Recently I got a call from my local dealer that I could finally pick up my long pre-ordered Icom IC-9700 🙂 The only antenna at the time I had for VHF/UHF was a Diamond X-30 Vertical. That’s nice for some local/regional work, but not really for some DX. Since I’m …
Magnetic loop construction – PART 2
Some time has passed, and a lot has been done so far. Construction Tuning Section First I had to find a way to mount the vacuum condenser on the mounting plate. Because I print a lot in 3D, I had the choice to design and print mounting brackets. Also important …
Start of build Automatic Magnetic Loop controller – PART 1
Recently my colleague, Rob PA5RH and I came up with the idea to build an automatic loop tuner. Rob is busy with the software part where I have already started on the mechanical part. As loop, Cellflex 1 1/4 inch Coax cable is used. This has a (copper) outer diameter …
ATU-1000, 1KW Automatic Antenna tuner
As I have succesfully built the ATU-100 kit, I decided to go for a beafier ATU kit. Some weeks ago I received a kit from Ali Express. The ATU-1000 Automatic Antenna tuner kit. It is based on the same design of N7DCC, but the board is designed by EU2AV. The …
10m Propagation, Working FM Repeaters!
On friday the 11th of June, there was a lot of good propagation on 10m. Most of the time if there is good propagation is trying to work the N2ROW repeater in New York. Frequency: 29.680MHz Shift: -100KHz CTCSS Tone: 136.5Hz. Also found a fairly unknow repeater on: Frequency: …
Winlink
Today I have setup Winlink for the first time. I Always find it handy to have simple backup communication at hand whenever needed. So receiving and sending email over the air is a useful addition. Basic overview of Winlink and Vara HF Modem. I already was playing with various digital …
Participating WRTC
As the WRTC event draws closer and closer to the end, it’s getting harder and harder to complete everything. Over the past few months I have managed to get most WRTC stations worked on 40m / 20m and 10m. I am very happy that my station works quite well, even …
ATU-100 Antenna Tuner
Recently I purchased a ATU-100 Antenna tuner kit from Aliexpress. I have purchased this kit because the internal tuner of my IC-7610 has a tuning limit of 150ohms / SWR <3:1 as most internal tuners do. My previous IC-7300 had the tuner modification which extended the tuning limit, so tuning …
Dipole for 10/20m
My current antenna for 10 and 20m is still my old wire dipole. Construction is a wire Fan Dipole, in some slight inverterd V configuration directed East / West. Due the proper height of the antenna working DX is no problem at all.