<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><span>Hi Adam, et al,</span></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><span>Consider spending a little bit more and having a 100 watts radio: Yaesu FT-857D. I have both and frankly, I think the FT-817 is nice for its portability but it falls short in receiver sensitivity, idle current draw, and the fact that it's a QRP (<= 5 watts output) radio. </span></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><span><br></span></div><div><span>I also build my own radios, but I can understand you need something sooner than later. Pick up a used FT-857D and you can take it anywhere you can take an 817. Add a <a href="http://www.buddipole.com/portablepower.html">Lithium-ion
Nano Phosphate battery pack</a> and you have a very light power source from which you can run almost full output for several hours. I use my 857 for HF as well as VHF/UHF (and you can of course do this with the 817, but with only 5watts). For instance, on Saturday mornings I bounce WSJT signals off the ionized trails of meteors on 6meters using nothing more than 45watts, a Moxon (two-element Yagi up maybe 15 feet) and a lot of luck and patience. Slowly working towards Moonbounce.</span></div><div><br></div><div><span>Are you going to be doing mostly portable, fixed, mobile, maritime-mobile???</span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>All this said, the best thing you can do for your station is put up a decent antenna.</span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>72/73 and Good DX!</span></div><div><span>Jack, K6JEB</span></div><div><a href="http://www.k6jeb.com/">http://www.k6jeb.com/</a></div><div><br></div><div>***SHAMELESS
SELF PROMOTION WARNING***: While I'm at it, I should mention I'm giving a talk "CONFESSIONS OF A WSJT JUNKIE" on Friday at the East Bay Amateur Radio Club meeting 7:30pm at the <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&ie=UTF8&q=El+Sobrante+Public+Library&fb=1&near=El+Sobrante,+CA&cid=2957937614922431272&t=h&z=14&vpsrc=0">El Sobrante Public Library</a> (4191 Appian Way, El Sobrante) </div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><br></div> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "> <div dir="ltr"> <font size="2" face="Arial"> <hr size="1"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold;">From:</span></b> Adam J. O'Donnell <adam.j.odonnell@gmail.com><br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b>
cq@lists.noisebridge.net <br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Monday, March 5, 2012 2:16 PM<br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> [CQ] Hey guys<br> </font> </div> <br>
Jonathan and Mitch pointed this list out to me. So, the earthquake<br>this morning kinda woke me up and made me think that I should do two<br>things:<br><br>- Get a radio station up and running again. Thinking of an FT-817 or<br>something similar. Thoughts?<br>- Become a VE and help give tests. I have an extra, so I don't face<br>any testing restrictions.<br><br>Would you guys be up for administering tests at Noisebridge?<br><br>Thanks guys<br><br>Adam / N3RCS<br><br>-- <br>adam j. o'donnell, phd<br>_______________________________________________<br>CQ mailing list<br><a ymailto="mailto:CQ@lists.noisebridge.net" href="mailto:CQ@lists.noisebridge.net">CQ@lists.noisebridge.net</a><br><a href="https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/cq" target="_blank">https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/cq</a><br><br><br> </div> </div> </div></body></html>