[K3PZN-List] Icom 735 opinions...

ARC comulada at verizon.net
Sat Feb 7 21:47:15 EST 2009


Wow! Thanks Bill, if possible, as long as you are going to the meeting
tomorrow (it is tomorrow, right?!?)? I'm 90% sure I'll be there so, just
bring it with and I'll take it then. I'm sure glad that I'm getting the
help I was looking for. Curt and Jeff have been very helpful with this so
far and my hat's off to them!

73 

Anthony
KB3RJH 

-----Original Message-----
From: k3pzn-list-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:k3pzn-list-bounces at mailman.
qth.net] On Behalf Of Bill Mellema
Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2009 9:35 PM
To: Carroll County Amateur Radio Club
Subject: Re: [K3PZN-List] Icom 735 opinions...

Anthony:

Curt is giving you some very good advice....I have a SWR bridge that you
can have..glad to help.

You can give me a call and we can make arrangements for you to get it.

Welcome to the hobby..

73's

Bill N3WM
410-861-9366





Curt Milton wrote:
> Anthony
> good questions, and thankfully they are not too hard - except there is
> always a bit of 'it depends' involved.
> first, let me know if you are in need of a couple PL259's - and you
> can pay me back after you acquire some at a future hamfest.
> I suggest starting with the 50 ohm coax. But don't throw away the
> other coax as likely it will work for something!
> Ladder line is good stuff, but I would not let it hold you up. Ladder
> line does allow antennas to be used on multiple bands -- while coax
> requires a good match to work well.
> You could make a dipole for a couple bands, say 80 and 40 or 40 and 20
> -- and put them in parallel on the same piece of coax. Advantage here
> is that you won't need an antenna tuner.
> With ladder line, you could take a 80m dipole and match it on other
> bands with minimal loss, but this requires a tuner for all bands.
> Ladder line also has to be offset inches away from anything metal,
> since it guides the RF versus keeping it all inside like coax.
> Maybe you can find a ham with a SWR analyzer who can make a house call
> - but i suggest acquiring a VSWR meter because you need one anyway. I
> myself don't own a SWR analyzer, and since it costs almost as much as
> a good used rig -- I suggest surviving without one! If a dipole is cut
> just a little bit longer than the formula, and you check VSWR at both
> ends of the band, you can figure out if indeed it is too long. As you
> shorten it, just wrap it over the dipole until you are sure you don't
> need it - then you can cut the excess.
> Hams will analyze antennas for as long as they are hams! When I put up
> my first dipole in 1976, i didn't even have a vswr meter - but tube
> rigs are more forgiving here. When I put up my first station in
> Maryland, I merely hoisted up a pair of dipoles and that is how I got
> started.
> Assemble your antenna, and when you acquire a rig likely someone can
> come by and help you adjust your dipole. Maybe you can find someone
> closer than me as I live on the opposite end of Carroll Co. !
> I did do a little more research and now I am not sure the IC-735 has a
> battery-memory loss issue ??
> 73, curt
>
> --- On *Sat, 2/7/09, 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, February 7, 2009, 2:09 PM
>
>     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
>
>     ______________________________________________________________
>     K3PZN-List mailing list
>     Home: _http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/k3pzn-list_
>     Help: _http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm_
>     Post: mailto:_K3PZN-List at mailman.qth.net_
>     <http://us.mc01g.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=K3PZN-
List at mailman.qth.net>
>
>     This list hosted by: _http://www.qsl.net_ <http://www.qsl.net/>
>     Please help support this email list: _http://www.qsl.net/donate.html_
>
>     No virus found in this incoming message.
>     Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>     Version: 8.0.233 / Virus Database: 270.10.16/1926 - Release Date:
>     01/30/09 17:31:00
>
>
>     -----Inline Attachment Follows-----
>
>     ______________________________________________________________
>     K3PZN-List mailing list
>     Home: _http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/k3pzn-list_
>     Help: _http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm_
>     Post: mailto:_K3PZN-List at mailman.qth.net_
>     <http://us.mc01g.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=K3PZN-
List at mailman.qth.net>
>
>     This list hosted by: _http://www.qsl.net_ <http://www.qsl.net/>
>     Please help support this email list: _http://www.qsl.net/donate.html_
>
>     No virus found in this incoming message.
>     Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>     Version: 8.0.233 / Virus Database: 270.10.16/1926 - Release Date:
>     01/30/09 17:31:00
>
>     -----Inline Attachment Follows-----
>
>     ______________________________________________________________
>     K3PZN-List mailing list
>     Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/k3pzn-list
>     Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>     Post: mailto:K3PZN-List at mailman.qth.net
>     <http://us.mc01g.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=K3PZN-
List at mailman.qth.net>
>
>     This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/>
>     Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> K3PZN-List mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/k3pzn-list
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:K3PZN-List at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

______________________________________________________________
K3PZN-List mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/k3pzn-list
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:K3PZN-List at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
Version: 8.0.233 / Virus Database: 270.10.18/1937 - Release Date: 02/06/09
11:31:00



More information about the K3PZN-List mailing list