well, it's been a bit windy here for a few days.
and today I got a text at work from my lovely XYL telling me that my fibreglass fishing pole holding up my Windom and long wire baluns snapped and came down onto my neighbour's roof.
No way of offering advice from inside a meeting I couldn't bail from so I suggested that my 18 yearold loosen the wires and let it down.
He (and the 15 year old) struggled manfully in awful conditions to get up a ladder and loosen the U bolts to get the pole down.
its too dark to really look at it now, but the weekend is coming......
I suppose I could take it as a sign that it's time to try that open fed horizontal loop that I have all the bits waiting for......
Friday, 27 December 2013
Thursday, 19 December 2013
so, carrying on the same format as last month, the middle column is last months totals, the right is today's.
80m = 18 = 33
60m = 3 = 4
40m = 36 = 50
30m = 7 = 21
20m = 116 = 116
17m = 55 = 55
15m = 26 = 40
12m= 44 = 51
10m= 53 = 69
total DXCC count at 134, and total slots (inc 2m & 70cm) 443
I've been concentrating on my less used bands, so avoiding 20 & 17m....
My US state count is creeping up too, with Alaska, Idaho, Kansas, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota & Wyoming still to get.
I've also got a new antenna.
a Carolina Windom CW80 Special.
it's an off centre fed dipole with a radiating vertical feed section so that it will tune to 80m even though it's only 66 ft long. 15m still a dead loss, and below 40m is all clogged up with QRM from Christmas lights (GRR!)
Its working well, even though i don't have it mounted in the best position, with the shorted leg coming down at 45 degrees along the eves of the house. I INTEND to get it up horizontal when I get the chance......
new countries?
Chile
Uzbekistan
Curacao
Bahamas
Liechtenstein
Madagascar
South Sudan
80m = 18 = 33
60m = 3 = 4
40m = 36 = 50
30m = 7 = 21
20m = 116 = 116
17m = 55 = 55
15m = 26 = 40
12m= 44 = 51
10m= 53 = 69
total DXCC count at 134, and total slots (inc 2m & 70cm) 443
I've been concentrating on my less used bands, so avoiding 20 & 17m....
My US state count is creeping up too, with Alaska, Idaho, Kansas, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota & Wyoming still to get.
I've also got a new antenna.
a Carolina Windom CW80 Special.
it's an off centre fed dipole with a radiating vertical feed section so that it will tune to 80m even though it's only 66 ft long. 15m still a dead loss, and below 40m is all clogged up with QRM from Christmas lights (GRR!)
Its working well, even though i don't have it mounted in the best position, with the shorted leg coming down at 45 degrees along the eves of the house. I INTEND to get it up horizontal when I get the chance......
new countries?
Chile
Uzbekistan
Curacao
Bahamas
Liechtenstein
Madagascar
South Sudan
Friday, 8 November 2013
so in the last month.....
I've got my FT747GX back from the Dr, and as 10 & 12m have been bouncing like a puppy, I've been up there a lot. and ironically, I've been tinkering a bit on 80m too as the s9 static has finally eased (at least some of the time) so I've had a few contacts down there too.
so to give an idea how things have progressed in the last month, middle column is LAST month, right column is this month......
80m= 10 = 18
60m= 3 = 3
40m= 36 = 36
30m= 5 = 7
20m= 116 = 116
17m= 53 = 55
15m= 22 = 26
12m= 7 = 44
10m= 27 = 53
total now standing at 126 dxcc entities with 363 slots filled.
New countries recently include:
Puerto Rico 12m RTTY,
Cape Verde 12m SSB,
Armenia 10m CW,
Uruguay 10m SSB
I've got my FT747GX back from the Dr, and as 10 & 12m have been bouncing like a puppy, I've been up there a lot. and ironically, I've been tinkering a bit on 80m too as the s9 static has finally eased (at least some of the time) so I've had a few contacts down there too.
so to give an idea how things have progressed in the last month, middle column is LAST month, right column is this month......
80m= 10 = 18
60m= 3 = 3
40m= 36 = 36
30m= 5 = 7
20m= 116 = 116
17m= 53 = 55
15m= 22 = 26
12m= 7 = 44
10m= 27 = 53
total now standing at 126 dxcc entities with 363 slots filled.
New countries recently include:
Puerto Rico 12m RTTY,
Cape Verde 12m SSB,
Armenia 10m CW,
Uruguay 10m SSB
Monday, 7 October 2013
so yesterday marked a year since I got my licence.
in that time, 3838 QSOs logged on HF
120 DXCCs
285 slots filled, spaced:
80m= 10
60m= 3
40m= 36
30m= 5
20m= 116
17m= 53
15m= 22
12m= 7
10m= 27
I've used a 1/2 sized G5RV and a long wire, attempted and abandoned a windom and a slinky spring dipole.
for HF I've used a FT101B and a FT747GX
I've made a touch key for CW and killed a PC by plugging in a home made datamode interface.
I've also made a 4 way antenna switch from a biscuit tin and a light switch.......
for 2m I've used a baofeng and a tinkered with PMR set to work the local repeater.
36 US states worked (plus DC)
AL AR AZ CT DE FL GA IA IL IN KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MT NC NE NH NJ NY
OH OK PA RI SC TN TX VA VT WI WV WDC HW
Canadian Provinces
NB NS ON PE QC SK NL
I've dallied with digimodes, and now that my FT747GX is sick, I'm back to the FT101B and a straight key for CW.
SO MUCH LEFT TO DO!!!
in that time, 3838 QSOs logged on HF
120 DXCCs
285 slots filled, spaced:
80m= 10
60m= 3
40m= 36
30m= 5
20m= 116
17m= 53
15m= 22
12m= 7
10m= 27
I've used a 1/2 sized G5RV and a long wire, attempted and abandoned a windom and a slinky spring dipole.
for HF I've used a FT101B and a FT747GX
I've made a touch key for CW and killed a PC by plugging in a home made datamode interface.
