Pat KC?ZRY and I spent a few hours at W?VFW ham station this Sunday.. WWe have tackled and solved the low HF transmitter output. We found that even if having a charger on the new battery, not having a full 13.8 volts on the ICOM 718 reduces it's output. We also tried my ICOM 725 as it has the same power connector and found the same thing.
We also compared the receive on 80 and 40 meters where we are receiving some AM broadcast on certain frequencies 3620KC and 3940KC.. There are 2 checks to do yet.. 1st for me to check with my HF mobile rig in th earea.. and secondly to use a YAESUI FT87 portable HF rig to connect varous points in the receive change. As we go, Open wire feed to 4:1 Balun to coax to patch panel, to LDG antenna Tuner to coax jumper to 600 Watt AMP to coax jumper to radio.. Any point in the chain where there is corrosion or 2 unlike metals, could cause injection of Broadcast Interference.
The 145.27 repeater duplexer was confirmed a problem on the Transmitter side. the transmitter puts out 50 watts but gets knocked down to 20, then 8 then 5 then less than 1 watt on the output. We are looking into duplexer alternatives as we spent a day with guru Harold and his commercial quality test equipment just 2 months ago and it went south again..
With a new repeater coming, maybe new duplexers are in order.... WE will look into it. as soon as possible.
Regarding our Feb 29th event at the VFW.. Does anyone want to put on a display, show and tell or give a short talk.. We could use a cook and be sure to talk it up on the nets in the area. I have fliers if anyone wants one for the bulletin board where they work.
Finally, I have for your cold night reading enjoyment.. November 2018 to January 2020 issues of QST... message me to arrange delivery. email --.w8lm at arrl dot net.
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Larry Macionski