Sb: alinco dr599t owners Hello out there dr599t owners. Have some interesting info about the rig. If you take off the removeable front panel and remove the two phillips screws holding the front panel together, you will find two junper wires (one red, the other blue). Cut both jumpers and reset (funct + power). Remember to write down all your memories. You will find that the radio will recieve on 108.00 to 142.990 AM on the vhf side and 850.000 to 909.9875 on the uhf side. To activate the (EXTRA OPTIONS), just press the VHF and also the UHF BAND buttons twice. With each press, you will activate either the normal or the EXPANDED band capabilities of the radio. It's nice when a Ham creates a rig to do things for other Hams. Look Ma, no special wiring or soldering to do. just cut some jumpers and away you go. ============================================================================== BACKGROUND: This is basically the DR-590 MOBILE with many extras. From my understanding it costs approx 680.00 with discounts selling the unit for about 625.00. It has a removable head that can mount in a remote location with an optional accessory kit. THE EXTRAS: The front panel has been revamped and doesn't chiop like the 590 front panel. This unit receives AIRBAND and 800MHZ. No modification is required in order to access the crossband repeater. THE MOD: In order to access AIRBAND and 800 perform the following. Remove the front panel by removing 2 screws on left side of front panel and 2 on the right side. In back of the front panel two cables join at a connector, unplug these! Now that the front panel is in your hands, remove the 2 phillips head screws on the back plate of the front panel. Carefully pry bottom of plate and the plate will come off. There will be 2 jumpers just aching to tell you "CUT ME". The first jumper is blue , and when cut activates air and 800 megs. The Red jumper activates general transmit. It is fair to place a disclaimer in here stating what you should already know. You shouldn't be using this radio on non amateur frequencies for transmission. OK, next is to reassemble the radio. Now RESET the radio and AIRBAND and 800MHZ will be enabled. To receive 800, another pigtail (option) should be obtained from your dealer or by requesting it from ALINCO. In truth, the unit is so new that the pigtail isn't quite ready yet! Don't fret it will be here soon. ACTIVATING AIRBAND & 800: Press the VHF or UHF key twice and airband will display on the VHF side and 800 on the UHF side. DIFFERENCES between 590/599: The 599 has no bugs (during alpha test) to speak of. All CTCSS tones work properly. The audio for crossband repeat has been taken care of. The temp controlled squelch circuit is absent in the 599 and thank goodness! This circuit contributed to problems on extended crossband operation.