The 746Pro took a major dump (at the worst time)

I was working the Michigan QSO party on Saturday and about 2 hours into it, my radio died. I was about 1 hour and 45 minutes into the contest, working 40 meters with 49 contacts, 31 states, and 6 Michigan counties. I have been having trouble with the rig for about a year now with ALC spiking and power intermittently dropping. I never really though much about it except the fact that maybe there was a slight problem in my antenna system. Apparently, the problem is due to the driver board on the rig getting to hot due to the factory bias being set to high around 1.5 amps. I contacted a few repair techs to see if they knew what the deal was. I don't have the knowledge to work on surface mount technology so I will have to send it out for repair. Sending to Icom s way too pricey and takes way too long. About 4 techs said it was probably the final transistors with would cost anywhere from $250-$400 plus shipping (OUCH!). After hearing nothing but good things about Scott Malcom of MTS, I contacted him with my symptoms. He used to work for Icom for about 10 years and is an authorized Icom repair center. He said that more than likely 4 updates can be done to the radio to fix the problem. Take a look here: http://www.n1eq.com/tech/page_01.html MTS said it would be about 60 bucks estimate plus shipping. I am going to be sending it to him this weekend. Fingers crossed! I will be without an HF/50MHZ rig for a liitle while just when sporadic E season is starting for 6 and 10 meters.

Severe Weather - Tornado Watch

Severe Weather Event Friday Apr 11th 2008
RELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
937 PM EDT FRI APR 11 2008..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..____________________________________________________________________0354 PM HAIL 4 NNW BURT 43.29N 83.94W
04/11/2008 M1.00 INCH SAGINAW MI TRAINED SPOTTER
M-13 AND RATHBURN
0355 PM HAIL BRIDGEPORT 43.38N 83.88W
04/11/2008 E0.75 INCH SAGINAW MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0424 PM HAIL ST. CHARLES 43.30N 84.15W
04/11/2008 M0.75 INCH SAGINAW MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0429 PM TSTM WND DMG VASSAR 43.37N 83.58W
04/11/2008 TUSCOLA MI LAW ENFORCEMENT
WIRES DOWN
0440 PM TSTM WND DMG CARO 43.49N 83.40W
04/11/2008 TUSCOLA MI LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREE DOWN
0442 PM HAIL FAIRGROVE 43.52N 83.54W
04/11/2008 M0.88 INCH TUSCOLA MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0524 PM HAIL 10 S UBLY 43.57N 82.93W
04/11/2008 E0.75 INCH SANILAC MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0600 PM HAIL 3 N OWOSSO 43.04N 84.18W
04/11/2008 E0.88 INCH SHIAWASSEE MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0614 PM HAIL 3 SW NEW LOTHROP 43.09N 84.01W
04/11/2008 E1.75 INCH SHIAWASSEE MI MESONET
DURAND AND ALLEN RD
0640 PM HAIL GOODRICH 42.92N 83.51W
04/11/2008 E0.88 INCH GENESEE MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0702 PM TSTM WND DMG HOWELL 42.61N 83.94W
04/11/2008 LIVINGSTON MI LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREE DOWN AT GRAND RIVER AND FLEMING
0707 PM HAIL NORTH BRANCH 43.23N 83.19W
04/11/2008 E0.75 INCH LAPEER MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0710 PM HAIL 3 N GRAND BLANC 42.97N 83.62W
04/11/2008 E0.75 INCH GENESEE MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0733 PM HAIL HOLLY 42.80N 83.62W
04/11/2008 E0.75 INCH OAKLAND MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0734 PM HAIL WHITE LAKE 42.65N 83.50W
04/11/2008 E0.75 INCH OAKLAND MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0735 PM HAIL COLUMBIAVILLE 43.16N 83.41W
04/11/2008 E0.25 INCH LAPEER MI TRAINED SPOTTER
HAILED FOR 5 MINUTES. COVERED GROUND.
0735 PM HAIL COLUMBIAVILLE 43.16N 83.41W
04/11/2008 E0.75 INCH LAPEER MI TRAINED SPOTTER
HAIL OCCURED FOR FIVE MINUTES AND COVERED THE GROUND
0740 PM HAIL LAPEER 43.05N 83.32W
04/11/2008 E0.75 INCH LAPEER MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0758 PM HAIL BLOOMFIELD HILLS 42.58N 83.25W
04/11/2008 E0.75 INCH OAKLAND MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0758 PM HAIL WATERFORD 42.66N 83.39W
04/11/2008 E0.75 INCH OAKLAND MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0804 PM TSTM WND DMG BROWN CITY 43.21N 82.99W
04/11/2008 SANILAC MI LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREE DAMAGE
0810 PM HAIL IMLAY CITY 43.02N 83.08W
04/11/2008 M1.00 INCH LAPEER MI MESONET
0817 PM HAIL BIRMINGHAM 42.54N 83.22W
04/11/2008 E0.88 INCH OAKLAND MI TRAINED SPOTTER
0828 PM HAIL SHELBY TOWNSHIP 42.67N 83.03W
04/11/2008 E1.00 INCH MACOMB MI TRAINED SPOTTER
WIND EST AROUND 60 MPH WITH SMALL BRANCHES DOWN
0830 PM TSTM WND DMG PECK 43.26N 82.82W
04/11/2008 SANILAC MI EMERGENCY MNGR
POWER LINES DOWNED IN PECK
0836 PM HAIL MEMPHIS 42.90N 82.77W
04/11/2008 E0.75 INCH MACOMB MI MESONET
OCCURRED IN BOTH MACOMB AND ST CLAIR COUNTIES
0836 PM HAIL MEMPHIS 42.90N 82.77W
04/11/2008 E0.25 INCH MACOMB MI MESONET
OCCURRED IN BOTH MACOMB AND ST CLAIR COUNTIES
0836 PM HAIL MEMPHIS 42.90N 82.77W
04/11/2008 E0.75 INCH MACOMB MI MESONET
OCCURED IN BOTH MACOMB AND ST CLAIR COUNTIES

John Corbett is to Jeff Bridges as Gary Busey is to Nick Nolte

I had a revalation tonight.....







John Corbett




Jeff Bridges










Gary Busey

Nick Nolte







nuff said!