Amateur Radio Station: W5EHS - FCC Licensed Owner/Operator: Dan Kautz

I have been playing email tag with Sandra K4SME at Down East Microwave (DEMI) for a few days. My initial order for a L144-28INCK was over 25 days old. Sandra said I was sent an email about the delay, however I never saw it. Not unusual as I receive 100's of Spam because of my exposed email. I use a service, pobox.com to filter all my email. It filters out several hundred per day. Couldn't live without it.

The good thing is the delay started a conversation between Sandra and myself about exactly what I needed. I had changed my original plan and purchased the FLEX-1500 for my front end transceiver. This was after I first placed the order for the L144-28INCK that has a built in 116 MHz LO. No external 10 MHz standard required.

The Flex-1500 has the provision to be used with an external 10 MHz standard. A far better method for using the radio far into the microwave regions of the spectrum. The best microwave design has all stages tied to one standard 10 MHz stable master reference.

Sandra told me DEMI has a version of what I ordered with the built in ApolLO synthesizer, but it is not listed on the website.

I realized what I really want NOW is the L144-28IACK converter. It is the same as my original ordered unit with the ApolLO synthesizer built in. It requires the 10 MHz external standard.

That changed my thinking that I could convert my original L144-28INCK to an external 10 MHz at a later date. I wasn't sure how that would be done. Today I did find a Design Note on the DEMI site on how it's done. DEMi already had the plan. I would end up with the L144-28IACK, but would need to tear apart the INCK version to install it.

Sandra's great customer service revealed to me my thinking was a bit newbie short-sighted. She never SAID that. Ha! I came to my own conclusion. She was just making sure I ordered what I really wanted, thus meeting my expectations. What Sandra had actually done was taken the time to read this blog and realized I may be a bit off track. I was. Her guidance was very welcome.

Because of the delay, it was NOT too late change the order. So I have. The cost went up of course and DEMI has a better sale, but a much appreciative new customer. Thanks to Sandra, K4SME.

OK, so where is the L144-28IACK? ...It's coming. :)