tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79104124543630533152024-02-21T18:20:31.399-08:00The Morse SagasM0AUW - Stories of a Radio Ham within UK Amateur Radio.
QRP CW - Working the Ham Radio Bands.Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.comBlogger223125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-35099628985612494892021-12-24T02:22:00.000-08:002021-12-24T02:22:06.137-08:00<p> Watching You Tube the other day I came across a chap making a simple single Paddle key. Thinking to myself that I'd never attempted a CW key build I fancied having ago!</p><p>Tony EI2KC is a very experienced CW operator and has some great videos on YouTube and one of them was this single paddle keyer that he'd built and I thought I give it a go. Consisting of a block of wood, and a hacksaw blade with various clips, it's pretty simple to make and I suspected would only take a few hours.</p><p>I've built it as a mock up to start with as I'll need to clear the blade of paint and wire it up. But for a first attempt I'm pretty pleased so far and once I've had a good check I'll start on the final result. Wish me luck!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDe4KojGfh4q81jpshpEYbB6u6Y_P9UvIg2cP0ozGDUSQv8MrpdRjXcKzMqAo7h2V89p7pFM2WopXfycEyQho_sdmM89Ao8wt-DZA5LfqZJqmxB2DgFCCccDR6iqKPrFXEk_WygrYG4As6dRm2na9ac98HQodcllVjpZIYlxw8mL9FzjP2F4GpI-bL=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDe4KojGfh4q81jpshpEYbB6u6Y_P9UvIg2cP0ozGDUSQv8MrpdRjXcKzMqAo7h2V89p7pFM2WopXfycEyQho_sdmM89Ao8wt-DZA5LfqZJqmxB2DgFCCccDR6iqKPrFXEk_WygrYG4As6dRm2na9ac98HQodcllVjpZIYlxw8mL9FzjP2F4GpI-bL=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-4833133765511378592021-12-24T01:50:00.005-08:002022-01-24T04:27:52.412-08:00Back to Building Antennas 40/80/160 Inverted V<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I got a shock today when looking at my blog and realised that I hadn't populated it since September 2020! In my defense I have not been doing very much radio work at all, just the occasional listen and that's about all. Now the New Year is coming up fast I have promised myself to get back in to radio work, in particular get back in to some CW and also try out some more home brew antennas.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So I have started building a Dave Tatlock (KG0ZZ) 40/80/160 inverted V antenna. I do have the old W3DZZ, but it is old and so needs replacing and I'd like to have an antenna that covers 160, so this new inverted V seems just the job. Currently I am building the four coils, (evidently not traps, but coils), something I need to look in to more to find out the difference. I built a few traps particularly coax traps but no coils, so this should prove interesting. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've cut the four tubes, with two different lengths, the PVC circumference is 1 1/4" or 40mm, of which one is 4 1/4" in length and the other is 7 1/4" or 11cm and 18.4cm and have inserted the two end bolts to take the coil wire ends which will connect the coil wire to each element. I've also drilled out the holes for the elements wires to fasten the coils, but that is as far as I have got as I'm still awaiting the actual 18 AWG magnet wire. In the picture below, the white tube was the initial test piping for checking measurements and drilling any sample holes. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsPNNl2Hm-dOTIVQa7kCq1afCWc_pjYBEavdyqXTpXeY16PoirkcEWdqJ45EmJz2dtc4PV8pG684eZpqyJugVKR-Ao-KXyZZ9fZinR-2gzm-xxN1OOfujvoZMKPCcmrcoKyoVMtycjZbsAPipteEgIlW_dMLrcghW_CTSVJ5MaOuViPJDuzrNaxaPy=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsPNNl2Hm-dOTIVQa7kCq1afCWc_pjYBEavdyqXTpXeY16PoirkcEWdqJ45EmJz2dtc4PV8pG684eZpqyJugVKR-Ao-KXyZZ9fZinR-2gzm-xxN1OOfujvoZMKPCcmrcoKyoVMtycjZbsAPipteEgIlW_dMLrcghW_CTSVJ5MaOuViPJDuzrNaxaPy=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Each coil will then need winding, which should prove interesting as the smaller tube requires 50 turns of the 18 gauge wire and the larger will need 123 turns! The secret for any winding I find, is patience and plenty of masking tape so if you have to do something else or are interrupted whilst in mid turn, you can just tape up writing the number of turns on the masking tape. Believe me, it actually works!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The lengths of the elements seem simple enough, <b>40</b> meters is 35' 10" or 10.922 m. <b>80</b> meters is 14'9" or 4.55m and <b>160</b> meters is 8'10" or 2.7m. I'm using an old extension lead (25m) and have already remover the plastic cover so that I now have x3 wires which should provide more than enough length to cover all the elements. The lengths I've given are approximate and the finished antenna will require tuning I suspect....More to follow once I have received the 18 gauge wire.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first batch of 18 AWG wire has arrived so I've made a start on the winding's. Measuring and counting is the key as well as patience, you have to allow that things don't always run smoothly, especially the 123 turns for the 160 coil, which can prove quite demanding! Well, I've managed three coils and have run out of 18 AWG wire so have ordered some more but it's going to take at least a week to arrive, so on with some measuring of element cable. Remember measure loads of times and cut only once!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfWQS0CA-hbW02-cHFUZ5pUxf5sTWNKuVU6ldR_NM1Y0gNC4kIIGmddNi4H6gdS4fYPAkJZURUF_Y9ClARWkBgZOQXPeWVIfhKXTViu7377jogPLeR_7SGSLC9O2RiuQRoi8STLZSIB3kNMJshC8Er4HeF9cOJz3CoSvDuCSM6bg8xGzPK_w1NyPeH=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfWQS0CA-hbW02-cHFUZ5pUxf5sTWNKuVU6ldR_NM1Y0gNC4kIIGmddNi4H6gdS4fYPAkJZURUF_Y9ClARWkBgZOQXPeWVIfhKXTViu7377jogPLeR_7SGSLC9O2RiuQRoi8STLZSIB3kNMJshC8Er4HeF9cOJz3CoSvDuCSM6bg8xGzPK_w1NyPeH=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The second batch of 18 AWG wire arrived today and finally I have completed the coils. I have also managed to heat and remove the enamel of all ends so that I can attach them to their respective bolts. So they are now ready to be fitted to each element once I have measured and cut. Then I suspect the fun will start with trimming and tuning! Dave in his video reckons the coils and element lengths should be pretty accurate, but I have a feeling with the housing earth wire I'm using, things are going to need some trimming, but hopefully not adding!</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've got plenty of time as my new 30' mast doesn't arrive till February and therefore I can get things roughly set up, but cannot test properly till then.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I couldn't wait for the new mast so I built a temp one instead and after assembly the antenna was hoisted up to around 30ft. First results are pretty good, the SWR readings are not perfect at the moment but I've yet do do some fine tuning.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Top band is reading 1.1 at 1.817 which is right on the CW part of the band.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Eighty metres, is 1:1 at 3.688 and forty is 1:1 at 7.177. So first tests are pretty good. My only negative thoughts would be the SWR rises fairly quickly as you move up and down each freqs. Top band I can understand but 40 and 80 I thought would be better, e.g 1.6 by 7.220 and 1.6 by 3.7070. More playing and testing is obviously required.</span></div>Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-48315895698135543442020-09-04T10:05:00.002-07:002020-09-05T00:40:41.393-07:00QCX+ Continuation<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After the first bit of fun where I completely messed up the build in thinking I was constructing a 40m version instead of a 20m, things have somewhat calmed down. The instruction manual is well written, with excellent photos, good descriptions and provided you take your time and don't rush as I did, you wont make mistakes and things should go as described.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNp40VsosZ0bW0nI6xqNqiUAirE61oOA9HjoM4snTj1f13d7NTEKHYeTpVIX_vEfKhw0elnnCXPbzfL3W83eKDdhdXPOwm-gojSlpxmbg7y3QiKkEEGEcsAFlz6Gy_TXPli2o1Z858yxg/s1280/DSC01838.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNp40VsosZ0bW0nI6xqNqiUAirE61oOA9HjoM4snTj1f13d7NTEKHYeTpVIX_vEfKhw0elnnCXPbzfL3W83eKDdhdXPOwm-gojSlpxmbg7y3QiKkEEGEcsAFlz6Gy_TXPli2o1Z858yxg/s320/DSC01838.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I write I have completed the kit and apart from 4 missing M3 screws that I'm not too sure should be included anyway, but I can't emphasize enough it was a good build from the instructional point of view, so much so that a beginner with a bit of common sense should be OK. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As yet, I have to do the smoke test which for me I'm dreading, with the potential screw up of the T1 torroid. I'm just hoping it will work, but honestly I really don't know and it's certainly nothing to do with QRP Labs, it was purely my mistake! I would and probably will purchase other kits from QRP Labs, they are an excellent company, even emailing me during the pandemic to say how my order was progressing!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Once I had corrected my mistakes the rest of the build was fairly straight forward, with no difficult issues or problems. Once completed I was struck by how good and simple the design was. But that's the reason why the original QCX design sold 10,000 kits!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The enclosure is fairly simple yet strong and sturdy. There is certainly no need to make your own, this one will do the job brilliantly.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusakItYh_vYbgkcT3t4WoOKcBfacAdp0AAJYYG1QkwXngEzJeSZufftxeujQEoxXimvtqUdZUkr1Z5HZrURAIzexDe_7ZEsECPaKBLyESUamfN5B4d2jET4IBfANha5Hrz2RYlQBg2TQ/s1280/DSC01840.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusakItYh_vYbgkcT3t4WoOKcBfacAdp0AAJYYG1QkwXngEzJeSZufftxeujQEoxXimvtqUdZUkr1Z5HZrURAIzexDe_7ZEsECPaKBLyESUamfN5B4d2jET4IBfANha5Hrz2RYlQBg2TQ/s320/DSC01840.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The picture above is not too clear but gives the general idea. Incidentally the kit is sitting on the manual, that's how much information regarding building etc you get...134 pages, pretty impressive!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Once I have built up enough courage I will do the smoke test, hopefully have a very large drink and report back and then on to the next build!!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">...........Just to add, smoke test completed and although it switched on my LCD display was just showing one line of bars. After a thorough check of soldering points and some re soldering and also repositioning of the micro chip The radio sprang in to life, excellent! Now I have to align and do some other tuning and then hopefully we have a good little rig to play with.