[NLRS] question of transverters vs radios

[w0zq at aol.com]

Jerry, I'm looking forward to seeing your paper !   There are a lot of these radios still in use and I think that a lot of people would benefit from your work, thanks.   I agree that the FT736R may be one of the last radios where you can actually work on them ; fix them ; assuming that you can find parts.   Where you can't find direct replacements, you can improvise ; heck, were hams, that's what we do !
 
Speaking of papers, and for those interested, I am also working on a "low band" paper for the CSVHF proceedings.    I am currently working on how to add a DEM 222 transverter board to the inside of a FT-897 so as to make it a stand alone, complete, 160m thru 432 (w 222) radio.   My project has passed the "feasibility" phase and is now in the "design" phase.  The modifications will use the internal band control signals so that the Battery A, Battery B rocker switch that is located on the top of the radio will be used to select when 28 MHz is 10m and when 28 MHz is 222.    Hopefully, this addition will not modify any other of the FT-897's features or ports and from the outside, it will look exactly the same ; the only clue will be the addition of a third SO-239 connector on the back panel for just 222.   
 
73, Jon
W0ZQ