Today I made the final cut to the desktop so the rack will now fit. As seen in earlier photos of this project, the two sides of the desktop met in the corner at a 45 degree angle miter joint. As it turned out, another ham with an Isosceles Triangle Calculator came to my rescue.
One Chance To Get It Right
To fit the radio rack into the corner of the room, I needed to figure out how much to cut off of the right side of the desktop in order to fit a 22″ wide rack in between the two 45 degree angled sides. The desktop currently occupies the entire length of the wall, and shortening its length is now the only solution.
I’m no math whiz, and my guess was I would have to cut off 11″ if I were to fit a 22″ wide rack in between the two sides. Wrong! Luckily, I asked around first. The answer was found using an Isosceles Triangle calculator.
The Isosceles Triangle Calculator
All I knew was the corner was 90 degrees and the hypotenuse was 22″. Thanks to Cory AE6GW for doing the math. The resulting calculation showed I needed to reduce the length of the desktop by 15.556″ in order to obtain an exact fit. Then, I added an inch, so my sliding closet door would still have clearance.
Output of the Isosceles Triangle Calculator
Solving an isosceles triangle. The base, leg or altitude of an isosceles triangle can be found if you know the other two. A perpendicular bisector of the base forms an altitude of the triangle. This forms two congruent right triangles that can be solved using Pythagoras’ Theorem. (It’s all Greek to me)
The rack now fits squarely into the corner.
The right side of the desktop is now approx 16.5″ shorter, and of course the rack now fits squarely into the corner of the room. Exactly the way I wanted it. I say approximately due to the accuracy of the “Armstrong Saw” I used to make the cut!
Although still far from being finished, at least now I can push the rack back into the corner and make a little more room to move around in here.
This weekend I will finish the ground bar ‘relocation’. The ground bar is currently located at the shack window . Amateur Radio Station Grounding and RFI mitigation is of the utmost importance. My goal is to provide a low impedance earth ground to the rack. Here is another series of articles on station grounding that’s really worth reading. Read these two links! Highly recommended!
This 2″ Copper Strap will extend along the wall to the rack.
Ground Bar Relocation
I plan to mount the ground bar vertically on the rear of the rack by bolting it to a couple of rack panels. The panels will serve as the foundation for mounting the ground bar at the correct height and position to connect the 2″ strap that’s running along the wall to the rack. All equipment will connect to the ground bar, then the strap will be bolted to the bars with some strain relief (service loop)
Ground Bar mounted!
To accomplish this I purchased a set of DXE-MSC-3 Copper Strap Bonding Clamps. The clamps will allow me to make a 90 degree turn to the left under the window, and run another piece of 2″ strap along the wall (behind the countertop). I’ll leave a “service loop” of strap in the back of the rack long enough, that I can pull the rack out for service without having to disconnect the strap. W5BWC’s article should be required reading for all amateurs who own and operate an HF station. Amateur Radio Station Grounding is just as important as the antenna!
2 inch Copper Strap left turn!
Securing The Ground Strap
Securing the loop was easier than expected. I had concerns about the loop and attaching it to the bar. Problem solved…
That’s a solid ground connection!
I traced through the holes in the bar with a paper and pencil, and created a drilling template for the end of the strap. Four 3/8″ holes perfectly lined up. Ground Bar done! At some point I’ll attach the strap along the back of the countertop so it’s not just hanging loose back there.
2″ copper strap loop so I can pull the rack forward for service.
Finally A Solid Ground!
The plan worked out great! I was able to push the rack all the way back into the corner, and there’s enough ‘slack’, that when needed, I can pull the rack out far enough to sit/stand behind it. This is exactly how this was planned, and I’m pretty happy with it right now.
With the desktops temporarily back in place.
I can start measuring for the finishing touches, including the addition of a 32″ 4K UHD monitor. I’m currently considering the Samsung U32H850. If it fits, this is most likely the monitor I will use to replace the 1080p TV in my previous shack setup.
