Currently viewing the tag: "CW"

160 meters at TF4M – 07 November 2009

By On · 2 Comments · In Amateur Radio

Today was not spectacular.

I heard JA7OEM while still in broad daylight and worked him on the first call.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Later I spent a long time listening for FK8CP who was barely readable today and then I called CQ for a while.

The band was quite noisy and some Russian contest caused a bit of QRM across the band…

I have observed that a lot of the weekend warriors have limited receive capability.

They come on a busy frequency and immediately start calling CQ and it is quite obvious that they are most likely using their transmit antenna to receive with…it´s quite sad really.

This is the main reason that I would really like to see 160 meters free of contesting – except for the Stew Perry, of course….  and free of SSB too, while I´m at it.

Nevertheless, a few JA stations were added to the log, some incredibly weak signals which were quite difficult to copy, I have a feeling that my receive antenna system is being tested with QRP signals from Japan… :-)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite PicLens

First !! QSO with 9M2AX !

By On · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

Today there is a light breeze and I took some photos of the King.

I called CQ on 160 meters between 1700 and 1800 local time, still in daylight and was called by 9M2AX and we had the first QSO between West Malaysia and Iceland on Top Band to the best of my knowledge.

I was also called by Jack, VE1ZZ and 24 QSOs were made with Japan during this fine hour.

One or more  of the JA stations was QRP.

You may listen to the contacts:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Kyo, JR9OPJ made a recording of our QSO

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I later called CQ between 1945 and 2051 leading up to JA sunrise with another 54 JA stations being worked for a total of 78 JA stations worked in one day.

Considering that working Japan from Iceland on 160 meters was considered impossible until I built my antennas, I am quite pleased.

The highlight of the evening was when VK6ANC called immediately followed by VK6VY.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

JA3FYC who worked me with only 5 Watts, sent me a recording of the QSO

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I would like stations who call me using QRP to understand that I do not log their calls with /QRP.

I would also prefer they do not indicate QRP with their call signs as this makes things harder than necessary.

It is difficult enough to pull the call signs out of the noise, without the added complexity of /QRP, when stations call with low power.

All recordings on my website may be downloaded if desired from tf4m.com/audio

The Arctic King on fire

By On · 2 Comments · In Amateur Radio

Initial testing indicated a problem with the King.   My Emtron DX-3 amplifier would fault above a power level of approximately 700W.

I fired up the Harris KW amplifier and was able to determine that there was a problem.

Inspection of the feedpoint box showed that the antenna wires had made near contact with the control wires and there had been a small fire inside the box.

I dressed all leads and replaced coax jumpers to the box and between the isolation transfomer and the  UNUN transformer for good measure, with freshly made new cable.

I sealed the feedpoint box for the winter and now everything works properly.

I think conditions are poor now, even so the Arctic King provided me with 70 QSOs to Japan and one QSO to Australia on the first day of operation.

I am amazed to put it mildly.

The Arctic King rules the frigid North

By On · 4 Comments · In Amateur Radio
The Arctic King - 160 meter transmit antenna
The Arctic King – 160 meter transmit antenna

The Arctic King is finally built.

The project has taken more or less two years, it has consumed an incredible amount of heavy duty hardware and an enormous amount of hard work.

I enjoyed some assistance from my neighbors Finnbjörn and his brother Jón from Litlaeyri.

The antenna is designed by Villi, TF3DX and it will eventually work on both 160 and 80 meters and it will be possible to switch between vertical and dipole modes, which will give a choice of low and high angles of radiation.

Testing of the antenna will now begin, I have no doubts that the antenna will give me a strong signal on Top Band.

The efficiency of the antenna is in the vicinity of 75%, with 1.5 ohms in ground losses, this will later be confirmed  when final measurements have been carried out.

Note: Measurements have been made which confirmed this.

Due to the Salt Water propagation path for more than 180° and the closeness of the sea, the radiation angle is extremely low, this should help with very long distance contacts.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite PicLens

Working hard or hardly working?

By On · 3 Comments · In Amateur Radio

Today the winds finally settled and in between freezing rainshowers I decided to hoist up the  60 pound insulators and antenna wires for the King´s antenna.

The antenna wires are #8 CopperWeld – copper covered steel wires with a breaking strength of 2500lbs / 1100kg.

My good neighbor, Finnbjörn from Litlaeyri, Airport Manager, came to assist me on the ground and he took these photos on my camera.

I began by pulling up the right hand side insulator and antenna wires while still on the ground.   I then attached a climbing rope to my harness and the other end to the left hand insulator and antenna wires already assembled on the platform.

Attaching the right hand side insulator went well, but the climbing rope attached to the other insulator managed to wind itself around the feedpoint box at the bottom of the pole.

Finnbjörn came to the rescue and untangled the rope, saving me a trip to the platform and back up again.

It  was extremely difficult to attach the second insulator until I discovered that one of the antenna wires had snagged on the platform.  Finnbjörn also saved me a trip back down by untangling the wire.

This was the most difficult part of constructing this antenna and I am glad it is behind me.  I must be getting old :-)

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite PicLens

MilSpec communications.

By On · 1 Comment · In Amateur Radio

I am taking the opportunity while the weather is bad to work inside the shack.

New cables have been routed into the equipment room and a 19″ equipment rack installed for the Harris amplifiers.

Two cables were installed for future use with the ends coming out of the ground in strategic places.

Hopefully I will not need to route more cables into the shack.

Operating position “C” is now fully operational – I tested the Harris RT1446/RF-350K with the 1KW amplifier this afternoon and there seem to be no problems.

It only remains to connect and test operating position “D” and then the station will be fully functional.

I would be interested in comments on the quality of my signals.

Spelling error

By On · 2 Comments · In Amateur Radio

As a new radio amateur in 1984, I noticed a spelling error on the Post Office in Selfoss. The text is meant to be POSTUR OG SIMI, but a tile is missing causing the letter U to be misspelled as H !
I spoke with the station manager in 1984 who promised to see to that the error was fixed but the spelling error is still there !

Unbelievable.

160M vertical progress

By On · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

I have now run the 1-5/8″ Heliax cable out, but it was 110 meters short….

The cable was run through the road with plastic pipes for protection.

I am also putting the finishing touches on the working platform at 3 meters height on the King.

Performance Optimization WordPress Plugins by W3 EDGE