picked this up today

[W2NAP]

well I ended up picking up a IC-718 with an IT-100 tuner for $325

going to have to plug in the external speak though. maybe run it though a EQ as well.

but I have HF again

[KB3LAZ]

well I ended up picking up a IC-718 with an IT-100 tuner for $325

going to have to plug in the external speak though. maybe run it though a EQ as well.

but I have HF again

Grats bro! Glad you are going to finally get back on the air.

[W2NAP]

now I HAVE to build my trapped dipole i was planning to build lol

[KG4CGC]

Amazing! Well purchased!

[NQ6U]

Fine business and a great deal. I've used a 718 and they're not bad considering the price.

[W2NAP]

Fine business and a great deal. I've used a 718 and they're not bad considering the price.

yet to make any contacts with it lol.. only have 20-10 right now.

[KG4CGC]

Fine business and a great deal. I've used a 718 and they're not bad considering the price.

They go for $500 to $700 all day on the Zed and Ebay and that's without the added tuner.

[WØTKX]

You did well with that purchase. :clap:

Isn't there some Linux EQ software that you could fire up? Especially if it's stereo and you can adjust L/R for the differences in your ears. You'll want to run in stereo, and use some decent speakers. Most computer speakers suck, a decent pair of thrift store 2 or 3 way "old school" stereo speakers will usually work better. You will probably need a small amp as well. Remember those old JVC stereo recievers with the built in EQ? That would be perfect. There's alse the MFJ-616, but I don't think it's much more than an EQ and an audio amp.

I didn't bother with "stereo" on my ham rigs, till I got my Flex 3000. It's really interesting how much better I can hear weak snarly signals in stereo. My hearing has taken a bit of a dive due to medications needed in the past year, with mild tinnitus in my right ear. I'm hoping it will improve now that I'm off them. Might not though. Getting old sucks.

[W2NAP]

Getting old sucks.

TOTAL TRUTH RIGHT THERE!

I think I have a old EQ laying around here. and I have a old but damn good small speaker.

anyone want to try 20? 14.335 USB?

[NQ6U]

TOTAL TRUTH RIGHT THERE!

I think I have a old EQ laying around here. and I have a old but damn good small speaker.

anyone want to try 20? 14.335 USB?

Gimme a couple of minutes.

[W2NAP]

Gimme a couple of minutes.

ok. I was hearing west coasters ok earlier (OR and WA) also heard TX pretty good so cali should be good as well

[KG4CGC]

I'll be giving it a shot. Don't give up.

[W2NAP]

I was hearing carl S6. he must not be able to hear me at all.

[KG4CGC]

I hear Carl. Barely.

[NQ6U]

I was hearing carl S6. he must not be able to hear me at all.

Could be my crappy antenna. It gets out better than it receives.

[KG4CGC]

I'm also getting a constant 800hz tone on this freq.

[KG4CGC]

I'm also getting a constant 800hz tone on this freq.
CRAP! That's my modem!

[W2NAP]

Could be my crappy antenna. It gets out better than it receives.

it def. gets out no problem lol. was hearing you just fine.

it could be my end. whats up hasnt been used since sept. and its gotten beat to hell last couple months with the 30-60MPH winds we had. so I may have a malfunction somewhere.

SWR without tuner is 2.5 with tuner 1.5 going to have to get the 259 from the guy up the road check this thing out. its prob out of tune

[NQ6U]

I have an S-3 noise level here, which probably isn't helping much. Sad thing is, that's not bad for my QTH--it sometimes goes well over S-6.

[W2NAP]

found my notes. last time i used this antenna high end of 20 was a 1.7 without a tuner. so something is wrong.

[KG4CGC]

It was my router making all the noise on .335
I heard Carl briefly.

[W1GUH]

now I HAVE to build my trapped dipole i was planning to build lol

My cue to evangelize!! ;)

How about a nice dipole fed with balanced line? You can lose the traps, not have to mess with tuning the the antenna, and you've got all bands! Even if you must use a tuner with a balun, it'll be a whole lot easier to get up and on the air!

Ok...off the soap box.

Whatever you put up, have fun with it!

[KG4CGC]

I was using a half wave doublet for 40. It will tune up very nicely on 20.
That's a half wave on the dipole part and a quarter wave on the window line fed with coax and an ugly balun.

[W2NAP]

My cue to evangelize!! ;)

How about a nice dipole fed with balanced line? You can lose the traps, not have to mess with tuning the the antenna, and you've got all bands! Even if you must use a tuner with a balun, it'll be a whole lot easier to get up and on the air!

Ok...off the soap box.

Whatever you put up, have fun with it!

I have to get the most bands in the least amount of space. plans i found with the traps. each leg is 30ft. (60ft overall) not really what I want to do (id rather have wire running everywhere) but I have limited specs of what I can work with.

[KG4CGC]

I have to get the most bands in the least amount of space. plans i found with the traps. each leg is 30ft. (60ft overall) not really what I want to do (id rather have wire running everywhere) but I have limited specs of what I can work with.
I made a folded dipole for 40 that turned into my 20-10 antenna. Everything was cut for 40 except for the 100' of window line to feed it with. Folded in two pieces of insulated wire for the center capacitor. By the book, should have worked on 40m. But, life ain't by the book.

[N2CHX]

well I ended up picking up a IC-718 with an IT-100 tuner for $325

going to have to plug in the external speak though. maybe run it though a EQ as well.

but I have HF again

Hey that's awesome!! Sounds like things are looking up for you and that's good to hear. Now I have to get my HF setup back up again.