The shack is finally starting to shape up! Yeah, I know, I’ll switch the file cabinet on the left so the handle colors match on either side of the rack!
Now that everything is grounded, I’ve started testing with RF. I found a couple of wiring errors to the amplifier that are now corrected. Key down at half power (600w) showed no evidence of any RF in the shack. I’ll try some full output tests tomorrow. Yeah! I finally took down that ratty looking YAESU Wall Map!
Remaining To-Do List
The ‘still to do’ list:
Relocate AC power distro
Relocate Router and Printer
Measure for use of TV riser
Measure for relocation of Ergotron Arm
Measure for 4K UHD monitor
Reconnect Scanner Audio
Reconnect Satellite Rotors
Reconnect NAS
After full power testing is complete, I will not do any more work on, or make any changes to the radio rack until after the ARRL International DX Contest (SSB) the first weekend of March. Radio work will resume after the contest. In the meantime I will get the ergonomic work going. The right side of the desktop can be completed. The left side must be done last, since access to the rack depends on sliding the left desktop out of the way.
It was money well spent on all the snap-on ferrites and on the extension of the 2″ copper strap. Initial testing shows everything is quiet and no RFI. I have a solid, low impedance, single point ground system in place. High power testing should prove the effectiveness of my Amateur Radio Station Grounding!
The decision was made to purchase the LG 32UD59-B 4K UHD monitor. It is scheduled for delivery on Friday (of course). This replaces the 46″ 1080p TV I was using previously. I will mount the new 4K monitor on the Ergotron Arm and position it above the dual 22″ displays, as before. I need to modify the dual monitor stand since the string/cable inside has snapped and it no longer supports any weight. I think I’ll just insert a block of wood or something to hold it up to the correct height and call it done. I also scored on a Palstar AT-AUTO.
The other item I purchased today was a much sought after (second) Palstar AT-AUTO. I found one listed online and was lucky to get it after TWO previous ‘buyers’ backed out! The unit was serviced at Kessler and had upgrades installed, so I deemed it fair to pay a little more for this one than the first one I bought. No big deal. Now I have the two I need.
The second AT-AUTO will go on the shelf above the first one.
I’ll move that PRO 2006 scanner to the top shelf, under the Alinco data radio as originally planned, and install the AT-AUTO the same day it arrives. Tracking info to be made available tomorrow. Thanks to Robert KP4Y for what should be a very nice AT-AUTO. And…it has the same color buttons as my first unit.
The AT-AUTO is a fully automatic high power roller inductor tuner. No cranks to turn on this tuner! The AT-AUTO follows frequency changes in real-time when connected to the Flex 6000 series USB port. I consider the AT-AUTO to be one of the best auto tuners ever made. I just change to any frequency/band I please and the AT-AUTO typically delivers a 1.04:1 SWR. I no longer have to be concerned about SWR. The display is easy to read, and the tuner is quiet. The AT-AUTO does take some time to reach the tuned frequency when I switch to 160 meters, since the L and C settings for 160m are at the opposite end of the roller inductor. Other than that, the AT-AUTO typically tunes in a second or two once “trained”.
The tuner must be trained across all amateur bands so it can memorize the LC settings for your antenna. Since this unit was pre-owned, I will clear all memory before I retrain the tuner. To “train” the tuner, I transmit a tuning signal of 10w or so, and slowly tune from band edge to band edge on each of the amateur bands. The AT-AUTO stores all the LC settings in memory as you crawl each band. The AT-AUTO only has to tune, (or be trained) once. As long as you don’t change the antenna, the AT-AUTO recalls the stored settings for your current operating frequency, making tuning very fast. No worries about noisy relays, or arcing, due to its impeccable heavy duty design and construction
The AT-AUTO is a heavy duty, high power HF autotuner.
AT-AUTO – High Power, Heavy Duty, Fully Automatic, Computer Controlled, Delivering Near Perfect SWR.