I've also made a 4 way antenna switch from a biscuit tin and a light switch.......
for 2m I've used a baofeng and a tinkered with PMR set to work the local repeater.
36 US states worked (plus DC)
AL AR AZ CT DE FL GA IA IL IN KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MT NC NE NH NJ NY
OH OK PA RI SC TN TX VA VT WI WV WDC HW
Canadian Provinces
NB NS ON PE QC SK NL
I've dallied with digimodes, and now that my FT747GX is sick, I'm back to the FT101B and a straight key for CW.
SO MUCH LEFT TO DO!!!
Thursday, 29 August 2013
PSK31 on a budget.
I googled a bit and found that you need an interface to connect the PC to the rig.
so I bought a kit, and built it, and when I connected it to the PC it killed the USB circuit.
Oh Poo
so i then decided to do it the easy way.
a cable from the AF out to the sound card mic socket.
a cable from the speaker out on the soundcard to the mic plug.
a cable from a switch to the ptt socket.
download some free software, tune to the correct frequency, switch to USB and THAT's IT.
after a week,250 or so QSOs 35 DXCCS worked, mainly on 20m but a couple on 17m and one on 40m.
I googled a bit and found that you need an interface to connect the PC to the rig.
so I bought a kit, and built it, and when I connected it to the PC it killed the USB circuit.
Oh Poo
so i then decided to do it the easy way.
a cable from the AF out to the sound card mic socket.
a cable from the speaker out on the soundcard to the mic plug.
a cable from a switch to the ptt socket.
download some free software, tune to the correct frequency, switch to USB and THAT's IT.
after a week,250 or so QSOs 35 DXCCS worked, mainly on 20m but a couple on 17m and one on 40m.
Monday, 29 July 2013
too busy playing with the yaesu 747GX to post here!
so interesting stuff since I got it?
well, activity on all the bands under 60m....including getting the NOV to operate on 60.... only two contacts there so far EI & GI, but it's early!!
I;ve been trying for 30m but nothing there at all......
so, other interesting stuff......
June:
ZB54JKGibraltar
7T1EWD Algeria
7X4ANAlgeria
EA9EU Cueta
EX2F Kyrgyzstan
V44KAI St Kitts and Nevis
JT5DX Mongolia
9K2/SP4R Kuwait
K1IMI USA NC
W1/DL7SI USA
4Z5MU Israel
TK4LS Corsica
4X1UN Israel
K4DY USA NC
July:
JW9JKA Svalbard
K1RM USA CT
K4WMS USA VA
CO8LY Cuba
N3NEP USA PA
K2TQC USA NY
KI1U/VE9 Canada NS
CT3AS Madeira
KG9NUSA IL
CN8KDMorocco
so interesting stuff since I got it?
well, activity on all the bands under 60m....including getting the NOV to operate on 60.... only two contacts there so far EI & GI, but it's early!!
I;ve been trying for 30m but nothing there at all......
so, other interesting stuff......
June:
ZB54JKGibraltar
7T1EWD Algeria
7X4ANAlgeria
EA9EU Cueta
EX2F Kyrgyzstan
V44KAI St Kitts and Nevis
JT5DX Mongolia
9K2/SP4R Kuwait
K1IMI USA NC
W1/DL7SI USA
4Z5MU Israel
TK4LS Corsica
4X1UN Israel
K4DY USA NC
July:
JW9JKA Svalbard
K1RM USA CT
K4WMS USA VA
CO8LY Cuba
N3NEP USA PA
K2TQC USA NY
KI1U/VE9 Canada NS
CT3AS Madeira
KG9NUSA IL
CN8KDMorocco
Saturday, 15 June 2013
Converting a HP DSP-600PB server power supply to run as a 12v 47A bench supply.
I've used several ATX supplies for radio use, but my latest aquisition of a Yaesu FT747GX needs over 20A. more than the 15A available from the ATX.
someone on the Hamradiodeals forum suggested a server supply, so a little googleing for info, and a glance at ebay got me a HP DSP-600PB for £13 delivered.......
there is no NEED to take the top off other than to remove the locking bar with the red knob shown at the top of this pic.
I used Futaba RC plugs to access the 12 pins. I COULD have soldered direct, but this was going to be awful fiddly, and I had a box of random Futaba bits......
so far I only want 4 of the 12 pins.
numbering them like this.....
123
456
789
101112
4 & 8 together lower the fan speed.
6 & 10 together, and connected to the other two switch the whole thing on.
you COULD put a switch on there if you wanted.
I don't want one, so I just twisted those 4 wires together and soldered them
there are other things you can use the other pins for, so I'll keep those available, just not used now.
connecting to the spades is a little akward so I made some pins by stripping back some insulation.....
then tinning it to make it rigid so I could push it in between the spades and then soldering it in place.
repeat for the other wire, plug it in and she's a go!
1st QSO was with OE1LZA, Laila, who gave me an all clear on audio. 6 more QSOs around Europe mean all is fine and dandy.
thanks due to:
http://www.ultimaterc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174225
and
https://sites.google.com/site/tjinguytech/my-projects/HP47A
for the info I used to make this happen.
I've used several ATX supplies for radio use, but my latest aquisition of a Yaesu FT747GX needs over 20A. more than the 15A available from the ATX.
someone on the Hamradiodeals forum suggested a server supply, so a little googleing for info, and a glance at ebay got me a HP DSP-600PB for £13 delivered.......
there is no NEED to take the top off other than to remove the locking bar with the red knob shown at the top of this pic.
I used Futaba RC plugs to access the 12 pins. I COULD have soldered direct, but this was going to be awful fiddly, and I had a box of random Futaba bits......
so far I only want 4 of the 12 pins.
numbering them like this.....
123
456
789
101112
4 & 8 together lower the fan speed.
