‰  NOW 35 WPM  ‰   TEXT IS FROM MARCH 2014 QST  PAGE 44‰

WHILE THE ARRL LAB MAKES GREAT MEASUREMENTS OF THESE AND OTHER RF
PARAMETERS, PROOF IS IN THE RADIOS PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD.  I HAPPEN TO
LIVE NEAR A LARGE TOWER FESTOONED WITH ANTENNAS FOR A VARIETY OF HIGH POWER
VHF AND UHF TRANSMITTERS.  WHEN I DRIVE BY THIS LOCATION WITH A RECEIVER
THAT CANT CUT THE MUSTARD, THE RESULTING OVERLOAD CREATES BURSTS OF
SPURIOUS OUTPUT TONES AND SPEECH.  I TOOK THE HANDHELDS TO A PARKING LOT AT
THE BASE OF THE TOWER AND LET THEM SCAN THROUGH THEIR RECEIVE RANGES WHILE
CONNECTED TO AN EXTERNAL MOBILE WHIP.  THERE WERE A COUPLE OF SPURIOUS
RESPONSES HEARD, BUT OVERALL THE RECEIVERS STAYED PRETTY QUIET A GOOD
THING.  A SCARC MEMBER PRAISED THE RECEIVE AUDIO, SAYING, REPEATERS SOUNDED
VERY GOOD EVEN WHEN THEY WERE COMING IN WEAKLY.  ONE NOTE REGARDING
CONNECTING AN EXTERNAL OR AFTERMARKET ACCESSORY ANTENNA THE RADIOS SMA RF
CONNECTOR IS TYPICAL OF RECENT MODELS.  THE SMAS SMALL SIZE CAN MAKE IT
LESS THAN EASY TO SECURELY ATTACH A COAXIAL CABLE, WHICH REQUIRES A GOOD
FINGERTIP GRIP.  THE CONNECTOR WILL EVENTUALLY LOOSEN UP IF ITS NOT SNUG,
RESULTING IN INTERMITTENT OR NO CONTACT WITH THE SMA CENTER PIN.  THIS
ISSUE IS HARDLY UNIQUE TO THESE RADIOS, BUT IS WORTH NOTING GENERALLY.
BATTERY OPTIONS AND CHARGING THE FT 252/257 RADIOS USE A LITHIUM ION LI ION
BATTERY PACK SUPPLYING 7R4 V WITH A SPECIFIC ENERGY CAPACITY OF 1030 MAH.
‰  END OF 35 WPM TEXT  ‰  QST DE W1AW  ƒ