On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 13:35:55 GMT, "Highland Ham"
wrote:

modern tranceivers.
Yes most of the current generation radios (FT817, IC706MIIG, and
friends) with their menus and all are quite annoying to me. I only
have a few commercial radios other than HTs. My favorite is a
25 year old IC245 (2m FM/SSB/CW) and the other a Tentec 526(6n2 meter
SSB/SM/CW radio) as both don't have menues.

Much snippage-----
large FP and oodles of space to fit separate screened modules which can be
individually tested (building block method). The RF modules based on 50Ohms
IN and 50Ohms OUT can be readily interconnected with ready made short coax
leads with SMA or similar connectors . These links can be found at flea
markets , probably surplus leftovers from the mobile phone industry.

I happen to like that mode. Also testing with a 50ohm path is easier
and can make it possible to build simple test fixtures on the bench.
I build modues usually using PCB material soldered up and test each
stand alone. The beauty is you can optimize that function and if at a
later date you wich to try different it can easily be remove and a new
design substituted. Also shielding is inherent, that alone in many
cases is a performance improver. Testing is easy on the bench
as nothing has to be mounted to work and once satisfied you transfer
the modules to a practical package. Repair show somethign fail is
simplified as you can remove the offending module and fix or outright
replace it by building another, and maybe improving it.

Allison
KB1GMX