Don't get me started on Echolink/CQ100! It's not radio 
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- Thread starter Feek
- Start date
I replaced the coax tails on my beam yesterday and retuned the aerial. I'm happy with the bandwidth on 15m and 10m but it's quite narrow on 20m which is to be expected. I won't be able to have it covering the entire band so I've left it at a compromise. I can work data and part of the SSB section at the moment so if I need it centralised higher for a contest, it's a simple matter to lower the aerial and just shorten the elements slightly.
I bought a new meter, a Power Master II from Array Solutions so the VSWR readings should be good within +/- 3%.
I bought a new meter, a Power Master II from Array Solutions so the VSWR readings should be good within +/- 3%.
I'll have a look this evening and see if I can find any microwavers near you but if you're low lying then that's exactly the wrong sort of topography for the higher frequencies, especially if the ground raises around you.
Regarding a simple multiband HF receive aerial, that's easy. A long wire. If you don't have any wire then grab a 100m reel from somewhere like Rapid, string it up as high as you can get it and make it as long as possible. Job's a good 'un.
Regarding a simple multiband HF receive aerial, that's easy. A long wire. If you don't have any wire then grab a 100m reel from somewhere like Rapid, string it up as high as you can get it and make it as long as possible. Job's a good 'un.
I am also interested in microwave stuff, being low lying and not knowing any other microwavers in the region, is there any point in me getting excited about this? My postcode is SY13 2BT if you have the inclination to see my locale. I would want to operate from home, not mobile or from some hilltop, I spend enough time outside as it isThanks.
Your locator is IO82qv and you've got around ten amateurs within a few miles of you. I don't think any of them are into microwaves though.
How did I find this? I looked up your postcode and then tied it into the map here. From this I could find your locator square and then I searched here to find the callsigns of stations near you. I then checked those callsigns by searching here.
Ian, if you have an old class B licence, that's now a full ticket giving you compete access to all the bands with no Morse requirements. I'm guessing you were a G1 or G7?
There's none in your square but I checked all the locator squares around you.
Sorry Chris, I don't recognise that at all. I hope you get a better response elsewhere on that one.
I'd say all the radio dealerships take goods in second hand so you can always have a hunt around - Martin Lynch and Waters & Stanton are the two largest ones I can think of off the top of my head.
I remember the 290. Horrible radio but made slightly better with the Mutek front end
There are still quite a few radio rallies around the place and it's not unusual to pick up good deals there but always remember - 'buyer beware' and that if it's a private sale then you've got no comeback.So, where is best these days for gear? I presume auction sites have pretty much killed off the second hand cheapo market?
Used to have an FT290 with the Mutek front end but would be starting from nothing again now
I'd say all the radio dealerships take goods in second hand so you can always have a hunt around - Martin Lynch and Waters & Stanton are the two largest ones I can think of off the top of my head.
I remember the 290. Horrible radio but made slightly better with the Mutek front end
The 857 and the 897 have the same innards - It's just that the 897 has space for internal batteries so it can be used out and about.
They're decent enough radios but don't expect stellar front end receiver performance, especially when the bands are crowded.
They're decent enough radios but don't expect stellar front end receiver performance, especially when the bands are crowded.
Agreed, to an extent. However for some items, if you've got 200 reviews and the average is 4.9 then the chances are that it's a decent wireless. It's worth then scanning through to find out what the negatives are.
We had a pretty dreadful night in the 2m contest last night, we had a horrible static noise come up after a while which killed the band for an hour or so.
We had a pretty dreadful night in the 2m contest last night, we had a horrible static noise come up after a while which killed the band for an hour or so.
I don't know him but people who do have commented that he's a really nice guy on the wireless, very polite, even if he does sometimes say "Good evening" at ten in the morning
The last three stations I've worked today, three new countries for me and I'm very happy with these.
Oooh, I wonder why you picked the Kanga kit? It's a rip off of the Hans Summers QRP Labs kit and the support for Hans' one is a lot better as well. That's what we use with a WiMo CW keyer to generate multiple waveforms on the QRSS beacon that my club runs.
If you've not already done so, join the Knights QRSS reflector.
I've spent the day on 15m RTTY in the OK DX contest - I won't have won my section but I should be right towards the top, this is where I've worked today.
What's your callsign stigggeh?
If you've not already done so, join the Knights QRSS reflector.
I've spent the day on 15m RTTY in the OK DX contest - I won't have won my section but I should be right towards the top, this is where I've worked today.
What's your callsign stigggeh?
Buy an SWR meter!
Seriously, it's one of the most important pieces of test gear you can have. I've got a Power Master II from Array Solutions and it sits in line all the time because apart from anything else, it's a quick and simple visual check to make sure everything is OK.
You don't need an expensive one, even a cheapy Watson job from W&S will do the job well enough.
I'd also use copper wire rather than washing line. I've bought a few reels from Rapid in the past as their trade counter is on my way home and their prices are sensible. Good results can be obtained with an indoor dipole - Of course it's a compromise but properly tuned, it'll certainly radiate for you.
