[K3PZN-List] Icom 735 opinions...

Sat Feb 7 14:09:01 EST 2009

Curt,

Ok, well looks like I have roughly around 80’ of RG213 coax, 35’ of it
still needs pl259’s installed. I also have 40-50’ of what I think is 75Ω
coax, the stuff that the cable company left coiled on the side of my house.
It’s a really bright orange (it’s the buried type). I haven’t really
used that too much but it should still be useable in some way in the shack,
I hope? 

I picked up a roll of 14 gauge stranded wire to build a dipole or few for
the shack. Got it at an electrical supply house and it was $10 cheaper than
Homey depot! Going to most likely build my own insulators and the center
isolator for the antenna but, was wondering if I should really use coax or
order ladder line? I’ve been reading some articles and most are making it
out like ladder line is better suited to dipoles than coax with the need
for a balun and line loss. I don’t think I’ll be going much more than
100’ but, my shack is on the opposite side of the house (in the basement)
from the back yard where the antennas will be. It’s definitely cheaper
than coax and I think I would have enough coax for two runs to the back of
the house with what I have. I would have to get or build one or two of the
transformers a couple of the supply houses sell so that I could run ladder
line out side the house and coax inside the shack... 

The other thing I have to get or borrow is either an antenna analyzer or a
swr meter to get the dipole resonant on freq. Not sure which I want or need
to do yet. I assume the swr meter would be the best/cheapest bet for my
budget unless someone in the club has an analyzer to use.

What’s your experience been or am I analyzing this too much? I really just
want to get on the air without taking a long time to get the perfect
situation that will eventually get frustrating for me. The antenna is the
most important part, I know, but not having a radio won’t do the antenna
in the air any good at all.. The waiting is the hardest part!

Anthony

KB3RJH   

  _____  

From: k3pzn-list-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:k3pzn-list-bounces at mailman.
qth.net] On Behalf Of Curt Milton
Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2009 11:39 AM
To: Carroll County Amateur Radio Club
Subject: Re: [K3PZN-List] Icom 735 opinions...

Definitely start work on your antenna - and see how far the coax you have
reaches.

Generally at a hamfest there is no opportunity to power up a rig, unless
seller brought a battery and mobile antenna.  Your best opportunity is
likely a sale 'from a home.'  But you never know!  

I do like the way older rigs have their controls laid out - plus

The controls on a rig age more than the electronics -- its the only minor
maladies my TS-140 has!  That is why I wonder if other 20-year old rigs
have the same issue.  My power supply model is Astron RS-20A (since i can
see it from here!)  - its an old fashioned linear supply - black box with
switch on front, fuse in back along with terminals.  After 20 years it
powers my modern rig.  

(i did buy a little 7amp astron at a hamfest -- when i plugged it in it
smoked!  the overvoltage protection thingey was what smoked.  i cut it out,
and the think works ... i use it only on the test bench since 7 amps
doesn't power anything above say 20 watts!  

I don't have broadband at home, but if you need QST reviews of particular
rigs I can download them and email at work.  

--- On Sat, 1/31/09, ARC <comulada at verizon.net> wrote:

From: ARC <comulada at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [K3PZN-List] Icom 735 opinions...
To: "'Carroll County Amateur Radio Club'" <k3pzn-list at mailman.qth.net>
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2009, 11:04 AM

Thanks for the reply Curt, that?s what I was leaning towards. I am still
looking though and he just mentioned it to me after I said I needed to get
a HF rig now that I have my General ticket but, I am going to try out as
many Rigs as I can before settling on anything specific. I really want to
wait till the Timonium fest to see what?s going to be there. Don?t want to
rush into anything before I go over every possibility. I?ve generally been
the impulse purchase guy and I?m trying to change that so I?m not
disappointed and frustrated with something I didn?t put much thought into.
Still have put something up antenna-wise and probably need some more coax
too. So much to consider...

73

Anthony 

  _____  

From: k3pzn-list-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:k3pzn-list-bounces at mailman.
qth.net] On Behalf Of Curt Milton
Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2009 10:39 AM
To: Carroll County Amateur Radio Club
Subject: Re: [K3PZN-List] Icom 735 opinions...

Anthony

let's see if I can give you a little info.  when i bought my first 'modern'
rig in 1989 the IC735 was a nice rig beyond my financial reach (so i bought
a TS-140 and had lot's of fun).  

i can email you the arrl review on the IC-735 if you wish.  

my own guess at pricing --

a 20 amp power supply i presume ? new a bit over $100.  used still worth $
60-70 (and a bit more if it is an Icom brand which doesn't matter that much
- i use a generic Astron)

dummy load -- i don't know exactly - maybe $30 or more.  

rig - if it is useable shape - i would say $300.  so it looks like a fair
price at a quick glance.  

definitely you should operate the rig, and check out the controls.  arrange
for someone to give you a signal report.  try the rig on at least a couple
bands.  

i am trying to remember if this rig has a battery memory issue ?  i thought
there is a malady where this rig loses its operating system - and may
require being fixed at Icom?  likely there is a fix here 'before it happens
- and possibly/maybe likely it is taken care of.  i can't remember if its
redundant batteries or how it works.  

the oldness of the rig does give me a creepy feeling not to put too much
into it.  likely the power supply could be used with a new rig.  as i
shared i know my old TS-140 has a couple annoyances.  at $300 it might be a
'good deal' -- hint.  then if it is used for just a few years, you have a
power supply for your next rig!  

and it doesn't hurt to ask some one on the new about the seller, off the
net of course!  very likely indeed a ham has a good rig at a fair market
price -- but do a little more homework with help from others!  

73, curt

PS - the cheapest new rigs are around $600-700.  its getting a power supply
that stretches things a bit

--- On Sat, 1/31/09, ARC <comulada at verizon.net> wrote:

From: ARC <comulada at verizon.net>
Subject: [K3PZN-List] Icom 735 opinions...
To: ke3fl at yahoo.com , "' Carroll County Amateur Radio Club '" <k3pzn-
list at mailman.qth.net>
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2009, 8:54 AM

Was on a net this morning and one of the guys has an Icom 735 he's looking
to sell. I've looked at the reviews on eham and they look pretty positive.
It looks like a nice rig and not a lot of complicated menus to fight with.
He says it's in mint condition and it comes with mic, p/s, dummy load and
manual, if I remember correctly. He said he paid about $800 for it when it
was new and he said he's looking for about $400 for it. Any thoughts on the
Rig, Good/Bad deal? 

73,

Anthony
KB3RJH

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