[BARC-List] VX-150 h/t questions

[Jason Pramas]

**a slightly different version of this email was sent to Yaesu tech
support last night, but if anyone has advice, I'd be happy to hear
it--this is a cool rig, I'd hate to have to send it back**

Hi all,

I just received my Vertex VX-150 but I have been having some problems
hitting the BARC repeater transmitting with 5w when the unit is plugged
in to the 12v DC converter from my house AC line.

I can hear my signal on the input frequency, but get nothing on the
output frequency. There does seem to be an audible hum on the input
frequency (possibly from my home's power line?) when it's plugged in.
Since the BARC repeater requires an 88.5 hz CTCSS tone to access it, I
was wondering if the power supply problem is affecting the tone, and
therefore stopping the BARC repeater from recognizing the tone--thus
denying me access to the output frequency. I do seem to be able to hit
the BARC repeater o.k. on battery power at 5w.

When I try to hit the Waltham repeater about 10-15 miles away that does
not use CTCSS tones, with 5w while plugged into the power supply, I can
at least get a signal from the output frequency of that repeater, but I
am told by listeners that a "power supply hum" can be heard, and that my
signal is bad--almost unintelligible. When I try to hit the Waltham
repeater at 5w on just battery power, the signal is better, though still
not very good. (This seems somewhat problematic given that people on the
Internet report that 5w carries their VX-150 signal 40-80 miles away,
but I understand that since I live in a major city, and that there are
hills and buildings between me and various repeaters, that I cannot
necessarily get the kind of distance from the VX-150 that people can in
other perhaps more rural areas.)

Transmitting on 2w, plugged in, people on the BARC repeater say that my
VX-150 has an excellent signal-"full quieting." 2w on battery power
seems to be fine, as well.

Is any of this normal? Should I be using some kind of power supply
filter to eliminate the hum on 5w transmit when plugged in to my house
power? Or should I not be using the unit when plugged in at all? Just on
battery power. If that's the case, it would be unfortunate because I had
planned to use the unit as a base rig, and also for packet.

And why don't I have the same problem transmitting with 2w when plugged
in, as I do when transmitting at 5w plugged in? 

Assistance required a.s.a.p.-as I need to decide whether the unit is
defective or not, and then whether I should return the unit or not.

Thanks,

Jason Pramas, KB1JPB
Cambridge, MA