From the Kessler Engineering website:
The AT-AUTO is a fully autonomous, fully automatic impedance matching network (an antenna tuner) that employs an embedded microprocessor to position a conventional roller inductor and a split-stator variable capacitor. It provides continuous coverage tuning from 1.8 – 54 MHz (including MARS, DoD, and commercial frequency bands, etc.) and is rated for 1500 W continuous carrier operation. The AT-AUTO is quiet and reliable, and with its industrial-rated stepper motors, provides a superior impedance match to that provided by the loud clanking boxes of relays provided by the competitors.
The Palstar AT-AUTO continuously measures forward and reflected RF power. As long as the SWR is below a user-selectable threshold, the AT-AUTO provides a “Good Match” cue in the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and takes no further action. Whenever the SWR exceeds the “Tune-Start” SWR, the AT-AUTO then counts the RF carrier frequency, looks up previously stored Inductor (L) and Capacitor (C) settings for the frequency of operation and then repositions L & C to the recalled settings. If the SWR is still excessive, the AT-AUTO automatically begins tuning, and provides user prompts during the entire process via the LCD. Once a good match is found, the new match settings are stored in memory for subsequent recall. The default behavior is highly customizable to suit individual needs.
The Palstar AT-AUTO is also able to obtain frequency information via the radio’s serial data port (for these compatible radios so equipped). By doing so, the AT-AUTO instantly follows frequency changes (VFO adjustment, etc.) and immediately recalls and sets the L & C for the new frequency – without the need to generate an RF carrier! The recalled match should provide an excellent SWR so that when RF is finally applied, subsequent tuning will not be necessary. While the serial port is not necessary for automatic tuning, this “Smart Mode” of operation greatly speeds the entire process of changing frequencies.
Note: The AT-AUTO is currently not in production and not available for sale. It is undergoing a redesign for release soon. The pictures and descriptions shown here are of the existing version(s) of the AT-AUTO tuner prior to its production cessation.
The Palstar AT-AUTO sends and receives serial data to/from the associated radio via the radio’s serial port. This is commonly referred to as Computer Aided Tuning or CAT. In order for the radio and the AT-AUTO to be able to communicate serially, an appropriate CAT cable must be used.
Because there is no defacto standard for CAT, there are variations in connectors and pin assignments from manufacturer to manufacturer. Therefore, there are unique AT-AUTO CAT cables for Elecraft, Kenwood, TenTec, Yaesu, and others. The CAT cables themselves are nearly identical, with minor variations in the specific connector and pin assignments.
ICOM has their own CAT implementation known as CI-V which uses entirely different protocols. ICOM radios, therefore, do not use the CAT cable, but instead use a CI-V cable.
Cable Sets consist of a Firmware Update Cable, A CAT/CI-V Cable, and in the case of some Kenwood radios, a Tuner-Handshake Cable. Schematic diagrams of the various cables are provided in the AT-AUTO user manual.
Finally it’s beginning to feel like the station is nearing completion. The LG 32UD59-B 4K UHD monitor has arrived, and it looks amazing. Almost everything is connected and working.
The LG 32UD59-B monitor looks great!
The AT-AUTO is the last piece of equipment remaining to be connected, and is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday 2/20/18. Today I ordered the remaining cables needed to install the tuner (two coax jumpers and an FTDI USB Serial cable)
Testing today at 1KW output did not produce any noticeable RFI in the shack! More testing will be required once all the PC monitors are in place and connected. The linear amplifier now delivers full output with 5 watts less drive It may be possible to lower the drive power even further after more testing is completed.
The rack is in the operating position and the desktop sides have been restored. The 4K monitor has been mounted and the remodel could be finished tomorrow if all goes well..
