Archive for the ‘qrp’ Category
Portable QRP operations in the park.
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Hunting for that one contact |
An afternoon in the park.
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The park setup |
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New power config |
An afternoon in the park.
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The park setup |
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New power config |
JT65-HF is now working!
PSK reporter |
Ham spots report |
JT65-HF is now working!
PSK reporter |
Ham spots report |
Saved by something or other
Today I almost bought a new rig. I say almost because it has been the closest time I have ever got to buying a new rig. I had a week with a KX3 and found it wasn’t to my taste, not because it didn’t perform well but for some reason or another it just didn’t do it for me. So I looked at the new Icom IC7300 and was really taken aback by it. It looks like a great rig and I’m sure it’ll do a lot for those that buy it, one day I might get one. Today I almost did. My finger was hovering over the buy now….I put one in the basket and got the credit card out. My XYL pointed out I could afford it (This made me very suspicious). Then I realised I was sure I didn’t actually want it. Am I losing the fun of radio?
I don’t think so.
I bought a LNR Precision Mountain Topper last April and have used it a handful of times and enjoyed the portability of it all. The simplicity and the lack of domestic real estate needed to make it work for me. I put together a neat little pack for taking away with me and I think I’ll refine that a little. Some things might look familiar, others look like they’re missing, notably a ‘flight deck’ or ‘thing to put your radio on whilst you’re operating out and about’. I’m going to laser cut a bespoke one that will fit into the case (which by the way is an old Dremel carry case). More on that later
So I decided to save my money and think about a shack in the box that I really miss, a Yaesu FT817ND. I sold my 817 a couple of years ago and regretted it from the minute I sold it. I think I will get myself a decent second hand one of those with a few of the bells and whistles I didn’t have the first time around. At least that’s what I think I’ll do today.
Tomorrow I’m sure I’ll change my mind again.
In the park with 5 watts, KX3 and new Endfed antenna
My outdoor shack |
Golfball setup |
10m Frequency SWR
28.020 3.8
28.060 3.8
15m
21.020 2.9
21.060 2.9
20m
14.020 3.8
14.060 3.8
40m
7.020 8.4
7.040 8.4
The antenna was mounted in a sloper configuration the high end at about 20 feet off the ground and the other end ground mounted. The tuner in the KX3 was able to bring all bands but 40m to a flat match, I was able to get 40m down to 1.5. The bands were very quite but I did spend some time
Anchor point |