</span></p>Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-43650436746284289562020-08-30T11:16:00.004-07:002020-08-30T11:17:29.380-07:00The QCX+ 5 watt Transceiver - Dumb Mistakes Already!!<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Finally the kit has arrived, but it had to wait as I was still in the process of finishing off the Rockmite and the Texas Topper (see posts below). Over the past few days I have started to build the kit after taking a further two days checking the inventory and reading over the manual. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first and I can only say dumb mistake I made was winding the T1 Torroid, It wasn't that there was anything wrong with the winding's, in fact it was perfect. Four different winds on a small torroid, eight connections, as I said perfect. <i> </i>I'd even fitted it to the circuit board as instructed and begun adding some capacitors when I realised I had some capacitors missing and saw the bag marked 20m LPF! It suddenly dawned on me I had been in auto mode and for some stupid reason thinking I was building the 40m version (as per the Rockmite) instead of the 20m version!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86UNmdRNagBKOXMKtksvKaGkHqq1ZPF9cD_JSRaN7lHvDyxv1Cbo9LZ-dqKxUgUadiXWdc-_iwH1bjMP4Jo-89FMDqtv1hyphenhyphenrd37ai1h0avUdDyUPw-wwog_F7q70Ad-xA9qMM1-RNbWo/s1280/DSC01837.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86UNmdRNagBKOXMKtksvKaGkHqq1ZPF9cD_JSRaN7lHvDyxv1Cbo9LZ-dqKxUgUadiXWdc-_iwH1bjMP4Jo-89FMDqtv1hyphenhyphenrd37ai1h0avUdDyUPw-wwog_F7q70Ad-xA9qMM1-RNbWo/s640/DSC01837.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The giveaway</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">!</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Believe me, there was a lot of swearing when it dawned on me what I had done. Bloody typical that torriod was regarded by the manual as very tricky and I had just completed and fitted the 40m version perfectly, I was livid.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now came the awful task of removing 4 capacitors and the 8 connections of the torriod, then reducing one of the winding's from 38 to 30 and three sets of 5 winds to 3. I honestly thought that's it, I ruined the kit before I had even got going! Miraculously, and I really don't know how, somehow, with much patience, I managed to remove and then fix and reset the torroid.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxQndPaBjxPSqhJTVyPeoPWVgUOCd3piFcRV95kz7jaIaDOn42FvEQ0Ixx9IyPeAUigpbWOaZK6qzwt3Mr_8Gpk2_-gLnHKXbzM-z7YAPPlSw5yIPPsI5fm26YFFmhD6fk3MEryPLZ1E/s1280/DSC01835.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxQndPaBjxPSqhJTVyPeoPWVgUOCd3piFcRV95kz7jaIaDOn42FvEQ0Ixx9IyPeAUigpbWOaZK6qzwt3Mr_8Gpk2_-gLnHKXbzM-z7YAPPlSw5yIPPsI5fm26YFFmhD6fk3MEryPLZ1E/s640/DSC01835.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The torroid and capacitors refitted !</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The PCB doesn't look too bad from the top, but underneath I had some scary moments where the tracking began to loosen through me heating and wiping off some solder to reopen the holes.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TatAOCWE-TQZA6KNTk-ouO9_oYKneq9hnrDEK76rD1_GpqiMw4WvqjkkGcGVDWq2l6L0IwPZoYdwjVtYkKprxWMM1JjI6hgCz762MZPZJxwPGh9wJiCdXVeUVOxX0fCncAa5C6QoNcQ/s1280/DSC01834.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TatAOCWE-TQZA6KNTk-ouO9_oYKneq9hnrDEK76rD1_GpqiMw4WvqjkkGcGVDWq2l6L0IwPZoYdwjVtYkKprxWMM1JjI6hgCz762MZPZJxwPGh9wJiCdXVeUVOxX0fCncAa5C6QoNcQ/s640/DSC01834.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can see the mess on the three triangular holes and the center track looks pretty beaten up, but I've checked and rechecked and the connections look OK. Somehow I got away with that stupid mistake. </span><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">The morale being the usual, read and read again the instructions and don't confuse your 40m Rockmite with your 20m QCX+</span></h1><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">................More to follow over the next few days!</span></p>Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-10299678718190899312020-08-22T10:16:00.002-07:002020-09-04T10:05:55.424-07:00The Texas Topper 5 Watt Amp<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Before moving on from QRPme and the failed Rockmite that didn't live up to my expectations. I also purchased the Texas Topper, a 5 watt amplifier. This I thought would go nicely with the 4 Rockmites that I own and could provide me with a bit of oomph should the need arise!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Once again, how can I explain, I've built the 4 Rockmites, an OHR 100A, even a K2 so I'd like to think I'm not a novice builder, but even I was struggling with the instructions. When you have built something like the K2 or the QCX and even the early Rockmites the instructions are superb. They take you along the fun and the ride of the whole process, good instructions will also explain why your doing something so you can learn and understand the whole build process.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9dnz2eYrwYmltr1LwPEnUv60VPoUdE6POJfeoyVoL6nqZr555qdaLmViR11nQtbthnVh-YlK8a6kPrhsknhWFC9oLymOIXTCBBYOEWVHS62USMqPOS9n8j7nNJ_j5ebhorO4svILdrg/s1280/DSC01822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9dnz2eYrwYmltr1LwPEnUv60VPoUdE6POJfeoyVoL6nqZr555qdaLmViR11nQtbthnVh-YlK8a6kPrhsknhWFC9oLymOIXTCBBYOEWVHS62USMqPOS9n8j7nNJ_j5ebhorO4svILdrg/s640/DSC01822.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sadly with QRPme they seem to be blunt and to the point, not really teaching you and expecting you to know things that really aren't that clear. Also once again I also had the wrong parts so I have had to order five more capacitors, annoying to say the least.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Texas Topper has been constructed, but once again with little satisfaction by me, I feel sort of empty, not quite fulfilled.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gQaN6ybPrJXOD7fCwZkq1J4bshUWqZ556wkRFdMNmy6WrKj6iWsWA-SSAmD7qcvN9FI8p9F_kQx371Lr4WWPmGLfxAROcx-HEsYguvpBAmI6EDR7zdIRiPsVQFCbRVQCPtcnqliPBQQ/s1280/DSC01820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gQaN6ybPrJXOD7fCwZkq1J4bshUWqZ556wkRFdMNmy6WrKj6iWsWA-SSAmD7qcvN9FI8p9F_kQx371Lr4WWPmGLfxAROcx-HEsYguvpBAmI6EDR7zdIRiPsVQFCbRVQCPtcnqliPBQQ/s640/DSC01820.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The picture shows it all, built but missing parts, which are all on order. I shall now have to wait another week and probably struggle with the completion yet again. Incidentally my rockmite transistor part appeared the other day which fixed the receive problem, but unfortunately I still can't transmit so more investigation work is required.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">To sum up I don't think I'll be buying anymore kits from QRPme, sorry but that the way it goes!</span></p>Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-71869338159655038382020-08-11T04:30:00.003-07:002020-08-11T04:31:43.826-07:0040M Rockmite From QRPme<p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
can't remember if I said in a previous post that I had a new Rockmite on order
from a few weeks back. It was the 40m version, I wanted to see if there is any
difference from the old days of when I bought three 40,30 and 20M from Dave
Benson K1SLW, which really got me started in building QRP.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was aware Dave Benson K1SLW was retired and had handed the Rockmite
business across to someone else, but I didn't know who, so obviously I did a bit of
searching on the web and came across QRPme. QRPme is run by Rex Harper W1ERX. The other thing I didn't realise was that Kanga Products was the UK operation for QRPme and in my rush, I went straight to QRPme to order the Rockmite.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The package duly arrived from the States and of course I had to pay custom duty! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This seemed to be the first of many issues. On opening up the package and inspecting the contents, I realised the "Dave Benson" personal touch had gone.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether it's through QRPme being bigger, or Rex hadn't the time I don't know, but that personal touch has disappeared. That easy to read instruction manual with those marvelous pictures of all the components and everything explained had gone and in its place a few sheets of accurate instructions, but not with a beginner in mind.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GVZH5NFNDrx5gpWa5j_3O4iZIfl6265HY3D60ov7bU-UhOELTu1t3DP3xUBNLIn04klFafKkG3napVP_fGY6YplMJqDK6ITTf_Al7Uh1xbOpoRYdBwYz5PcMjnAThC0o7GMvF38eto0/s1280/DSC01817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GVZH5NFNDrx5gpWa5j_3O4iZIfl6265HY3D60ov7bU-UhOELTu1t3DP3xUBNLIn04klFafKkG3napVP_fGY6YplMJqDK6ITTf_Al7Uh1xbOpoRYdBwYz5PcMjnAThC0o7GMvF38eto0/s640/DSC01817.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">Waiting for parts</div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sadly that wasn't all. Some components were missing and I found a mixture of different parts, but for other bands, but not all complete. For instance, I was missing 3 capacitors for the 40m kit but had the right capacitors for the 20m kit. Also where I should have the crystals for 40m I had the 20m set, which made me double check and think if I had originally ordered the 40m kit!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_exnXuRMwpAUPE_xRTo4yAoNnBcADAZj89ImlNPUW4EWlsoO0Pq9NoDeIzWrwiteosrpjOQ5oKRaoK9oR5l5cXmZ3T55QQGeoGClH-CjbriqM8EkpZHUYoNJsvpwZpv4AUZXwFMTIg1g/s1280/DSC01818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_exnXuRMwpAUPE_xRTo4yAoNnBcADAZj89ImlNPUW4EWlsoO0Pq9NoDeIzWrwiteosrpjOQ5oKRaoK9oR5l5cXmZ3T55QQGeoGClH-CjbriqM8EkpZHUYoNJsvpwZpv4AUZXwFMTIg1g/s640/DSC01818.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">The wrong crystals</div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So in conclusion I have had to reorder some components and crystals from Kanga Products and have been left disappointed and saddened that the Rockmites that started me on the road to QRP building is in a way no more. Sure the Rockmite is alive, but slicker and corporate. It still relatively easy to build, but sadly lacks the personal touch Dave Benson seemed to add.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think if you look at the website there's a lot products on there, I don't know how big QRPme is, but it just feels to me that everything was rushed if that makes any sense. Maybe I was just unlucky! Let me know if you've had a good experience with QRPme.</span></p>Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-80979014020442925982020-08-10T10:37:00.002-07:002020-08-10T10:37:47.047-07:00Emtech ZM-2 ATU<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> I came across this ATU kit while searching the web for a tuner specifically for my Rockmites and other QRP rigs as the Tokyo HC 400L ATU is too big for the low power.