SPECIFICATIONS
32UD59/32MU59/32UD60
LCD Screen Type: TFT (Thin Film Transistor)
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) Screen
Pixel Pitch: 0.181 mm x 0.181 mm
Maximum Resolution: 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz
Recommended Resolution: 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz
Video Signal Horizontal Frequency: 30 kHz to 135 kHz
Vertical Frequency: 56Hz to 61 Hz
Input Connectors: HDMI IN1, HDMI IN2, DP(DisplayPort) IN, H/P(Headphone) OUT
Power input
19 V 3.3 A
Power consumption (Typ.)
On mode: 39 W Typ. (ENERGY STAR® standard)*
50 W Typ. (Outgoing condition)**
Sleep Mode ≤ 0.5 W
Off Mode ≤ 0.3 W
AC/DC adaptor
Type DA-65G 19, Asian Power Devices Inc. production
Or type LCAP39, LIEN CHANG ELECTRONIC ENTERPRISE production
Output: 19 V 3.42 A
Environmental Conditions
Operating Condition
Temperature: (32 °F to 104 °F); Humidity: < 80%
Storing Condition
Temperature: (-4 °F to 140 °F); Humidity: < 85%
Dimension
Monitor Size (Width x Height x Depth)
With Stand
28.67 inches x 18.04 inches x 9.32 inches
Without Stand
28.67 inches x 16.72 inches x 1.96 inches
Weight (Without Packaging)
With Stand
15.65 lbs
Without Stand
11.68 lbs
Product specifications shown above may be changed without prior notice due to upgrade of product functions.
* The power consumption level can be different by operating condition and monitor setting.
* The On mode power consumption is measured with ENERGY STAR® test standard.
** The On mode power consumption is measured with LGE test standard ( Full White pattern , Maximum
resolution).
Unfortunately, after putting everything in place today I found the W10 PC has no power. I might have forgotten to connect the power cord, or I may have turned off the power switch on the PC power supply by mistake. I’m going to try to wiggle one hand back there and see if I can restore power without having to take the desktop apart and pull the rack out. If its not as simple as connecting the power, and the W10 PC has to be pulled, it will be postponed until after the March 2018 ARRL HF Contest. I’m curious to see what the 4K UHD Monitor will look like once connected to the Display Port output on the W10 PC.
I’m finally in the home stretch, as only a few more items remain to be completed:
Reconnect SAT Rotors
Install the Second AT-AUTO
Reinstall Audio Mixer (or replace with something smaller)
Resolve Power Issue on W10 PC
Put all PC Monitors Back in Place
Finish High Power Testing
Check Loss of Sync On GW PC Monitor
Check TNC/Radio Cable for Possible Short (also reposition TNC for visibility)
Buy / Cut / Install Plexiglass Window Above AC Unit
The PC monitors are in place, look great, and exhibit no RFI at full output. The operating position is fully tested and ready for the contest.
I decided to try a 4K UHD monitor and selected the LG 32UD59-B (top) and it looks fantastic!
View from the operators chair! Everything within reach and easy for me to see.
The few minor problems that remain will be addressed after the contest. For all intents and purposes, this project is complete. I may decide to upgrade the PC monitors in the near future, but for now the station hardware is complete.
Now it’s time to OPERATE!
-P.S. 02-23-18: I was doing some testing with the data cable connected to the recently installed AT-AUTO, and the tuner works as expected. I was able to work KB3RHR and K7KPH and both gave me great reports.
The AT-AUTO arrived safe and sound in spite of a loose packing job. By the time the box arrived it was all “rounded out”. This is what happens when you use a light gauge box for a heavy item, and the item is ‘loose’ inside. Yep, you guessed it…the box was full of styrofoam ‘peanuts’. Hey, it was a happy ending, the tuner works as expected so far. There are a couple of cosmetic differences that I imagine have to do with the different production runs. Overall I am happy with this purchase. More info available at the Kessler Engineering website.
