The message <000801c01d08$1869baa0$87202940@pavilion>
from "Cameron C.R. Bailey" <cbailey@...> contains these words:
I wish that docking would take place with rigs. I would have thought that
by now, there would be a 2m HT radio that slid into either a front panel or
microphone which then is really two radios, portable and mobile.
Put a decent receiver in the module and then a small exciter/modulator that
would either excite a 5 W HT brick or a 50 W mobile amp.
You're absolutely right, Cameron. I've still got a "Docking Booster" which
I've always used with an old Icom IC-32, and into which the handheld slots,
via an Adaptor Plate which attaches onto the battery fitting. Obviously, a
different plate is needed for every style of battery top fitting, but that is
hardly a major problem. In fact, there actually wasn't one in the range for the
IC-32, and I had to adapt one from a different Icom model.
I suppose that the recent trend towards using cellphone batteries attached
to the rear of an H-T case would now represent a problem, but that certainly
wasn't the case when the Booster was being sold.
The concept obviously works best with an H-T which has it's controls (and
especially the display) on the "top" panel, but it's been no great problem
using it with the IC-32.
The unit has switchable high (from memory it's 35 watts V and 25 watts U)
and low power, and a switchable pre-amp. In fact, this unit and the IC-32
may reluctantly have to be sold if I decide to order an FT-817 (readers all
over the world are now saying "If? Yeah, right!").
The point is that this unit, which I believe is now unobtainable, was virtually
never advertised in the UK, and still attracts amazed comments from hams
with wide experience of many different handheld and mobile rigs. Well, why
would you, if yo can sell a ham a mobile rig AND an H-T...
Bob, G8IYK
