Hello - and a question about my IC-E90

[G4TRY]

Hello - my first post on the forum!

Name is Tony, and I'm recently back on the bands after a layoff of 10 years of so.

I wasn't actually planning to experiment with 4m, but I was looking for a hand-held, and eventually settled on a used IC-E90 (from eBay) on the basis that it was a maker I knew from the past, and it was going to cost me less than a new Chinese two-bander. It duly arrived a few days ago, and seems to work fine - but . . .

. . . it's had a 4m conversion, and came with a 4m "rubber duck". I've seen warnings about harmonics and so-on, I'm interested to try and find out more before I set about transmitting on the band. I'd really like to know for sure who actually carried out the mod or (therefore) whether it's a "proper job" or not.

It has the original box with it, showing the correct serial number etc., and on the box is a sticker relating to the conversion:



Does anyone recognise this as relating to any particular retailer, please?

Alternatively, can anyone suggest how else I might be able to tell?

Any info gratefully received.

It would be a shame not to use it to its full capabilities if the conversion is "sound"!

Many thanks,

[G8TOK]

Information on the IC-E90 is in the Forum here:

http://www.70mhz.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=376

You will also find a review in the Equipment section.

If you use the site Search facility there are also other references.

I have replied to your enquiry on the IC-E90 Yahoo Group.


73

Derek G8TOK

[G4TRY]

Advice from a couple of people led me to make enquiries of Icom UK - who were most helpful and, from the set's serial number, could tell me that it was sold by Waters and Stanton.

An email to them brought a quick reply confirming that the info on the label related to one of their engineers, so the mod was carried out by them and would have been correctly carried out to a high standard - exactly what I'd hoped to hear.

When I contacted Icom, I also emailed ML&S (on the off-chance), and I got a prompt and helpful email from Martin, stressing the need to only use it with the appropriate rubber duck, and not to be tempted to use an external (gain) antenna or amplifier - thus reinforcing the info to be found on this forum and elsewhere.

All in all, that's a positive outcome.

Thanks to all who provided advice - much appreciated!

[G0LGB]

Don't be fooled by the info on here about "additional filtering" supposedly added by some dealers......it doesn't exist!

I spoke to the dealer and was informed by the engineer they know nothing about any additional filtering and that they charge £15 for the mod (plus helical antenna) and for that money did I expect much work done?

The clear implication being the simply lift the surface mount components under the battery and no new filtering is added.

Also most of the helical antennas supplied are pretty rubbish, best one i have found for my E90 if from Pete at Garex, his centre loaded whip is excellent and knocks spots of the typical rubber duck in tests.

[EI8DRB]

I think the recommendation to use the rubber duck is that its inefficiency helps suppress spurii, in that it suppresses all output.