AT-AUTO Data Cable
The data cable was scheduled to arrive today, but did not. So I say ‘so far’ because I could not test the data port tonight, but I’m sure it won’t be a problem. The coax cables arrived on time because the eBay seller shipped them on Saturday! Hat’s off to “WifiExpert” on ebay! Highly recommended!
Palstar AT-AUTO – The perfect tuning solution for my shack!
The AT-AUTO was one of the last pieces I needed to complete my 2018 station overhaul. I now have near perfect SWR everywhere. The Expert 1K-FA is a great amp, but the internal tuner only matches up to 3:1 SWR. I had issues with antennas being out of range of the 1K-FA internal tuner, and resolved ALL issues via the AT-AUTO.
Fully Automatic Tuning – QRO
I cleared the memory and trained the tuner on all bands, then did the same with the tuner in the amp. The result is a perfect match on any frequency, on any antenna, and tuning is fully automatic! I’m very happy to have this in place for the ARRL contest.
The AT-AUTO ‘s will follow the active TX slice on the radio, and enable the operator to concentrate on the work, and not be concerned with making errors when changing bands etc.
The remodeled station performed well today during the ARRL SSB 2018 Contest. The station got a thorough high power workout today on 15, 20, and 40 meters. The results were very exciting to say the least!
There were a few tuner training issues, but the AT-AUTO’s caught up on the fly, after that, it was smooth sailing everywhere I went. As usual, I was able to work everyone I could hear. In spite of my compromise 40m antenna, I was able to work all the Hawaiian contesters along with KL7RA on 40.
The only glitch was the HF rotor azimuth indicator stopped working! Of all times for a rotor to fail! Actually the rotor still turns AOK, but the control box no longer indicates its position. If I’m really lucky, I’ll find pin 2 is not making contact at the back of the controller. Worst case: the position potentiometer in the rotor will have to be repaired or replaced. Not a big deal for now. The rotor in question has been in service for 14 years. So I worked this ARRL SSB 2018 Contest with the antenna fixed at 90 degrees.
Contest Battle Station!
Objective: To encourage W/VE stations to expand knowledge of DX propagation on the HF and MF bands, improve operating skills, and improve station capability by creating a competition in which DX stations may only contact W/VE stations.
W/VE amateurs: Work as many DX stations in as many DXCC entities as possible on the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands.
DX stations: Work as many W/VE stations in as many of the 48 contiguous states and provinces as possible.
Have you been here yet? Click through the link to learn more about the contest station.
The ARRL DX SSB Contest went great! Everything performed well, as expected.
Once again, I was able to work every station I heard. Using a Flex 6300, I worked S&P while utilizing a “3 click” zoom level which makes finding the ‘little pistols’ much easier. I then proceeded to rake the bands for all the tiny, in-between signals I could find, resulting in some great contacts. We’re talking about DX contacts at the RX noise level, in between two stations, (often ‘big guns’) blasting away. Very challenging play today! Very impressive TRX performance from the 6300. I can only imagine what an upgrade to a 6700 will be like. For this contest I used a 4K monitor for the first time. The added resolution made finding the ‘tiny’ guys that much easier.
What makes working the ‘tiny’ signals possible is the Flex ability (no pun intended) to place a custom width passband anywhere you need it. In this case, I place a 1.3khz passband in between the opposing stations. This allows me to pull the DX right out at the RX noise floor. The passband filter is sharp enough to sufficiently isolate these minute signals and render them listenable. Amazing. Next time, I’ll capture video. I made great contacts this way throughout the contest. Of course I work all the big guns as well, working them early (6am Local) and then hearing them in pile-ups later on!
By the end of the contest I found it difficult to find anyone that I had not already worked! After adding a 6700, the only other REAL improvement I could make would be the addition of a tower and full size antenna. Since I can work everybody I can hear, it only makes sense that I acquire “bigger ears”.
I need a 1U mixer to combine the audio outputs from three PC’s and three radios. At this point it looks like the obvious choice is the Samson SM10. With 8 stereo, plus 2 mono line inputs this mixer fits the bill perfectly.
