Continuing the discussion from The Vintage Electric Handbag Fun Event (Part 1) - #101 by M5TEA.
Previous discussions:
I’m feeling a bit empowered now having managed to create the 101st post on a 100 limit topic…
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The dream:
I’d still love to get the Allegro Equipe. Rare as hens teeth though.
Working on a prototype Adiemod this morning. Just to get an idea of how I’ll arrange it. Noticed a bit of a flaw with one of the parts, but worth the hassle as it is so over the top and ridiculous. 
EDIT: I never knew until today that there was an Italian version of the Allegro, rebranded the Innocenti Regent!
Even better, the launch advert is one of the greatest things you will ever see (even better than the UK Allegro advert of Eastenders Arthur Fowler, yes really, hooning one round a quarry).
I think whoever directed this advert had just watched Stephen Spielberg’s 1971 epic film, Duel. 
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I would never do that. I’ll come and join you with my Icom IC-2E from 1983.
My Icom has those too. I don’t remember any injuries.
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In collaboration with my 3D printing specialist (mate Dave up the road) we are working on a flip down stand for the IC-705, still a bit of tweaking required.
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“Those cogged wheels were very nasty”
I’m picturing a motorised channel change system, linked to SOTA spots….perhaps driven by the steam engine…..
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I loved the picture, it really took me back…not the car, the Black’s Good Companion tent in the background. They weighed a ton but would stand up to anything our climate can throw at them!
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The IC-2E/A radio family (IC-2 = 2m, IC-3 = 1.25m IC-4 = 70cm) are really tough and durable handies from the early 80s. Sure big and heavy and they munched through NiCds quickly but they worked well. As the frequency selection was via thumb-wheels, there were a number of DIY updates that allowed a computer to drive the thumb-wheels pads for frequency selection which resulted in them being a popular choice for early ham spread spectrum experiments. In the US this meant 220MHz/1.25m and the IC-3A was the radio of choice for FH spread experiments back some 40+ years ago.
The IC-2E/A went out of production in the mid-80s but you could buy licenced clones from Kenpro (Kenpro KT-22/KT-44) in the early 90s. I knew a few people who bought their kids/grand-kids the KT-44 as it was an ideal match to the original Foundation Licence back in 1993 or so.
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I still have a supply of IC-2A/2AT HTs in the garage. I use them for hidden transmitters. The NiCads are all dead, of course, but I have a few AA battery packs, and several of the old NiCad packs have had the batteries removed and 9V regulators built inside for use on 12VDC.
I still bring them out for special occasions, such as when people complain how difficult it is to program an HT without using a computer…
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I just pulled off 5 strands from 10-strand ribbon cable, to give Earth, PTT, Up, Down and Audio. The earth goes to all switches / connectors. Momentary push switches used for up & down.
As for modifying the standard microphone, who ever heard such a thing. That would be way quicker, easier and lighter… but wouldn’t give a separate audio output 
Personally, whilst I like lightweight gear, one small box weighing not at lot isn’t going to bother me when I’m next up an Alp…
Oh, and as for the Standby line, that is switched automatically when you either key the microphone or flick the switch. The CW key still has to be plugged into the back.
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I spent ages yesterday sourcing different parts to build the Executive Edition Ghia. I’m going to just make it a super OTT version of the standard Adiemod instead.
Reasons? I’ve looked at a few different options but only one seems to be a good long term choice. The others would probably not stand up to long term use. KISS as they say.
The up/down buttons are brilliant. I might still add them at a later date for a Ghia XR2 model. The keyer idea is a possibility, you could pack in one of these:
Though you would need to add two more 3.5mm jacks. Again, once I’ve built the Ghia and XR2 models, this could come in a future XR3i edition.
Probably needs a bigger case though. I reckon some folks on this reflector that could find a way to do it! As it stands you still need a separate keyer if you want to use anything other than a straight key.
I think you can do something to make it break-in with a bug ir paddle but it involves messing with the innards. Not something I’d remotely want to tackle with the FT-290R!
Anyway, the parts should all be arriving over the next couple of weeks so let’s see where we end up. @GM4LLD will want one of these for sure!
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Here’s another idea (and I know I have the parts for this)… because there is an audio feed into my version, I can install a ‘magic eye’ so an LED lights when the CW tone is at 700Hz. Those up / down buttons then become even more useful for correct tuning.
PS: those buttons are ‘quite useful’ on the 790R when listening to the downlink on the linear satellites too…
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That is a brilliant idea. I had thought about similar but it won’t fit the profile of the Adiemod I want to make. Can you add it to your existing case?
I had another brainwave this morning and just ordered parts to add something else to my design idea. Top secret though as it will be mega if it pays off! Only problem is, I think I will need to get the Dremel out though plus the 3D printer.
This is all @G4AZS fault!
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As supplied, the only antenna connector is an SO239 on the back. The telescopic whip is built in, and not operator removable.
(I assumed that you were referring to the three antennas in the photo, which wouldn’t fit an un modified FT290)
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I can’t remember if the 290 has an M-connector which is essentially the same as an SO-239 but with a slightly different thread pitch. They mate well enough.
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From memory, the whip screws in and there is a tuned circuit connecting it to the transceiver changeover relay. I also seem to recall that the whip needs to be in place when using the SO-239 otherwise there’s a mismatch.
Edit: yes, the memory banks are still working….
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Have you accidentally on purpose come in to possession of the king of all moders?
Congratulations! 
This.
Note as well the sliding switches on the back for High/Low power (you might want to get the FL-2010 or an MML Linear).
Whatever you do, don’t hit PTT with the telescopic packed away and no antenna in the back!
EDIT: Just noticed it appears you have the shoulder strap for the FT-290R too? Hold on tight to it, those things are like hens teeth!
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Gave the 290R a spin this afternoon at IE-0136. Brought all my HF stuff as well and forgot ONE connector so HF was a non-starter. Sat on a bench holding a 7m mast (extended to about 5m) in one hand and a MIC/Straight Key in the other.
Bought a new left hand on Amazon this afternoon as my one froze off from holding the mast for ages without gloves on. 
Nobody on 2m CW though I tried for ages til my right hand froze off. Didn’t try SSB. Gave FM a go on 145.500 and was about to go QRT when a fella replied and gave me 57 (went up to 59 during QSO).
He was somewhere in Snowdonia National Park about 149km away near Caernarfon . I was in IE-0136 running about 2.5w on half dead C cell batteries. He was a mega 59 all the way.
A great QSO!
Thank you @MW0CHZ if you ever see this.
Reckon there might have been a bit of lift on this afternoon? I’d say hamsters put out more power than I was on half flat batteries today. Yet there the old girl was, happily hauling in an MW contact across the Irish Sea at a solid 59 all the way.
The 2026 challenge will be fun! 
EDIT: I was running 2.5w on batteries only and QSO was approx 149km away according to QRZ. I think this ranks as one of my top QSO’s on 2m anyway. Top 10 perhaps.
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You possibly did yourself out of more dx contacts by not using SSB. Was this due to having surveyed the band and found that there were CW contacts to be made, but no SSB? If not, it seems to be a self defeating move. Spotting yourself and calling on SSB would at least give you a chance that a multi mode chaser unable to use CW would tune in and call on SSB. The ratio of SSB ops to CW ops here is approaching 99:1, don’t know about your area but from other comments I suspect it is similar.
Full marks for effort though, hope the new hand works well.
73 Andrew VK1DA/VK2DA
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