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">All the reviews I'd read, pointed towards a good, easy to build QRP tuner. So I decided to go ahead and purchase. In under 10 days it arrived promptly from the States, custom free and well packed. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The instructions were well layed out and even a beginner could quite easily complete this kit. The only process that might be deemed difficult for some were the two toroids, but to be honest they were not that difficult, but being the lazy person that I am, I got the main T130 toroid wound for me for an extra $5 which I thought was pretty cheap! To be honest and my only moan was the T130 had been wound but the 2nd SWR indicator toroid which is much smaller hadn't been and if I'd known this at the start I wouldn't have bothered paying the extra $5 as I find smaller toroid's harder than the larger ones to wind! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But no matter, I'm not a complainer about winding toroids, the're a </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">necessity and I just get on with the</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> job. Otherwise installing the components and the switches was pretty easy, there's not a lot of room when installing the 2nd toroid, but if you're careful it fits all in.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXKydmRhFnL5lLUUT1s-i3t0tX9DACNHd8w92lAy6JZPx10Rx9uHwn_NGOUty-o3hZGXgPBIHaTZUkRtlTUzTSGpx9FusDAGskkdsNj1wuV1xRg8mettUaghyd33RxLnyvaktm68E8rg/s493/photo-4-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="493" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXKydmRhFnL5lLUUT1s-i3t0tX9DACNHd8w92lAy6JZPx10Rx9uHwn_NGOUty-o3hZGXgPBIHaTZUkRtlTUzTSGpx9FusDAGskkdsNj1wuV1xRg8mettUaghyd33RxLnyvaktm68E8rg/s0/photo-4-1.jpg" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The tuner even comes with two sets of decals which you can then spray with varnish or similar screening, provided they are stuck on accurately they work well.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i397eVnRXuYHT6vUFOvIQNwwl9DmMkNR_nznrAf60vNykeGXP0zMXar8R_l3xXpKENS-aWEJKmu0geu5564dyRHYWiTbe_B29b1A0DhpZP8a3XjFkpiu5IPBy6Gov7K79oXBZTYL_P0/s1280/DSC01807.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i397eVnRXuYHT6vUFOvIQNwwl9DmMkNR_nznrAf60vNykeGXP0zMXar8R_l3xXpKENS-aWEJKmu0geu5564dyRHYWiTbe_B29b1A0DhpZP8a3XjFkpiu5IPBy6Gov7K79oXBZTYL_P0/s640/DSC01807.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Once finished it's extremely easy to operate, which makes it a joy to work. I really like this bit of kit and for the price you can't go wrong. It will be ideal for the new QCX+ kit that I'm waiting to arrive!</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-51913269511637631042020-07-28T02:51:00.000-07:002020-07-28T02:51:20.161-07:00Chinese Manual Kit ATU Off eBay<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I saw this advertised when browsing on eBay and thought for £8.79p you can't go wrong at that price! Or so I thought, an ATU kit complete with box, stickers all the bits, it was a reasonable deal and if you messed up it was only a few pounds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It didn't take too long to arrive about 3 weeks from China, well packed and it was all there, the only problem of many to come, was there was no instructions!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Browsing across the internet I guessed there must be something and sure enough when looking at Tinker John's YouTube video W5CYF (who does very good instructions btw) . He had a link to some half Chinese/English e manual which I duly printed off. Obviously Tinker John had had a go at building the Chinese kit as well and he got it working, but didn't seem too impressed by the instructions, I got the impression he more or less just built the kit via the pictures!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, together with the Tinker John video's and the instructional pictures, I tried to follow it all and eventually got there. But to be honest the circuit board was misaligned, the instructions for drilling in to the container were totally off and Winding the large torroid and twisting in the tapping points was an absolute pain (and normally I don't mind winding torroids). Finally, you needed and engineering degree to work out how the variable capacitor knobs were fitted on to their respective capacitors and I'll admit there was a lot of it was re jigging and re drilling!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the end and to fair I just followed Tinker John's advice and looked at the pictures</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and the one schematic</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> diagram and somehow got there . </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What surprised me was linking and connecting it all up to my W3DZZ and my antenna</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> analyser and finding it actually worked!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What surprised me even more, was that it worked reasonably well, enough to for me actually use my K2 and the Rockmites. So for £8.79 and if you're prepared to have a bit of fun and struggle, but if you're dedicated you will get there, I would buy the kit and have a bit of fun, after you can't go wrong for £8.79 or $11.32!</span></div>
Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-17944529436924078572020-07-11T00:45:00.002-07:002020-07-11T00:48:04.894-07:00JJJElectronics QRP Transceiver 20/40M<font face="verdana">Well, what can I say that's good about it, honestly very little. I paid nearly £85 for a ready built transceiver, calibrated and aligned, but I'm afraid it's probably the worst £85 I've spent on a radio. This probably through impatience and stupidity on my part, I should have waited , but as usual jumped in with both feet!(What I should have done is bought the kit for £35 instead).</font><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjad_1J9oHoETWCYxiCore2e1xsfv_TgOiJLMvMhXXEjhFmWdOOiAi_y65-mXvP0AdrKaRehYa1oxMRMx7WoiXaSGxL2DDLjdqN7xeWd0JeMqHfvO7ilpvKElEoavOrBAbw6uXpG8kEwd4/s1280/DSC01804.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjad_1J9oHoETWCYxiCore2e1xsfv_TgOiJLMvMhXXEjhFmWdOOiAi_y65-mXvP0AdrKaRehYa1oxMRMx7WoiXaSGxL2DDLjdqN7xeWd0JeMqHfvO7ilpvKElEoavOrBAbw6uXpG8kEwd4/s320/DSC01804.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font face="verdana">A fairly simple face for a simple transceiver</font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font><div><font face="verdana">I had to install an on/off switch and a jack for headphones. The initial set up was some female plugin wire setup for both the speaker and power which was quite frankly useless. On powering up the transceiver it drifts like mad and maybe (and I say this loosely) after 20 minutes of warm up it may steady a little. The only time you can hear any Morse on 20M is mid morning, as the rest of the time you are plagued with MW. Similarly in the evenings this happens on 40.</font></div></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJXBFpQS0hjk-Qu48JUog4VyPmvleqMoXUXHZKgGXitwFfysap9Q0jONLhPk32zeeOEv8CjqypXu7JBkMs3fQlQ8A-vbrQ5VwaIqRq3mN6VdBf2MJEC2OU2MsfOQ15wJ6JM2V0DFPf60/s1280/DSC01806.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJXBFpQS0hjk-Qu48JUog4VyPmvleqMoXUXHZKgGXitwFfysap9Q0jONLhPk32zeeOEv8CjqypXu7JBkMs3fQlQ8A-vbrQ5VwaIqRq3mN6VdBf2MJEC2OU2MsfOQ15wJ6JM2V0DFPf60/s320/DSC01806.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><font face="verdana"><div style="text-align: center;">You can see where I added the on/off switch and the ear jack</div></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana">But I suppose that's what you get when buying a QRP rig off eBay. It's not badly built and the guy knows what he's doing. But the design is appalling and when you see something as good as the QCX QRP rig that is priced at $49 it does make you wonder. The morale of the story is, steer well clear of JJJElectronics on eBay, don't make the mistake I did. </font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><font face="verdana">Still,</font><span style="font-family: verdana;"> I have now got loads of spares for my next new QRP rig whatever that will be!</span></div>Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-72055816632978657032020-07-02T08:44:00.000-07:002020-07-02T08:44:18.854-07:00Rockmites and Other QRP Radio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Regulars to this blog will know I do like some QRP and
during the lockdown in this country I was back working with the Rockmites. I
have three at the moment 40,20 and 30 Meters with a fourth on the way. </span></div>
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The 20 and the 40 are in the same type of container as above and the 30 below is in a small metal tin.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Small
Wonders Labs is no more as Dave Benson has retired and so the Rockmite works
has been passed on to Rex Harper W1REX with his very successful website <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.qrpme.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1;">www.qrpme.com</span></a></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> .</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m interested to see what has changed and if
there are any improvements etc to the build process. I hanker after the build
and the challenge of trying to get contacts with 0.5 watts. Sometimes you get
lucky and have great QSO’s with these wonderful little radios and other times
you’re sitting for hours trying to get a reply, swings and roundabouts! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also
have an OHR100 5 watt transceiver, a 5 watt 20/40 mts transceiver by
JJJelectronics and of course the Elecraft K2. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO80GCOEFcEFXuNdrxJ6POJxeNdZEKaA765dnQrYMEYCNDZwrTc2m709UmAVC7RpPPew4K3dW_7gXCpF_dhVM6v5oZ3cOXsEfA2_FEXBAbSo7Hd5slvg1nKKvYtOy5oVU99jDsMEmxHcM/s1600/ohr100a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="395" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO80GCOEFcEFXuNdrxJ6POJxeNdZEKaA765dnQrYMEYCNDZwrTc2m709UmAVC7RpPPew4K3dW_7gXCpF_dhVM6v5oZ3cOXsEfA2_FEXBAbSo7Hd5slvg1nKKvYtOy5oVU99jDsMEmxHcM/s320/ohr100a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The OHR 100</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One final rig I’m waiting for
which I am relishing the build is a QCX –plus by QRP Labs this is their follow
up from the famous QCX transceiver that sold somewhere in the region of 10,000
kits, so was very successful. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNwOjTe-Y1RH-F3UsQtUFb03peSRtt7bRZBh6XrXzyHfDrEW7Pliuh0Gdd8HwL9tDQwFMz_8Avf7B3Xx8VlKcsBnwf1k3XyZMsJAVbTCNYS2yTnsH9gM3HPGZiYQ9bwCVJaR4JGh4TDY/s1600/imagesFDH47XWQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNwOjTe-Y1RH-F3UsQtUFb03peSRtt7bRZBh6XrXzyHfDrEW7Pliuh0Gdd8HwL9tDQwFMz_8Avf7B3Xx8VlKcsBnwf1k3XyZMsJAVbTCNYS2yTnsH9gM3HPGZiYQ9bwCVJaR4JGh4TDY/s1600/imagesFDH47XWQ.jpg" /></a></div>
