I'm using a TM-281 Kenwood at low power ( 25 watts ) into a Mirage amp. I bought the amp at an auction for $45.00 mainly for the preamp to work birds with. My elevation is around 4000 feet above sea level and the humidity is high. I check into a simplex net on Sunday nights that's about 60 miles away, thought the amp might get thru better. I originally had a 5 watt ht on it but needed the ht for uhf.