[ICOM] RE: Icom's on 60-Meters - and HOW to determine

[D C *Mac* Macdonald]

Greetings, Jim, Larry, and group!
 
Well, I have done the mods.dk mod to extend the TX frequency
range capability of my IC-746 (non-Pro).
 
http://www.mods.dk/print.php?ArticleID=2433 
by Lyndel, NL7T wascthe mod version I used.  Only one diode
is removed in a USA version.
 
The pictures included at 
http://www.mods.dk/pring.php?ArticleId=263 were VERY helpful
in accurately determining  WHICH  diode needs to be removed.
 
While I don't have exact total current readings for all bands,
I did hook up a 100W Bird dummy load and Bird 43 Wattmeter
with 100H element.  My power output on ALL bands ran the Bird
to just over full scale.
 
Maximum current draw (shown on meter of Astron SS-25M supply)
was about 17 to 17.5 Amps on 10 and 6 meters.  Actually, about
the lowest current draw (just over 14 Amps)was on the 60m
frequencies.
 
Shortly after completing the mods and tests, I put the rig
back on the air.  I announced my presence on 5403.5 and a K4
came back to me, but I had too much local noise for me to
copy him.
 
I then checked 5330.5 where I had heard a QSO and checked in
and was immediately recognized.  One of the fellows in the QSO
was the same guy who had stimulated me to get on 60, a friend
near where we frequently spend weekends.  All commented on
how good my signal was.
 
I did learn that the onboard tuner doesn't seem to like to work
excursions much outside the regular ham bands.  I then put my
LDG AT-200 Pro autotuner in line and it tuned up my ladder-line
fed 120' dipole very nicely.
 
Anyway, there you have it and Larry can add these comments to
his webpage at http://www.bnk.com/w0qe/60m_operation.html
 
73 and have fun on 60m!
 
Mac, K2GKK/5
Oklahoma City
 
  * In my many years, I have come to the conclusion that one useless * * man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is Congress. *  * -- John Adams (1735- 1826) *  From: JimMiller at STL-OnLine.NetTo: k2gkk at hotmail.comSubject: Icom's on 60-Meters - and HOW to determineDate: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:32:11 -0600 Mac,Below is the message Larry was referring to. I hadn't erased it yet. I hadasked the original question back then about the 746 original and did not seeit listed on the page BUT the process for determining was illuded to if youread the entire thing instead of looking for just a listed radio. I didn'tnotice the radio you were questioning but good luck.The mod to the radio to get older radios capable of going into transmit modewhen out of band will have to be found on a site such as mods.com orsomething similar.Responses like you received makes one not want to ask any questions.73, Jim KG0KP----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry Benko" <xxw0qe at comcast.net>To: "ICOM Reflector" <icom at mailman.qth.net>Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2008 9:41 PMSubject: Re: [ICOM] Icom's on 60-Meters Take a look at http://www.bnk.com/w0qe/60m_operation.htmlfor which Icom radios play well on 60m and why. Your info is not correct.73, Larry W0QE