With the arrival of my Apache Labs 10E, I finally worked up the courage to put my HL2 under the knife for the surgery required to convert it to a Plus version.
No, it didn't get fatter; it just got better.
The update required removing a 0603 ferrite bead, adding a 0603 resistor & a small piggy-backed PC board, and updating the gateware.
And a few other small things that, all tolled (or is it "told"?), took 20 minutes.
It's the gateware thing that got me - I'd never heard of either the word or the process, but I know I didn't want to risk bricking the HL2.
Long story short - I should have done it long ago. Everything went smoothly.
The radio now has a proper power switch, dedicated mic, phone and key jacks, a Pure Signal input and - I saved the best for last - improved functionality on CW.
I'll be putting it through its paces this weekend during CQWW-CW, which I'll be using, not as a contest, but strictly as a CW-testing platform.
For now, I'll just say that a great radio has become better - and for minimal dinero.
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I sure hope to land on that CW-testing platform ! ! ! ! ! More than once if possible. On different bands, that is :o)
ReplyDeleteI'll be looking for you, Franki - good luck in the contest!
Delete73,
John