HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jdwhite@iastate.edu (Jason White)
Subject: Re: === Handheld!!! === ICOM tri-bander !!
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 07:37:58 GMT

In article <1992Nov4.235751.23958@netcom.com> feustel@netcom.com (David Feustel) writes:
>jdwhite@iastate.edu (Jason White) writes:
>
>>In article <1992Oct30.003117.5439@netcom.com> feustel@netcom.com (David Feustel) writes:
>>>
>>>Has anyone seen or received info on the new handheld Icom triband
>>>(146,440,1200) handheld advertised in the 1993 CQ Buyers Guide?
>>>I called Icom's 800 number for info but got a letter saying "we have no
>>>info".
>
>>I called Icom's Bellevue, WA office and asked to speak to a technician on this.
>>The tech. told me that the unit does (obviously) exist, but that they don't
>>have one yet so he didn't have any specs on it.  He just mentioned that it
>>would be coming out sometime early next year (January or February, I guess).
>
>
>Any indication of the expected list price?

Nope, like I said, they have very little information (that they're willing to
divulge) on this unit.  We'll just have to wait and see....

-- 
Jason White, Durham Center Operations   // Internet: jdwhite@iastate.edu
95 Durham Center, ISU                  //    Bitnet: jdwhite%iastate.edu@isumvs
Ames, Iowa  50011-2041		      // 
W:(515) 294-2256  H:(515) 232-1092   //  N0RWU, V.P. Cyclone Amateur Radio Club
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: control3@McRCIM.McGill.EDU (Mark Readman)
Subject: cw cw cw
Originator: control3@aragorn.mcrcim.mcgill.edu
Organization: McGill Research Centre for  Intelligent Machines
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 92 03:42:04 GMT


Just a thought. If CW was not a requirement for
getting any ham licence would use of it die out ?
Would the CW parts of the spectrum be in jepordy ?

Oh while I am at it. What was the cw contest that 
was on the other week. I heard on 80m, 40m and 20m,
CQ CQ CQ callsign SS.

Thanks.
Mark.
-- 


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Readman                |  McGill Research Centre for Intelligent Machines
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: baw2@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Bruce A Weisberg)
Subject: Re: Famous or well known HAMS
Reply-To: baw2@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Bruce A Weisberg)
Organization: Columbia University
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 16:41:16 GMT

In article <1992Nov11.090617.25316@rdg.dec.com> frenchs@forsan.enet.dec.com () writes:
>
>King Hussain of Jordan, don't know his call but he prefers to be called Hussain when on air, not King Hussain.
>
>Simon
I believe its JY1.

Bruce KA2TYX
From: randall@informix.com (Randall Rhea)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: thru the glass 2m antennas
Date: 11 Nov 92 17:17:47 GMT
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.

foster@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Brad Foster) writes:
>Does anybody in net-land have any experience with "thru the glass" antennas.
>I have asked a few people about them and most have opinions but these seem
>to be based on "gut feel" rather than first hand experience.  If you have 
>used one of these antennas or know of someone who has, could you please 
>comment on their usefulness/capabilities.

My experience has been negative.  I have heard that metal compounds in
the glass block RF.  I tried a dual-band thru-the-glass antenna;
it worked so-so on 70cm and lousy on 2m.  I have heard others
recommend against them.

73 DE KK6MY


-- 

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Randall Rhea                                        Informix Software, Inc. 
Project Manager, MIS Sales/Marketing Systems    uunet!pyramid!infmx!randall
From: vikki@precipice.chi.il.us (Victoria Welch)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: DJ580T - why does it keep doing this?
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 07:59:43 CST
Organization: Welch Research, McHenry IL, USA

kurdzo@gdc.com (Jim Kurdzo) writes:

> Charles Hemstreet (hemstree@lamar.acns.colostate.edu) wrote:
> >
> > I have a DJ580T and I really love this radio.  Unfortunately I have
> > been running into some bad behavior.  I have owned this radio for
> > close to 4 months now and I have had it's memory *bleep* out on me three
> > times.
> >
>
> I've had a similar experience with my DJ-F1T.  It turned out that I was
> accidently pushing the function key as I turned on the power.  As documented
> in the manual, this is the way to reset the radio (and clear out the memory).
>

Ditto here, I seldom run it on 2 meters and when setting the
default to UHF (turm VHF off) I have managed to re-set it several
times as the command key is awfully easy to accidentally depress.