The Flex 5000 has a balanced line input, as does the Flex 6700, so I’ll run a balanced line to each radio. This will allow audio from the PC’s and/or radios to be played back over the air. The effects send will be used to supply audio to the input of the Dark Ice Live Audio Streamer (running on the Ubuntu server). Web users will be able to stream live audio from any device in the shack that I choose.
The PRO-2500 Power Strip has to move to make room for the SM10 mixer
I will move the Monster Power PRO 2500 to the rear rack rails, and use that space for the SM10 mixer. I need to have the mixer in that rack position more than I do the two electrical outlets. This should be the last move before the new equipment is added and the station is finally complete. (XYL laughing in the background)
After careful consideration I’ve decided to purchase the FlexRadio 6700.
It came down to several things:
RX comparison between Flexradio 6600/6700 nearly identical
6700 only 3.5″ in height
8 panadapters vs. 4 on the 6600
Contest BPF not enough reason for a 6600
6600 mic connector on rear
I’m convinced the receivers in both radios “are close enough for jazz”, in that the RX specs are virtually identical. The 3.5″ height means I can remove this shelf and fit the 6300, 6700, and an LP-500.
I’ll remove this shelf to make room for the 6700 and the new LP-500 Station Monitor
Comparisons also show that the 6700 is better suited for satellite work, should I ever decide to move SAT operation off the Flex 5000. Investing in a 6600 also meant the LP-500 would not fit. I was able to engineer a clamp-on shelf for the LP-500, but I would much rather have it in the rack.
I noticed the Flex website has announced that the 6600’s are shipping. This may cause a drop in the price of the FlexRadio 6700. We’ll just have to see how it goes.
My 14 year old Yaesu G-800DXA rotor has malfunctioned for the first time. It can be turned using the left/right switch, but there’s no movement of the azimuth indicator. This could be as simple as a bad connection, caused when I pulled the connector from the controller during the remodel. It’s possible, as I remember having trouble getting the connector out.
It could also be that the position potentiometer inside the rotor has failed. In which case I now have a “Plan B”. If the problem turns out to be inside the rotor I’ll replace the rotor, and consider repairing the old one for some future use.
I also have some rough spots in the G-800SDX rotor that I use for SAT azimuth. The rotor gives bad indication between 100 and 160 or so. This is surely an indication of impending failure. No worries, as the rotor was acquired secondhand for peanuts, and has been in operation for 6 years. It still works and will stay in operation until I replace the the HF rotor. The plan is to buy another G-800DXA for the HF antenna (since I already have a working computer interface card for it). FWIW the Idiom Press RotorCard from hamsupply.com is highly recommended. It gives your rotor its own COM port number, and can be accessed by any software.
If possible I’ll change out the SAT and HF rotors the same day. I will most likely purchase both rotors (G-5500 and G-800DXA) new from wherever I find the lowest price. I’ve owned the Yaesu G-5500 AZ/EL Rotor, and there’s no doubt it’s the best. My cobbled together KENPRO/YAESU combo has been serving me well, it enabled me to get back on the satellites at a greatly reduced cost, and was a deciding factor to stay on with the SATS.
The existing satellite rotors will be replaced with a Yaesu G-5500 AZ/EL
Yaesu G-5500 AZ/EL from my previous installation.
I’ll use the leftover G-800SDX to turn the W6LVP Loop. We all know a rotor for the RX only Loop Antenna is a must have. The loop can be rotated to find the null or the peak, depending on the signal situation. Thus far I’ve only used the loop in a fixed position, so utilizing a rotor will open up some new possibilities.
For the replacement rotor I am considering the Green Heron G800/RT21 system. I’m waiting for a reply on the shipping cost before I order.
UPDATE: 030818 – Well, I got my answer from GHE. I’ll be shopping elsewhere…
The next new addition to the station will be the TelePost LP-500 Digital Station Monitor. A must have to ensure proper station operation.
