Radio W4KAZ Thanks for stopping by the virtual KazShack. Feel free to comment - I often approve them.
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By w4kaz, created on 2008.06.08 at 07:43:26 | last changed on 2008.06.10 at 13:11:48 | Cha-Ching! We have a winner!
This is old news, but it is actually official to me now that it is published as such on the RSGB web site. N4YDU and I made a special event expedition as N4A to activate the South Core Banks’ Cape Lookout last summer. Our stay coincided with the RSGB IOTA contest weekend, and we participated in the contest.
It has been several months since I checked the RSGB website for results postings. The contest scores were posted to their site In January, but the official list of trophy winners had not been finalized at that time. But I checked today, and there is ‘N4A’ in the “Island Low Power” category.
“ NA High Score Plaque (Expedition Only) N4A NA-067 ”
Cool.
Well, actually it was very HOT, and also very HUMID. The end of July might be a great time for an outing in Great Britain, but it is definitively NOT such a good choice weather wise for the coast in the south-eastern USA. And with the temp already at 100 here in the first week of June, the outlook for this year is grim.
N4YDU did 95 percent of the QSO’s, so it is a good milestone for Nate. But I went along for the ride, so I’ll be happy to take credit too. 😉
By w4kaz, created on 2008.06.06 at 18:53:09 | last changed on 2008.06.07 at 13:19:19 | The PVRC Reunion on the air event is this weekend. This is an operating event/contest that is open to all, whether you are a PVRC member are not. If you are interested in operating, the rules are listed as a page in my sidebar, or you can go straight to the source.
This one snuck up on me, so I’ll be lucky to be on the air at the right times. Look for me on 10m! Who knows. But participation was good last year, and the club is old enough to have members far and wide, so the odds are you will hear someone calling CQ PVRC.
The suggestion is to use one of the sprint modules for logging, so most major logging programs provide support.
Round ’em up!
By w4kaz, created on 2008.06.04 at 06:44:19 | last changed on 2010.10.27 at 13:06:18 | I had hoped to spend more time on the air in CQ WPX CW, but the XYL had reached the melting point on getting the bedroom painted. So the contest was shot from the git-go, ‘cuz I knew I’d be too tired from moving the furniture, painting, etc.
I did spend a few 30 minute breaks twirling the knob on the K2 during the contest. I must say, the K2 really is a good CW rig. Based on the ARRL Lab and Sherwood Engineering test numbers, it should downright blow away the FT-920 for selectivity. Not so fast there, Bandwidth Breath…..
The K2 was indeed better atseparatingthe signals, but the FT-920acquitteditself well in the head to head A/B testing. I didn’t call NT4D up to give it the full Monty acid test. When Jay fires up his Alpha within about 30kc of me, the FT-920 screams for mercy.(We are close enough neighbors to run Multi-2, we are within a 500 meter circle.) The AGC pumping makes all but the strongest signals difficult copy on the 920.
Even lacking the real acid test, it is still obvious that the K2 is a better receiver. I really am looking forward to trying it out in the ARRL 160m this winter, and FD this summer.
I have also spent a bit more time toying with the K2’s DSP filters. I need to research this area more fully. I have everything set up for both SSB and CW the way I like it to sound. After resetting the CW filter center frequencies to the side tone frequency, I am now very pleased with the DSP selections available. The SSB filters were a bit more difficult. They are easy to set, I just had difficulty deciding which sound characteristics made for easier copy.
The feature I need to research is the Noise Reduction/denoiser. Turning the NR on for CW works okay, but on SSB I find that it distorts the audio. I’m sure I have something set incorrectly.
I’m also getting more accustomed to the control function and layout. I found that the switching the filters is really the only feature I have a lot of need to change with any frequency, and that is easy.
One more caveat turned up during WPX play. The K2 seems very sensitive to high SWR situations. All of my antennas are of the resonant variety, with the exception of the Inv-L for 160m. Unfortunately, only the 80m folded dipole is resonant at the RIGHT PLACE. 🙂 (yet another project…) So until I get the autotuner, I’m using an outboard MFJ 949. I really need to tweak the 20m and 40m dipoles.
I am still missing my FT-100D – but only for its VHF/UHF capabilities. The K2 rooolz.
– more – at the K2 Impressions series
By w4kaz, created on 2008.06.02 at 07:37:41 | last changed on 2011.06.06 at 12:35:41 | This year will probably be a Vee beam for 40m, fed with ladder line and a tuner. Interesting factoid: Vee beams that are odd multiples of 1/4 wave seem to have impedances similar to loops, and can be fed with the standard quarter wave matching section, although that will limit their utility to a single band.
80m will probably be a dipole, 20m is uncertain. The Vee may be pressed into 20m service, and will be used if there are decent 15m or 10m openings.
Throw down a comment if you have a favorite.
Amended 6/4/08: Ok, maybe a loop on 20m. Probably diamond shaped and fed at the bottom.
By w4kaz, created on 2008.05.31 at 20:23:02 | last changed on 2008.06.02 at 10:02:09 | I almost forgot to mention one of the more interesting “goodies” I picked up at this year’s Hamvention.
If anyone has fond memories of the Heathkit 5010 uMatic keyer, here’s the ticket. Its the CW Touch Keyer. The touch keyer is a set of capacitive paddles mated to a keyer.
I came very close to missing this entirely. Their booth was in plain sight on the floor of the arena, but I didn’t spend much time there. On a last minute walk through, we noticed their display, and began playing with the samples. Hooked! Sold! Cha-CHING!
They also sell the capacitive paddles board as aseparateitem, and that is the option I chose. I plunked down the cash for the P3 kit, because I’m not sure yet how I’d like the paddles configured. I’ve never liked using paddles. Iambic paddlesaggravatethe arthritic/carpal tunnel in my hand, even more than a straight key. My paddle “fist” really sucks. I don’t know that this will help any, but for only $20 USD, it is sure worth trying. Heck, it was worth the twenty just for the novelty factor – many folks won’t remember the heathkit keyer. I didn’t at first, but after a memory jog by NT4D, I remember seeing a set of these back in the days of my yoot’. I’d never actually used a set, but remembered seeing them.
The P3 kit went together in a few minutes of solder smoke. After initial testing, I now need to decide how to construct the contacts/paddles, and decide what sort of enclosure to use. The board itself is small and will fit into an altoids tin, leaving the tin mostly empty. There is also a P3SMD version, if you want an inexpensive gizmo for practicing surface mount soldering.
The light touch required on the display models is encouraging. The “complete” wired paddles have gold plated paddles, so I would expect pretty good life from them. They sure were fun to play with. But it leaves open the question of how to construct my own set. Thepossibilitiesare varied and numerous.
Inspiration will come. It always does.
By w4kaz, created on 2008.05.30 at 19:55:29 | last changed on 2008.05.30 at 19:55:29 | Yup, time to start making a list and checking it twice. You never know who will be naughty or nice.
Being prepared is good. Hopefully, your preparations need only last a couple of days.
By w4kaz, created on 2008.05.26 at 20:23:08 | last changed on 2008.05.26 at 20:23:08 | Class: SOAB LP QTH: NC Operating Time (hrs): 2
Summary:
Band QSOs
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160: 0
80: 6
40: 15
20: 20
15: 0
10: 0
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Total: 41 Prefixes = 39 Total Score = 5,343
Not much scoring, not many QSO’s, but a nice little shake down cruise for the K2.
I only had a few minutes here and there between the weekend’s real activity, painting the bedroom and playing musical chairs with the furniture. But the K2 is a very good radio for CW S&P operating. I now have heard it myself. The K2 separates signals very well, and when tuning past them, the loud signals really drop out more sharply than with the FT-920.
In the early evening, between 2300Z and 2400Z, the US West Coast was very loud and the Europeans were still workable. I can’t remember the last time that has happened, but I know it has been at least a couple of years. Maybe conditions will be better for the 2009 contest season.
By w4kaz, created on 2008.05.21 at 16:38:35 | last changed on 2008.07.06 at 08:39:58 | Well, the 2008 Hamvention and Dayton Ohio have both passed into the rear view mirror. Here’s my gray matter dump.
I had the great pleasure to meet and speak briefly with John Hendricks, KI6DS the owner of Hendricks QRP kits. John introduced and had available for sale the new PFR3 XCVR kit. This kit is a very good value for a QRP rig, having three bands(40m, 30m, 20m) and including a built in tuner for convenient field use. It appears to be a really fun and relatively simple construction project, and the kit includes all of the parts required including a very well done enclosure. The highlight was actually speaking with John, who I would dare say really enjoys meeting people. John is a teacher and basketball coach, and I expect that his students don’t yet realize how lucky they are to have a guy like that pass through their lives.
Continue reading Hamvention 2008 – Here and Gone
By w4kaz, created on 2008.05.18 at 08:50:42 | last changed on 2008.05.21 at 10:24:23 | Saturday was a good flea market sweep day. We made up for lost time in the flea market area, and got past most of the rows of tailgators. (There is actually a pub out in Miamisburg called “tailgators”). I mostly picked up some small parts, but I also found some PC board in the Far Circuits tent.
I’m not sure I understand the appeal of all of the rows upon rows of old Motorola HT’s, but they seem to have become the permanent fixture of the flea market, so I guess either someone is actually buying them or someone has a tractor trailer load to get rid of.
Today is chill day, and a quick run to any remaining parts vendors for a few last minute small parts buys. We will get there a bit later, and leave after the prize drawings.
So far the best buy was a roll of 10 conductor 22ga beldin control cable for $20. Had to hop the bus to drop that off in the vehicle!
The bus service is much better this year than the first time I tried it out. The closer parking lot looked to be too much a mud pit on day one, so we parked at the old Shiloh Springs Mall and hopped the RTA bus. Hamvention has contracted the bus service from the pro’s, and its been working great for me.
By w4kaz, created on 2008.05.17 at 06:27:02 | last changed on 2008.05.17 at 06:52:28 | I see that Inrad has released the FT-920 roofing filter mod as ready to ship. I didn’t find their booth in Dayton yesterday, hopefully I will today(actually must have walked right past!). The mod is listed as $200 on their price list.
I don’t know that I can get one very soon, but my reason for keeping the 920 was to compare it to the Elecraft K2 under contest conditions. It would be interesting to do the testing as A/B/C to get a general idea of just how discernible any improvements might be, before roofing filter/after roofing filter.
I suspect the roofing filter may narrow the performance gap quite a bit, maybe even enough that it becomes a choice of which radio to keep. I’ll be especially curious how much it helps on SSB. There are enough loud stations within a couple of miles of me that it should be easy to arrange a test.
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