I used to haul a 34AH car battery around in an old army issue backpack until it ate its way through the canvas. The battery used to run my Trio TR-7010 and 10GHz wide band FM kit all day. Those were the days… I even operated from Kinder Scout G/SP-001 on one occasion which was rather challenging. However, not half as much effort was required as when I went up Ruabon Mountain in North Wales (to the east of Moel y Gamelin GW/NW-042) in order to make a 150+ kilometre contact with the Telford Microwave group on The Old Man of Coniston G/LD-013. The weather was extremely wet and I can still visualise the rain pouring off the 30cm dish as i made the contact. Exactly how the electronics, including the TR-7010 survived I don’t know, but they did. My car seats were damp for a week after that outing. 
Here’s what you need:
I thought that was for not spelling licence correctly.
Touche!
This is great. Thanks! 
@G4TGJ out of curiosity, what are your thoughts on the Palm Mini? I’m on the verge of buying a Palm Pico but the Mini looks a more attractive option as you’ve more to grip and the option for the Code Cube.
EDIT: Also, for the FT-60 owners, you may already be aware of this modification, I stumbled upon this yesterday. Anyone using 18650’s with their FT-60? I might print this out and give it a try.
Nothing’s quite like battery acid on fabric…
Waaaaay back when (at least fifty years ago), we had a weather balloon land in a tree in our garden. Being a kid who liked to take stuff apart, I did so with the box of tricks, and a few drops of liquid dripped out of the battery within. The holes in the furniture were there for years. Just as well it didn’t drip on my parents’ best rugs…
Or the rollocking I got for it too! 
Where you have an affiliation with our friends ‘across the Pond’, then the spelling ‘license’ is probably fine.
That said, the ‘Economist Style Guide’ can be a useful companion in such matters.
Indeed, SOTA folk will readily relate to the standout reminder:
“A hike is a walk, not an increase” 
73 Dave
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Economist-Style-Guide-12th/dp/1781258317
Why? The standard battery pack lasts forever both in use and in lifetime of use. The same pack is used on many Yaesu radios and lasted for over 12 years in my case. Buy a Yaesu branded pack from a Yaesu dealer not some cheap Chinese tat if you need a new one.
Aurally the letter “C” does not exist, all of its duties can be performed by “S” and “K”!
Sorry, its a home brew article! If you were to buy a commercial linear amp it would have an internal RF sensing Rx/Tx changeover and probably a receive pre-amp. However I think what you have bought may be the mark 2 with the attachable linear amp, though the FL2010 will work with the mark 1 so I might be wrong. This gives ten watts of output, not five, and that is quite a useful output, 6 dB up on the barefoot rig and 3 dB up on the FT-817/8. It will certainly get across the Irish Sea from a reasonable location, and probably to the near continent from a summit even in flat conditions.
No worries. I wouldn’t have the skill set or bravery to take on such a project! Thanks though.
Attached a couple of snaps here from the shop:
Only those south of the border.
Mexico?
Your 290 has been butchered! No built antenna drops their value somewhat. The normal reason to use them now is they make good transverter drivers… the lack of output power makes it simpler to attenuate the TX drive to the transverter and the built-in “deafness comes as standard” is not a disadvantage when most transverters have more than enough gain and output.
Never seen an FL-2010 in the flesh… they were indecently expensive compared to the MickeyMouse stuff that was commonplace.
The FT60 is a keeper because it will work where most handhelds wont and doesn’t overload with a better antenna. Like it’s 2m or 70cms only stablemates, VX-170 family and FT-270, they are nearly indestructible in use. Not as waterproof as the 170/270 but ideally suited for SOTA.
SE109/3 waiting for first activation. Will only do 80/60 m on rx. Still needs a crystal. TX will be possible on 40 as well… 73 Martin
I received my radios today and I was a little worried about the FT-290R (still am, I haven’t powered it on yet), but this thing revealed some very pleasant surprises!
The FT-60E is unreal. The build quality is superb. Proper Yaesu goodness. The whole package; radio, antenna, manual etc is in amazing nick. It looks hardly used, even the DC charger is still tied from factory.
I flipped through the manual and didn’t realise that the FT-60E has packet capabilities. I am excited to investigate that further!
As for the FT-290R and FL-2010, they both look like they’ve been mothered by one owner. Probably a Reverend or a little old lady with an Austin Maxi with factory mileage on it parked in the driveway.
The 290R comes with EVERYTHING. Even some Yaesu (i think?) T/X paperwork dated 8/4/1987!
Also, Andy was right, the radio has been butchered. It’s been overhauled and the original owner left a copy of the modifications that were done and where they were done! 
Take a look:
There is also a document included from that shows it has had a CTCSS board fitted in it from the below site:
Not sure what the pencil sketch wiring diagram is all about. Anyone know?
More goodies included too, including the original Yaesu factory tag, an original Yaesu sticker and more paperwork.
Also, have a look at this bit of provenance for the FL-2010 that I found in the box:
Looks like it was originally sold/resold at Poole Electronics. No date of when exactly. However…
Looks like it was purchased at a Hamfest (no idea which) for £35 on 9/8/1987 by a Mr. Newport! Fine taste Mr. N! 
So this is actually (self proclaimed by A.R.E.) an FT-290RM aka The Special FT290R!
Just hope the bloomin’ thing works properly now! If it all works (particularly 2m CW of course) I will be well chuffed!
73
Just wondering if anyone has any experience with Mizuho MX series 2m radios? Is anyone using one and is it true they can do 2m CW?
I found some information on Mizuho’s colourful revival history as Jim (I hope Jim knows) but wasn’t sure about the 2m CW side of things.
They look amazing QRP radios for portable work!
I only really heard about them while coincidentally calling CQ on 145.500 in Central London tonight. Only looked to see could I bag some 2m QSO’s as M/ and ended up having a 1hr chinwag with a nice interesting VHF operator who spent many years doing SWL, MW/FM and TV DX. He mentioned the Mizuho MX radio he has and mentioned it was all mode 2m, which instantly piqued my interest!
As for my 290Mk1, it works well but I think could do with a recap and a quick nip and tuck. Nothing sinister, just a bit of TLC to make sure it works for many more years at 100% welly.
I was put in touch with a chap here in EI who is well versed in vintage Yaesu repairs and is going to give it the once over for me!
MIzuho also had a line of HF handheld radios as well. They use a particular cut of crystal that allowed a VXO to cover a 25 kHz segment with good stability.
I read something during my (admittedly brief) research about Mizuho crystals being about as likely to find these days as Colchester United winning the FA Cup.
Not sure if it was for their HF or VHF line of radios though. The 6m MX series looks amazing too. I would love a 2m one (so long as it can do CW!); the form factor is so dinky I love it! Imagine using one for SOTA, POTA or BOTA (Beaches)?
It is a good radio Ian! I have one and it is one of my backup HTs. However, beware of static and avoid to operate outsite in poor weather with a good antenna. See my adventures on Djouce couple of years back where I’ve managed to blow its PA FET. It is quite tricky to replace, but still possible
Never used one, but they have an ssb/cw switch on the panel - photo in rigpix.