I was wondering if the DJ-F1T is the same as the DJ-580T with the
exception of being a single bander ?  Since Dayton last year I
have been trying to get the guy who does "support" for Alinco on
CI$ to get me the other tape (group calls, DSQ, etc) as we just
bought our second DJ-580, it had become a pressing issue (in that
we could actually use those functions).  Having given up on the
guy on CI$ (who apparently can't read or something) I wrote a
letter direct to Alinco and they sent me the tape for the DJ-F1T
and another single bander and I was wondering if they screwed up
again ?

Other than the "support" on CI$ we have been !very! happy with
the radios.

Take care, Vikki (NNN0AEE/WV9K)

===========================================================================
Vikki Welch, WV9K - sysadmin - Welch Research (vikki@precipice.chi.il.us)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
From: ecudhm@erigate.ericsson.se (Don Mcgee ECU)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: HTX-100 and PK-232 for AMTOR
Date: 6 Nov 1992 09:06:20 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

Has anyone had any success with AMTOR using the Radio Shack HTX-100 and
an AEA PK-232? Is there a mod for the HTX-100 to speed up the receiver recovery
time?

If you can help, post a reply ar email ecudhm@erigate.ericsson.se
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: uri@watson.ibm.com (Uri Blumenthal)
Subject: Re: Speaking of code...
Date: Fri, 06 Nov 1992 20:03:51 GMT
Distribution: usa
Reply-To: uri@watson.ibm.com
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: Oh, get lost...

In the same tone:

	I want to have a Driver's License. But I never do
	parallel parking, nor do I use hand signaling...
	Why does that bad DMV requires it on my test?

[(:-) for humor-impaired]

-- 
Regards,
Uri.		uri@watson.ibm.com
------------
<Disclaimer>
From: rick@ricksys.lonestar.org (Richard McCombs KB5SNF)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: USA-built HT's (where to find...)
Date: Sat, 07 Nov 92 03:30:19 CST
Reply-To: rick@ricksys.lonestar.org
Organization: The Red Headed League; Lawton, Ok

awpaeth@watpix.uwaterloo.ca (Alan Wm Paeth) writes:

> Are there any amateur HTs built in North America? Yaesu, Kenwood and Icom are
> all Japanese, albeit with strong support offices in places like Bellevue WA
> and Torrence, CA.
> 
> Are either the "Standard" or "Alnico" rigs make-in-the-USA merchandise?
> 
Alinco rigs are made in Japan with a "strong support office" in
Torrence, CA.


--
Internet: rick@ricksys.lonestar.org,      bo836@cleveland.freenet.edu
UUCP: ...!rwsys!ricksys!rick,   {backbones}!ricksys.lonestar.org!rick
BITNET: bo836%cleveland.freenet.edu@cunyvm  Fidonet: Richard McCombs @ 1:385/6
From: mikef@pacifier.rain.com (Mike Freeman)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Question: Health hazards of handheld transcievers
Date: 10 Nov 92 05:57:45 GMT
Article-I.D.: pacifier.1992Nov10.055745.1771
Organization: Pacifier BBS

In article <14570527@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com> alanb@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Alan Bloom) writes:

>In rec.radio.amateur.misc, jeffj@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (jeffrey.n.jones) writes:
>
>>In the 92 ARRL Handbook there is article by a doctor on the Cancer and
>>RF. To make a long story short there was a slightly higher incidence of
>>some rare form of lukemia and that was about it. He used death certificates

[...]

>
>In my opinion, it does NOT show that RF causes cancer.  It does not even
>show that hams are more likely than average to get leukemia.  (i.e. in
>my opinion the results are within statistical error.)  I'll post more
>details if anyone is interested.
>

I am interested.  This subject is subject to so much ballyhoo
that it's darn near impossible to get a rational evaluation of
the "evidence", measured or extrapolated.

-- 
Mike Freeman <K7UIJ>    |       Internet: mikef@pacifier.rain.com
301 N.E. 107th Street   |         or mikef%pacifier@m2xenix.psg.com
Vancouver, WA 98685 USA |       GEnie: M.FREEMAN11
Telephone (206)574-8221 |       I doubt, therefore I might be!
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: johnp@silver.lcs.mit.edu (John Palaima)
Subject: Aiee now my FT727R +TSQ is displayining Err on powerup
Organization: /usr/guests/johnp/.organization
Distribution: rec
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 15:06:32 GMT

Now my radio is displaying Err on powerup. If anyone knows how to fix this and some possible cures. please email me.. I do have technical experience and would like to fix this asap.. its my only rig.
--
johnp@silver.lcs.mit.edu            Its not impossible, just improbable
johnp@pro.angmar.uucp                        (Zaphod Beeblbrox)
bl298@cleveland.freenet.edu         also I am N1NIG <-Amateur Radio
johnp@trystero.uucp                 and coming soon..johnp@bcs.org
From: newman@quisp.pei.com (Dave Newman)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Mystery signal
Date: 6 Nov 92 19:27:41 GMT
Organization: Protocol Engines Incorporated