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The new QCX+</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another kit I’d like to have the challenge of a
build is the K1 and I suspect in the future, I shall no doubt purchase and
build one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-87261403610344022022020-06-16T04:15:00.001-07:002020-06-17T02:22:54.926-07:00Invertd L W3DZZ 40/80 and Top Band Antenna<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The W3DZZ Top band Inverted L is a great antenna if you want to get on
top band but never thought it possible because you are limited to a small garden. It
doesn’t have to be in a straight line, you can bend to your garden shape and it
should still work pretty well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The lengths are divided up in to 9.9 metres
followed by the 7MHz trap and then 6.55 metres to the 3.5MHz trap and then
another 8.54 metres. A good earth is needed with a ground rod, but preferably some ground radials would be even better. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As usual the higher the better for the
antenna, but it will work at 15 or 20 feet if limited with height. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The traps
are the simple coax fed, divided up to 20 turns for the 80 meter and 11 turns for the
40 meter on a 40 mm PVC water pipe former with simple solder connections as
shown in the diagram. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jGMn0gU3GvfQR6PAt1UaR2y__1X-TDO8jt5_xzXmWGKZFbJYSlH4w7EqAQ_YD2qvFnXDpZMepsPSIDTEJk2NiACtQ1M1ONW0IFfBWri9GMRftYpUr1rF-lFkGGuMD_Oup3GyzuXr3Ds/s1600/img189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="854" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jGMn0gU3GvfQR6PAt1UaR2y__1X-TDO8jt5_xzXmWGKZFbJYSlH4w7EqAQ_YD2qvFnXDpZMepsPSIDTEJk2NiACtQ1M1ONW0IFfBWri9GMRftYpUr1rF-lFkGGuMD_Oup3GyzuXr3Ds/s320/img189.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Below are my traps which took about an hour to build.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOz8kB6Khm4LFUSvhrm-iQgZkuAWiorRe8PKU30_qKHkw7xy2OnTznv44iin8CtuOxknkorwsIgrMFCApd1pINcwMmYztp2DhmWNKIX6hq4RYrylMsFX1WcLssgyH5q8rgDZD5esHnt4/s1600/DSC01457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOz8kB6Khm4LFUSvhrm-iQgZkuAWiorRe8PKU30_qKHkw7xy2OnTznv44iin8CtuOxknkorwsIgrMFCApd1pINcwMmYztp2DhmWNKIX6hq4RYrylMsFX1WcLssgyH5q8rgDZD5esHnt4/s320/DSC01457.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Forty</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLu92Vl3sk9dUb0NKSWIdpp8ZYvSJFlf0yalgqtEul35oBVt_eLChuHFx9IOHt9o9PS6kpu7BnuXVc_V1LnnVZkMqUjUsimkKHRQGUGiUiLJQrGWpI5ewMcZyKsjo9fyBFck_4DNXBq7g/s1600/DSC01458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLu92Vl3sk9dUb0NKSWIdpp8ZYvSJFlf0yalgqtEul35oBVt_eLChuHFx9IOHt9o9PS6kpu7BnuXVc_V1LnnVZkMqUjUsimkKHRQGUGiUiLJQrGWpI5ewMcZyKsjo9fyBFck_4DNXBq7g/s320/DSC01458.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Eighty</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The top band length shown will give a 1:5:1 SWR at around
1.9MHz. If you are limited with height try to put in more ground radials if you
can.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The picture below shows it going over original designer’s
house, but as I said before you can bend it to how you want. I’m lucky enough
to have it as a straight dipole, but last year I had it up as a horizontal L
shape round the corner of the garden and it worked well.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUTidX7NWbcOSxVCsGJs0D1iN6uczDQzIK66U900GVOBDgFnaEiLxwYwzIx2PM8e0PvhLPGKhWbU3ISKVYBsr3KHD1ImEsMbwohn51Tp0N6WGG1lwy18Ba_oMjgd4M3mkwSLcV5JrFzg/s1600/top_band_inverted_L_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="881" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUTidX7NWbcOSxVCsGJs0D1iN6uczDQzIK66U900GVOBDgFnaEiLxwYwzIx2PM8e0PvhLPGKhWbU3ISKVYBsr3KHD1ImEsMbwohn51Tp0N6WGG1lwy18Ba_oMjgd4M3mkwSLcV5JrFzg/s320/top_band_inverted_L_001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do experiment with this antenna, especially now it's summer and you can get it ready for those dark nights when top band and eighty start coming in to their own. Once set up correctly to your particular situation it will work really well for those lower bands!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lR9CdtXgqJsM_SfJNCEMNC9a4BSP1JW0AEAh-TwhhA172U1M1EC67F9P8LZ_2ivVdqI5iVU-IA9jr7d7nYpYCbX9b_jSp5p6tit3MtyhISg_xWslLIn2EDNmyL7A4kjLfMVoiIX1UKk/s1600/DSC01799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lR9CdtXgqJsM_SfJNCEMNC9a4BSP1JW0AEAh-TwhhA172U1M1EC67F9P8LZ_2ivVdqI5iVU-IA9jr7d7nYpYCbX9b_jSp5p6tit3MtyhISg_xWslLIn2EDNmyL7A4kjLfMVoiIX1UKk/s320/DSC01799.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Forgive the quality of the camera work, but hopefully you get the idea with the W3DZZ about 10 meters up!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZcJ_NJIp8dtjKqlxkT5B6E9ckkDfFVARl7P8HIOO1X2PJ4oKdoLNuQIT8A8xVUhnQbHQHZAXmvSyDLTqpkr45PifoXCCvlDnnnwKic81zdQIts6H-gYCDr18m8JtKS4phedHM9oYVwI/s1600/DSC01802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZcJ_NJIp8dtjKqlxkT5B6E9ckkDfFVARl7P8HIOO1X2PJ4oKdoLNuQIT8A8xVUhnQbHQHZAXmvSyDLTqpkr45PifoXCCvlDnnnwKic81zdQIts6H-gYCDr18m8JtKS4phedHM9oYVwI/s320/DSC01802.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This shows where the coax is split to the shack and the earth goes to the ground radials from the DX Commander</span></div>
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Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-600164023386293482020-06-11T02:41:00.000-07:002020-06-11T10:59:24.311-07:00DX Commander & Rebuilding W3DZZ Top Bander<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't know if you have come across this antenna before but information is widely available on the internet. Which is where I first saw it and then came across the youtube site of DX Commander. Cullum is a bit of an odd ball to say the least, but is very entertaining and knowledgeable about his product. So much so that he convinced me and having read the various favourable comments as well, I ordered the <a href="https://www.m0mcx.co.uk/" target="_blank">DX Commander Classic multi band antenna</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Basically it's a vertical 10 metre </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">fibre glass pole</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> with a number of elements in parallel attached to it , in turn you connect the elements up to a number of ground plane radials by a series of aluminium plates. Very neat and tidy but simple, but then all the best ideas seem to be simple and it works very well. I have to say I'm pretty impressed and with the price. It's now raised up in my paddock and within a few days of erecting I've had contacts from all over Europe, across the pond and in to the far reaches of Russia. By the time the cycle picks up I'll have no problems getting VK and ZL.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I now have the W3DZZ up for 40 and 80 meters, the Hustler which is a sort of back up antenna which is the 6 bander and now the DX Commander which is setup for 10, 12, 14 and 30 meters. Regular readers will probably remember me mentioning the W3DZZ sister antenna (40, 80 and top band) that I experimented with back last year. Well I am in the process of rebuilding, I am using the two old coaxial traps (80 and (40) which I have reset and cleaned up and am just waiting for the new wiring for the element.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPicoToylp3C0EQQ6_VzXY3657bzlb6CXHifVpt_tz1sJJqxMZ2Pta9QQWh8xO19-ZVRARvJMV2S6s0p9h1JF6-791fDSmIOM65bYsmAHwL6cMjSwjrX1Neod8gok6nc24txMz-35KOWY/s1600/img189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="854" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPicoToylp3C0EQQ6_VzXY3657bzlb6CXHifVpt_tz1sJJqxMZ2Pta9QQWh8xO19-ZVRARvJMV2S6s0p9h1JF6-791fDSmIOM65bYsmAHwL6cMjSwjrX1Neod8gok6nc24txMz-35KOWY/s320/img189.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The whole length of the antenna is roughly 25 metres but obviously split up with the traps. I hope to use the ground radials from the DX Commander with the top band antenna and I'll stretch it out across my paddock. I've already setup and prepared some poles for the antenna to hang, so now it's just waiting for the postal service to drop the wiring off!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwA34ipmnvPjagJGiOXDdcNzvGT7TJQCSQ3FrXmPsQm0CDchfFlBe0eTQmg606op83SbLsJLeFs3uJZY7pV_tarMTGswITpFxTgfIT-Wo9Zc62Kr_SDFk8fmqqr8V_0_1zZcsVmAWcyk/s1600/top_band_inverted_L_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="881" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwA34ipmnvPjagJGiOXDdcNzvGT7TJQCSQ3FrXmPsQm0CDchfFlBe0eTQmg606op83SbLsJLeFs3uJZY7pV_tarMTGswITpFxTgfIT-Wo9Zc62Kr_SDFk8fmqqr8V_0_1zZcsVmAWcyk/s320/top_band_inverted_L_001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The picture above shows how it would be set up over a house, but I plan to have it raised up, but in my paddock. The picture below shows my previous attempt and how simple it is when completed. I think where I went wrong last time was that I didn't really plan how I was going to raise and keep up 25 metres of wire and two traps. It was always a bit fragile, it never felt solid, also the tuning could have been better. So this time I'll take my time and do things slowly!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEoxaRUkLxch_PlNqjTsHzHE4izN5KGbuZmU701AFQuK4HYAJkVWESMD9EfpAHblfVU7PYo5pn_OOV6qsNS0EFsq_pG2TWJuOGEXbThy4-r_n48yDPz2OhhA-QnXPxVWk1r71WBZQsfo/s1600/DSC00805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEoxaRUkLxch_PlNqjTsHzHE4izN5KGbuZmU701AFQuK4HYAJkVWESMD9EfpAHblfVU7PYo5pn_OOV6qsNS0EFsq_pG2TWJuOGEXbThy4-r_n48yDPz2OhhA-QnXPxVWk1r71WBZQsfo/s320/DSC00805.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Radio wise I still have the FTDX 5000MP and the FT 1000D as back up and of course the trusty K2 and a number of QRP rigs. Sometimes I get itchy and want to sell and buy, but in honesty the 5000 and the 1000 are superb rigs and really why bother?</span></div>
Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-24793132758442916562019-06-20T09:49:00.000-07:002019-06-20T09:49:37.934-07:00Out with the Old and In With the New<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been a while since my last post but unfortunately as usual work and other projects have got in the way of radio. Suffice to say conditions have not been good and the only stations I have been hearing lately are the Europeans and some Russians but otherwise fairly quiet. The delta loop antenna has been useful as it has a quiet receive but as I have said conditions have been very bad.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a new transceiver an FTDX5000MP . I saw it on eBay and the seller was asking a fair amount of money for it, but mentioned at the end of his description that if it was the right radio he would also be interested in a part exchange.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7dXIuZEFhvHmJ6CXpHjP-TO5AElizhesmEIBaINGnrcS3sZkK-uoRC2VwMPcGaGhUVStkSGHdP87_qNteoUuHCzIueEs6kmar_i_Mm49iM8u4X9FIkL52HE03hVE_3Qr5QUw0yxCo6I/s1600/s-l1600+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7dXIuZEFhvHmJ6CXpHjP-TO5AElizhesmEIBaINGnrcS3sZkK-uoRC2VwMPcGaGhUVStkSGHdP87_qNteoUuHCzIueEs6kmar_i_Mm49iM8u4X9FIkL52HE03hVE_3Qr5QUw0yxCo6I/s320/s-l1600+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wrote to him asking if he'd be interested in my FTDX9000MP, as I have decided after having the stroke it is now too big an heavy for what I need. Although a fabulous transceiver which normally I wouldn't part with, I feel now the time is right. It's such a heavy beast and takes up half the radio room! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The seller, a chap from Wales was interested in the 9000 and asked for pics which I duly sent. In the evening he was round at my house having travelled the 110 miles to get to me in the late afternoon, I think he was keen!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His FTDX5000MP was mint having still got the plastic covers over the screens. After a cup of tea and some chatting we did the swap and within an hour he was on his way home with his 9000 and I was happy with my new 5000, all was done and dusted by supper!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The FTDX5000MP is a very nice rig and the size compared to the 9000 is much better for me. Should the need arise I will look for an amp but at the moment I;'m perfectly happy with the 200W. It also has the Station Monitor SM-5000 which incorporates the speakers which is a nice touch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will have a play and then do a full write up, but initial reports are good and this seems like an excellent radio. I will miss the FTDX9000MP but I've had some good time with it and now is the time to move on.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPG1X5AlzSLHdhdU758Brk5EgYiOPqCoLdzdFztiQc1ILW9f6F21fAh5679_T7g18RISeKqCCKnAKJWJVW0XPFvtgaEb89W2rxUp87ZtDDaAZHvHTKbPohxqocP0Q4EYYKa3sf_w-D4Ns/s1600/DSC01625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPG1X5AlzSLHdhdU758Brk5EgYiOPqCoLdzdFztiQc1ILW9f6F21fAh5679_T7g18RISeKqCCKnAKJWJVW0XPFvtgaEb89W2rxUp87ZtDDaAZHvHTKbPohxqocP0Q4EYYKa3sf_w-D4Ns/s320/DSC01625.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Farewell My Sweet!</span></div>
<br />Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-86792556252974387102019-02-07T08:39:00.003-08:002021-12-28T01:52:53.403-08:00The M0PLK Delta Loop Antenna<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">So at last
the weather has turned for the better and I have been assembling the M0PLK
Delta Loop which came from Poland. I’m amazed at the quality of various parts
that make up the antenna, you don’t get this sort of quality with other local
commercial antennas. </span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">To start I
had to make up the ladder line, I tried to follow the instructions which I managed to find on the website, but of course it was in Polish
which was no help to me. Instead I followed the pictures and I'm pretty certain all was OK, but for peace of mind I did a google translation at the end of the build just to be sure!</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Each upright
side of the Delta Loop is made from aluminium tubular extendable poles and the cross section is
12 gauge wire, which is the same for the ladder line, nice and strong. There
are excellent plastic connectors for the ladder line, 7 in total which are fairly
easy to assemble. </span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Connecting
the cross wire is again fairly easy, it has a couple of wire clamps with the
wire circled over the top of the aluminium tubes and then clamped to fix it in
position. The centre piece connects the two wires together with the ladder line.
The bottom of each aluminium tube is connected by a single wire. The two aluminium
poles are then clamped on a vee shaped piece of aluminium by six larger clamps.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qRFeVUI-BL8iWv0JwvF7SiUhyphenhyphenKv550LRwfByPExYaNxe5TpXG9sPBCTewlVWR0T8PuL5hU-ce9B4-gYzD7IXck9OMfnBX-FibJAZa-F6wpIZ7yAMgo7JrruuI3V-f5swVHrB7r1DKjI/s1600/delta_m0plk_alu_v2012_8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qRFeVUI-BL8iWv0JwvF7SiUhyphenhyphenKv550LRwfByPExYaNxe5TpXG9sPBCTewlVWR0T8PuL5hU-ce9B4-gYzD7IXck9OMfnBX-FibJAZa-F6wpIZ7yAMgo7JrruuI3V-f5swVHrB7r1DKjI/s320/delta_m0plk_alu_v2012_8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">The vee
already has the balun attached to the aluminium plate, so it’s just a matter of
fixing the ladder line to each side of the balun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The pole are then extended and you add some jubilee clamps to each pole extension. Hay presto, the antenna is then completed!</span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">I should have it assembled and up on its new 5 metre scaffold pole by the end of the week, subject to my work of course! I'll do another blog to see how it actually behaves when in use.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">It will be interesting to compare with the homebrew, but I suspect "compare" will be a bit far fetched, but well see. The home brew has had a replacement fibre glass pole added as the one that was damaged was too far gone to repair.</span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Good news, I managed to assemble the antenna over Saturday and so far without serious testing it's sounding and looking pretty good. Certainly it knocks spots off the homebrew for receiving and transmitting. I did do a very quick comparison with the Hustler and initial results were pretty good. </span></span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">I'll do some more testing in the next few days and write up the results. As I write, the wind is starting to pick up again so I may well drop the antenna down for the rest of today. It's easy enough to do as its clamped to one of my scaffolding poles which is in the old sleeve cemented in the ground which was for the yagi. So it can just be lifted out and layed out on the ground for the moment.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: center;">It's certainly a lot tighter all round than the homebrew and the aluminium poles seem to be a lot stiffer than the fibre glass. As I mentioned earlier the quality is much better than you would get in the UK!</span></span></div>
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Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-74192591203625400242019-02-01T05:58:00.000-08:002019-02-10T08:53:13.429-08:00Delta Loop Set Back!<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Calamity, the home brew Delta Loop Antenna has broken. With the high winds and the mini Blizzard we are suffering this morning, there must have been a strong gust and one of the fibre glass poles broke. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkh3tfc1nLsmQJ1DvqAtnX8LYUl2GTw3bPZCeMeFLubzC_GDdswjoeSfYhnGn7f7bu6m2OPZcRWgQUOMPkOOL7fser-0aedD9eicUmRnYp4zK-8k_HWTLirz-3E31cMiLHXOHIvOklWM/s1600/DSC01647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkh3tfc1nLsmQJ1DvqAtnX8LYUl2GTw3bPZCeMeFLubzC_GDdswjoeSfYhnGn7f7bu6m2OPZcRWgQUOMPkOOL7fser-0aedD9eicUmRnYp4zK-8k_HWTLirz-3E31cMiLHXOHIvOklWM/s320/DSC01647.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Looks like it's broken clean in two which is a pity, but I have to admit I new it was pretty flimsy so it's not exactly unexpected. But the wind must have been reasonably strong for it to break a glass fibre pole!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78gxmDBLmiAKDQveEA10yZ4aQ8IKwTyZp2Zo4We4r9s_ZZckH3e9FWp812qyIFG284HtI_HFOwYb3n546ZDzpaQeCsAEJM-oE9JNQ05mfwhV-Qu0Bm94UXrZ1Ce2iU1NuPsSJKHl0KOQ/s1600/DSC01646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78gxmDBLmiAKDQveEA10yZ4aQ8IKwTyZp2Zo4We4r9s_ZZckH3e9FWp812qyIFG284HtI_HFOwYb3n546ZDzpaQeCsAEJM-oE9JNQ05mfwhV-Qu0Bm94UXrZ1Ce2iU1NuPsSJKHl0KOQ/s320/DSC01646.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I suspect somewhere I have a spare pole or certainly a section hidden away so I should be able to replace. But obviously I'll have to wait till the weather clears. In the meantime I just have the Hustler antenna to play with so all is not lost.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7RQlITB4qaPd8AA31wOlmE7S3NWP2pxPjjMpGs5ywINMUB88nWFg4AyXt9bixvx8CJSXQV0vL9IYcOgo8T9Jj64bkEVS_NDjLuQXPlySOvkG79J7Lfs1-HygfT9bFyycf8q_tvqDrqY/s1600/DSC01648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7RQlITB4qaPd8AA31wOlmE7S3NWP2pxPjjMpGs5ywINMUB88nWFg4AyXt9bixvx8CJSXQV0vL9IYcOgo8T9Jj64bkEVS_NDjLuQXPlySOvkG79J7Lfs1-HygfT9bFyycf8q_tvqDrqY/s320/DSC01648.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Talking of playing, I received an email from the guy I was hoping to do a deal for the new K3 but that has unfortunately fallen through. The chap decided he wanted to keep his radio. So With the FTDX 9000 MP currently in storage, I thought I'd have another play with it today and unpacked it. Of course once unpacked and set up I was wondering what an earth I was doing trying to swap it, it is such a beautiful radio, I must have been having a mad moment!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-66257286078144327552019-01-30T03:03:00.000-08:002019-01-30T03:03:05.112-08:00Delta Loop Progression<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The new M0PLK Delta Loop antenna has arrived from Poland. I've yet to unpack it as the weather has been awful, very cold and damp, not really construction weather. So I'm waiting for something a little warmer so I can build the new antenna at my leisure and not freeze while doing so!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The home brew Delta Loop is working reasonably well, so I'm in no rush while this cold weather continues to build the new antenna when this home brew seems to be working OK. I say that, but QSOing around Europe the signals seem to be down when using the homebrew, it maybe a short or something else as we have had a few gales recently and the antenna is not that strong. However once I get the new one up I'll be able to compare notes and see how they both perform.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I saw an Orion 565 mk2 advertised on a website the other day, I always hankered after an Orion especially for CW purposes as they always seem to get rave reviews. The chap selling was also interested in a swap and as I have a few radios I could exchange, I wrote to him looking for a deal. Sadly though when I saw the Orion in pictures, it was not in such a good condition and needed a lot of cosmetic work to get it up to scratch, so sadly no deal was struck.