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Post by M0ZOE on Jan 5, 2007 19:10:15 GMT
Newcastle He has gone to acquire a radio from an amateur who lives there. He set off at around 3.30 p.m. and should hopefully be home by at least 11.30 p.m. It's an Icom just can't remember the number at the moment but if Den does do the business with the gentleman I will post the correct model number tomorrow.
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Post by k9do on Jan 5, 2007 20:43:42 GMT
;D New Radio!! ;D
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Post by M0ZOE on Jan 6, 2007 13:01:31 GMT
Yup He got home at 1.00 a.m. this morning with an Icom 746. We had one before but we replaced it with a Kenwood 480Sat. The Kenwood was a great radio but not that easy to use so we agree'd to swap it for one we both knew how to operate. It is going on the kitchen table so that I can get to use a radio during the day and it's great that it is all the HF bands, 6mtrs and 2mtrs. We are going to set it up properly later today, hopefully.
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Post by k9do on Jan 6, 2007 15:13:41 GMT
;DExcellent! ;D I too like easy to use equipment , if it is too complicated to use i don't like it .
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Post by M0ZOE on Jan 8, 2007 11:21:52 GMT
The same here Renae, if it's too complicated then forget it....lol The Icom was set up yesterday and I now have 2mtrs and HF from 80mtrs - 28mtrs. Den put up a wire antenna yesterday which is going to an antenna tuning unit then to the radio itself. The antenna goes from the radio....out through the side of the door, up the side of the house, over an existing antenna bracket and down to the end of the garden where it is kept up off the ground by a SOTA Beam Pole....The part that the sota beam sits on top of. All seems to be working well so I am really pleased
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Post by k9do on Jan 8, 2007 14:07:15 GMT
Glad it is working well. We have an erxternal yuner as well but this radio tunes up on all the bands except part of 80 meters. generallly I stay in the portions where I dont have to use the tuner ( it is a Drake MN75) the other radio I had to use the tuner on 160meters and 80 meters I listened more than talked as I didnt really want to mess with tuning it lazy I know but I like to keep it simple.
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Post by M0ZOE on Jan 9, 2007 12:56:36 GMT
I would like to get more confident with tuning to the point where I know what I am doing if the tuning is out. We have an antenna tuning unit connected to the radio even though it has one built in. It helps present the correct impedence to the transmitter so when you tune the radio with the built in tuner it's already half way there so to speak. Personally I like to have a good idea of what is going on so that I can deal with any problems myself. I don't want to be too reliant on other people to sort out all my problems if and when they occur but simplicity is definately the key.
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Post by k9do on Jan 9, 2007 14:01:12 GMT
Personally I like to have a good idea of what is going on so that I can deal with any problems myself. I don't want to be too reliant on other people to sort out all my problems if and when they occur but simplicity is definately the key. Same here. I tend to stay in the areas where I know the automatic tuner works when I am here by myself. I know how to tune , but it doesnt come naturally for me yet and feel more comfortable when Dave is within earshot.
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Post by M0ZOE on Jan 11, 2007 12:19:21 GMT
I am not so bad either, I know how to tune but I still need a chart to give me the guidelines of what settings to be on or around on each band etc.
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Post by k9do on Jan 11, 2007 14:22:58 GMT
I am not so bad either, I know how to tune but I still need a chart to give me the guidelines of what settings to be on or around on each band etc. I have a lot of notes in a littel notebook, I write down the apx setting for the specific frequencies so at least I starte out in the general vacinity of where it is tuned
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Post by M0ZOE on Jan 13, 2007 9:55:23 GMT
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Post by k9do on Jan 13, 2007 12:47:06 GMT
I would never be able to remember even approximate settings of all the bands with so much other stuff in my mind to remember me either I have a little notebook with a bunch of notes on settings and such
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