinco DR-135's without
the TNC,
a TNC-X/USB for APRS, and two PK232MBX's (or maybe PK-88s) for
ham /
MARS packet.
HF Voice & Digital - Yaesu FT-950 without the RX addons.
Signalink
USB sound card / interface. SCS modem for Pactor I, II, III.