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Interestingly on swaps, there's a chap who has a brand new K3s literally says it six weeks old. Again a Ten Tec or a K3s are something I've always wanted to own. This chap is interested in my FTDX 9000, so negotiations are currently taking place, if I can get a similar price I paid my brother in law for the FTDX, I'd be very happy with a brand new K3!</span>Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-8207254710784381662018-12-28T09:30:00.000-08:002019-01-02T01:12:50.302-08:00Further Notes on the Delta Loop<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Waiting for the parts to arrive has taken some time, mainly I suppose because Christmas got in the way, but at last all the bits have arrived and I am able to continue the build with the Delta Loop. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Assembling all the parts on the main lawn also took some time but this was due to the weather, I wasn't going to rush when it's pouring with rain. Finally after a bit of patience we got there and the poles were fitted, the element wire pulled through and the ladder line measured and fitted and finally placed on a short piece of scaffold pole and up she went.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwstJanN6Z_gskt4RWlZ3i77GKAJVWBgunMWylKOYYYBWatHKFD0OwzyD8iEx9r05UMB2nK-FDq8TLxPrYUHu4_uBmzaOQAkdzk88VI3VDGGIw5vADHO-dD5IQOhfLmlGXF-qxsmv25TA/s1600/DSC01610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwstJanN6Z_gskt4RWlZ3i77GKAJVWBgunMWylKOYYYBWatHKFD0OwzyD8iEx9r05UMB2nK-FDq8TLxPrYUHu4_uBmzaOQAkdzk88VI3VDGGIw5vADHO-dD5IQOhfLmlGXF-qxsmv25TA/s320/DSC01610.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just put up before dusk!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I must admit I wasn't expecting anything terrific first time, I hadn't tuned, played or tweaked in any way. But I tested on the FT1000 just to see if I could receive and get out. Well blow me, I got a result straight away. Measuring against the Hustler it was very quiet I almost thought it wasn't working at first it was so quiet! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuCV8MSKU2ciFPkPWhlatphP_9xZreL8vouqdbrNGx5pvb106o2YWj9GSuptCEX2hd3HypSbV7C1ch4R8VLm7xxivCKNlcI_RXJQ4A6zIXOBjoOmazUGOV6GSOZbqFzpsHxtWJRztkqs/s1600/DSC01611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuCV8MSKU2ciFPkPWhlatphP_9xZreL8vouqdbrNGx5pvb106o2YWj9GSuptCEX2hd3HypSbV7C1ch4R8VLm7xxivCKNlcI_RXJQ4A6zIXOBjoOmazUGOV6GSOZbqFzpsHxtWJRztkqs/s320/DSC01611.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A little closer</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Using the Hustler I found a reasonably loud CW station then switched over to the Delta Loop. First impression was the background noise from a vertical like the Hustler was gone, although it was down an S point most probably due to it being so low off the ground. I hadn't tuned or played with it in any way, so I could probably tweak it for better results plus I'd been using the auto tuner from the FT1000, not the manual Tokyo 400L. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For a quick home brew job I was pretty impressed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next thing is to raise it a bit to give it some height, see if that improves it being down a S point to the Hustler.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Now I'll let you in to a little secret, a few days ago sitting talking to my Brother in Law </span><span style="font-family: "verdana";">over a glass of wine </span><span style="font-family: "verdana";">about delta loop antennas, we were mulling over M0PLK design and whether it was as good as everybody says. So in the spur of the slightly tipsy moment and after looking on the web at some <a href="http://www.teltad.pl/antena-delta-kf-1-kw-v2017-wielopasmowa-aluminiowa-nowa-wersja-p-2116.html" target="_blank">Polish website</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">I decided to buy an original M0PLK Delta Loop! The only place I could find one was at this website in Poland, well, M0PLK is polish! No other retail shop in Europe had them, Is that a good or bad sign?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">£188 for the original M0PLK design, actually not a bad price, plus they have good reviews on Eham. So I'm expecting this in the New Year and I will compare notes with the homebrew to see how it performs. If its as quiet as this homebrew I shall be well impressed!</span>Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-5193316963344453532018-12-18T06:20:00.001-08:002018-12-18T06:20:56.648-08:00The Delta Loop<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This delta Loop is going to be slightly different as it's based on the M0PLK design which is the vertical triangle but with the 4:1 Balun at the base and is fed by a 450/600 ohm ladder feeder, the wire element is held in place by two fibre glass poles in a V position.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRjNPRh6qWZC-kzeq1ox5y_Q9_7YSRnj1gJ-eInpwcphGkFYNgjor4QZgtAQDETifmwZN75rkgGW7_UqqFVZjDi1U-DS4rRvm8CCpjurIL-7RFWlrt36Dz4eMhl0uEHHyIXx2BE6d0xI/s1600/th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRjNPRh6qWZC-kzeq1ox5y_Q9_7YSRnj1gJ-eInpwcphGkFYNgjor4QZgtAQDETifmwZN75rkgGW7_UqqFVZjDi1U-DS4rRvm8CCpjurIL-7RFWlrt36Dz4eMhl0uEHHyIXx2BE6d0xI/s1600/th.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a multiband antenna that should cover 30 meters through to 10m. Trolling the internet I've been trying to find a replacement antenna that will not cause too many problems when its situated in my paddock. If you have read earlier posts, you will see I have had the local Council informing what I can and cannot put up! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This delta Loop should be camouflaged in front of some trees, does not need to be that high and is a quiet antenna that puts out a reasonable performance. Well that's what other users say on Eham, so I shall put it to the test and build one. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So far I have bought the two fibre glass poles at 7 metres in length although I suspect 5 metres will suffice. I've measured and cut the wire (17 meters) and ordered and received the main aluminium plate 350mm x 400mm, 8mm thick, which I have trimmed and drilled the holes for fixing the fibreglass poles. the idea being to make it reasonably close to the picture below of an original M0PLK Delta Loop.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HBx6knlkVDahX2eDcKBI9zDR6PvEdd6V7JrCQ-lnToyGCBsFn_PHY9SOp-dvFTfe2CmNcsqvg1GiEFr5NzH0AQayEDj41emL7Sb1K77Eqrm5UXYIBc19fTIsLiNFCiP5DSFz_HnsVVE/s1600/th11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HBx6knlkVDahX2eDcKBI9zDR6PvEdd6V7JrCQ-lnToyGCBsFn_PHY9SOp-dvFTfe2CmNcsqvg1GiEFr5NzH0AQayEDj41emL7Sb1K77Eqrm5UXYIBc19fTIsLiNFCiP5DSFz_HnsVVE/s1600/th11.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The balun is fed with a 400/600 ohm ladder line and I have decided as a bit of fun to build my own 600 ohm ladder line. I had a commercial 450 ohm feeder but thought as I'd never constructed a ladder line before I would give it a go, so if the 600 fails I can always fall back on the 450 ohm!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The main plate is made of 8mm solid aluminium 350mm x 400mm. I wanted something reasonably strong so I may have gone over the top but as far as I'm concerned the stronger the better.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyEiHn-h9OPlLTjX9ERl_ElMbUtr29fNbLloVMvi16PvKt0UI9xb0_0Se-9zmycFSbuS0CKMEI1NF4m9ShoV1-jlYvk8vaEGA5oEVmszotFzcHRxWMizUrmmki7B2BEaz1pkd9Uo5Yyw/s1600/DSC01607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyEiHn-h9OPlLTjX9ERl_ElMbUtr29fNbLloVMvi16PvKt0UI9xb0_0Se-9zmycFSbuS0CKMEI1NF4m9ShoV1-jlYvk8vaEGA5oEVmszotFzcHRxWMizUrmmki7B2BEaz1pkd9Uo5Yyw/s320/DSC01607.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can see I've drilled the holes to hold the fibre glass poles these will be standard plastic brackets. The Balun is a small 200 watt 4:1 I had as a spare to show you where it will sit, but I have ordered a larger 1K version. The picture below shows the poles (not extended) in place together with the 16 gauge wire, just at the top of the picture is the home brew ladder line.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In the middle of the plate rising through the centre, a 5 metre two inch mast will be used for the plate to attach to, as you don't require any great height for this antenna, but obviously its the old story of any higher will be better, but I'm limited thanks to my Council!</span>Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-73241977990234744972018-11-28T08:49:00.000-08:002018-11-28T08:49:24.022-08:00Moving Antennas Yet Again!
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So with the intervention of my local council I have to re
arrange my antenna set up. I have decided to sell my mast and mini Mosley
antenna but will keep the hustler as it’s a very good multiband antenna. I will
re-fit in my main garden add the ground radials and hopefully be on the air
within the week. That done I just have the W3DZZ which covers the lower bands adequately,
but I’m tempted to go back to some wire antennas for experimentation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I like the construction plus the experimental side of
antennas, seeing what works and what doesn’t! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel I haven’t finished with
loop antennas, I’ve built a 20m delta but I fancy having ago building some sort
of loop for 30 meters one of my favourite bands. Also I’d like to try a delta
loop for the 17m but on fibre glass poles and to this end I have purchased a
cheap pre-built antenna that I shall have a play with and see if I can adapt.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaLqxnjDWPcr85InfynZl8PoFRls8BqF3KKhA82w-NHR-oVBGiQZeORA80aRNziwuR0cgsAkziwu9Zld4V4idkASvtJszUXiEWwG3nK_8Kvlz0RL8idvoEF2CXoTHOaRcT2AWQJXxBGY/s1600/DSC01055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaLqxnjDWPcr85InfynZl8PoFRls8BqF3KKhA82w-NHR-oVBGiQZeORA80aRNziwuR0cgsAkziwu9Zld4V4idkASvtJszUXiEWwG3nK_8Kvlz0RL8idvoEF2CXoTHOaRcT2AWQJXxBGY/s320/DSC01055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p>The old 20m Delta loop antenna</o:p></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My local council did not state that I cannot put any
temporary antennas in my paddock, so that will be another factor to add to the
fun. To sum up, I want to build a couple of loop antennas, perhaps a skywire and
a delta loop on poles that must be of a temporary construction, this could be
fun!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-33355154373904584652018-11-14T08:33:00.000-08:002018-11-16T07:38:25.808-08:00Caught by the Bureaucrats<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Had a nice letter the other day from the planning dept of my
friendly Council saying they had received a complaint regarding my paddock.
