More antenna stuff, operating and Log book conversion

Well I guess it has been long enough since my last post. Lets see what has been happening.

Antenna:
Finally got my 2m/70cm Slim Jim antenna up. It is hanging in a tree in the back yard. I have two of these antennas. I had one for each of my QTHs when I had two houses. So I got a spare.

As far as repeaters, I can only get four from my house. Williamstown, Norwich, Windsor and Bolton. Have made about a half a dozen contacts, mostly on the Bolton repeater.

Operating:
Doing some more CW a little PSK31 and JT65. A new mode I have been using is JT9. Less bandwidth then JT65 and 2db more sensitive then JT65. Here is a link for information on this mode. JT9 info I find that JT65 gets very crowded and it is sometimes very hard to get into a QSO.

My code speed is improving and I am starting to do some coping in my head. But I still write most everything down when I am in a QSO.

This last weekend (Aug 8,9) I was able to get in some WES contacts. 35 in all and 6 cootie contacts for 90 bonus points. I was 71st overall and 53 in the QRO category.  I was not able to do June or July due to prior commitments.

Log Book:
I was able to get enough SKCC contacts to get my Tx2. My biggest problem was converting the excel spreadsheet I used for my T to an adif format so I could import it into the SKCC logger program. Which I am using for the rest of the TxN. That took me all day. Basically you convert each cell into the appropriate adif format then save it as a text file. The following link is where I found the basics.

AB2RF Excel-ADIF-conversion link

These are the cell commands I used for my conversion. I am using open office, so the commands are slightly different then from Microsoft excel.

="<eoh>"
="<call:"&LEN(Log.c2)&">"&Log.c2
="<qso_date:8>"&Log.b2
="<state:"&LEN(log.f2)&">"&log.f2
="<NAME:"&len(log.e2)&">"&log.e2
="<COMMENT:"&len(log.d2)&"SKCC:>"&log.d2
="<band:"&LEN(log.G2)&">"&log.G2
="<rst_rcvd:3>"&599
="<rst_sent:3>"&599
="<time_on:4>"&0000
="<mode:2>CW"
="<SKCC:"&len(log.d2)&">"&Log.d2
="<eor>"

The biggest issue I had was getting the date formatted correctly. I ended up making the dates just numbers and then it worked ok using the cell command above for the date. There is probable a better way to do the date, but I am only going to do this once so as long as I get there I am fine.


Kenwood:

Finally got the Kenwood TS-520S back on the air. I have my SpeedX key on it. I hope to learn how to use it.

Better post this now or I will never get done.

73

Flex-6300 update, air cannon, Shack update etc....

Greetings!! Well lets get started. To summarize:

Garage and landscaping are finally complete so now I have no excuses to put up my OCF dipole.  

I have a very nice workbench now so I can get on with some of my construction projects. 

I have installed the RF amp into my, for lack of a better name, QRP accessory box. 

Flex radio seems to be working very well. 

I have done a lot of JT65 and a little JT9 in the last couple of months. 

Antenna:

So my first tasks was getting the guide ropes up over a couple of trees in my yard. I first tried a $5.00 sling shot but failed miserably. I could not get enough power to get the 4 oz. weight up 20 feet, let alone 70 to 100 feet. Finally one of the straps broke and that was the end of that. So what were my options?

1) bow and arrow

2) model helicopter

3) rod and reel or

4) air cannon.

Well I don't have a bow and arrow. The helicopter that I have I doubt would work. It is just a $50.00 toy I bought for my wife as a joke Christmas gift. The rod and reel I could not get and accuracy or any real height. So I settled on the air cannon. 

I bought the one from the JARC in Joplin MO. Here is a link to their website Joplin Amateur Radio Club. Probable the only downside to this was I had to assemble it myself.  I was afraid I would not get a good seal and it would be useless. But the instructions were excellent and there are several YouTube videos that help. I was really surprised how well it worked. Highly recommend it if you are in need of one. ( and can't borrow one)

It took several tries to get the rope over the trees. Try to use this on a day that is not windy!

I bought the  W8AMZ  80-6m OCF dipole with the 20 foot vertical radiator kit. It is pretty much an all band antenna, if you use an antenna tuner, which my Flex 6300 has.

The JARC Antenna Launcher

You can see the center of the OCF dipole on the left side. The wire runs to the pine tree on the right. I blew this up so up can see better where the wire goes in the tree.

This is my entry into my shack. Yes that is a toilet flange. I just have to get some steel wool to stuff into the outside to keep the critters out.

The white PVC in the center of the picture is the line isolator. I plan to attach the feed line to the edge of the roof.