Dave  
KN6BX
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: CW is dead! (snicker)
From: fred-mckenzie@ksc.nasa.gov (Fred McKenzie)
Date: 6 Nov 92 11:59:30 EST
Followup-To: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Distribution: world
Organization: NASA/Kennedy Space Center, Florida

For the past few days while driving to work, the guys on two meters have
been complaining about how dead ten meters is.  Each time I've heard that,
I've tuned my HTX-100 down to the CW band, and heard numerous European CW
stations around 28.02.  I think they're hiding out from the Americans.

I have tried CW in the car, but the key jumps around too much.  At the next
hamfest, I'll look for one of those keys that straps to your leg!

By the way, if you try the HTX-100 on CW, you will probably find that the
transmitter and receiver are zero-beat, rather than offset by 800 Hz.  It
seems to be best to zero-beat a signal, and use the RIT to offset the
receiver for a readable tone.  Just remember to reset the RIT for SSB.

73, Fred, K4DII

fred-mckenzie@ksc.nasa.gov
From: asadul@fmsun1.ec.t.kanazawa-u.ac.jp (Asadul Huq)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: seeking information about ham activity in Bangladesh
Date: 6 Nov 92 01:35:38 GMT
Organization: Kanazawa University Faculty of Technology, Kanazawa Japan
Originator: asadul@fmsun1

Dear Netters,

I am a Bangladeshi and studying in Kanazawa University,japan now as 
a doctoral student in the field of DSP. 

However, I am very interested to know about hams in Bangladesh. When I left 
Bangladesh ham activity in Bangladesh was not permitted by the government.
But recently I heard that there are already some radio ham activity started
in Bangladesh. Does anybody know anyone who has some perfect idea about
ham activity in Bangladesh? I am also interested to know the address 
of a Bangladesh radio amateur in Bangladesh if possible at all. Is there any
radio amateur who has ever made any contact with Banhladesh by any means?

Thanking you in anticipation.

Asadul Huq
Kanazawa University
Bangladesh
N.B. I prefer an email reply in this regard.

 
  
-- 
            Asadul Huq
Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
email: asadul@neko.ec.t.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
From: brian@ucsd.edu (Brian Kantor)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Mocom 35 help
Date: 5 Nov 1992 15:45:48 GMT
Organization: The Avant-Garde of the Now, Ltd.
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: ucsd.edu

The MOCOM-70 series of radios were well-known for burning antenna relay
contacts.  I'll wager the Mocom-35 has the same problem, since the
designs are similar.

If you open up the relay, you'll see that the set of contacts
that switch the antenna are probably pretty well burnt and pitted.

You can dress them back into shape with a diamond spatula, extremely
fine file, or equivalent.  Use compressed air or a high-velocity vacuum
to make sure you get all the filings out after you're done.

Or replace the relay.
	- Brian
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: mont@netcom.com (Mont Pierce)
Subject: Re: Is callbook info available by E-mail
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 09:52:05 GMT

In article <17036@mindlink.bc.ca> Jim_Sollows@mindlink.bc.ca (Jim Sollows) writes:
>Are North American and International callsigns and addresses accessible via
>E-Mail? I posted this message earlier and got DOZENS of replies indicating
>varrious ways to access this info via Telnet....the problem is I do not
>have access to Telnet. Many suggested it can be accessed by E-mail but
>had no details, anyone have any suggestions?

Send email to:   callbook@sat.datapoint.com

In body of email put:

    lookup call
    lookup call call call ...

Multiple lookup commands and multiple callsigns on one line are acceptable.

73,
-- 
Mont Pierce

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Ham Call: KM6WT             Internet:  mont@netcom.com                  |
|    bands: 80/40/20/2        IBM vnet:  mont@vnet.ibm.com                |
|    modes: cw,ssb,fm                                                     |
|      qth: Fremont, CA       Religion:  Jehovah's Witnesses    9/72      |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
From: wejones@cbda7.apgea.army.mil (Bill Jones)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re:  Special Event Station
Date: 12 Nov 92 16:33:30 GMT
Article-I.D.: cbda7.9211121133.aa22620
Organization: ucsd usenet gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: ucsd.edu
Originator: daemon@ucsd.edu

