I've been having some problems with my Two Meter rig: it's a Kenwood D700A,
and lately it seems that I can't reliably raise my usual repeater.

I change the antenna twice, and still no luck: at best, other hams told me
I was "scratchy," and at worst I couldn't even bring up the repeater.

Yesterday, I took advantage of the instruments and expertise available at m
y club's Field Day site, and I brought the D700A, and my power supply, in o rder to test two of the three remaining links in the signal chain. I think
the coax has gone bad, but I figured that it would be nice to know if there
was a different explanation.

The Kenwood rig put out a solid 50 watts on Two Meters, and I was "Full Qui eting" into the repeater I'm having trouble with at home. So, the next step
is to look at the coax.

But ...

Two different ammeters showed the rig was drawing 10 amps during transmit,
and a voltage reading across the terminal of the power supply showed 13.7 v olts while the 10 amps was flowing.

Ergo: 13.7 times 10 equals 137 watts of power going in, while 50 watts was coming out. One of the members consulted the instruction manual, and the fi gures are confirmed: 10 amps during "hi power" transmit.

So, the question for the group: where's the rest of the power going? I mean
, really, 87 watts isn't a "LOT," but it's 57% more than the rig is transmi tting. I doubt the display would chew up that much, but SOMETHING is and I'
m feeling like the rig has vacuum tubes in it or a built in hand warmer in
the microphone.

73,

Bill, W4EWH

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