Update: Tacked up the antenna wire and stuffed the flange with steel wool. Should be much more secure!

My wife is standing in front of the pine tree where one end of my antenna is attached. It is up about 80 feet, not to the top of the tree.

This is the other tree the antenna is tied to. The rope went completely over the tree. BTW my wife is 5' 5"

Shack Update:

So everything seems to be moving along OK. As you can see below, I have my workbench.

My workbench. 12 feet long and 36 inches high. Those beautiful chairs were $45 a piece. The equipment on the left is for my day job, on the right is my radio stuff.

So what things do I have left to do for my shack? Well the biggest is to get my ground in. I had the electrician put a ground rod in by the edge of the garage and a heavy gauge wire run up the the shack. I plan to install a 10 foot 1/2 inch copper pipe on the wall under the windows. I then plan to connect grounds to all my equipment that has to do with radios. I don't think I will attach my work computer to it.

Flex Radio:

The good news is they solved the direct connection issue. I can now run the latest software on my 6300 using a direct connection to my computer.

This version has a beta version of freeDV. I have used freeDV before with my Kenwood TS-520S using an interface box and the freeDV PC software. So I had a clue what I should do. However is wasn't clear how to setup the Flex at first. Then I read the manual and it turned out to be rather simple.

Projects:

I finally installed the RF amp into my QRP project. It works fine. What I did discover, though, is the reason the frequency counter was having trouble with 15 meter at transmit, was because the amplitude of the signal coming from my HW-8 was dropping way down. So it probable was not getting enough signal for a reliable reading.

I am going to look at this more closely. I want to see if the other bands do the same. I will also check the HW-8 manual to see if there is a reason for that.

As a side note: My Flex 6300 makes an excellent spectrum analyzer. I was able to look at the RF output from the HW-8 to see how well it was doing.

I haven't done anymore on the Key All project or the BITX20. The Key All, I will put it the box next. Just to finish it off.

The BITX20 is the next to get done. Really there is that much to do. Now that I got some decent equipment, it should not be that hard.

Operating:

I have around sixty CW contacts since my last post. That's about 2 1/2 months. Though for June I only have 3, not too good. I have been practicing using "Just Learn Morse Code" at 20 wpm with character speed at 25, though not as often as I would like.

I think that's enough for now. As I write these post I am trying to set them up in a more or less standard way. As things progress, I will get better at it.

Bye for now and thanks for reading my post!

73

Dave KB1WOD

Getting off my rear end (projects), more on Flex-6300, shack and BITX20 update

Flex adventures:

A little back ground on my setup first:
My Flex radio is connect via Ethernet directly to my computer. I use a USB wireless adapter to connect to my wireless router for network and internet access. This way the radio has exclusive use of the computers NIC card. Now for my adventure!

When Flex came out with version 1.4.0, I waited to install it on my radio. As I suspected there were bugs. A few weeks later, they came out with version 1.4.3. I thought this one might be OK to install. These quick minor releases usually have most of the oops resolved and are usually more stable. So I figured it wold be OK to install.

So  I installed it and as per usually new firmware had to be downloaded to the radio. All was going well until it finished downloading to the radio and it was suppose to connect to the radio. It didn't.. It just hung. Nothing worked. I power cycled the radio and the computer. I tried to download the older version but it wouldn't let me. I figured it was toast and I would have to ship it back to Flex to get it fixed.

I decided to open up a service request at Flex to see if I could get the problem resolved. After several emails back and forth, It was discovered that the new software in the radio was not coming up with the correct I.P. address. It should be 169.254.X.X. However, it was coming up with 172.30.X.X.

None of the recommendation by Flex would get my radio to connect. Finally what I did, for no good reason, was to plug the radio into my router and not directly in the computer. This force the radio to acquire a new I.P. address and the radio would then connect as it should.

However, this was not a good solution. The audio would drop out randomly for several seconds at a time. I then tried using a spare router to connect the radio to the computer directly. This seems of work very well. No drop outs at all. However, I lost my internet connection. Plus it was kind of a kludge.

But at least I was able to download the old software and get my radio and internet working again. It's too bad. I thought the audio for CW and PSK31 were much better in 1.4.3. For PSK31 I could use the DAX channel and have very good decode. unlike 1.3.8 where I had to use the headphone audio output to get good decode.

Kit Projects:

I assembled the Key All circuit form wb9kzy.com/keyall.htm . See photo below. Wasn't a big project only 5 components to solder onto the circuit board. It worked as advertised. Eventually I will install it into the tin box that you can see at the top of the picture. But since I got my Flex radio, I don't use the Kenwood much. So the Key All isn't as critical as before.