> 
> Argonne, Illinois: The Argonne Amateur Radio Club will operate W9QVE
> 1600Z - 2400Z Dec 5 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first
> controlled nuclear chain reaction.  Operation will be in the General
> phone subbands of 20 and 40 meters and the Novice subband of 10 meters,
> fm on 147.42 simplex, and packet on 145.09.  Packet messages should
> be sent to W9QVE @ W9QVE.IL.USA.NA and must specifically state that it
> is a Special Event contact.  Packet messages must be received no later
> than the end of the special event and such contacts will be acknowledged
> by return packet message.  For certificate, send your QSL and a number
> 10 SASE or 9 X 12 inch SASE (for unfolded certificate) to AARC, Building
> 222-A253, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne IL 60439.
> 
> For info from event manager send to B10990@ANLVM.CTD.ANL.GOV
>
This makes it sound like a packet message (as apposed to a contact
via digipeating) is considered a contact?  It seems to me that
digipeating through more than 1 node shouldn't even be considered
a contact, let alone messages.  A single node is OK, since at least 
both parties are connected to a common point, but past this, it is 
hardly a contact.  Don't some node-node links go via internet, for messages?  
Hardly seems sporting.
From: bowen@acsu.buffalo.edu (Devon E Bowen)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: club calls on-line
Date: 12 Nov 92 20:53:35 GMT
Organization: State University of New York at Buffalo/Comp Sci

Thanks to Jere Sandidge, K4FUM, the US club calls are now available on
Buffalo callsign server.

Devon
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc,
Subject: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
From: <X01MU@CUNYVM.BITNET>
Date: Friday, 6 Nov 1992 12:26:14 EST
Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center

A subject of:  PC callsign lookup program.


Hi all..

I just tried a PC callsign lookup program I got via anonymous FTP..
Actually, what I tried was a demo for the lookup program.  But, none
the less, the demo is cool.  The name of the file is HAMDEMO.ZIP and
it can be found on wuarchive.wustl.edu (128.252.135.4) in
/pub/MSDOS_UPLOADS ...

Have fun es 73

Xref: sparky rec.radio.amateur.misc:18524 misc.forsale:30835 ne.forsale:4981
From: joltes@husc10.harvard.edu (Richard Joltes)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc,misc.forsale,ne.forsale
Subject: Mercury relays for sale!
Date: 10 Nov 92 21:16:43 GMT
Article-I.D.: husc3.1992Nov10.161644.17310
Distribution: na
Organization: Harvard University Science Center

These have accumulated over the years, and I've finally decided that I want to
get them to someone who'll use them (...always meant to, but...).  Here's what
I have:

Potter & Brumfield JM1 112 11 Mercury Wetted Contact relays (qty 16)

These currently list in the Newark catalog for $112 each.  They're rated for
5 amps, 250v max, and an operating time of <=3ms and require a max voltage of
31.6v to trigger at 35 degrees (C).  They're in a standard octal base, and are
all apparently in good shape.

The rest are:

C.P. Clare & Co. HGS1009 (again, Mercury Wetted Contact relays) (qty 18).

These have about the same ratings as the P & B's listed above.

I'll sell the lot or selected portions.  They're worth quite a bit for the 
mercury content alone, and are good for high-wattage antenna switching and
the like.

$50 each, negotiable.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dick Joltes						joltes@husc.harvard.edu
Harvard University Science Center

"Mind you, not as bad as the night Archie Pettigrew ate some
sheep's testicles for a bet...God, that bloody sheep kicked him..."
From: paul@n3eop.pgh.pa.us (paul)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Only three license levels, was....Re: W5YI report..
Date: 4 Nov 92 00:33:09 GMT
Organization: CrossRoads in Elizabeth, PA

cutter@gloster.via.mind.org writes:

> brown@hpspkla.spk.hp.com (Pat R. Brown) writes:
> 
> > Anybody who has wanted so much to work phone on HF and who does not want
> > to learn CW to get there is LAZY. 
> 
> But Pat, please explain in a nutshell, How would going from 5wpm to 20wpm
> improve my ability to use another mode in HF?

A skills test that would be much more useful would be a typing test, 
maybe like 50 wpm or so, since typing is pretty much the common part of 
most digital modes.