6 & 10 together, and connected to the other two switch the whole thing on.
you COULD put a switch on there if you wanted.
I don't want one, so I just twisted those 4 wires together and soldered them
there are other things you can use the other pins for, so I'll keep those available, just not used now.
connecting to the spades is a little akward so I made some pins by stripping back some insulation.....
then tinning it to make it rigid so I could push it in between the spades and then soldering it in place.
1st QSO was with OE1LZA, Laila, who gave me an all clear on audio. 6 more QSOs around Europe mean all is fine and dandy.
thanks due to:
http://www.ultimaterc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174225
and
https://sites.google.com/site/tjinguytech/my-projects/HP47A
for the info I used to make this happen.
New rig day!
OK, it's new to ME, not new from the factory.....
a Yaesu FT 747GX
its a mobile rig so it needs an external power supply. I STARTED with my atx supply salvaged from a PC.
According to the sticker on it, it's good for 15A. Sadly the 747 needs 20A.
When I first fired it up with the ATX, it was able to tx on cw and SSB but the report I was getting back were poor. if the CW drive was past 9 oclock (about 25%) ot was distorted, and if the SSB mic gain was above the same.... guess what? distortion again.
so rather than spend £100 of a scary big power supply, someone suggested a server supply..... allegedly good for 47A at 12v.......
next post will be a stand alont tutorial on that, but for now, it's all working well and I'm a very happy bunny!!
Friday, 7 June 2013
latest long DX....
So the top twenty distance now stands at......
The ~2 and 3 places were on 12 & 17m so the long wire.......
| K4FDP | USA GA |
| N8FOC | USA OH |
| ZP6CW | Paraguay |
| LU7HF | Argentina |
So the top twenty distance now stands at......
| ZL2IBF | New Zealand | 11381 |
| LU7HF | Argentina | 6805 |
| ZP6CW | Paraguay | 6310 |
| PR5B | Brazil | 6243 |
| PP5EG | Brazil | 6219 |
| HS5NMF | Thailand | 6069 |
| OA1F | Peru | 5971 |
| PY2EX | Brazil | 5927 |
| PY4HO | Brazil | 5734 |
| JA7QVI | Japan | 5729 |
| HD2A | Ecuador | 5699 |
| PY4RGS | Brazil | 5624 |
| PP1CZ | Brazil | 5566 |
| PW7T | Brazil | 5214 |
| N2PW | USA AZ | 4936 |
| HK1NA | Colombia | 4776 |
| PV8ADI | Brazil | 4705 |
| PY7PZ | Brazil | 4647 |
| YV5DTJ | Venezuela | 4599 |
| PR7AR | Brazil | 4582 |
The ~2 and 3 places were on 12 & 17m so the long wire.......
Saturday, 1 June 2013
I've just got an email from Martin at the European CW Association about my entry in the QRS activity week last month.
I've only gone and won!!
my first certificate for the wall......
full results here:
http://www.eucw.org/euqrs13.html
I've only gone and won!!
my first certificate for the wall......
full results here:
http://www.eucw.org/euqrs13.html
this evening I was heading off in the car to collect one of the kids from the cinema and turned on my radio.
I drove along chatting to MM6CTH (Shane) through the GB3NI repeater. in front of me, stopped at a level crossing was a police patrol car. The gates lift and we drive off with me still chatting away to Shane. At the traffic lights 1/2 a mile further on the blue lights go on and the Officer from the passenger side gets out and comes to the drivers door.
ALWAYS be polite with the good folks of the police of course
are you taxiing? he asks..... (no taxi plates so he'd have had me there.....)
"No its Ham radio" says I, "Callsign MI0OIM, and it's legal for me to use it as I'm driving"
"are you sure" he asks, so I explained how the law on phones doesn't apply to microphones so that he could use his radio mounted on his stab vest. Unfortunately, I didn't have the actual letter of the law off pat, but I told him that all was fine and dandy and while if I was driving dangerously as a result, then certainly I was open to prosecution, but not for simply using the mic, as it was fully legit.
I suggested that he take a record of my reg no and if I was wrong to please get in touch, but it IS right, really.
Poor guy was bewildered. obviously there are too many laws for an officer to know them all, and in future I will have a copy of both my licence and the relevant law (below) in the glove box of the car, for back up, but he went off dubious but (for the time being anyway) happy!
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No.4) Regulations 2003 Statutory Instrument 2003 No 2695
I drove along chatting to MM6CTH (Shane) through the GB3NI repeater. in front of me, stopped at a level crossing was a police patrol car. The gates lift and we drive off with me still chatting away to Shane. At the traffic lights 1/2 a mile further on the blue lights go on and the Officer from the passenger side gets out and comes to the drivers door.
ALWAYS be polite with the good folks of the police of course
are you taxiing? he asks..... (no taxi plates so he'd have had me there.....)
"No its Ham radio" says I, "Callsign MI0OIM, and it's legal for me to use it as I'm driving"
"are you sure" he asks, so I explained how the law on phones doesn't apply to microphones so that he could use his radio mounted on his stab vest. Unfortunately, I didn't have the actual letter of the law off pat, but I told him that all was fine and dandy and while if I was driving dangerously as a result, then certainly I was open to prosecution, but not for simply using the mic, as it was fully legit.
I suggested that he take a record of my reg no and if I was wrong to please get in touch, but it IS right, really.
Poor guy was bewildered. obviously there are too many laws for an officer to know them all, and in future I will have a copy of both my licence and the relevant law (below) in the glove box of the car, for back up, but he went off dubious but (for the time being anyway) happy!
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No.4) Regulations 2003 Statutory Instrument 2003 No 2695
Tuesday, 28 May 2013
OK folks, the eagle eyed among you will have noticed the typo in the last post..... the Brazillian station was PP5EG, not GG.......
so anyway, Interesting DX since then?
