Rambling Radio Review

Here is a brief review of the QYT KT-8900.

The first thing you notice is its diminutive size - don't let that fool you, it's a fully featured dual band rig with CTCSS, DTMF and a range of useful options.

With 25W on VHF and 20W UHF, it's not short on power either. The user interface is almost identical to the Baofeng Handhelds and manual programming is, let's say, challenging. Top tip - get a programming cable!

Receive sensitivity is good and transmit audio is a little quiet, but useable. Maybe a mic upgrade would improve things.

The switches are typically "Chinese" in that they are a little unresponsive but once used to the feel they do what they are supposed to do. Due to the small size, mounting in numerous locations is possible and mine is mounted on the dash top (as can be seen in the photo).

The S meter is nothing more than an RX indicator - the bars move across the display but almost every signal that breaks the squelch is S9+ so it's bit of an inaccurate measurement. Having said that, weak signals are easy to hear due to the speaker being on top of the unit. There is no provision for an external speaker,  the rear jack being for programming only.

In conclusion, not bad for around £70 and useful, even if it's bought as a stand by set - but a programming cable is essential.

73 de 2E0ENN

Blatant Club Promotion and other Ramblings.

As many will be aware, I am Secretary of the South Kesteven A.R.S and as such this post is an unashamedly blatant promotion of the club and what we do, in the hope that we can attract more members to come along and join in with our activities and meetings.

We meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday evenings each month - the first meeting is at the Beehive, Castlegate, Grantham,  and is a generally informal meeting where we can chat about all manner of subjects (often non - radio related) and gives us an opportunity for a social gathering and a chance to have a beer and a good old natter.

The meeting on the 3rd Wednesday is at St . Anne's Church Hall, Harrowby Road, Grantham, and we have usually got some activity planned each evening. Our next meeting, for example, has a talk about Global Positioning Systems for navigation etc. by Arthur Moore, a well known local operator. We often have radio evenings where we use the club call, MX0SKR, and operate from the Church Hall using an OCFD in the grounds.

We are involved in many SES activations such as Jamboree on the Air with the Scouts, Churches and Chapels on the Air, Museums on the Air, to name but a few. We also attend local functions, the most recent being the World Egg Throwing Championship at Swaton, where we ran an SES and launched a High Altitude Balloon.

We are a friendly bunch and amongst our membership are some very knowledgeable fellows so if you are an experienced operator, or just starting out in the Hobby,  help and advice is always freely given.

Please take time to check out our website www.skars.co.uk.

Membership is reasonably priced and good value for money, in my opinion.

Contact us through the links on the website or you can contact me directly on m6enn@mail.com.

Hope to see you at future meetings.

73 de 2E0ENN
Secretary, SKARS

Ramblings in the QRM

Pretty quiet radio-wise lately. I've had some fun with data modes but the novelty is wearing off now. I think they are best used when there's no voice activity.

I recently made up a 40m dipole and had better results than with the end fed but the dreaded touch lamp problem reared it's ugly head again. The end fed doesn't cause any problems but my new dipole seems to set the neighbours lamps off (and one in our house). A re design of the dipole is in order - I guess a balun might be needed instead of the open dipole centre that I have used - something to experiment with. I haven't got into how to make and use filters for interference so I will have to read up on it and get cracking so I can use the dipole again.

I don't want to cause friction, as we have nice neighbours so I am continuing to use the end fed for HF at the moment.

I went along to the Horncastle Rally yesterday (26/07/15) and, as usual, I bought something unnecessarily.  Another Standard radio. This one is a C8900 2m FM set from the '80's and works well. I have it coupled up to my VHF linear amplifier into a 2m dipole that I use for local contacts. I have stated before my interest in these older radios and I am constantly stunned by the quality.

I've gone all Chinese again and bought a 20w dual band thing - but it was cheap. It's a small scale but fully featured rig and I intend to test it before installing it in the car in place of the dreadful Baojie radio that I bought. That one will be the basis of an experiment involving APRS, details will follow.

As Ofcom have withdrawn the right of Intermediate Licensees to operate I - gates,  I'm not sure where I stand with APRS, so this might be another idea that will be dead in the water until I get around to studying for the Full Licence - which I intend to embark upon later in the year.

73 for the moment de 2E0ENN

Digital Ramblings

Just had my first foray into Digimodes. I thought it was about time that I made use of my ZLP Minipro data interface and after experimenting with SSTV I decided to give PSK31 a try.

