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Yaesu FT -757GX and Kenwood TS-820: 2m antenna to listen?

M

mrstangblb

Member
Jun 1, 2013
11
4
13
My Uncle went into a nursing home today and he sold me his Yaesu FT -757GX with FP -757GX power supply and FC -757AT antenna tuner. He also sold me his Kenwood TS -820 with VFO -820 remote VFO and SP -520 speaker.

I'm completely new to ham radio and am studying for my Tech license. I would like to listen to these units but only have a 2m antenna I use with my transceiver.

Can I connect the 2m antenna with these units to listen and receive only until I get another antenna?

Any insight you guys can give on these units is greatly appreciated. I am starting from scratch but have the Yaesu operating manuals.
Thanks in advance for your help!

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Barry

Jeremiah 29:11-13 / John 3:16
 

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You can plug in the 2m antenna but you won't hear anything but the strongest signals and of course don't xmit. You can easlly make a wire antenna that will work for hearing signals on many bands.

Both are excellent units if in working conditions but with your Tech ticket you will only be able to use 10 meters from 28.300 to 28.500.
 
I'm reading a good bit about dipole antennas - not sure how to make one, though. Is that what you're talking about?

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Barry

Jeremiah 29:11-13 / John 3:16
 
Yes that is what I am talking about, there are several good sites that will provide good instructions. All in all the parts shouldn't cost you more then $30 and you can, once you get your ticket, work the world.

Check out Cheap Ham, they have everything you need.
 
Dipole will work fine.

How much room real estate do you have for antenna size?

If you are just going to use it for SWL purposes the antenna does not need to be resonant.

As stated before both rigs are good if in working condition.

I really like the Kenwood hybrid models , sensitive receive and great audio.
 
The 2 meter antenna will work ,sort of, ..... a simple dipole antenna will really bring the receive to life and they are cheap to build.There are several sites that will walk you through step by step on how to build a dipole .

As you are studying for your tech ticket also study for the general class.getting the general ticket will let you be able to really stretch the legs of the radios you have gained.

You have got your hands on 2 very nice HF radios,still alot of them in use today.

The kenwood rig you have is a real workhorse !! And the receive on that rig is simply great !! Not to mention they sound great on the air.

Hope to hear ya on the air soon !!
 
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I strung up 75' of bare stranded copper wire and have it nailed to a tree about 10' up. After connecting it to a banana plug I am listening to a couple of conversations in Alabama - and I am in South Carolina. Pretty cool!

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Barry

Jeremiah 29:11-13 / John 3:16
 
Take good care of tbat Kenwood gear. I also have the TS-820s with the matching external vfo,speaker,AT-220 antenna tuner and MC-50 microphone. Great receive and great tx audio with it. Treat it well and it will treat you well.
 
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I was tuning around last night around 12 a.m. and heard a guy in Gloucester - no telling what the distance from SC is but that's pretty remarkable.

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Barry

Jeremiah 29:11-13 / John 3:16
 
The more you listen the more you will realize that is truly nothing at all. A mere pittance in fact. Try tuning the 20m band between 14.000 and 14.350 and see what you can hear. Listen for callsigns and look them up online. You will soon begin to realize that listening to stations in Europe or South America or even Australia is quite commonplace. OK Australia is a little more difficult but I have talked to Australia from my vehicle. And Egypt. And Swaziland southern Africa. And pretty much all of Europe. And a lot of other places as well.
 
I'll have to check that out tonight, for sure.

Does anybody know where I can turn up a connection cable for the Yaesu FT-757AT antenna tuner? I can't find that cable anywhere.
 

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