EX20aruk Kyrgyzstan
SX5KL Dodecanese Islands (Greece)
UN3M Kazakstan
WP5/W5CW Turks & Caicos Island
5B75FOC Cyprus
3a2MD Monaco
FM5FJ Martinique
4U1ITU UN Geneva
3v8bb Tunisia
4J6RO Azerbaijan
VP9FOC Bermuda
PJ6a Saba & St Eustacius
ZF1A Cayman
OHO/pa3ALK Aland Island
JY5HX Jordan
CO2IR Cuba
which combined bring me over the magic century and my DXCC total now stands at a heady 102
thats 65 phone, 91 CW, and the band spacing is:
so anyway, Interesting DX since then?
EX20aruk Kyrgyzstan
SX5KL Dodecanese Islands (Greece)
UN3M Kazakstan
WP5/W5CW Turks & Caicos Island
5B75FOC Cyprus
3a2MD Monaco
FM5FJ Martinique
4U1ITU UN Geneva
3v8bb Tunisia
4J6RO Azerbaijan
VP9FOC Bermuda
PJ6a Saba & St Eustacius
ZF1A Cayman
OHO/pa3ALK Aland Island
JY5HX Jordan
CO2IR Cuba
which combined bring me over the magic century and my DXCC total now stands at a heady 102
thats 65 phone, 91 CW, and the band spacing is:
| Callsign | 160 | 80 | 60 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 70 | Total | Slots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MI0OIM | 0 | 9 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 100 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 102 | 169 |
Sunday, 12 May 2013
An interesting weekend on the radio.
lots of ***FOC stations all over the show, celebration the First Operators club 75th anniversary.
One was Jersey, GH4FOC, which was a new DXCC, other new DXCCs were ZB2FK, Gibraltar, T77C, San Marino, C31CT, Andorra, and A6/DL9WVM in UAE, so 5 new DXCCs in 24 hours... not bad!!
Bercause of contests I spend a bit of time on 17m with the long wire today. quite a few contacts round europe, so that was nice, as I'm usually on 20.
High point of this evening?
Calling CQ on 20m and having GG5EP form Southern Brazil answering. 6219 miles looks good. 10,009km looks better!!
lots of ***FOC stations all over the show, celebration the First Operators club 75th anniversary.
One was Jersey, GH4FOC, which was a new DXCC, other new DXCCs were ZB2FK, Gibraltar, T77C, San Marino, C31CT, Andorra, and A6/DL9WVM in UAE, so 5 new DXCCs in 24 hours... not bad!!
Bercause of contests I spend a bit of time on 17m with the long wire today. quite a few contacts round europe, so that was nice, as I'm usually on 20.
High point of this evening?
Calling CQ on 20m and having GG5EP form Southern Brazil answering. 6219 miles looks good. 10,009km looks better!!
Thursday, 9 May 2013
Been too busy playing radio with my new touch key to post any blog entries, so sorry for neglecting you, dear reader!
The key works really well, with just a few total foul ups. sending at 20wpm is easy, though I really got to spend some time and get my receiving improved.
under 10 wpm I can do, over that I can hear and write the dots & dashes down and then translate them later.
Ah well, some day!!
NOTABLE CONTACTS?
GB2RN on HMS Belfast in London. have to visit that old girl some time!
F/FK8IK/P on holiday in france from New Caledonia. OK, a SO from him at home would be more impressive, but he's my first double slash QSO!
CN2SS is a Spanish guy cycling round Morocco...
INTERESTING DX.... 4 new DXCCs.......
The key works really well, with just a few total foul ups. sending at 20wpm is easy, though I really got to spend some time and get my receiving improved.
under 10 wpm I can do, over that I can hear and write the dots & dashes down and then translate them later.
Ah well, some day!!
NOTABLE CONTACTS?
GB2RN on HMS Belfast in London. have to visit that old girl some time!
F/FK8IK/P on holiday in france from New Caledonia. OK, a SO from him at home would be more impressive, but he's my first double slash QSO!
CN2SS is a Spanish guy cycling round Morocco...
INTERESTING DX.... 4 new DXCCs.......
| K3MD | USA PA |
| KS1CC | USA MA |
| CN2SS | Morocco |
| TA3AX | Turkey |
| W2EZB | USA NY |
| W9OA | USA IL |
| K1VC | USA CT |
| VE3FIT | Canada ON |
| AJ4SB | USA FL |
| OH0/OI3V | Aland Island |
| GP4FOC | Guernsey |
| UN/R9DA | Kazakhstan |
| N3BNA | USA PA |
| W1MK | USA MA |
| A45XR | Oman |
| VE3DZ | Canada ON |
| W4VIC | USA VA |
Thursday, 25 April 2013
touch key for CW
MK3!!
so, I decided that the keyer needed a niced enclosure than the pill bottle
as I have made a few guitars in my time I had some fret wire laying around.
I reckoned a strip where my hand rests would be an improvement on the lug......
so, some offcuts of rosewood, and ovankohl.......
as I was assembling the whole thing I managed to break a leg off a tranny, so I tried it without the darlington pair, just a single BC639 on each side. Delighted to discover it works fine!!
MK3!!
so, I decided that the keyer needed a niced enclosure than the pill bottle
as I have made a few guitars in my time I had some fret wire laying around.
I reckoned a strip where my hand rests would be an improvement on the lug......
so, some offcuts of rosewood, and ovankohl.......
as I was assembling the whole thing I managed to break a leg off a tranny, so I tried it without the darlington pair, just a single BC639 on each side. Delighted to discover it works fine!!
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
Improved touch keyer:
power from a 9v battery added. the earth terminal is on the case of the pill bottle so it's easy to always touch it when sending
so, prototype works, next step is to make it for real.....
what I'm THINKING is to have the earth spud on a panel in front of the touch plates.
