Icom 710 RT

[Boko~maru]

Hi all, A few years back (5) I got what I thought was a good but on a brend new Icom 710 RT and AT 130 tuner. I am fairly handy so I installed it my self and was proud of my work Everything seemed straight forward, and the installation was done in a weekend. Idid the proper stuff like used GTO15 from the tuner(installed below deck just below the backstay) to the insulated back stay. The only question that arose was the Ground/Counterpoise. I took the copper flat ground from the tuner to a keel bolt, thus using the Unencapsulated Lead keel as a very large counterpoise Rather than drilling into a 1" SS keel bolt, I purchased 2 matching SS nuts & washers and sandwitched the copper foil between them The question that arose was that the 710RT has the Main Radio chassis separate from the control head. On the main chassis there is a big ground lug, guseeing, I also ran the 3" copper foil to the same keel bolt. I am not happy with the reception, or transmission, I backed off any work on the boat for the last 3 years due to health & Domestic issues. NOW I am Back at it, and would like to get therig up & running properly

Please hang with me and be gentle, I am a novice at this. Plus I have many more questions, and there seems to be a great wealth of knowlage here