11 meter mod to hf rigs.

[busman]

i really love the icoms,yaesu,kenwood rigs. so if a guy was to buy one of these rigs who or where could a guy get them modded for 11 meter. i know there are used ones out there all ready modded but what about a new one.??i had a kenwood ts-430s and it was a ssb talking fool. built like a tank. people are paying outragous prices for these things on flea bay. you can buy a new rig for not much more.

[drdx]

Hey there busman. The mod on the 430 is just the cutting of a couple of wires and resetting the cpu, if memory serves me. Many of the others mod in a similar way. My old Yaesue 757gxII had a switch on that plainly had HAM and GEN on it, and you just flipped the switch for general coverage transmit. I had another yaesu that was modded simply by going into the menu and activating it, so there is a way for all usually. I would look out a little at what I bought though, as many of those rigs are getting a little old. The 430 came out in 84 or so, and the 440 came out in about 86, so some are approaching the 25 year mark. The yaesu 757's were out in the 80's as were the icoms, such as the 735. They're still great units, but as you well know, time can take its toll on one, especially if it has had several owners. Well taken care of they seem to last forever. -drdx

[busman]

yah drdx, if i bought something it would be something new or newer used. i like the icom 746, or the yaesu rigs. just wondered who could do a mod. im no tech and dont really like the idea of me digging around and stuff on a 800$ rig ya know. :D :D

[KI4MSJ]

If you register at modsdk you will find the extended transmit mod on just about all make of radio. As far as the Yaesu and Icom radios, it's just a matter of desoldering a couple points on the board and resetting the CPU. I am no tech and have done these mods a number of times.

[231]

Many of the older Icoms it's just a matter of snipping a single wire...that's it. I'm not sure of anyone who will do that for you, but RA might know. Also the site that was mentioned earlier is an excellent resource, too.

[busman]

what is resetting a cpu.??? what is a cpu.??

[copyguy]

what is resetting a cpu.??? what is a cpu.??

The cpu is the Central Processing Unit, and resetting it is normally holding down a button or two while powering the unit on. It could also be looked at as having the radio "accept" the new settings.

[King Mudduck]

Yaesu FT 101-EE with 11 meter from the factory makes a great all around ham rig with out that weird sound that you get from a lot of ham rigs modified for 11 meters. May be old but mine will perform just as good as radios costing a lot more!

[busman]

that yaesu ft 101ee is a good lookin radio.

[linx]

SHHHH...It's not called the 11 meter mod.

In the secret 11 meter ham world, it's called the "Mars/Cap" mod, lol.




(yes, i know the mars/cap mods are the access emergency/police bands as a primary purpose)

[King Mudduck]

SHHHH...It's not called the 11 meter mod.

In the secret 11 meter ham world, it's called the "Mars/Cap" mod, lol.

Thanks linx, i always wondered what a mars/cap mod was and no i know!

[linx]

SHHHH...It's not called the 11 meter mod.

In the secret 11 meter ham world, it's called the "Mars/Cap" mod, lol.

Thanks linx, i always wondered what a mars/cap mod was and no i know!

Well, that's not entirely true. Mars/Cap = Military Affiliate Radio System and Civil Air Patrol. It will open up most VHF radios to the police bands, but on HF radios, it opens up a lot of frequencies including the 11 meter band. Check with your type of radio, as it may not imply to your particular rig.

[80 meter man]

SHHHH...It's not called the 11 meter mod.

In the secret 11 meter ham world, it's called the "Mars/Cap" mod, lol.




(yes, i know the mars/cap mods are the access emergency/police bands as a primary purpose)

This is so true!!! Your supposed to keep it a secret!! Half the ham friends of mine use CB also the other half are lyres!!

[linx]

LOL, I know what ya mean.

[231]

This is so true!!! Your supposed to keep it a secret!! Half the ham friends of mine use CB also the other half are lyres!!

