Відео

You spelled the name of the radio incorrectly in you thumb nail picture.

I used to use my KW TH-D7 for satellite work. Haven't done that in years though. Might be time to get back into it.

This is why I live a few hundred yards from the biggest hill within about 70 miles or so of my house and is replete with most of AR's TV towers and central AR's FM radio towers, and about 3/4 of the 2m/70cm repeaters in Pulaski County.

I have the entire current Japanese Trifecta of Hts and this one is my favorite because it has type c charging and sounds the best and has actual buttons instead of a stupid touchscreen like the Yaesu. Wrt the beltclip it's terrible chinesium plastic replace it with a better one asap. I like the ones from the commercial Kenwoods. You don't need a programming cable, any type c cable works just fine so long as it has functioning data pins and isn't a charging only cable.

$750?

I agree. Have the 74. Not much change. Love the key pad, and the boxy form factor. You pay 500 plus for an HT you want to be able to set it on your desk. Not crazy about the skinny form factor most other brands seem to want. Waiting for the Kenwood mobile. And I too like the Yaesu 500 more that I thought. It seems uglier in the slick add photos. Not bad in person. But it does seam a shame not to have bands on a mobile. I am not mobile anymore but as a salesman I would have different banks for the several cites I would frequent.

Show your dogs! I only got a glance of one of them.

I love your rambling and hand waving!

4:05 RJ11

Looks like you are staying busy! Good luck on the new gear hunt, thats a lot of fun... Maybe not so much in your situation, but at least you did get some cash to go shopping with, hi hi. My grounding is pretty basic, couple ground rods with #6 solid ran back to shack. Been here 30yrs, had several lightning hits on trees, as close as 100ft from the shack and never lost anything or had damage. If lightning "wants" to do damage, there is no stopping it... I've had a 40ft pecan, and an large apple tree both killed by lightning hits. 73 WD9M

What version of RSS are you using. Enjoyed your video. 73 N9GSX

About a direct strike... the YL (Raisa EW1YL) says place the antenna on the ground. Literally not much more you can do. Had an AN/TPY-2 Radar take a direct hit in 1996. It (an antenna tower) won't take a direct strike. The takeaway is to have insurance on your gear.

IMO the VHF market sucks. a bunch of over priced under developed obsolete stuff. where is the VHF all mode radios? SDR's panadapters/waterfalls digital modes etc. todays radios are 30 year old designs in new boxes for ever increasing prices.

Shit happens....you know? You're ahead of the game if you're still alive.

I took a lightning strike that took out telephones, VCR, Televisions , and my homebrew 10 meter repeater ! And likely other things I am forgetting ! For fear of having the homeowners insurance increase, I ate it ! Never looked back !

When I had a lightening strike the insurance company told me to buy the most current equivalent equipment and paid 100% replacement cost. I was impressed

I’m subscribed because I like you!

Praying things turn around for you.

Some old typical unboxing video just like everyone else’s. Endless rambling and looking a box with hands moving around.

Insurance is a necessary evil. You have no choice but to pay what they demand for premiums and when you file a claim they pay out whatever the adjuster feels like giving you. I like my ftm500. There’s a lot to learn. I’ve barely scratched the surface and am looking forward to seeing all of its capabilities.

The best way to program a FTM-500 is the SD card. You can use RT systems and your computer to program the SD card. The FTM-500 is very good and the audio quality is much better.

I like the FTM-500 it is not the 400 by any means but i always felt that the FTM 400 was a good 440/2m Base station radio but it really wasnt a GREAT Mobile Radio. I like the fact that the ergonomics of the FTM 500 are similar to the HF Radios and I feel like the utilization in the car youre only a couple of key strokes away from everything in the menus the 400 had a lot more going on. just my .02

Sorry to hear that happened.

I'm sorry to hear you are going through this. I took a strike about 25 years ago. I didn't have much for equipment at the time but it still did a lot of damage and it sucks. I'm curious to see what you think of the FTM-500DR. I ordered one and it should be here tomorrow. From what I've gathered it has a few complaints from users that could be fixed with firmware but overall it looks like a pretty nice radio. I'm excited. I hope you enjoy yours!

Complains, complains, complains. You are lucky to get anything at all. If you don't like the new radio I will send you my FTM-400 for that radio. Say "Thank you very much" and move on.

that really sucks haveing to play the insurance game!

