Since I picked up a 'spare' 857D for $500 and then sold my (2) TM-281A's my net $300 857D was slated to go into the 3.
Got it done last night. I'll post up some pics later.
Haven't tried any HF QSOs yet, trying to get a handle on my scanning options and such.
2m seems to work as well as the 281's did, BUT, there is one thing that has me puzzled. The 857D says the SWR is high on the 2m antenna. The Kenwood never complained about this, or I never noticed it did. I'll put the AIM4170 on it and see what's up, but that may mean a better 2m antenna is in the cards.
Update***************
So I got the AIM out to tune the 20m shorty stick to the 857D. I could tune the antenna, but it went wonky when I connected the radio. High SWR.
Finally hit me the radio is grounded and the analyzer wasn't. Once I got the antenna connected to the analyzer and the analyzer grounded things improved. Now less than 3 from end to end of 20m.
Here's the antenna on it's MFJ tilt lip mount.
Here's a closeup of the mount and you can see the coil I added to offset the capacitance of the install. It is plasti-dipped and also epoxied to the mount.
Then for fun I scanned the 2m/70cm antenna, never did that before....woah...wtf!!! Crazy High SWR. So I yank the coiled wire it comes with and start looking around for something longer.
Let's try this...
Nahhhh...can't possibly be better.
Woah!
How about that, 14" or so of #12 copper wire lets me hit the repeater from INSIDE my garage, I usually can barely get into the repeater from out in the driveway.
And the 70cm SWR dropped as well, though I can't scan that one.