The next addition to the station
From the TelePost LP-500 Website:
What is LP-500?
The TelePost LP-500 is a digital station monitor which displays detailed information about the transmitted signal of a station.
It displays the sampled signals in numerous formats including:
Power/SWR
Oscilloscope type display
Spectrum display
The sampled signals are obtained by demodulating the RF, like in a traditional wattmeter, and should therefore work on any frequency for which there is a suitable directional coupler with the appropriate voltage scaling and time constants.
It should be noted that demodulated samples are audio frequency based and not the same as RF samples. With some types of modulation, the demodulated audio is not a linear representation of the modulation signals, therefore the spectrum display works quite differently than a true spectrum analyzer. This doesn’t pose a problem for AM signals, where the demodulated audio is faithful to the modulation signal, but is a challenge for SSB and other signals without a carrier. For this reason, we have developed special test signals which allow for some traditional SSB tests to be performed, although the tests cannot be directly compared to measurements from a true spectrum analyzer.
In many cases, though, similar information can be gleaned from the tests, and they can be used for comparative tests to see the effect of changes to the transmitting equipment.
Business end of the LP-500
So you know you’re perfectly linear!
To utilize this feature two couplers are required (per radio in my case). I plan to have both the 6300 and 6700 using input and output couplers configured like this:
Block diagram of LP-500 hook up
I’m looking forward to installing the TelePost LP-500 as soon as possible. There’s a waiting list, and I had to pass on my position in the list due to an unforeseen expense at the time of availability.
I can see on the TelePost website that regular shipping is back in full swing.
My first transceiver was a Realistic/Radio Shack HTX-202 “handie talkie”. They can be seen in pictures of my shack from the 1990’s. I used HTX-202’s and 404’s for packet radio when I first got started. They sure took a beating! I ran them 24/7 for 10 years. They were relatively inexpensive, and they worked great for packet. I eventually replaced them with Kenwood TM-V7A‘s.
The HTX-202’s worked great for packet radio!
The Kenwood’s were dual band transceivers and I connected a TNC to each side of the radio. I could do packet radio V/U V/V U/U. It worked so well I bought two of them. They also did 9600 baud which was a deciding factor.
Six packet radio ports on the air @KB2SHU in Cerritos CA
I never experienced any problems with the TM-V7A’s either. I had started as an SWL with a Kenwood R-5000 and after success with the TM-V7A’s I decided to look at the Kenwood HT’s.
Being a digital enthusiast, I purchased the Kenwood TH-D7A handie talkie because it had a TNC and APRS built-in. It was another good investment, and I kept it for several years. I currently own a Kenwood TH-F6A. It’s very small. I bought it because I could carry it in a shirt pocket.
Then, there is the argument for the Baofeng . The Baofeng UV-5R has taken the amateur radio market by storm. These inexpensive $25 HT’s get the job done. Nothing fancy for $25, but they will get you into the local repeaters and sound just as good as anything else. I hear people using them all the time. And it never fails, someone will say “Hey, you sound good, what are you using?”. Hard to tell what it is by the sound….could be a Kenwood…or a Baofeng!
Great little No Frills transceiver!
It’s amazing these can be sold so inexpensively. In the beginning it was hard to believe the price. Quite frankly, I didn’t care what it sounded like for $25, as long as it worked! I have no problems working the local machines with my UV-5R. Is it a Kenwood? No, of course not. But it’s $25! Buy two! Give them as holiday gifts! Keep one in the car, just in case!
No, I have no stats on failure rates. Like all my comments, these are based on my personal experience only. As they say: “Your mileage may vary”
Todays work included installation of the SO2R RX Loop Antenna and associated devices. The W6LVP relay will provide switching for the SO2R RX Loop Antenna. I’ll also install some front end protection.
