RE: Single stick radio
nothing new but many are using the [link=http://www.mstar2k.com]microstar2000[/link] encoder in their favorite old single-stick case.
if you have a decent donor radio and RF deck then the kit is only $50 or so and not at all difficult to build if you know how to solder and follow directions.
to see what this radio can do go to the "exploring the microstar" document in the download section of the link above
dave