Long story short, they thought it was so tidy it was being used as an extra
garden, the grass was too short and my boundary fence near to my house wasn’t
complete. Therefore I must correct this forthwith or apply to change my paddock
from agricultural land to my garden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFtApMz9QS5G17fVr1AMnVFTvNPU21cu9B-KlioEhb_2ttlSzHnPpbWko7N_HEL6RbAop-OaTy6RMcr6VbnNyZkmew5wQlPnhLNF_WkerXOjsq7IleOQFnyMLwBL7yafAxD4hA4IRRxg/s1600/DSC01563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFtApMz9QS5G17fVr1AMnVFTvNPU21cu9B-KlioEhb_2ttlSzHnPpbWko7N_HEL6RbAop-OaTy6RMcr6VbnNyZkmew5wQlPnhLNF_WkerXOjsq7IleOQFnyMLwBL7yafAxD4hA4IRRxg/s320/DSC01563.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Intriguing isn’t it, no mention concerning my antennas? I
replied to the council explaining that the boundary gap was there because I had
demolished my old shed and erected a new shed installed at a slightly different
angle, there was now a gap in the boundary. I had no idea that the boundary fence
should be kept or that the grass was too short (slightly weird), so I apologised and said I would install a fence and not cut the grass so often!.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think planning officers at the council always seem to take
the negative side. It was obvious from his reply that he didn’t believe me, and
it was only then he mentioned the Mosley antenna and the Hustler vertical.
Evidently they shouldn’t be there either, he was quite happy for me to move
them back to my garden or apply to have permission to have the antennas placed
in the paddock for a princely sum of £462, even then he wouldn't guarantee I would
get the permission. The mast with the Mosley is a folding winch type, so he
wasn’t complaining about height etc, just that both antennas shouldn’t be
within the Paddock. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I thought about it for a few days and decided to hell with
council I wasn’t going to pay them nearly five hundred quid, so I’m moving the
Hustler back in to my garden but sadly the Mosley and the mast have to go to a
new home and they are now up for sale.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There’s something about a complete stranger writing to you
and telling you that your home or garden doesn’t fit in to their regulations.
Nobody likes being told what to do especially by some organisation that you
never really had dealings with before. Unfortunately you have to bite the
bullet or if you’re feeling that energetic fight them. Personally I can’t be
bothered to challenge them, I’ll just move the antennas and let them have their
petty way. The annoying thing is I’m right out in the middle of nowhere and I know
it’s not my two neighbours that complained because I asked them. This bureaucrat
from the council was probably driving past the house noticed either my antenna
or the cut paddock and decided to investigate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-7506115987222829362018-08-02T08:08:00.000-07:002018-08-02T08:08:00.737-07:00Repositioning a Hustler 6BVT<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Looking at my Hustler 6BVT antenna the other day got me thinking. After four years everything has grown, the antenna is certainly being surrounded by nature. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While building a stone slab base for a new shed near to the Hustler, I noticed the ground radials I laid out all that time ago have started to break up, I have already noticed broken wires that seem to be appearing all over the place! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It’s now sitting surrounded by hawthorn and apple trees some as high
as thirty feet which can’t be good, I’ve noticed
reception has gone down since I first installed it and I think it’s time I found the antenna a new
home.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p>The present position of the Hustler and the area of the new shed, I think I'll put the antenna on the other side of the trees in the paddock.</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Two things immediately spring to mind, where to place the antenna and
installing the ground radials. The recommended number of ground radials is around 32 but I like to have at least a minimum of 40 radials,
all different lengths to cover the bands. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Ground radials can be a black art in themselves, you can get away with as little as about 12 but it not always recommended unless you have very wet soil. <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I first installed the hustler there were about 60
and they seemed to take forever to lay out, but it was definitely worth it. The ground plate was
a home brew effort, basically a piece of aluminium bought off Ebay with the holes drilled and then small bolts place in every other hole, I could then attach each wire or a combinations of joined wires to each bolt with a small nut, fairly basic but worked well and saved me some money.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">when I removed the ground plate wires were everywhere!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> One difficulty is that I am
limited by coax length, the present RG58 coax which is connected to the hustler is buried under a large part of my garden
and unless I dig it up and totally start afresh, I will only have roughly 30 feet of
coax to play with for re- positioning. So I have a number of factors to work
out, but I’m sure it will come good in the end. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If I lay out the exposed coax around the paddock area to see what exact length I have to play
with, I should be near enough in line with the mini Yagi, but obviously I don’t want to get too close. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then I'll start laying out the ground radials in the
full 360 degrees circle and see how that goes. I will begin with 12 radials but
hopefully ending up with at least double. As I lay each radial I intend to mow the
grass fairly short so I can pin each one in to the ground and so in future it won’t
get mixed up with the mower blades. Hopefully within a few weeks the radials
will have disappeared from sight by the growing grass. I'll then reconnect the radial plate with its new radial system and then install
the newly positioned antenna and test for SWR!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p>The cleaned up radial plate.</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So </span><span style="font-family: "verdana";">I've disconnected the Hustler from the ground radial plate and disconnected the old wires and given the plate a good scrub and it's come up reasonably well. Next week if I get the chance I'll clean and then replace the antenna in its new home and then think about putting out the new ground radials! </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana";">What fun, the first spot I placed the hustler I raised it up I was touching a telephone wire a 1 in a 1000 chance, typical! so I had to move further than I liked, the only issues was adding some extra 15 feet of coax.</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><o:p>The 2nd move of the antenna went according to plan with little fuss and no more telephone wires in the way. A tip worth remembering is to make sure everything is well greased up or lubricated in some way, it makes dismantling so much easier, I was very surprised how everything came apart so easily, but this was due to me lubricating when first assembled! I've added about 6 ground wires so far and a small amount of wire netting, I'm not going to rush just take my time and add more ground radials as I go along.</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><o:p>So far the SWR is a good 1:1 across all bands but the important thing is the resistance which ideally should read around 36 but at the moment is a 45. I suspect by adding more radials (about 7 more) it will come down to around 38/40 and then as you add more it will slowly reduce but not by any great amount. The average is about 12 to 15 but obviously if you can add more it will improve. A few years ago I would be going beserk adding as many as I can but now I'm a little slower and I'm getting reasonable results so I'm taking things slowly!</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With 4/5 ground radials! I shall add more as I go along.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">More importantly results on the radio using the Hustler are good. Obviously conditions and solar flux are not at their best but testing between the Yagi and the 40/80 W3DZZ things are looking up. With some more ground radials to be added it's looking good for its new home!</span></div>
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Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-26934222538862222922018-04-30T06:15:00.000-07:002018-04-30T06:15:07.961-07:00The Kenwood TS 950 SD Has Gone!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sadly I have let the old girl go as she wasn't being used regularly by me anymore simply because I was using the Yaesu FT1000 more and more. A chap down south has bought her and as far as I'm concerned got a great rig for a bargain price. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WbtGZuLzHHLGQx9stogQONE2t0zP1qxLp8UnjJbcCJFi_U2YpJa4gdgA5JkyquCmAv5KsqA4PZlmB05A5QZK3gdn8ArU9U4PrXaZ6gipTeME6lgyno7dL_vjhcZr4HoYmD3x_hMkZXo/s1600/K2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WbtGZuLzHHLGQx9stogQONE2t0zP1qxLp8UnjJbcCJFi_U2YpJa4gdgA5JkyquCmAv5KsqA4PZlmB05A5QZK3gdn8ArU9U4PrXaZ6gipTeME6lgyno7dL_vjhcZr4HoYmD3x_hMkZXo/s320/K2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before I let her go and when we were in negotiations I tested the radio one more time, just to see that she was running OK and to have one more little play and she didn't disappoint. Admittedly the receive is slightly down on the FT1000 but not by much, but every time I put out a CQ I got a reply back. These radios may now be old but they still pack a punch, I'll be sad top see her go!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good bye old girl, I'll miss you!!</span>Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-56645179210351376952018-04-09T05:53:00.004-07:002018-05-25T06:14:13.551-07:00Yaesu FT1000<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Browsing through a well known auction site I spied an FT1000. I've always hankered after one of these as my Brother in law has the FT1000d which is a very nice rig, I remember when first using it I said to myself that one day I would own something similar to that rig. Well, here we are a few years down the road and I'm looking at an FT1000 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The standard FT1000 is similar in build to a d version except no BPF-1 filter or TCXO or any CW/SSB filters.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But reading through the information on this FT1000 I noted all filters had been fitted and a BPF-1, so the only missing part was the TCXO, so you could call it a d version of sorts and the guy only wanted £700 for it. Yep, I could live with that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I tracked down the owner via the site and made an offer of £600 minus the auction fees if he didn't sell from the auction site. Sure enough at the end of the auction no one had bid, so eventually he came back to my offer, I had an FT1000! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Within the week I had picked it up and returned it safely back to my QTH. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It turns out the previous owner got it from his father who had bought in the States 20 years ago used it once and given it to his son the present owner, he had used it only literally 5 times and all he had done was switch the voltage for UK use. He had then put it away for storage, presumably to use at some stage, but never did. The transceiver was immaculate not a scratch anywhere, pristine condition, brand new, it looked as if it had been stuck in time! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I took the cover off just to check all the filters were there, they were and on turning the radio over I looked at the TXCO it was the upgraded TXCO-1 !</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Switching it on the receive, it was superb and on transmitting I was getting excellent reports, better than the 950SD, nearly as good as the 9000, I could hardly believe it, I'd been so lucky. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These transceivers in their day were the ones to own, but to pick one up at this sort of price even today was indeed a stroke of good luck, I now had this FT1000 the original grand father, as back up to an FTDX 9000, not bad! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To make the day I saw another FT1000 not in nearly as good condition on the same auction site for £1100, I couldn't believe it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">The decision to keep the Kenwood 950SD is down to am I going to use it now I have the FT1000? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Comparing both, I have to be honest there is probably not much in it but the FT1000 has 200w rather than the 150w of the 950SD. The receive capability is definitely towards the FT1000 but not by that far. Both are fabulous rigs, I think I'll wait and see, if I do sell the 950SD it will be for a similar price I paid for the FT 1000, so someone will be getting a bargain!</span>Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-13572041855956030472018-03-13T08:49:00.001-07:002018-03-21T10:39:37.502-07:00The W3DZZ 40/80M Service<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Of all the antennas I have in my garden, the one I have always relied upon is the W3DZZ. It's a good design and an excellent antenna that over the years has brought me some good contacts on 40 and 80 meters.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Time has shot by and once again I find myself having to
service the old W3DZZ! It was way back in Feb 2013 that I last
took it down and did a proper service so I think it’s about time I did do it
again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The first thing to do is to actually get it off the 40ft mast, it’s in
an inverted Vee shape so it’s pretty easy to remove off the mast especially now
as the leaves are yet to grow back on the various trees in and around the
antenna. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once removed off the mast, I have to disconnect the two 40m traps
these are attached by four simple old choc blocks and on un-screwing them, they show
their age by literally falling apart in my hands, hmm, time to replace with
some new ones! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then it’s just a simple case of getting the old MFJ 259 out and
seeing if the traps are still doing their job, the traps are showing a reading of 6.0881 & 6.0840 a little low as I want them both resonating at approx. 7.1 MHz, so I undo the waterproof tape and reset them by just gentle spacing the coax and taking readings from the MFJ. Eventually I get them both reading 7.1MHz and it just a matter of gently re taping checking as I go that both stay at the correct resonance.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The traps having been re-taped and cleaned are now ready to be put back with the antenna. The actual trap designs are from </span><a href="http://www.gm0onx.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">GM0ONX webpage</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and is very easy to construct, it's literally 11 turns of RG38 coax round a 40mm waste pipe 100mm in length. If you're starting out on trap building, his website is well worth a visit and he explains in very easy terms how to construct his take on the W3DZZ design. He uses these simple coax traps, so the winds are easy to do and it won't seem too fiddly! I think the original build took me a day or so to complete, so it wasn't long and it really is a great antenna.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xmUBsZDkeEIymUEvuRSSelkOYpHYUoHgiOrha-V2EbjV6TiTOaaG-stgY8xqhyrCHNyCthrJ6pLdGsMh6OQYjI5ANEg1buhItycILkb403lnYVKFx7P_GimJaKZs_MykiFu3sCBR-xs/s1600/W3DZZ+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xmUBsZDkeEIymUEvuRSSelkOYpHYUoHgiOrha-V2EbjV6TiTOaaG-stgY8xqhyrCHNyCthrJ6pLdGsMh6OQYjI5ANEg1buhItycILkb403lnYVKFx7P_GimJaKZs_MykiFu3sCBR-xs/s1600/W3DZZ+2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cdQBlgKRskTL3My4ehLfwzhhCJF70EWYpEUrp-804d7C8leixZHKd68JWQa-UgYO5-Eq9rBJH514ZuI30bVKYxkhddmNrS2eKs62Q14AlUy5a8U9hDkhUyGij3xYLUlRVbt7rkm8WL0/s1600/DSC09603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cdQBlgKRskTL3My4ehLfwzhhCJF70EWYpEUrp-804d7C8leixZHKd68JWQa-UgYO5-Eq9rBJH514ZuI30bVKYxkhddmNrS2eKs62Q14AlUy5a8U9hDkhUyGij3xYLUlRVbt7rkm8WL0/s320/DSC09603.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's my MJF 259 with my homemade loop coupler for measuring the traps, loop couplers in the UK can be serious money!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before I replace the choc blocks (I had to order some more), I’ll
double check all the wire lengths again with the MFJ for SWR and I might lengthen
the 80m portion a wee bit so that I’m not just tuned in on CW. Nowadays I’m finding I like to listen in on some local chat on LSB and I would like the ability to join a QSO. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tuning the W3DZZ should always begin with the 40m working outwards, it's easier that way. Sure enough the maintenance work causes the SWR on 80m to be 1.0 at 3.600 so it has moved, I just needs to be trimmed a bit more, I'd like it around 3.7500. Typically as soon as you adjust 80m and get that right the 40m has moved and is reading a little high at 1.0 on 7.200, so I'll have to add a little more wire to drop the frequency down a bit. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VAxuW0wNRTKq-RCkriVXkPfgdLl6l1CmWhlpLeziE2_06jLDwgqqno-25InHayA_wF-MG794bNsIcAJnO_h0rzKa44jQIpyA2OWyLe2ew3a-0YFCXgZpu92DPccj4c50lBV8YDhykt8/s1600/DSC00094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VAxuW0wNRTKq-RCkriVXkPfgdLl6l1CmWhlpLeziE2_06jLDwgqqno-25InHayA_wF-MG794bNsIcAJnO_h0rzKa44jQIpyA2OWyLe2ew3a-0YFCXgZpu92DPccj4c50lBV8YDhykt8/s320/DSC00094.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The W3DZZ is mounted on the mast holding the cobweb in an inverted Vee format and one of the wires come towards about where the picture was taken, the other end would finish up hanging near the hustler antenna to the left. Interestingly after messing about with different positions around the garden I always end up mounting in this way</span></div>
Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910412454363053315.post-48486134419200875002018-02-20T06:03:00.000-08:002018-02-21T03:20:56.270-08:00The W3DZZ Inverted L Antenna with Top Band<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Back in 2011
when I built the W3DZZ trap antenna for 40 and 30 meters Len Paget GM0ONX who
originally came up this particular way the W3DZZ is designed also came up with
an inverted L antenna based on another W3DZZ design, I described it
earlier in my blog (see the "my Blog" link below). </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5NIb4Nnu_HfuPtgFnSPx8Z2RENOx3Yi-_CIIPPet_Dm-LPh9rTqN7Yil19jntl-HU2GBXMba2TbhyphenhyphenaXVy51FbdsSLFTiJHxiPRXNx5-RdqvXiIJm-xxTnz_s16lV7tIh2og4kJC0gbE/s1600/figure%252520160%252520blue.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="834" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5NIb4Nnu_HfuPtgFnSPx8Z2RENOx3Yi-_CIIPPet_Dm-LPh9rTqN7Yil19jntl-HU2GBXMba2TbhyphenhyphenaXVy51FbdsSLFTiJHxiPRXNx5-RdqvXiIJm-xxTnz_s16lV7tIh2og4kJC0gbE/s320/figure%252520160%252520blue.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's the general view of the antenna</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The antenna had been lying dormant in my shack as I was using the
original 80/40 meter W3DZZ and so had no use for it. But as the time has passed, last week I felt like a change so I dismantled the original W3DZZ for a serious service
which it desperately needed and have replaced with this Inverted L W3DZZ. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
difference is that besides the 80 and 40 meter coverage I can get Top Band,
which is quite fun as it’s still a fairly new band to me and I thought it’s
about time I really started to get in to it, plus I could try my hand at doing some DX! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Basically Its just adding some
more wire to the end of the original inverted 80/40 L antenna, 8.54m to
be exact! The length does vary slightly from location to location because not only is
there a shortening effect caused by the inductance in the 3.5 trap, there will
also be a significant capacitance effect on 1.8 MHz as the antenna is close to
the ground. All the details regarding build can be found either on Len’s page
<a href="http://www.gm0onx.co.uk/" target="_blank">GM0ONX</a> or on <a href="http://morsesagas.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/building-simple-top-band8040-meter.html" target="_blank">my blog</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The traps needed some checking and adjusting from sitting in the shack doing nothing and now I'm happy with the 80 meter trap it's 1.5 SWR at 3.600, but the 40 meter trap needs more work to get the SWR in the sweet spot, it's a little high at the moment. Once both traps are ok I can concentrate on the actual wire, it's 14 gauge and I need to make sure all the measurements are correct. The actual tuning is fairly easy but Len does state the 7Mhz will probably need rechecking and adjusting and on a quick test I've already seen its the 7MHz portion causing an issue.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuiXWRNp_LyA37MOAisZ7YHYwUN7JYl5QMkbEfUI3z9CA578qWl9HbkVgCY1Q2EJPPH4YltSOHXmsYuxeacPHQ5jxrG0CNDqc7tp_WKmJE52ndiTxNe6aKaFV8zqUBOnV2Hy6dOjq_E9E/s1600/DSC01457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuiXWRNp_LyA37MOAisZ7YHYwUN7JYl5QMkbEfUI3z9CA578qWl9HbkVgCY1Q2EJPPH4YltSOHXmsYuxeacPHQ5jxrG0CNDqc7tp_WKmJE52ndiTxNe6aKaFV8zqUBOnV2Hy6dOjq_E9E/s320/DSC01457.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The 40m Trap</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf80KBWEmwyqJzGLWjpbF9X_FkS0hpsrVt2gpV9aEB4iW4keS0INU1XO7jNcr2WObv6j_G3EATddf7pwzDPu6XSo_NayMW2EDNypoeDuD4tVax-wgauJgojR8cwfaea38q9GaBOBy7RR0/s1600/DSC01458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf80KBWEmwyqJzGLWjpbF9X_FkS0hpsrVt2gpV9aEB4iW4keS0INU1XO7jNcr2WObv6j_G3EATddf7pwzDPu6XSo_NayMW2EDNypoeDuD4tVax-wgauJgojR8cwfaea38q9GaBOBy7RR0/s320/DSC01458.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The 80m Trap</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The other bit I should mention is when first
built the antenna I used a ground rod for the earth connection, but quickly found on testing
that a series of ground radials were needed. Where it’s positioned at the back
of my house I am limited in what radials I can put out, but I hope in the next
few days to get at least 10 or 12 ½ wave lengths out.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetAZ575gaihAf1KQ2aOcCHB-wXpubY1K9AW7HwU_KU2Csl5cKNnh8DEXChn0x65Xg5BoKybn3cbUfhYWGKbX6GV9D4_oGJuf2CnCnzd0dqtyGE0KBgzUS4nZweI8rhAzMMdAbutTSDp0/s1600/DSC01453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetAZ575gaihAf1KQ2aOcCHB-wXpubY1K9AW7HwU_KU2Csl5cKNnh8DEXChn0x65Xg5BoKybn3cbUfhYWGKbX6GV9D4_oGJuf2CnCnzd0dqtyGE0KBgzUS4nZweI8rhAzMMdAbutTSDp0/s320/DSC01453.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The ground rod is very limited at the moment</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">First impressions are it's a pretty good antenna but obviously for its size it's never going to be the best Top Bander, the other limitation seems to be the width on Top Band, it's quite narrow, but with the help of an ATU it seems to be working OK and I will try to improve as I go along.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Cotswoldgenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.com2