I have guitar fret wire, which I could press into a slot across the front so that where ever my hand sits, a good contact will be made.
unless I'm wearing marigolds of course!!
so, prototype works, next step is to make it for real.....
what I'm THINKING is to have the earth spud on a panel in front of the touch plates.
I have guitar fret wire, which I could press into a slot across the front so that where ever my hand sits, a good contact will be made.
unless I'm wearing marigolds of course!!
So, I decide to move onto the Mk2 paddle, a touch keyer
I find this nice circuit recommended on a forum.
I nip into school and scrounge a handfull of transistors, and in half an hour I'm done.
soldering was simple, the cablecame from a dead set of headphones......
like this, with the soldering Iron still plugged in beside it, it worked fine.
so I wrapped all the wires to avoid shorts, switched off the soldering iron, fire up the glue gun to add some extra support where the screw eyes go through the lid of the pill box and test it again.
all good
one weird thing. while actually applying the glue, with the glue gun in very close proximity to the pins, it triggers the electronic keyer......
anyway, assemble it into the pillbox and test again
still good.
switch off glue gun and put it away, and settle down to trying a few QSOs and.......
NOTHING!!!
after a lot of tinkering and testing, I discover that it works really well when there are (electrically) noisy kit operating, but not if there isn't.
My Salvaged PC power supply switched on and running on the desk?
all good
touch the case of the supply?
nuffin!!
Ah well, at least i know it works (in the right circumstances!) and it's easily reversable so that if you like to send dits with your thumb, you hold it one way, dahs with the thumb, just flip it over.
and now to Mk3!!
I find this nice circuit recommended on a forum.
I nip into school and scrounge a handfull of transistors, and in half an hour I'm done.
soldering was simple, the cablecame from a dead set of headphones......
like this, with the soldering Iron still plugged in beside it, it worked fine.
all good
one weird thing. while actually applying the glue, with the glue gun in very close proximity to the pins, it triggers the electronic keyer......
anyway, assemble it into the pillbox and test again
still good.
switch off glue gun and put it away, and settle down to trying a few QSOs and.......
NOTHING!!!
after a lot of tinkering and testing, I discover that it works really well when there are (electrically) noisy kit operating, but not if there isn't.
My Salvaged PC power supply switched on and running on the desk?
all good
touch the case of the supply?
nuffin!!
Ah well, at least i know it works (in the right circumstances!) and it's easily reversable so that if you like to send dits with your thumb, you hold it one way, dahs with the thumb, just flip it over.
and now to Mk3!!
Monday, 22 April 2013
after the weekend's SA contest, there are just a few new entries in the distance chart......
| ZL2IBF | New Zealand | 11381 |
| PR5B | Brazil | 6243 |
| HS5NMF | Thailand | 6069 |
| OA1F | Peru | 5971 |
| PY2EX | Brazil | 5927 |
| PY4HO | Brazil | 5734 |
| JA7QVI | Japan | 5729 |
| HD2A | Ecuador | 5699 |
| PY4RGS | Brazil | 5624 |
| PP1CZ | Brazil | 5566 |
| PW7T | Brazil | 5214 |
| N2PW | USA AZ | 4936 |
| HK1NA | Colombia | 4776 |
| PV8ADI | Brazil | 4705 |
| YV5DTJ | Venezuela | 4599 |
| PR7AR | Brazil | 4582 |
| PJ4/SP9FIH | Bonaire | 4463 |
| PJ4/SP9FIH | Bonaire | 4463 |
| N9RV | USA MT | 4257 |
| N9RV | USA MT | 4257 |
some DX and new countries over the weekend.
a few competitions gave me my first Israel, and a bunch of Brazilians. I HEARD a Argentinian, ans several Australians, but didn't make contacts.
a few competitions gave me my first Israel, and a bunch of Brazilians. I HEARD a Argentinian, ans several Australians, but didn't make contacts.
| PJ4/SP9FIH | Bonaire |
| 4X4DZ | Israel |
| K9OM | USA FL |
| PY4RGS | Brazil |
| PP1CZ | Brazil |
| PV8ADI | Brazil |
| PW7T | Brazil |
| K8BTD | USA OH |
| NB1N | USA MA |
| PR7AR | Brazil |
| VE3CFI | Canada ON |
| DL1DA/PVA | Brazil |
| N3RS | USA PA |
| K4BAI | USA GA |
| PY2EX | Brazil |
| PY4HO | Brazil |
| K5EK | USA NC |
| K3WWT | USA PA |
Friday, 19 April 2013
so the keyer arrived in the post today and after raiding the cable box (don't ever bin a cable!!) I was able to weave together a loom of wires to connect the knife paddle to the rig.
half an hour's practice and I reckoned I could give it a go on the air.
DJ3EF was the poor guy on the other en of my feeble attempts!
so, first impressions?
a bit of practice and I'll get the hang of it, definitely less painful to use than straight key, but its a bit too springy. and if I release the handle it can swipe across and thump the other side.
I need to damp it's travel.... maybe a little foam rubber?
I'll tinker!
for a 1st prototype, I'm very pleased, but work still to do!
I'm thinking about another direction, with a solid vertical bar with a switch on each side. that'd loose the springiness, but the switches would need to be very free moving........
on the air yesterday and today?
OK1PGS/AM was my first aeronautical mobile contact. just an exchange of calls and sig repts, so I don't know what he was flying, and he doesn't have an email addy on QRZ.com to ask him.....
the long distance stuff?
delighted to break a pile up and get my first into Tajikistan
half an hour's practice and I reckoned I could give it a go on the air.
DJ3EF was the poor guy on the other en of my feeble attempts!
so, first impressions?
a bit of practice and I'll get the hang of it, definitely less painful to use than straight key, but its a bit too springy. and if I release the handle it can swipe across and thump the other side.
I need to damp it's travel.... maybe a little foam rubber?
I'll tinker!
for a 1st prototype, I'm very pleased, but work still to do!