Using Ham Radio Deluxe digital software,  I found it quite difficult to configure the radio and sound card and as such it was nigh on impossible to work with. After a few test transmissions with Stewart (M0SDM) it soon became clear that I wasn't making it work. I installed Digipan software and with a little trial and error I managed to find ideal settings and soon found myself operating PSK31 with some success. I'm hooked now, it's still a bit of a learning curve as I need to create a set of macros to speed up my replies but that will come, I'm sure.

I have had some minor problems with my QRP set up. The Platinum X1M was suffering from low receive audio levels. A delve into the innards uncovered the problem. There are two pcb's which are connected via a socket and plug, which had become dislodged. I separated the boards and gave the connections a good clean with switch cleaner then reassembled the radio. Problem sorted. I have a 40m mobile vertical aerial and that constitutes my mobile QRP arrangement. I intend to find some high ground and operate from the car during what remains of the summer. For portable use, I will build a mono band dipole and sling that in a tree, with power coming from a SLA battery or my old 3 amp PSU and the trusty little generator. I have looked into Photovoltaic panels for charging the battery but that seems a little bit like overkill for a radio with such a low operating requirement. I haven't quite made my mind up but for contests etc the generator is a no - no so a little more thought will be required.

I have acquired a VHF linear amplifier/preamplifier for use with the two Standard radios. With a 1W input I get 35W out and with 8W that goes up to 40W, which is a big jump from the 8W that the C8800 gives. The C5800 gives 16W on full power so the increase is useful. Speaking of the C5800, I will be looking at increasing the full power output to its original 25W and I will post another blog outlining the project. For some reason the output was decreased by a previous owner - quite why is a mystery to me so we will have to see if it works. The next project will be to add CTCSS capability as well - I have seen some boards that can be fitted with only three wires to connect.  A little time to study the schematic will be required and I will also report on that.

In September SKARS will be operating from St. Anne's Church in Grantham for Churches and Chapels on the Air weekend. GB2SAG will operate from the church. SKARS has a connection with the church as we use the Church Hall for our meetings, so there will be a mutual benefit to be had. October sees Jamboree on the Air weekend and we will also be operating from the Grantham area in association with the Scouting Organisation. We operated JOTA for the first time last year and it is hoped that we will operate from a proper tent next to the Scout Hut - last year we operated from within the Scout Hut and noise levels with lots of youngsters having fun affected operation. The tent idea is apt for the Scouts and we will all have a really fun time.

www.skars.co.uk

73 de 2E0ENN

Eggbound Ramblings

GB2EGG took place on the 28th June and was a little disappointing due to weather conditions at the Swaton Vintage Day. We set up our operating base on the previous day - the mast and dipole going up smoothly and tested with Stewart's Yaesu FT 897 but the gazebo that I  had bought especially for the event was a different matter. Half way through putting it up a gust of wind launched it into the air, bending some of the structure into the bargain. Having straightened out the frame and successfully erecting the gazebo we put a strap over the gazebo to hold it in place overnight. I was first on site on the day and was relieved to find it intact and proceeded to install the generator, which started and ran fine. Andrew arrived next and he proceeded to the event ring to set up the launch of Eggsplorer1, the HAB. Nigel then arrived with the radios and the organisers supplied us with tables and the station was set up. Graham then arrived and he and Nigel commenced operating the SES.

We were all carrying handhelds and I then made my way to the ring to assist Andrew, Stewart already being with him. The balloon was filled with helium and as the launch time approached all was going well. I received a radio message from the radio operators,  advising me of a problem with the generator and, after the successful launch of the balloon, I went over to sort it out. It turned out to be a minor hitch and was soon sorted out.

The balloon soared into the air with the payload slung beneath and it became apparent that the image telemetry was not being sent, however the tracking system was working fine and the balloon attained a height of just over 31000m before the balloon burst (as it was supposed to) over the North Sea. Numerous Amateur Radio Operators tracked its progress and it was a great success. A while later a smaller balloon was sent up, again with tracking facilities, which did not go as high but entered the jetstream and travelled at 120 kph heading towards Scandinavia, being brought down short of Denmark by the weather.

Meanwhile, back at the radio station, things weren't going as swimmingly. The generator was struggling ( mainly due to the amount of power being drawn by the PSU at 100 watts power) so it was supplemented by a leisure battery, which solved the power issue. The weather, though, was a different matter. It was very gusty and the poor old gazebo was taking a battering, so much that it gave up the ghost spectacularly and collapsed into a mangled heap of metal and PVC.  Nigel went into panic mode and hastily removed the radios and without discussion he took them away and left for home. As he was the NoV holder, this left us in the lurch. We couldn't continue with the event call and Stewart stepped in with his radio and the event sponsors allowed us to use their gazebo, which was vacant next to where ours had been. We continued operation using our club call (MX0SKR) for a while but band conditions didn't make for a lot of contacts.