[W2NAP]

I made a folded dipole for 40 that turned into my 20-10 antenna. Everything was cut for 40 except for the 100' of window line to feed it with. Folded in two pieces of insulated wire for the center capacitor. By the book, should have worked on 40m. But, life ain't by the book.

yea since I down own this place. I have to abide by the owner....

totally kills my fun lol.

if it was up to me, id have single band dipoles for 160,60,40 and the 3 ele 20-15-10 up on a tower, and i nice 160-10 virt. with a killer radial system...

[N8YX]

Good deal!

Now look around for an R75. It's set up to transceive with a 718 - just connect the Mute, Ext RX and CI-V lines between the two and set the CI-V 'track' option (usually via jumper) then the '718 will track the receiver.

[KG4CGC]

yea since I down own this place. I have to abide by the owner....

totally kills my fun lol.

if it was up to me, id have single band dipoles for 160,60,40 and the 3 ele 20-15-10 up on a tower, and i nice 160-10 virt. with a killer radial system...

If you ever get there, forget the dipole for 160 unless you can get it at LEAST 80 feet up in the clear. I have heard here and "over there" that the inverted L with radials is probably the best solution if your best height in 30 to 40 feet up for the horizontal piece.

[KG4CGC]

Good deal!

Now look around for an R75. It's set up to transceive with a 718 - just connect the Mute, Ext RX and CI-V lines between the two and set the CI-V 'track' option (usually via jumper) then the '718 will track the receiver.

You intrigue me with this.

[W2NAP]

Good deal!

Now look around for an R75. It's set up to transceive with a 718 - just connect the Mute, Ext RX and CI-V lines between the two and set the CI-V 'track' option (usually via jumper) then the '718 will track the receiver.

not a bad idea.

overall its not a bad rig. from what I can see the weakest points menu driven RF/Mic and internal speaker.

[W2NAP]

If you ever get there, forget the dipole for 160 unless you can get it at LEAST 80 feet up in the clear. I have heard here and "over there" that the inverted L with radials is probably the best solution if your best height in 30 to 40 feet up for the horizontal piece.

oh believe me if I had my way id have a 100ft tower lol

[NQ6U]

A used IC-R75 typically goes for $300-350 on eBay. Used to have one until I traded for the Drake twins (the other guy probably got the better of that deal but I didn't have any cash and I've always wanted some Drake gear). It was a pretty good rig for SSB work but if you decide to buy one, make sure you get either an older model where the previous owner sprung for the DSP or one of the newer models that came with it built in.

[KG4CGC]

oh believe me if I had my way id have a 100ft tower lol

If you had that, you could just shunt feed the tower for 160 with a 25' extension on the top ... and of course ground radials.

[W2NAP]

If you had that, you could just shunt feed the tower for 160 with a 25' extension on the top ... and of course ground radials.

yea. I wonder tho how would a beam and vhf/uhf virt on the tower effect that?

[KG4CGC]

yea. I wonder tho how would a beam and vhf/uhf virt on the tower effect that?
Capacity hat. Great idea.

[W2NAP]

Capacity hat. Great idea.

could work quite well!

[KG4CGC]

could work quite well!

Stack your beams on top. 50mhz, 144mhz, 430mhz. Go for the gusto, include a beam for 28mhz too.

[W2NAP]

Stack your beams on top. 50mhz, 144mhz, 430mhz. Go for the gusto, include a beam for 28mhz too.

have a 20-10 then 6 then 2 then 220 then 440 then 900 then 1.2!

[KG4CGC]

have a 20-10 then 6 then 2 then 220 then 440 then 900 then 1.2!

Now yer cookin' with gas!

I had a beam for 6m. Worked great with just 100 watts. Only 30' off the ground. Depending on conditions, covered quite a distance wherever I pointed it.

[KJ3N]

I have to get the most bands in the least amount of space. plans i found with the traps. each leg is 30ft. (60ft overall) not really what I want to do (id rather have wire running everywhere) but I have limited specs of what I can work with.

Let me know when 40m and 75m are online. We'll talk. ;)

[W2NAP]

Now yer cookin' with gas!

I had a beam for 6m. Worked great with just 100 watts. Only 30' off the ground. Depending on conditions, covered quite a distance wherever I pointed it.

got to play with 6 last FD. was on a beam.... but I was making contacts to the front and back...

[W2NAP]

Let me know when 40m and 75m are online. We'll talk. ;)

will do!

[W2NAP]

found another neat little thing.. you can use the mic up/down as cw paddles...

hard to work with really but still neat

[W3WN]

well I ended up picking up a IC-718 with an IT-100 tuner for $325

going to have to plug in the external speak though. maybe run it though a EQ as well.

but I have HF againFantastic!

I won't have time tonight, got to get the newsletter out (almost done), but once that's done...

[W7XF]

Congrats Tony!! Ill have to work you sometime!

[W2NAP]

totally. Kev. not sure where your at (your always out driving to who knows where) but if your out west. 10m may be good

[KG4CGC]

Well I just discovered that my 40m doublet is good on 80, 40 and 20. Perfect match but on 80 I'm reading an extra 50 watts out.

[W2NAP]

I tried to tune what I have on 40. didnt work at all... wouldnt have been very efficient anyway but it was worth a shot

[kb2crk]

congrats on the HF tony. I will have to try and work you soon. at work tonight again though.

[W2NAP]

congrats on the HF tony. I will have to try and work you soon. at work tonight again though.

indeed.

20 would prob be best to GA untill i get something up for 40/75

[W2NAP]

well I managed to snag PR on 10 earlier today. not sure if it was me or what but 10 seemed dead cept for the PR station.

15 again dead cept for a KL7 station.