[samskip]

When I did the mod for my Icom 706MKIIG it was a pain. It's not hard, it's a surface mounted diode, however it is the smallest thing I've ever seen in a radio! Im a young buck with good eyes and I needed a magnifying glass...

To give you an idea its just a TAD bigger than a grain of salt. ITS SMALL and the board is cramped, one mishap with the iron and its light out!

All the new all mode rigs are like this. There is SO MUCH crammed into these radios it's unreal.

I would recommened anyone with a newer HF rig find some where that has the balls to do this.

My Icom 706MKIIG now transmits where ever it receives. 0.03Mhz-200Mhz / 400Mhz-470Mhz Air Band, Rails, 11 Meters, Business Bands, FRS, AM/FM broadcast bands you name it...

11 Meter TX Power AM - 75/80 watts
SSB - 90/95 watts

[dud muck]

yea, the radios like the icom-706 will transmit DC to daylight after the mars/cap mod.

Need to be careful with that, play on 11 meters all you want, but it might be tempting to transmit elsewhere.
I think the icom-706 will transmit on the aircraft band, yet probably only with a few watts. Even though, don't be tempted.

After I modded the yaesu ft-857d, it transmits from 1.8 to 56MHz, and from 138 to 164MHz, and 420 to 470MHz.
Fortunately, it doesn't transmit from 118-136MHz, and its best left that way.

I don't think the ham radio shops will do mars/cap mods unless you have a MARS permit.
The danish mods site seems to be complete on info to modify any radio out there.
On my ft-857d, it wasn't correct for the virgin jumper settings, but the configuration for mars/cap mod worked fine.

I am unsure that having a mars/cap mod performed on a radio has an effect on whether ham shops would accept the radio for repair.
It would be a pain to have to undo the mod in the event the radio should need to be serviced.

[samskip]

yea, the radios like the icom-706 will transmit DC to daylight after the mars/cap mod.

Need to be careful with that, play on 11 meters all you want, but it might be tempting to transmit elsewhere.
I think the icom-706 will transmit on the aircraft band, yet probably only with a few watts. Even though, don't be tempted.

After I modded the yaesu ft-857d, it transmits from 1.8 to 56MHz, and from 138 to 164MHz, and 420 to 470MHz.
Fortunately, it doesn't transmit from 118-136MHz, and its best left that way.

I don't think the ham radio shops will do mars/cap mods unless you have a MARS permit.
The danish mods site seems to be complete on info to modify any radio out there.
On my ft-857d, it wasn't correct for the virgin jumper settings, but the configuration for mars/cap mod worked fine.

I am unsure that having a mars/cap mod performed on a radio has an effect on whether ham shops would accept the radio for repair.
It would be a pain to have to undo the mod in the event the radio should need to be serviced.

Indeed, the power level varies a little bit from band to band

On the bench, every band has at least 5 watts of power.

On the aircraft band it puts out 19 watts AM

Yes it's tempting... but I don't go anywhere but amateur radio and 11 meter bands. But its nice to know I could break an aircraft conversation in the event of a intergalatic war :D

[linx]

I don't think the ham radio shops will do mars/cap mods unless you have a MARS permit.
The danish mods site seems to be complete on info to modify any radio out there.
On my ft-857d, it wasn't correct for the virgin jumper settings, but the configuration for mars/cap mod worked fine.

I am unsure that having a mars/cap mod performed on a radio has an effect on whether ham shops would accept the radio for repair.
It would be a pain to have to undo the mod in the event the radio should need to be serviced.

Well, ham radio leads to a lot of other things such as storm spotting and volunteering with local fire/rescue squads to help transmit information. You don't necessarily have to be part of Mars/Cap to have the mod done, or to transmit on those freq's. If you are a licensed ham, and see something happen and need to transmit on a police band, you have the right to do so as long as you identify who you are. I know an older gentleman that has an emergency license plate and transmits on local fire bands to just relay messeges. I am finally getting into a storm spotting class after trying to get into one for a long time and will need my radios Mars/Cap modded.