I currently own four amateur radios: Three iCOM products and my new Yaesu VX-7R HT. This is the first time in over 20 years that I have ventured from the iCOM path, but they just didn't have what I was looking for in an HT.

I still own my first amateur radio - an iCOM IC-T8A Tri-Band (2/6/440) HT. It has been a great little radio! It was my only radio for over 3 years. I have had extraordinary success with it using an Anli telescoping antenna system (click here for more information). I own two iCOM battery packs for it, and I've never had any of the problems experienced by other users. The only thing I would have changed - if I had designed the radio - would be to incorporate a BNC antenna connector instead of that SMA thing.

I am also using a recently-installed iCOM IC-2100H mobile 55W 2M-only radio. I picked this rig up used, and so far it has worked perfectly. Sticking with the iCOM name was a good idea. It is mated to an MFJ dual-band (2M/440) 1/4-wave mag-mount antenna.

I just received my very first HF rig on 24FEB03 - an iCOM IC-706-MKIIG! It's got most of the features I was looking for - built-in CW keyer via microphone buttons, it's a great size & extremely portable, it puts out a full 100-watts on HF, and best of all, it's an iCOM. I am using this radio with the following antennas - Larsen mag-mount (round) 5/8-wave whip, a Van Gorden Hi-Q 20M dipole, and four Hamsticks - 75M, 40M, 20M, and a 15M using a Lakeview impedance-matching system. This radio will be mounted in my 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee in place of the 2100H, which will be moved to my 1997 Jeep Wrangler. Click Here For Installation Details - Click Here For My Thoughts On Antennas.

Finally moving away from the iCOM lineup, I just purchased a Yaesu VX-7R from the Ham Radio Outlet in Denver for $309. I really did my homework on this one, and I chose the VX-7R primarily for its ruggedness, the 4-band capability, and tons of memory slots. I've heard that the waterproofing seals can distort the audio input and output so I also purchased a MH-57 speaker-microphone (non-submersible) to overcome this problem. I also purchased the FBA-23 AA-battery adapter and EDC-5B 12V automobile charger with filter.

I currently reside near Colorado Springs, CO, and generally monitor the PPFMA repeater network on 146.970, and also the 147.345 repeater. Other hobbies include Jeeps, Geocaching, and computers.

01-FEB-03 - Took and passed the General today! Missed the Extra by two. There's always next week...

13-FEB-03 - Got my Extra today! I am now in the market for a mobile HF radio system. I was considering the iCOM IC-706MKIIG, the Yaesu FT-100D and FT-857 radios, but none of them have all the features I am looking for. I am now looking into mounting a Kenwood TS-2000 or TS-B2000 into my 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It has ALL the features I am looking for - cross-band repeat, built-in filters, an antenna tuner, 100W 2M TX, and more.

21-FEB-03 - I ordered a new iCOM IC-706MKIIG today from HRO! Even paid a bunch extra to get it here tomorrow (Saturday). Decided the price was too good to pass up, and I thought it might be a good idea to start with something simpler than the TS-2000. I also ordered my new vanity call sign today from W5YI.

22-FEB-03 - Somehow, my new radio got lost somewhere in Seattle - clear across the state from me - and no one has any idea where it is, or when I might receive it. My initial calls to HRO were not very helpful.

24-FEB-03 - The 706 showed up today! Got a call from the HRO store manager, and all is well. Click Here For 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Installation Details.

06-MAR-03 - Man, are Hamsticks a pain to tune! And, after you get them tuned, they offer extremely narrow bandwidth on most of the lower HF bands - on 75M I cannot get the SWR down to acceptable anywhere in the band. To attempt to remedy this, I will be installing an impedance-matching system from Lakeview today. I also ordered a 5/8-wave 2M-only Larsen mag-mount and an iCOM HM-118 DTMF mic for bringing up the Evergreen Intertie System (I am now a backup/alternate Net Control on the KBARA Nightcrawler Net).

09-MAR-03 - Well, the impedance-matching didn't work as well as I had hoped, but it did work. At least I can (barely) use 75M now!

14-MAR-03 - Yahoo! My new vanity call came through today! Was KA7LZF for over twenty years too long...now it's NO7OR! Hey, I earned it!

17-MAR-03 - A learning experience...Took the kids out to Northern Idaho to set up my Van Gorden 20m dipole this weekend. Started out 2 feet too long thanks to poorly written directions, and ended up too short due to my own lack of experience. I could hear my intended contact - but barely. I'll replace my antenna wire with some that is the right length, and then try again. Some valuable lessons learned: It IS possible to mount a dipole too close to the ground; also, cut the loose ends off of the wire or wrap them tightly around the antenna end or it lengthens the perceived wavelength of your antenna and plays havoc with your SWR.

13-FEB-04 - I am now located in Colorado Springs, CO. I frequently monitor the PPFMA repeater at 146.97 MHz, and occasionally 147.345 and 145.265 MHz. My newest goal is to build a 2M "Slinky" antenna; watch for details.

13-AUG-04 - I just purchased a new Yaesu VX-7R quad-band submersible HT from HRO Denver. So far, I love it (the radio, not HRO's service)! I have none of the complaints about my HT that I have read about around the internet. Tons of features make it possible to tailor it to almost anyone's needs. I'm still working on the slinky dipole, and plan to start a cactus J-pole as well.

23-AUG-04 - I am about fed up with my slink dipole - Click Here for more information. On the other hand, I was able to talk to my father-in-law over 1,100 miles away in Washington State on my IC-706MKIIG using only a Hamstick during a bad storm. Pretty sweet.