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Examines the Icom IC-2100H 2-meter mobile transceiver, detailing its operational characteristics and user experience. The review highlights the clear, easy-to-read display with internal labels, the button-filled microphone's functionality, and the rig's physical construction, including its weighty heat-sink and lack of a cooling fan. It also discusses memory programming, the unique amber-to-green backlight color options, and the radio's performance against _intermodulation_ in urban environments, noting it performs "pretty darn good" compared to other rigs. The analysis delves into a significant low-voltage cutoff problem, where the microphone ceases to function below approximately **12.6 VDC**, rendering the radio receive-only or causing it to stick in transmit. The author describes testing the voltage cutoff, observing it fluctuate from _12.38 VDC_ to 12.69 VDC. An update from Icom involved a "factory update" to the CPU's control code, which is strongly recommended for early-serial number units to prevent operational failure in low-power emergency scenarios.

Presents the construction of a 2-meter **Skeleton Slot Yagi** stack, detailing the design process and practical considerations for VHF operation. The author shares insights from building and testing this antenna, emphasizing its performance characteristics for local and extended range contacts. The project outlines the specific dimensions and materials used, providing a clear path for other radio amateurs to replicate or adapt the design for their own stations. The resource covers the unique aspects of the Skeleton Slot radiator, explaining how its geometry contributes to gain and pattern control. It includes discussions on impedance matching and feedline considerations crucial for optimizing power transfer and minimizing SWR. The article draws on real-world testing, offering practical results that validate the theoretical design. This project serves as a valuable reference for those interested in custom VHF antenna solutions.