I'm thinking about another direction, with a solid vertical bar with a switch on each side. that'd loose the springiness, but the switches would need to be very free moving........
on the air yesterday and today?
OK1PGS/AM was my first aeronautical mobile contact. just an exchange of calls and sig repts, so I don't know what he was flying, and he doesn't have an email addy on QRZ.com to ask him.....
the long distance stuff?
delighted to break a pile up and get my first into Tajikistan
| K9LJN | USA IL |
| w1pid | USA NH |
| kb2uzy | USA MA |
| EY7BJ | Tajikistan |
Thursday, 18 April 2013
Making a homebrew CW paddle.
OK, my back problems are giving me pains in my arms, and overdoing the straight morse key is giving me RSI in my right wrist, so something needs to be done.
ONE possibility is an air key, more to follow, but first, I'm going to have a go at a paddle.
as usual, budget to be kept at a bare minimum!
so, I had to get some other stuff at B&Q anyway so I threw a few other bits & pieces into the trolley.
bolts, nuts washers and 4 L brackets. add a kiddie's knife that all our kids have outgrown and we get.......
for a base I'm not going to waste a nice piece of mahogany or cherry on a prototype, so I found a left over bit of spruce.....
so start by drilling a hole in the knife blade.....
then mock up how things will sit......
then after checking clearances, get the screws into the wood...
which looks like this from the end.....
I reckon I have up to 5mm play in the gap, not that I'll need it. If this all works, then I'll transfer it onto a nicer piece of wood and maybe make the brackets a little less Heath Robinson.
for those not in the know, earth goes to the centre, one wire to the left contact, one to the right, then a stereo cable to a jack plug into the electronic keyer.
now all I need is for the electronic keyer to arrive in the post from ebay land!
Updates to follow......
OK, my back problems are giving me pains in my arms, and overdoing the straight morse key is giving me RSI in my right wrist, so something needs to be done.
ONE possibility is an air key, more to follow, but first, I'm going to have a go at a paddle.
as usual, budget to be kept at a bare minimum!
so, I had to get some other stuff at B&Q anyway so I threw a few other bits & pieces into the trolley.
bolts, nuts washers and 4 L brackets. add a kiddie's knife that all our kids have outgrown and we get.......
for a base I'm not going to waste a nice piece of mahogany or cherry on a prototype, so I found a left over bit of spruce.....
so start by drilling a hole in the knife blade.....
then mock up how things will sit......
then after checking clearances, get the screws into the wood...
which looks like this from the end.....
I reckon I have up to 5mm play in the gap, not that I'll need it. If this all works, then I'll transfer it onto a nicer piece of wood and maybe make the brackets a little less Heath Robinson.
for those not in the know, earth goes to the centre, one wire to the left contact, one to the right, then a stereo cable to a jack plug into the electronic keyer.
now all I need is for the electronic keyer to arrive in the post from ebay land!
Updates to follow......
Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Monday, 15 April 2013
Friday - Sunday?
a dirty great solar eruption knocked the bands dead, only a few signals trickling through.
Monday?
very hit and miss.
I could HEAR several stations in New Zealand, as well as my first from Greenland and way north of Norway at Svalbard. my best contacts?
an island in the carribean
and the other way, HS5NMF in Thailand
so the latest top 20 for distance......
a dirty great solar eruption knocked the bands dead, only a few signals trickling through.
Monday?
very hit and miss.
I could HEAR several stations in New Zealand, as well as my first from Greenland and way north of Norway at Svalbard. my best contacts?
| PJ4/SP9FIH |
and the other way, HS5NMF in Thailand
so the latest top 20 for distance......
| ZL2IBF | New Zealand | 11381 | CW |
| PR5B | Brazil | 6243 | SSB |
| HS5NMF | Thailand | 6069 | SSB |
| OA1F | Peru | 5971 | CW |
| JA7QVI | Japan | 5729 | CW |
| HD2A | Ecuador | 5699 | CW |
| N2PW | USA AZ | 4936 | CW |
| HK1NA | Colombia | 4776 | SSB |
| YV5DTJ | Venezuela | 4599 | CW |
| PJ4/SP9FIH | Bonaire | 4463 | SSB |
| N9RV | USA MT | 4257 | CW |
| N9RV | USA MT | 4257 | SSB |
| K1AY | USA FL | 4179 | CW |
| N4BP | USA FL | 4148 | CW |
| KJ3X | USA FL | 4136 | SSB |
| N4TB | USA FL | 4119 | CW |
| W4SVO | USA FL | 4113 | SSB |
| K4WI | USA AL | 4109 | CW |
| K4MF | USA FL | 4074 | CW |
| N6AR | USA FL | 4074 | CW |
Thursday, 11 April 2013
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
so, repeat readers well see a change. I've joined clublog, so rather than having the big string of callsigns, you can how look at clublog for the info. I'll still include the new countries, new states and the extreme long distance stuff, but no more big long lists, OK?
I've finally got the Philips PRM8010 into the car.
there were bumps along the process.....
firstly there was a nasty burning rubber smell which I tracked down to the cigartette lighter plug that I was testing it with.
then there was a lot of alternator whine coming through, so I got a supressor (good old ebay!)
so now it's in the car, and I called for a radio check and a nice friendly bloke did that for me, and then GI6LCJ who sold me the radio came on to say I was making the trip to him too, which was nice of him. just the speaker to mount securely, and I'm sorted.
I've finally got the Philips PRM8010 into the car.
there were bumps along the process.....
firstly there was a nasty burning rubber smell which I tracked down to the cigartette lighter plug that I was testing it with.
then there was a lot of alternator whine coming through, so I got a supressor (good old ebay!)
so now it's in the car, and I called for a radio check and a nice friendly bloke did that for me, and then GI6LCJ who sold me the radio came on to say I was making the trip to him too, which was nice of him. just the speaker to mount securely, and I'm sorted.