Anyone who thinks that "CW gets through when all other modes fail" has 
never worked Amtor when the band closed...
From: theurer@ecs.umass.edu
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: NOVICE CLASS
Date: 10 Nov 92 18:55:29 GMT


	I'm looking for a novice class radio course in the Amherst area
for a friend.  Does anyone know where I Can look?
                                      thanks 
                                         -KA1PWI
From: bcoleman@hayes.com (Bill Coleman)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Respect for others
Date: 9 Nov 92 11:12:25 EDT
Organization: Hayes Microcomputer Products, Norcross, GA

In article <Bx916B.4q5@wang.com>, djenkins@wang.com (Dave Jenkins) writes:
>        [...] And now that John Wolff, WZ1Z has gotten the last 'good'
>        extra 1 call you may find more and more people not changing their
>        calls.  

Waddaya mean the last 'good' call? What's wrong with the AA1xx calls? I 
happen to like the AA#xx calls.

Harumph!

-- 
Bill Coleman, AA4LR                ! CIS: 76067,2327    AppleLink: D1958
Principal Software Engineer        ! Packet Radio: AA4LR @ W4QO
Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc. ! UUCP: uunet!hayes!bcoleman
POB 105203 Atlanta, GA 30348 USA   ! Internet: bcoleman%hayes@uunet.uu.net
Disclaimer: "My employer doesn't pay me to have opinions."
Quote: "The same light shines on vineyards that makes deserts." -Steve Hackett.
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: SUMMARY: Need TIL-308 readout for FT-301D
From: fred-mckenzie@ksc.nasa.gov (Fred McKenzie)
Date: 6 Nov 92 12:25:51 EST
Followup-To: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Distribution: world
Organization: NASA/Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Bruce-

I appreciate your summary on the TIL-306/308, since my Regency EC-175
counter uses the TIL-307/309.  I think the difference is right-hand versus
left-hand decimal points.

When I first got the Regency counter, it wasn't very long before the first
digit had a segment go bad.  Of the original display chips, only one
survived before I went ahead and replaced it in advance!  It was
immediately obvious that the replacement chips weren't quite as bright as
the originals.  I surmise that the earlier chips were biased too high, and
that was corrected in later lots.  After many years, none of the
replacement chips have failed.

The FT-301D may be well worth the cost of replacing the display chips. 
However, the Regency counter is worth less than the total list price of the
displays.  It's nice to know there are still some out there at a lower
price.

73, Fred, K4DII

fred-mckenzie@ksc.nasa.gov
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: m14494@mwvm.mitre.org (Mike White)
Subject: Re: thru the glass 2m antennas
Organization: The MITRE Corporation
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 16:00:57 GMT

Brad Foster writes:
> Does anybody in net-land have any experience with "thru the glass" 
antennas.

I've used two over the years.  Their performance is only so-so, and both
just failed after a few years.  I finally just gritted my teeth and knocked
a hole in the roof, mounted a quarter-wave, and have been happy ever
since.  My advice to you is to do the same.  This is especially true if 
you're trying to get by with an HT; running on low power to start with, 
the losses in the glass mount will be especially important.  The 
manufacturers
say there is no measurable loss, but I don't believe it; maybe in theory,
but in practical installations, they haven't worked all that well for me.

Mike, N4PDY

************************
* These are my opinions only.*
************************
From: mancic@crockett1a.its.rpi.edu (KB2NOW)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: New Yaesu FT-530 - Comments?
Date: 30 Oct 92 03:52:38 GMT
Article-I.D.: rpi.jna14dh
Reply-To: mancic@rpi.edu
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.

The Ft-530 is truly a nice radio.  I had a chance to look at it at the New England Convention in Boxboro, Ma.  I didn't expect Yaesu to have the radio on display, since it's not on the market yet(in the US at least), and they didn't.
But I was surprised when I talked one of the Yaseu reps, and he had one on his belt!  First of all, the radio is very small, especially with the small battery.
The medium sized battery(forgot the mAH) does not add much to the size, a little more than an inch or so.  The keypad lights up, and the mic, as you said, has a freq display.  It also has a volume, squelch, and channel control on the mic.
The best feature that not many people know about yet is the battery saver function.  The rep said that when you key the radio and hit a repeater, the radio will figure out how much power you need to actually hit the repeater effectively.  Its all automatic!  I believe it has 80 memories, split any way between vhf/uhf.  Also, you can toggle whether you want vhf/uhf, vhf/vhf, or uhf/uhf in the vfo's - not like the w2a, where you're stuck with vhf/uhf.
There were so many other features that I really can't remember, but I feel it's worth $429 from AES.  They were already backordering it in early October.  
I guess it compares the most to the Kenwood th-78, but the 78 is $499.  It beats the w2a in many ways, including the w2a's $499 price tag.  I couldn't really test the rx or tx, since I wasnt from the area and didn't know any local freqs (neither were the people around me).  I can safely say that I'll be buying myself a Christmas present soon :)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc