Radio W4KAZ

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Samlex 1223-Power Supply Update

After discovering that the Samlex was so ‘very similar’ to other well known brands, I bought one to replace my dead switching supply.

I’ll need to make some updates to my FP-1023 page. The new Samlex has some changes in the output filtering section. The new supply has a toroidal inductor for L2(instead of the rod) and different, larger value capacitors for the RF bypass at the outputs.

An initial comparison and search for birdies turned up very little, and nothing of concern, compared to the loaner Astron RS-35. The switcher had a few more birdies on 15m and 10m, but actually had NO birdies on 40m, while the Astron had three or four(one significant). Most of the other birdies were consistently present with either supply.

I plan to put the supply under load(i.e., the second radio transmitting into a dummy load), and hunt for birdies under load. After that, I’ll update the page, including photos of the new parts layout.

ARRL DX CW 2008 – Steeeeee-Rike 3!

This would have been a good year to be at some else’s station. Ick.

This contest was an interesting test of the new dipoles. The 20m dipole is now officially deemed functional. (Time for an antenna experiment!) This is the first time I’ve worked Hawaii on three different bands in the same ‘test. No joy on 80m. But I worked HI on 15m, 20m and 40m. No other pacific stations were heard, but the KH’s seemed pretty loud in here on Saturday.

Also on 20m, the 20m vertical did help with many SA QSO’s. Since the dipole is now favoring EU, South America is down a couple of S-units on the dipole. The vertical seems to be better for some of the EU’s too, but I didn’t make any notes to look for the pattern. The 40m dipole is definitely in a better orientation for working EU. Mostly one call got a QSO, or at least a “?”.

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Continue reading ARRL DX CW 2008 – Steeeeee-Rike 3!

ARRL DX CW 2008…on bat

Well this will be just a bit of fun for me, certainly not serious effort. I’ll probably spend more time SWL’ing than trying to make QSO’s. I’ve been looking for a spot for an 80m or 40m vertical, but I don’t think I’ll have it up in time. If I’m having a really good night with CW, I may spit out a few CQs just to see what happens, but it will probably be strictly S&P, and no time wasted on packet pile-ups.

I’m also interested to see if the 80m and 40m dipoles will work differently since they are now re-oriented from last years configuration. Last year I got 14 mults on 80m. It will be interesting. It sure would be nice to catch a 15m opening.

One More Up, Five To Go

The past weekend included hoisting a 4-el 20m yagi at the growing N1LN antenna farm. This was the last yagi(I think) for the 20m tower. Bruce still has a lot of work ahead before the towers are filled. Next up is a 5-el 15m yagi to top off the 15m tower. There is also work left to be done on the 40m/10m tower, including pulling the mast, rotor, etc. for the top of the 40m tower.

Its going to be a real hoot to hear this station play at the top of the sunspot cycle. I am sure it will ruin me forever. I’ll spend the rest of my radio daze pining away for lack of such a set up. -sigh-