Excellent video! I think it's wonderful getting some unused or under used bands back to life would be great having 220 & 6mtr on the air that would give me an excuse to put more antennas on my car I need to catch up with N9TAK😅 73 N9KJE

220mhz!!!! I have some older 220 gear, and used to be on a local rptr back years ago. And there used to be several guys on 220 simplex in the area. I have a 13elem 220 yagi also. Hope that gets on the air. 220 is a fun band, and there used to be a lot of folks on in the area back 20yrs ago or so.... good luck on it. 73 WD9M

Oooooh,enclosing the gear, get some air movement behind the gear or you could be asking for issues especially if you are replacing with digital devices they themselves may not be heat generators but any heat is trapped back there

Eat more fruit! AND VEGETABLES!

I ❤ declutter and organizing content!

But did the tower survive????

Got a question Just got a good deal on a mower that has this exact issue and this video definitely helped me so appreciate it . Do you have to make the jig to prevent the crankshaft from turning/spinning or is it more so it’s that your drilling straight and its center of stuck bolt ?

Any idea of what squadron it was in?

Good show!

Darrell weren't you running the A13B2 antenna? If so you might want to get one on the way if it needs replacing. MFJ owned cushcraft and who knows about future availability. The FTM400 may be an easy fix however the FTM500 is an excellent choice also. Maybe have the insurance buy you a 500 and fix the 400 out of pocket. 73, KB9VKQ

I glad you are ok.

Good to hear your making your way back from the Lightning.. Prayers for your Health... Thank You

With the ftm-400 and a blown protection diode you might be lucky to have yeasu fix. But go after the ftm-500. Herd a lot of good about that radio.

Hang in there. i've got lots of old computer stuff if you need anything for the shop computer. I could meet you in STL.

Praying for ya for no more cancer. Our oldest Son passed away 13months ago from cancer, he was 38. Dont mean to be a bummer comment....but "persepective" is very important. Every day is a gift. Enjoy, be thankful. these rough days will pass friend. 73, W9DM

You are a lucky guy. You have dodged a lot of bullets.

Hi Darrell, sorry to hear what happened to you. I don't mean the lightning strike, I mean the health problem. Listen, my friend. I am your age, 4 years younger. But I'm far from you, I can't help you much. I'm in Europe. Listen to me carefully. Fuck them on all radios, computers, etc. Take what the insurance company gives you, don't haggle. It's better than nothing. Do everything you can to heal this wound. I think you underestimate the importance of the problem you described in the video. Everything that can be bought is irrelevant except health. Do what the doctors say, listen to what your wife says and think about the future. Near future. When things settle down, then think radios and computers. I wish you to solve this problem as soon as possible so that everything is back to normal. Then buy a new radio, go to the Maldives, whatever you want. I sincerely wish you a speedy recovery, do whatever it takes. Fuck the radio stations, one day when all goes well I'd love to do some DX with you. I will follow the developments around you. 73

USAA asked for photos and replacement costs but not how long I had them for but I did loose $2K on the deductible best of luck you will get through this! 73

I was waiting for the key word "Tower" to enter this story.

This helps. But an antenna switch that has a ground spot ( ground the switch itself) and has a fuse built in , like alpha delta.

Hell, my whole house burned.

Even if you had your grounding in when it hit, I bet would have at least fried the Yeasu. Thats rough tho. Looks like you’re taking it in stride tho. Sorry for your loss.

I had a strike hit my shack two years ago! All my Antenna coax was disconnected including my power supply but it came up through my ground system taking out my Icom 7300, 9700, Cobra CB radio, Flex 6400M and my TYT-9800 (that was also not plugged into anything and was on the opposite side of the house)! Needles to say it was devastating! I was extremely lucky that my Acom 1000 amplifier I never connected to the ground system or anything else and both my Icom 705 and Yaesu Ft-891 were always stored in EMP bags and were unaffected ( thank goodness! ). I was able to put a claim through my Homeowners insurance but had a $2,000 deductible! Luckily both the Icom 7300 & 9700 could be repaired and are up and running again (which saved me quite a bit on having to fully replace them) and after the insurance company paid the claim ( minus $2K ) I was able to replace my Flex 6400M with a new Icom 7610 and replace my CB radio and power supply! The strike also took out the AC/DC power supply to our WiFi Router but not the router ( weird ) and a couple ceiling fans. I was in the shack when the strike hit and I could feel the pulse of energy come into the room( a blue glow in the room at the time). Best of luck to you hopefully your insurance company will come through! 73

Make sure you use an ESD matt and strap. Don’t want make things worse.