There were a few lessons learned :

1.  Don't use cheapo gazebos, they just are not suitable

2.  Always have a back up radio, as some people just panic at the slightest setback.

3.  Make sure the NoV holder is committed enough to stay on site for the whole of the event.

To be honest I was a little embarrassed by the way things turned out and I won't be put in that situation again. There are a few of us in the club who are dedicated to these types of event and I think it will be those people who will be invited to participate in the future.

Churches on the Air next,  followed by JOTA in October. Plans are afoot for both events. Gazebo not required, so here's to a couple of good events.

73 for now

www.skars.co.uk

Garbled Ramblings

After setting up my HF station I am enthused with all that mode has to offer. I have made several foreign QSO's and had my share of initial ups and downs.

The X1M QRP rig has worked very well and with limited output I am impressed with the performance. Having acquired a Kenwood TS570D, the realm of HF operation has opened up exponentially. Being able to use the full 50W allowed by my licence has made a big difference and at the same time brought about one major issue. I am using an end fed wire with an un-un and it was mounted with the feed point  underneath the soffit at the home QTH. Whilst blissfully unaware of any issues I was operating a few nights ago and my neighbour came round to tell me that their touch lamps were going on and off with my transmissions. Gutted, I immediately ceased transmitting and became somewhat dejected. After consulting with my radio friends I formulated a plan to eradicate this EMC issue. One option I read about was to fit resistors in the lamps - out of the question. So, I moved the feedpoint 10 metres away from the house and ran the radiating element down the garden, also away from the house. I wound about 5 turns of coax into a choke at the feedpoint and then called on the neighbour to do a test transmission. Using 50W I carried out a few test transmissions on 40M and, hey presto, the problem was solved.

The lesson learned? End fed antennas that use the coax braid as a ground are susceptible to EMC issues unless precautions are taken. I intend to replace the aerial with an OCFD at some point and get it mounted a bit higher up. Performance was also increased by the addition of a counterpoise so now, for the moment, all is well and I have a functioning station.

Using Ham Radio Deluxe is a treat. Controlling the radio from the laptop is a cinch and logging via the program is also simple. I want to set to grips with data modes. I have downloaded FLdigi and a couple of other programs to try and to see which one suits me best. I already have a ZLP Minipro data interface and a suitable cable for the Kenwood so data and SSTV are within my grasp.

Better news for our local repeater, GB3GR, as the repeater keeper has installed better aerials and a cavity filter, along with a preamplifier. Access is greatly improved and with a link to the Allstar UK Hub, international communications are possible.

I am always astounded at the level of friendliness, helpfulness and understanding among the Amateur Radio community and especially those who have given me both advice and assistance - a heartfelt thanks to all of them.

Right, I'm going to sign for now, so

73 de 2E0ENN

More HF Ramblings.

I'm beginning to think that HF radios are a bit like buses. You wait for ages for one then two come at the same time 😀

A friend of mine told me he wanted to sell his Kenwood TS570 and would I like it? At the time I just didn't have the asking price as car insurance had eaten into my radio fund. Fast forward to this weekend and I obtained two Clark push-up masts, complete with all guying equipment. These masts are superb (the military use them) and, although used, they were in good condition with no bits missing. I mentioned them to my friend and suggested a deal on his radio. He was somewhat unsure if he really wanted the masts but we struck a deal once he had a chance to inspect them. So, I now have a superb condition TS570. My plan is to keep the little QRP radio and buy an Ampro mono band vertical for mobile use, then go out and about.

The picture shows the Platinum X1M with MFJ902 ATU and SWR/PWR meter on the left. In the middle is the TS570 with the Standard C5800 atop. To the right, suspended beneath the shelf, is my trusty old friend the Icom IC-E208. The Magitenna works quite well but I'm looking into the idea of an OCFD, as my friend has suggested extending the long leg down the garden and the shorter leg to go over the roof of the house (just maybe the XYL will be OK with that) - thereby looking less obvious. We will have to see what comes of that idea, but I'm in no immediate hurry.

Spent a couple of hours at the Spalding and District Amateur Radio Society Rally in Spalding. Lovely weather and was good to put faces to names. A nice bacon roll and mug of tea went down well and the weather was brilliant, as I said. I now have burnt arms but it was worth it.

73 for now.....