I just purchased a Ranger RCI5054DX100 which runs 100 watts of SSB on 6
meters and 10 watts of fM in all the other modes.  I have not hooked it up
yet because I am waiting for a power supply I am buying from a friend.  I
purchased a 3 element beam on a 6 foot boom, too, but my towers are both
down right now so I may try finding just a vertical for 6 or something for
now till I get my free standing tower back up.  Based upon the way the knobs
work and the memory buttons, it appears this thing will work for the blind.
Plus, one of the knobs, which I am assuming is the VFO knob, clicks like my
Kenwood V 7 A frequency knob does.  So, if that is the case, I should be
able to half way get around even with out a voice synthesizer.  This V 7 A
has really spoiled me, though.  I also purchased one of those tall 24 foot
dual band antennas from Diamond that offers 9.3 DB gain on 2 meters and 13
DB gain on 450 so I'll see how that works as soon as enough snow melts to
climb up on the roof to mount the antenna.  Then when I put my tower back up
in a few weeks, I'll have the dual band antenna at about 50 feet and the
little 3 element six meter beam at about 45 feet.  If anybody has any
experience with this Ranger 5054, let me know.  They have a 25 watt version
and this 100 watter.  I don't know if the company has a website or not so
I'll have to hunt for one to see if I can get the manual.

Phil.
k0nx

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