"M Wilson" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I have an FT-1000MP, the original, not Mk-V, not field, vintage is
1999. Recently I have noticed that if I turn the radio on 75 meters,
the receive is low.... until I just tap the mike or key, then the
signals jump up 10-20db, stay there for a while, and eventually, after
4-6 minutes, fade down, until another mike tap is applied. This will
continue all night. Antenna is a resonant dipole. It seems to happen
only on 75/80... preamp problem? should I switch to flat?
Suggestions?


Perhaps you're building up a static charge on the antenna in the dryer
winter weather? Then when you transmit it's being discharged? Not sure if
this would be workable with a transitter in line, but I used to put an NE-2
neon lamp across the antenna/ground connections outside (no series dropping
resistor). This would only let the static build up to about 70 volts before
discharging..