Key ALL connected to my CW touch Keyer

I also solder the components on to HF RF amp kit I got from KitsAndParts.com . I made a couple of mods to it. The first was to change the resister from Vcc to the base of the transistor so I could use it at 12 volts. Second, I inserted a pot in the output so I can adjust the output level. I intend on inserting this amp between my HW-8 and the frequency counter. Hopefully it will make the counter more stable on the 15 meter band.

HF RF Amp fro KitsAndParts.com

With my Flex 6300, I can operate JT65, PSK31 and CW and 20 meters.. sort of. I keep the power level down to about 50 watts and that makes my keyboard, mouse and air exchanger happy. This at least gives me another band.

Shack update:

Well Winter is finally leaving. My contractor stop by the other day to start getting things ready for finishing the outside and some other things. Today a load of siding was delivered. As soon as the snow is gone and  I have my access hole for my outside antennas, I put up some outside antennas. I was thinking of an OCF dipole as one antenna. Any suggestions? I will probable put the Fan dipole outside also. I will probable put up the Slim Jim J pole for my 2 meter rig. Couldn't get it to work with the antenna in the attic. Hope this will change when I get the antenna outside.

BITX20 project:

Alex, PA1SBM at PA1SBM, the life of a dutch radio amateur.... has finally gotten back to his BITX20 project. I have been following his progress for over two years now. He has resolved many of the issues I have faced. His blog has helped me quit a bit with my project.

As usual I have been doing CW ,JT65 and PSK31. I was able to work the  CW Fun Event . I like this event. It is a lot like the SKCC sprints. Low stress and high fun.

Well all for now.

BTW my contractor started to work yesterday but we got 4 inches of snow over night so I guess he won't be back for awhile.

Another WES, SKCC Tribune and QRP

Well I did OK in this months SKCC weekend sprint. I am at 100th overall and 40th in the QRO group. I made a total of 36 QSOs and 5 QRP QSOs, a personal best and not too bad.

I also got my Tribune suffix. So now my SKCC number is 10530T. So now it is on to Senator. That requires 200 T or S contacts. That might take me awhile. I already got my first one today! Going to be interesting to see how long it takes. My C took me over a year, but the T only took about a month.

The Flex-6300 is doing well. I am really glad I got it. Can't wait for the warm weather so I can put up some antennas outside. I am sorry to say I haven't touched either the Kenwood or the HW-8 since the Flex arrived. I am sure that won't last too much longer.

I have been using the MFJ-553 Key. I must admit at first I wasn't very impressed with it. But it is a nice key and I am using it a lot.

I was having a CW rag-chew with KB1BIC Rick in Ludlow, MA when he decided to go QRP and set his power to 5 Watts. After our next exchange, he ask me if I could go QRP also. So I set my power to 5 Watts and we finished our QSO at that power level. Really didn't notice a very large drop in his signal and he was very readable the entire QSO. Right after we finished, Jeff W2PWD called me and we also had a QRP QSO. And if that wasn't enough, Jim N3ADF in Maryland called to get my SKCC number. So don't let anyone tell you QRP doesn't work. Just ask John K3WWP. He has something like 64,000 QSO running QRP!  Here is his URL: http://home.windstream.net/johnshan/ .

The last couple of nights I have been listening around 7.114 MHz for some QRS or general rag-chew QSOs. One of my problems with CW is carrying on a random conversation with someone. It is harder then you would think, but you will only get better if you practice at it.

I received the WARPS PCB about a week ago. So that will be yet another project to work on. Whats that about 4 projects in the queue now?

OK just wanted to jot a few things down before I forgot them.

Sorry no pictures this month.

Look what I got!

I said I had a surprise and here it is. I bought myself a Flex 6300. Having a whole lot of fun with it. Have worked CW, SSB, JT65, PSK31 and freeDV. It has the auto tuner built in.

A few early observations:
Very good SSB rig. I am getting good reports on the audio. It has breakin (QSK) on CW, which I didn't have on my Kenwood. CW audio is not as good as I would expect. This may have more to do with my ignorance of the radio then the radio itself (I hope).
I talk to Mel K0PDX on 14.236 mHz using freeDV mode. He said the freeDV will be in the 1.4 release of the flex 6300 software.

I tried using the DAX as audio in and out to fldigi but it did not seem to decode PSK31 very well. However, if I use the audio from the headphone jack, it seems to decode OK. I think the DAX as audio input to the radio works OK for PSK31.

For JT65 the DAX in and out works great. I use JT65-HF-HB9HQX-Edition for my JT65 work.