Thursday, 4 April 2013
a ew late on Monday evening to add to the total...... but a few days without drifting off 20m CW.high point?
a new country is always a high point, especially if its a LOOOOONG way away!! so early morning HD2A in Ecuador was a goodie. I'm claiming it, even though I didn't get a full call return. he replied mi08m. I KNOW the signal made the trip, so there's a pin in the map!
so Equador does into the distance top 10 at #4......
a new country is always a high point, especially if its a LOOOOONG way away!! so early morning HD2A in Ecuador was a goodie. I'm claiming it, even though I didn't get a full call return. he replied mi08m. I KNOW the signal made the trip, so there's a pin in the map!
| F5MDM | France |
| EA1KB | Spain |
| SP9FKF | Poland |
| DL1MFZ | Germany |
| IT9QAU | Italy |
| RW4CUO | Russia |
| UA9MAX | Russia |
| UT4FB | Ukraine |
| UA1CE | Russia |
| UA6FZ | Russia |
| OK2BBR | Czech Rep |
| DL2BA | Germany |
| SP6AML | Poland |
| OK1MIK | Czech Rep |
| OK1ED | Czech Rep |
| YO5CDF | Romania |
| HD2A | Ecuador |
| UR5PM | Ukraine |
| OM1ADM | Slovak rep |
| HA2NEP | Hungary |
| IK2UEX | Italy |
| UA3DFD | Russia |
| IZ1DXF | Italy |
| LZ1IT | Bulgaria |
| OK1HWI | Czech Rep |
| I3DBD | Italy |
| YU1CA | Serbia |
| OM3JS | Slovak rep |
| UX0KR | Ukraine |
| IS0SZU | Sardinia |
| VE2GDI | Canada QC |
| SV1CQN | Greece |
| W2OKM | USA NJ |
| OK2BEJ | Czech Rep |
| WA2BLE | USA NY |
| SP3FGQ | Poland |
| YU7FL | Serbia |
| W8PO | USA KY |
| IZOCCD | Italy |
| EA1BOT | Spain |
| RU2FZ | Russia |
| RX9WN | Russia |
| F6EAZ | France |
| IK1GKH | Italy |
| UX3HX | Ukraine |
| UA3BX | Russia |
| UA3QIM | Russia |
so Equador does into the distance top 10 at #4......
| ZL2IBF | New Zealand | 11381 |
| PR5B | Brazil | 6243 |
| JA7QVI | Japan | 5729 |
| HD2A | Ecuador | 5699 |
| N2PW | USA AZ | 4936 |
Monday, 1 April 2013
Easter weekend.... another big contest, so rather than huff and grump I decided to play along. as my wee protest I looked up each station on QRZ.COM so that I could say "Thanks John, Good luck"at the end of the contact......
so, from Friday evening until now, (monday afternoon) a good old time for putting pins in the map wih new contacts into Cyprus. Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Kazakhstan, & Kosovo A bunch of Canada & US contacts, but no new states......
so the top 20?
BIG Changes!
so, from Friday evening until now, (monday afternoon) a good old time for putting pins in the map wih new contacts into Cyprus. Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Kazakhstan, & Kosovo A bunch of Canada & US contacts, but no new states......
| UT4FB | Ukraine | ES9C | Estonia |
| EU6KA | Belarus | RF9C | Russia |
| OM3LL | Slovak rep | US1I | Ukraine |
| DF6NW | Germany | S59N | Slovenia |
| RW3WA | Russia | S51AF | Slovenia |
| OK1AQW | Czech Rep | KC3R | USA PA |
| RL3BZ | Russia | KM3T | USA NH |
| S51UJ | Slovenia | VE3DZ | Canada ON |
| SQ7IQM | Poland | CF3A | Canada ON |
| KJ3X | USA FL | Z39A | Macedonia |
| OL9Z | Czech Rep | KM3T | USA NH |
| E7DX | Bosnia & Herz | WU2A | USA GA |
| OL7M | Czech Rep | KK9A | USA NC |
| WP2Z | USA NJ | RT4F | Russia |
| SO2R | Poland | EE1W | Spain |
| EA7KB | Spain | RL3A | Russia |
| IR5X | Italy | II1A | Italy |
| S53M | Slovenia | GJ2A | Jersey |
| EW2A | Belarus | SQ7DQX | Poland |
| RG3K | Russia | II9P | Sicily |
| CN2R | Morocco | 9A28EU | Croatia |
| RM3Q | Russia | RT4RO | Russia |
| HG4F | Hungary | WX3B | USA MD |
| P33W | Cyprus | NX0X | USA MN |
| LX7I | Luxembourg | DL4RBI | Germany |
| LZ4RR | Bulgaria | E72GF | Bosnia & Herz |
| TM1T | France | Z61DX | Kosovo |
| W3KL | USA MD | OE8PRK | Austria |
| HK1NA | Colombia | OH6MM | Finland |
| CR6K | Portugal | DL7ARH | Germany |
| RX6AM | Russia | SP6QKP | Poland |
| UP0L | Kazakhstan | DK3SB | Germany |
| N9RV | USA MT | LA8BGA | Norway |
| NV1N | USA VT | OK1US | Czech Rep |
| RC9O | Russia | EA2IF | Spain |
| PI4ZI | Netherlands | OK1RO | Czech Rep |
| PR5B | Brazil | DK8LG | Germany |
| VE3DZ | Canada ON | OH2BN | Finland |
| 8P5A | Barbados | DL4BBJ | Germany |
| K3ZO | USA MD | DL5SVB | Germany |
| VE9HF | Canada NB | HB9TPT | Switzerland |
| VO1JNS | Canada NL | HB9ALO | Switzerland |
| KD4D | USA MD | SP4GSW | Poland |
| NN1N | USA CT | F6AUF | France |
| 9A33P | Croatia | ||
| W3FV | USA PA |
so the top 20?
