Hi, all.

Well, even though it was a bit nippy this afternoon, I got out into the RV 
and tried the TS480 with my Predator screw-driver-type antenna, and the N2VZ 
turbo-tuner device.

I programmed the TS480 to activate the turbo-tuner, using the PF key on the 
rig, and everything worked with no problem.  I do have one question, though:

How can I get a side tone, when tuning the Predator using the turbo-tuner 
tuning device and the PF key?

When I tune right now, I get no side tone at all--just silence, as the 
tuning occurs.  With my old Icom 718 set-up, I used to get the side tone, 
which at least was a comforting indication that tuning was occurring.

One more interesting observation:

When you program the rig for the Turbo-tuner, you have to hit the PF key, 
which puts the rig in TX-tune mode, and then immediately cut your power back 
to 5 watts.  I was concerned that I'd have to do this every time, but 
apparently, the 5 watt setting stays saved when doing the TX tune function, 
and the rig goes back to 100 watts output once the tuning has been 
completed.

Anyway, we're making progress here, but that side tone when tuning would 
sure be nice.

73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