HV0A in the Vatican was worked for #136 and XE2WWW was worked for #137 and Zone 6.
I had made an error and I was still missing Zone 6.
Conditions now seem to be detoriating, with the Aurora Index now at 6.
On January 10, 2010,
in Amateur Radio,
by TF4M
On January 8, 2010,
in Amateur Radio,
by TF4M
I have finally set up a Harris RF-350 with the associated KW remote controlled amplifer for use with my receive antenna system.
The DX Engineering Receive Antenna Interface for Transceivers is the unit that made this possible.
The only problem was finding a voltage on the Harris radio that would sink to ground under all circumstances of keying.
The solution was found in the Coupler connection on the back of the radio.
I connected a 10k pullup resistor to pin H which carries 13.8VDC and connected the other end of the resistor to pin B (Coupler Key). This pin goes low on transmit, and could equally well be used to key a small relay if that was desired, but I wanted electronic control of the DX Engineering box. Pin B in turn went to the Transmit Ground connection on the interface.
In addition, I power the interface itself from pin I, which also carries 13.8V.
Works beautifully.
It was very fitting that the first station I worked with the new setup – operating position C – was JA8NFV.
The Harris radio has filters the size of a amateur transceiver, with performance to match, what an incredible pleasure.
Since both the Harris RF-350K transceiver and the Harris 7224 KW LPA (Linear Power Amplifier) have RF Sample outputs, I set up scope monitoring of the system triggered by the CW keying.
Update: After using the Harris in battle I am a bit disappointed. The sequencing leaves a bit to be desired, this will be improved with a DX Engineering sequencer already ordered, and there seems to be a bit of filter blow-by on CW. I am hearing CW signals outside the filter passband. I will test another unit to see if this is a common problem, perhaps a bit of contact cleaner will clear this up. On SSB the Harris radios are unsurpassed.
Further analysis indicates that this problem might be caused by impedance mismatch with the headphones I have been using. With those headphones, volume is at almost maximum settings so this seems likely.
On January 6, 2010,
in Amateur Radio,
by TF4M
This is what JA signals sound like with 28dB of pre amplification from a Beverage antenna !
Keying errors on my side are mainly due my fat fingers and because my side tone was set at a low level and I was listening on the loudspeaker…I didn´t hear my own sending…
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Incredible isn´t it?
On January 1, 2010,
in Amateur Radio,
by TF4M
The first QSO in the new year was with JD1BMH in Ogasawara.
The recording is made with almost 30dB of pre amplification from the JA Beverage.
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BA7IO was also heard with clear signals but I was unable to raise him.
BU2AQ in Taiwan was also worked for the second time and we exchanged HNYs.
I took some photos of my view, the first photo is towards the North, the Arctic King may be seen in the distance.
The second photo is taken towards the South.
On December 30, 2009,
in Amateur Radio,
by TF4M
Yesterday I worked JD1BMH in Ogasawara for a new country and zone. This morning I was up early and was called by JD1BMH for a second QSO immediately followed by a QSO with JD1BLY – also in Ogasawara !
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Earlier I made a few QSOs with several JA stations:
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Eduardo, TI8II in Costa Rica was worked for a new country #134.
This afternoon after adding another 16dB of pre-amplification using a DX Engineering Receiver Preamplifier 0.3-35 MHz – DXE-RPA-1 to the already present 12dB pre-amplification in my Beverage antenna system, I tested the system on 160m.
The noise level at my location is so low at times that I can actually get away with almost 30dB of pre-amplification from the already high output of my Beverage antennas. Receiver protection is included by switching the extra preamplifier off automatically during transmissions using a The DX Engineering TVSU-1 Time Variable Sequencer Unit.
I am now experiencing a new smoothness in my station along with peace of mind.
Several weak JA stations were worked and it was revealed that they would not have been workable without the extra amplification.
My reception is no longer only crystal clear, now it is powerful and crystal clear.
It seems that the Arctic King is even more powerful than I thought.
VK6GX called and we exchanged 559 reports, a bit later HS0ZEE in Chiang Mai, Thailand was worked for #135 and Zone 26 and Ross, 9M2AX also called me with excellent signals.
It is all rather hard to believe. Audio files will be posted in the Online Audio page soon.
NOTE: 01 January 2010. The recording time stamps in the recording were corrupted for some reason. The entire file may be listened to here:
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or downloaded directly: -http://tf4m.com/audio/160M_28Dec-31Dec2009.mp3-