The CAT interface to both fldigi and JT65-HF-HB9HQX-Edition software seem to work without too much effort. I am very pleased with the results so far!

As far as activities, I did work the two hour SKCC sprint and made 5 contacts.

My new Flex 6300

Setup for PSK31 on 15 meters.

I was rummaging around in one of my dresser draws the other day and stumbled across my old novice license. You can barely make out the call sign WB1AHE. As you can see the effective date was 05/08/84. I must have renewed it when I move from Stoughton, MA to Wakefield, MA.

I bought the WRAPS Tracker Circuit Board from the AMSAT web site. Looks like a fun little project to do. I still want to work some satellites and maybe the ISS. Right now that is on the fringe of ham radio interests, but never hurts to plan a head.

Well all for now 73.

New year, New shack, SKCC Centurion, WES and K3Y

Hello again. Well some good news! The room for my shack is done and somewhat operational. I still do not have any outside antennas, but at least I have a 15 meter dipole setup in the storage room next to my shack. This helps because the fan dipole was not actually cut for 15, I was using the fact that 40 meter section could be used for 15. But with a fan dipole, that might not be the best.

Do you remember I had a cable with a bad connection on the PL-259 plug on one end? Well it turns out the other end had the same problem. Of course that was the cable I used to connect my fan dipole to my TS-520S when I moved into my new shack and had to change the cable I was using (too short) to this other cable. It wasn't difficult to figure out it was bad. As I was plugging in the cable I heard activity on the radio. However, as soon as I connected the shield, the signal died... I knew something was not right and sure enough when I checked the cable with a meter. it was open. Oh well live and learn.

I worked the K3Y special event this year and got 19 unique spots. Wasn't able to get any /3 or /6. Didn't seem like there were any on the bands I am able to use. I was limited to 40 and 15 on QRO and 80 and 20 with my HW-8 QRP. I am still having RFI issues with the fresh air exchanger so I can only operate 20 on my QRP rig. Hope when I get some out side antennas this will change, but you never know!! Interesting thing, I am right over my garage and do not have any issues with the garage door openers.

I also worked the January and February WES. First time I worked two back to back. I worked enough stations to earn my Centurion suffix on my SKCC number. So what does this mean? It means now on to get my Tribune!!

I have also been doing some more JT65. I have got New Zealand in the book now on 10 meters. Which is new for me. I have about 125 confirmed JT65 QSOs on eQSL.cc sine October. Mostly 10 and 15 meters.

I have bought a HD monitor for my radio computer. Really nice but seems to have slowed the computer some what.

Next time I will have a surprise!!.....

New shack operating position

HW-8 station.

JT65, log book woes, shack update and MORE!!!

I have been thinking about adding another post and well.... here it is.

First the shack update. The shack walls are up and the taping is progressing. No I am not doing any of the work. I really don't enjoy that type of work and when I do the work, I don't like how it comes out. Maybe by this time next month it will be done. They will probable have to wait until next spring to finish the outside. Too much snow on the ground right now and they wouldn't be able to paint anyways. When the shack is done, I will post some pictures.

In the mean time, my station is setup in the basement. Doesn't really work all that well. At the moment I am only working 15 and 10 meters. If I try 40 or 20 I get way too much RFI into everything. I think mainly because of lack to grounding. Basically, there is none!

I have a fresh air ex-changer in the basement and when I key up on 20 meters, the fan motor in the ex-changer starts to run faster and faster! So I don't use 40 or 20 meters right now.

This is my temporary  station.

As you know I like CW. Not all that good at it, but enjoy it.

So I decided I wanted to try a semi-automatic mechanical bug. So I bought a Speed-X off of eBay. It works OK but the dits are too fast for me. I was thinking of buying a second weight to slow it down. My other option is to add a length of rod to the end and move the weight further out. I have also seen a swing arm device that you can attach to the weight arm, Interesting but I don't know if it will slow it down enough. Forgot how much I spend for this. I think it was $50.00 total. Needs a bath though HIHI!

My E. F. Johnson Speed-X key.

Since I am limiting myself to only 15 and 10 meters, I have been doing a lot of JT65 HF mode. Interesting mode to say the least, basically it is "Hi and Bye". No real rag chew. But sometimes that's OK. I won't get into any discussion about "The True Sprite Of Amateur Radio!" or the purity of one mode versus another. It is all just good fun and if you learn something along the way, well great!

I tried several different JT65 programs and settled on jt65-hf-hb9hqx-edition. To me it had more bells and whistles then other programs. A lot more information in the display area and semi-automatic. which means you have to press a few buttons now and then. and it works the serial port PTT, which some of the other programs did not do. It also has the clock sync build in which is a great connivance.