Seriously, it's one of the most important pieces of test gear you can have. I've got a Power Master II from Array Solutions and it sits in line all the time because apart from anything else, it's a quick and simple visual check to make sure everything is OK.
You don't need an expensive one, even a cheapy Watson job from W&S will do the job well enough.
I'd also use copper wire rather than washing line. I've bought a few reels from Rapid in the past as their trade counter is on my way home and their prices are sensible. Good results can be obtained with an indoor dipole - Of course it's a compromise but properly tuned, it'll certainly radiate for you.
Yes! What book was it?
I'm surprised that I didn't post anything in this thread when I replaced my aerial last year. I took down the Cushcraft and replaced it with a Hexbeam. Yes, it looks like a rotary washing line!
It's slightly bigger than the original beam but due to the style of aerial, the visual impact is lower.
It's slightly bigger than the original beam but due to the style of aerial, the visual impact is lower.
It's been done! I had to replace the elements and so it was up there without them for a few days......
Pegs were no good, I had to use cable ties.
Pegs were no good, I had to use cable ties.
I've been doing some more work with a new version of the very low powered transmitter I talked about much earlier in this thread. The new kit will not only do the very slow Morse I mentioned but also a mode called WSPR (pronounced "whisper") which stands for “Weak Signal Propagation Reporter.”
WSPR signals convey a callsign, grid locator, and power level using a compressed data format with strong forward error correction and narrow-band modulation. The protocol is effective at signal-to-noise ratios as low as –28 dB in a 2.5 kHz bandwidth. Receiving stations with internet access may automatically upload reception reports to a central database and the associated web site provides a simple user interface for querying the database, along with a mapping facility.
Here's the transmitter. I'm using a 13.8V supply through a heatsinked 7805 regulator for the 5V supply into the actual unit. It's not boxed yet and that's my next job.
Frequency control is by a DDS synthesiser, GPS locked (GPS not shown) and the 5p coin glued onto the DDS chip is acting as a heatsink.
Power output is around 150mW, lower than your average mobile phone and using the online database I was able to determine that my signal was being received by all these stations over a 24 hour period.
Not bad for a £17 transmitter
WSPR signals convey a callsign, grid locator, and power level using a compressed data format with strong forward error correction and narrow-band modulation. The protocol is effective at signal-to-noise ratios as low as –28 dB in a 2.5 kHz bandwidth. Receiving stations with internet access may automatically upload reception reports to a central database and the associated web site provides a simple user interface for querying the database, along with a mapping facility.
Here's the transmitter. I'm using a 13.8V supply through a heatsinked 7805 regulator for the 5V supply into the actual unit. It's not boxed yet and that's my next job.
Frequency control is by a DDS synthesiser, GPS locked (GPS not shown) and the 5p coin glued onto the DDS chip is acting as a heatsink.
Power output is around 150mW, lower than your average mobile phone and using the online database I was able to determine that my signal was being received by all these stations over a 24 hour period.
Not bad for a £17 transmitter
Thanks Chris.
The plot above was on 20m using the Hexbeam at around 35ft AGL - If you've got a 60ft mast then a Hex will work really well with the extra height.
Last night I was heard by YV4GJN in Venezuela using WSPR on 30m with just a random length doublet sloping E-W from 30ft to 20ft through an SGC Smartuner so that's south America covered I've not reached VK7 yet with just the 150mW but been heard there a few times on 40m WSPR using 5W from the TS-590.
The plot above was on 20m using the Hexbeam at around 35ft AGL - If you've got a 60ft mast then a Hex will work really well with the extra height.
Last night I was heard by YV4GJN in Venezuela using WSPR on 30m with just a random length doublet sloping E-W from 30ft to 20ft through an SGC Smartuner so that's south America covered
I've not reached VK7 yet with just the 150mW but been heard there a few times on 40m WSPR using 5W from the TS-590.
Sure, it's here. You're licenced, Ian?
The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) are currently offering membership to anyone in the UK for just £1 to help celebrate their centenary. Membership is usually over £50 so this is a significant saving.
If you have any interest in radio, it's a decent enough society to join, the monthly magazine 'RadCom' is worth the annual fee by itself.
So you want to join the RSGB for just a quid, head over to http://www.rsgb.org/poundmember and sign up (offer valid until 14th July 2013).
The form is a little odd, it requires Java and it seems to be a little temperamental in some browsers but it does work in IE.
If you have any interest in radio, it's a decent enough society to join, the monthly magazine 'RadCom' is worth the annual fee by itself.
So you want to join the RSGB for just a quid, head over to http://www.rsgb.org/poundmember and sign up (offer valid until 14th July 2013).
The form is a little odd, it requires Java and it seems to be a little temperamental in some browsers but it does work in IE.
It's a great deal and I encourage anyone with even any slight interest in radio to go for it - Twelve issues of RadCom for a quid!Cheers, joined.
This should give me incentive to finally go for a licence.