On Sat, 14 Aug 2004 00:47:23 GMT, "Data Flux" -spam
wrote:

Dave Hall wrote on Fri, 13 Aug 2004 11:06:16 -0400:

On Thu, 12 Aug 2004 23:08:48 GMT, "Data Flux" -spam
wrote:

About a decade ago, I owned one of the original RCI-2970 radios that
permitted TX/RX from 26.0 MHz to 32.0 MHz by moving J2 from P3-P4 to
P1-P2, along with a "CB channel mode" -- complete with channels "3A",
"7A", "11A", "15A", and 19A" -- by moving J1 from P1-P2 to P2-P3.

My understanding is that Ranger re-engineered its RCI-2950 and 2970
models several times, and that with each new version, modifications
became more difficult. (I.e., the second generation lacked the "CB
channel mode" and required shorting all of J2's pins to ground for
continuous 26-32 MHz coverage; and that the third generation needed
some kind of add-on module to obtain said coverage; and that alas,
the fourth generation, for US retail, was totally unmodifiable.)

Here's my question. Are there any 10 meter ham rigs around today
that can easily be modified for 26-ish to 32-ish MHz TX/RC coverage,
AND that feature all the RCI-2970's important bells and whistles,
such as:

- AM/FM TX PEP at least ~50-75 watts, SSB TX PEP at least ~100-150
- variable TX power knob (versus cheesy "high/medium/low" switches)
- AM/FM/LSB/USB modes on any frequency
- discrete tuning ability (i.e. 27.4150 MHz, 27.4151 MHz, etc.)
- roger beep (very useful for extreme DX on SSB)
- SWR display
- split frequency TX/RX
- direct frequency access for entire coverage range (i.e., I don't
want something that behaves like a "slider" modification where you
see one channel/frequency on the display but are actually somewhere
else according to an add-on switch; I'd like to simply be able to
tune to 27.4150 MHz, and actually be there)
- finally, I'd prefer a mobile rig versus a base

Anything like this still exist, under $500 new?

If you looked at the spectral output of a 2970, you wouldn't be so
quick to want another one.

You are MUCH better off looking for a used HF ham rig for that $500,
and you'll be far happier, than using a hacked up CB design.

Isn't that what I just asked for? Another HF ham rig? The RCI-2970
was technically sold as a ham radio. I'm trying to find another 10
meter ham rig, with the aforementioned features, that can be modified
easily to cover at least 26.0-29.6999 TX/RX.

The RCI-2970 may have been marketed as a 10 meter rig, but its design
is little more than a "souped up" CB rig. The 2970 especially, was of
such a poor design that there were numerous reliability issues as well
as transmitter spurious emission problems. If you want to live in
harmony with your neighbors, that is not the rig you want.

When I refer to a "ham" rig, I'm talking about a REAL ham rig, such as
an Icom, Yaesu or Kenwood, or other such full coverage H.F rigs. Rigs
like this are much better designed, and will meet technical emissions
specs.

Used Icom 735's can be had for $400. Yaesu FT-757's can be had for
$400. Kenwood TS-440's can also be had for around the $400 range. All
of them will blow the socks off of the so-called 10 meter only radios.

Dave
"Sandbagger"
http://home.ptd.net/~n3cvj