This mode allowed me to get my first Japan QSOs, so I am happy with it. 

I also have two 10 meter CW QSOs. I did not work any 10 meters when I was in Wakefield, because I didn't bother to put up an antenna. Oh well!!

JT65 software running on my computer.

Since I moved, I had to changed my QTH for both LoTW and eQSL.cc. The problem was, I forgot to do it and starting uploading QSOs with the wrong QTH. It took awhile and a few emails to get the information correct. but not to painful. For eQSL.cc, I had a little trouble figuring out how to combine the two logs for the awards. It would be a shame to lose all those QSLs that I had with the other QTH. There is still an issues with LoTW on this, but I get it resolved.

Still here, not dead yet HIHI

Yes it has been a long time since my last post. It was last July just after the WRTC contest.

I have been rather occupied since then with selling my house in MA and moving to VT. Had a lot of packing to do and projects to get the house in reasonable shape for sale.

We rented a 15 yard dumpster. I though it would be big enough since we had already thrown out a lot of stuff. It was just barely big enough!!

The house sold quickly, only took four days to sell, and we got more then the asking price. all in all it went rather well. The buyer did not want to much fixed and there were not issues with the mortgage or the deed to the house.

We moved October 8th and we have been unpacking ever since. I haven't setup my permanent station yet. We are having a garage built and I am going to have my shack over the garage. Maybe by the middle of December it will be ready. Until then I have a temp setup in the basement. I have made a couple of CW contacts on 15 meters last weekend so I am still getting out. I have a fan dipole in the attic that I am using. Seems to work well.

I don't know what I am going to do with my antennas I took down from the old house. We will see.

All for now -30

WRTC and a long time since last post.

Well a lot has gone on since I last posted. First I took the Level two CW academy course from CWops with Mark K5GQ.  Very good and I appreciate Marks effort.

I bought a CW touch keyer for the course. (I couldn't use my straight key for the course). It is a little difficult to use, but I am slowly getting use to it. I also had to buy an adapter to hook it up to my Kenwood TS-520S. Haven't built the adapter yet.

CW Touch Keyer

Went to NEAR-Fest this spring. Didn't buy much, just a few odds and ends for some projects.

Still working on my QRP SWR/Audio filter/Digital display. Got the RF amp just haven't gotten around to building it yet hihi.

I bought a 40, 20 and 10 meter fan dipole antenna at HRO. I plan to use it at my place in VT this summer with my HW-8. Just need to get off my butt to get things going!! Common theme here?

I have participated in two more SKCC WES events, May and July. Got 22 QSOs in May and 13 in June. The June WES was the same weekend as the WRTC and IARU contest, so there was a lot of competition for the frequencies. Also I spent Sunday morning helping to break down our WRTC site.

I was involved in supporting the WRTC July 11 - 13. Wonderful experience and had a lot of fun. Below are some pictures Bob, W1FDR took.

Some of the team, that is me on the left with the droopy sock. BTW the reason we were laughing, John (seated with his head turned) was telling us his some what comical experience using the portable toilet.

Left to right: Bob W1FDR, Lasko LZ3YY, Dave K1HT, Dmitri RA9USU, Soni PY1NX, Craig KC1BZL and me KB1WOD. Taking the picture was John KB1MGI. Lasko and Soni were the WRTC competitors for our site and Dmitri was the Referee.  Our site came in 18th out of 59. Their call sign for the competition was N1Z

Project finished (almost)

Projects are never finished, but this one is functional. See pictures below.
Everything is operational but there are somethings I would like to change or enhance:

1) On the SWR meter there was no spec on the meters as far as current range goes, so I picked a 1ma meter. Turns out I could have picked a higher current meter. I think I will put two series resister in the meter circuit to increase sensitivity. Also the silk screen does not seem to match the functionality Not a big deal I just switch the input and output.

2) I installed the bandwidth pot on the NEScaf  upside down. That could be easy to fix if I wanted to.

3) Box is a little big but I needed something that was wide enough to fit ever thing. I guess the NEScaf controls could have been mounted vertically and save 2 1/2 inches of width.

4) freq counter has a hard time with the 21 mHz signal. I have ordered a RF amp to boast the signal. Also I was thinking of adding a counter input so I can use it for other things. What do you think?

Completed SWR/audio filter/freq counter

Inside view. As you can see plenty of room, SWR on left, audio filter center and freq counter right

Close up of front panel. As you can metal work was not very good.

The good news is I had a CW contact with it already. Not just a CW, but a QRP to QRP contact. K4CML Colin from Newport News VA who was running 3 Watts!!! on 14.050 mHz. Not bad!