BIG Changes!
| ZL2IBF | New Zealand | 11381 |
| PR5B | Brazil | 6243 |
| JA7QVI | Japan | 5729 |
| N2PW | USA AZ | 4936 |
| HK1NA | Colombia | 4776 |
| YV5DTJ | Venezuela | 4599 |
| N9RV | USA MT | 4257 |
| N9RV | USA MT | 4257 |
| K1AY | USA FL | 4179 |
| N4BP | USA FL | 4148 |
| KJ3X | USA FL | 4136 |
| N4TB | USA FL | 4119 |
| W4SVO | USA FL | 4113 |
| K4WI | USA AL | 4109 |
| K4MF | USA FL | 4074 |
| N6AR | USA FL | 4074 |
| W4DXX | USA GA | 4068 |
| 8P5A | Barbados | 4057 |
| K0LUZ | USA FL | 4056 |
| KP2MM | US Virgin Islands | 3987 |
Thursday, 28 March 2013
Tuesday - Thursday....
not so many contacts, some fairly local, some a little further a field.....
J5UAP in Guinnea-Bissau was a new country, N8II was a new US state in West Virginia
not so many contacts, some fairly local, some a little further a field.....
J5UAP in Guinnea-Bissau was a new country, N8II was a new US state in West Virginia
| UR7UR | Ukraine |
| OK1DDB | Czech Rep |
| 9A65S | Croatia |
| IK1FXX | Italy |
| OE5ESD | Austria |
| IZ2NGH | Italy |
| YU1DW | Serbia |
| EA4EOC/P1 | Spain |
| DF5WBA | Germany |
| LZ1DQ | Bulgaria |
| I2ZZU | Italy |
| SP1DTQ | Poland |
| EA3GBA | Spain |
| J5UAP | Guinnea-Bissau |
| YU2NZ | Serbia |
| E71BA | Bosnia & Herz |
| N8II | USA WV |
| IK4RDP | Italy |
| IK2CGH | Italy |
| SP2DWA | Poland |
| IV3VZR | Italy |
Monday, 25 March 2013
sat - mon....
no new countries, no new states, but a bunch of nice QSOs including a few repeats...
no new countries, no new states, but a bunch of nice QSOs including a few repeats...
| SA2BRN | Sweden |
| SN6A | Poland |
| ES5QD | Estonia |
| HF15UM | Poland |
| LZ13FDAY | Bulgaria |
| HG52FC | Hungary |
| DL6UNF | Germany |
| OG3077F | Finland |
| ER4KAA | Moldova |
| 4O3A | Montenegro |
| EM70LL | Ukraine |
| OE3SGU | Austria |
| VE1BAD | Canada NS |
| YO5OHY | Romania |
| W2FOC | USA NY |
| SV1ENG | Greece |
| SV2CQB | Greece |
| SP5FCZ | Poland |
| S57S | Slovenia |
| OM3TGK | Slovak rep |
| OM3CAZ | Slovak rep |
| HA8RC | Hungary |
| DL5NAK | Germany |
| IK2ZJR | Italy |
| HA2NEP | Hungary |
| F8FKK | France |
| W3RJ | USA PA |
| SV2CQB | Greece |
| EA7QQ | Spain |
| F5GF | France |
| EA3DD | Spain |
| DL1GLI | Germany |
| CN8GL | Morocco |
| UA5C | Russia |
| DL1ARD | Germany |
| UX7FD | Ukraine |
| S51DV | Slovenia |
| RX6DK | Russia |
| IN3XRF | Italy |
| LY2BBF | Lithuania |
| RX3AGD | Russia |
Friday, 22 March 2013
Wed - Friday.....
a few points of interest.......
Ole in Finland.....OH6MM.... only QSOed him on 20m all three days! Actually signed off today with "see you tomorrow"
Thursday had two high points. two new countries.....
SU9VB is a Russian bloke in Egypt
and YV5DTJ in Venezuela was a new CONTINENT as well as a new country.
YV5DTJ makes it to no 4 in my distance chart
a few points of interest.......
Ole in Finland.....OH6MM.... only QSOed him on 20m all three days! Actually signed off today with "see you tomorrow"
Thursday had two high points. two new countries.....
SU9VB is a Russian bloke in Egypt
and YV5DTJ in Venezuela was a new CONTINENT as well as a new country.
| DL6UNF | Germany |
| OM3CQF | Slovak rep |
| HB9IK | Switzerland |
| OK5JM | Czech Rep |
| DK2VV | Germany |
| OH6MM | Finland |
| HB8FAI | Switzerland |
| IK2ZJR | Italy |
| YO8DOH | Romania |
| DL1JGV | Germany |
| EA2KV | Spain |
| UX7FD | Ukraine |
| EH5SIP | Spain |
| Z33A | Macedonia |
| IK6JOV | Italy |
| 9A2UW | Croatia |
| IK1TWK | Italy |
| SP3BEJ | Poland |
| I3DBD | Italy |
| SK0TM | Sweden |
| VE1VEI | Canada NS |
| EA1EZJ | Spain |
| OH6MM | Finland |
| SM4AWF | Sweden |
| HA8WZ | Hungary |
| OK1AL | Czech Rep |
| SP3BQC | Poland |
| YT1KS | Serbia |
| SU9VB | Egypt |
| NG2D | USA NY |
| YV5DTJ | Venezuela |
| I2ZZU | Italy |
| EA4RU | Spain |
| F2TA | France |
| DL5DWF | Germany |
| DL5WS | Germany |
| DK8NM | Germany |
| OH6MM | Finland |
| UR3ABI | Ukraine |
YV5DTJ makes it to no 4 in my distance chart
| ZL2IBF | New Zealand |
| JA7QVI | Japan |
| N2PW | USA AZ |
| YV5DTJ | Venezuela |
| N9RV | USA MT |
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