The SPE Expert 1K-FA amplifier allows connection of two transceivers, four antennas, and, an SO2R RX antenna. When the OP is transmitting on radio#1, radio #2 is connected to the SO2R RX antenna. This enables the operator to listen on radio #2 while working the latest DX on radio #1, and vice versa.
SO2R RX Loop Antenna for low noise
Operating in SO2R mode presents the possibility of overloading or damaging the sensitive RX front ends of the two connected transceivers. The 1K-FA manual warns of this possibility and cautions the user about antenna separation and it is suggested (and makes the most sense) that receiver front end protection devices be considered.
The Flex transceivers have built-in RX protection, but adding an RX front end protection circuit offers one more level of protection.
From the May 2014 QST article:
The RXFEP uses multiple devices to soft limit input signals starting at –1 dBm and outputting a specified maximum signal level of +10 dBm to the re-ceiver input.While manufacturers do not generally specify the maximum safe input levels for their equipment, it is worth noting that ARRL Lab re-ceiver dynamic range tests include input signals as high as +10 dBm, and we haven’t lost one yet.
An obvious place to install this device is at the RECEIVE ONLY ANTENNA port of a receiver. By having it as close to the receiver as possible, any pickup on the cable between the device and the receiver is minimized. There is another potential application in some installations, however. Some receive-only antennas include a remote preamplifier at the antenna termination. A protector at the remote preamp input would also be appropriate, although consideration should be given to the preamp input impedance, with a transformation to 50 W, if needed. If there is a long coax run from the remote preamp to the receiver, a second protector could be used at the receiver in case of loose coax connectors or other shield impairments. It should be obvious, but I’ll say it anyway. This unit cannot be used on any antenna feed that is also used for transmitting. Damage to both the unit and the transmitter would be likely consequences.
The low noise RX Loop Antenna is hereby considered a major station improvement!
It seemed like I wasn’t getting anywhere with the first SEO (Search Engine Optimization) plugin I installed. Today I installed Yoast SEO and I could immediately see what was lacking in my SEO configuration. You could say I had an SEO Breakthrough!
Homebrew SEO
Yoast is light years ahead of their competition. I found their user interface genuinely intuitive. Interpretation of the Yoast interface guided me to making the following improvements:
Added ‘tags’ to all posts
Added ‘focus keywords’ to all posts and pages
Fine tuned content for improved SEO ratings
Search Result ‘Appearance’ settings
Keyword Research
I spent approximately 3 hours inputting all the new SEO data. It was not difficult, just time consuming, since all my pages and posts required the updates. Of course, now that I know what each post and page requires in order to meet Yoast SEO standards, I will include that SEO data as I create new content. e.g. this post.
There has been significant progress made in driving traffic to the site. Before I installed WordPress my legacy website averaged 400 visits per month.
Since installing WordPress (and the limited SEO plugin I just replaced) on 12/10/17, web traffic has increased from the average 400 visits to (whats tracking to be) 4000 visits this month. Here is my AWStats data for the past 12 months. Go ahead and click, you can look through them if you like.
I’m finding Bing to be far more responsive than Google. I noticed that some subtle changes in “appearance” I had made, showed up quickly in Bing results, while not showing up at all on Google. Also the Google Search Console is virtually empty, while the Bing console is reporting everything. I’ve entered my “Google Verification Code” into Yoast, and I’m hoping this helps improve the results with Google. I’m certain both services crawls are allowed. Bing seems to be the “first to the party”.
The Bing Webmaster “Diagnostics and Tools” section includes a “Keyword Research” function. I used this tool to determine the most used search terms (keywords) as they relate to amateur radio, and more specifically, my website.
I’m hoping it will improve search results now that I’ve incorporated all the top rated keywords I found, into my content. I have no idea if this will improve placement in search results. However, it should cause my site to appear in search results it would not have appeared in prior to today’s enhancements.
It will certainly be interesting to see what affect, if any, the changes made today have on traffic and search results.
