29 November 2018

Looking for clean SS HF PA w/QSK - part 6 (Russian Burst-2000A)

Hi all,

Thanks to www.cqdx.ru we can see very first general specification of the new LDMOS HF PA which is rated at 2.2kW output thru all HF bands up to 50MHz:

http://www.cqdx.ru/ham/qro-qrp/burst-2000a-ldmos-power-amplifier/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=google_plus&utm_source=socialnetwork

As you know my preview parts talked about:
SPE EXPERT 1.3K-FA
ACOM 1200S
JUMA PA1000
LINEAR Amp Gemini HF-1K

Azden AZR-1000

Elecraft KPA1500

The Burst-2000A is using water cooling system and it is promising all possible protections which could be implemented.

An interesting think is the exciting power just 15W only to get full power of 2.2kW and full automatic switching system.


Unfortunately it looks like there is no ATU inside and mainly there is nothing said about the T/R system used in the amplifier. So we can doubt if this LDMOS PA has full, fast and silent QSK implemented.

So we will have to wait until more information will be published...


73 - Petr, OK1RP
"auf die Dauer hilft nur Power" (Erich, HB9FIH)




25 July 2018

VHF / UHF Field Day 2018 from 220m ASL QTH...

Hello,

so the VHF / UHF Field Day 2018 is finished.

I participated in the contest with son Jakub from OK5T contest QTH together with the rest of the team. In summary it was nice weekend with lot of very enjoying QSOs on 2m and mainly on 70cm... even although this QTH is only 220m ASL.

Any kind of QSO on 70cm is challenge from this QTH, hi...

The only 100W transceiver in small pistols category using the 1x LFA (G0KSC) antenna this year at the 220m ASL is not predestined to win on 2m. On the other hand I have to say it worked well thanks to good condx and mainly thanks to an excellent antenna!


At the beginning IQ5NN (774km) station came with nice sigs so Ludek, OK1VSL was pleased to start first hour of the contest with nice DX.


Everything worked well all the time including the second operating position for 70cm band where Jakub, OK1-36357 aka OK1RCG spent maximum time and his effort in order to try what is possible with installed setup and low profile, low ASL QTH and tried to get as best result as possible.


The current club's 70cm setup is using 20W from FT-857D (many thanks to Mira, OK1JMJ) into small 14el. single yagi, so it is hard job to get some reasonable results over there...

 
 
The only interesting thing was at the beginning of the contest that most of the sigs had very fast QSB and lot of calling stations disappeared during first shot.
 
The most important time for me was Sat/Sun night when I planned some DX-ing on CW. It was a bit dissapointing for me but even although I expected a bit more from this part time I worked stations over 500km away on 2m and some stations over 400km on 70cm band.


The assembling the 70cm station in the car was funny and Ludek, OK1VSL had to make light gymnastic figures, hi...




My son Jakub enjoyed his "Scouts" VHF Field Day part on 2m as OK1KDG where he made a bit lower result refer to last year probably also thanks to single LFA only compare to last year.


We enjoyed the sunshine WX with hot temp over 30C deg and sausage BB in the Sat evenning so it was enjoyable weekend for all the team I hope.



Finally we worked 93 QSOs with over 18k points on 70cm in VHF/UHF Field Day this year using only 20W out into 14el. single Yagi as OK5T mainly thanks to Jakub! Well it is the best club's result with this setup from our 220m ASL QTH...


Also some paddles and keyers were tested Sun morning by all club's mates so we enjoyed the CW not only on the air, hi.

 

Even executive director and club's cheef Ludek, OK1VSL "itself" played with my Hex key from Bencher a bit under precise supervision by top-class telegraphist Lada, OK1DGU (on the right)...



Many thanks for all nice QSOs during the enjoyable weekend and hope to hear you again on the air soon.

http://www.ok5t.cz/
"Scouts" VHF Field Day claimed score:
https://groups.io/g/ok-on-air/attachment/704/1/Claimed_score_%20PDM_2018.pdf
Scouts VHF Field Day final results 2018:
http://www.ok2kkw.com/next/pdm2018.pdf


73 - Petr, OK1RP
.../-.-

23 July 2018

PigKnob - another external knob for your Elecraft rigs

Hi all,

my PigKnob is ready to be used again after opt. encoder replacement.
Some people are asking for difference in between the
PigKnob and KPOD...


The PigKnob is a remote tuning knob for amateur radios that use a plain-text based control protocol (Elecraft, Kenwood, new Yaesu). It has 8 tactile switches and an optical encoder with a solid aluminum machined knob. All functions on the PigKnob from the switches to the encoder clockwise/counter-clockwise actions are user customizable.

The PigKnob has two serial ports, one for your computer and one to your radio. The device will proxy serial data from your computer to the radio enabling you to run your rig control software on your computer and use the knob at the same time; it connects in-line.


The PigKnob consists of two circuit boards, one in an enclosure and one bare. They are connected with 6 conductor ribbon cable. This reduces cable clutter on your desk, keeping the serial cables and power out of sight.

So in summary...

The
PigKnob by Pignology, LLC sends it's commands to the K3 via the serial port. When you are operating remotely, that port is connected to the RemoteRig interface.


The
KPOD by Elecraft connects to a jack on the bottom right edge of the front panel that Elecraft normally uses for final testing of factory-assembled radios and doesn't interfere with the serial port.



The PigKnob stores the desired commands in its memory and sends the commands when asked to. The KPOD does not store any commands. The desired strings of commands are stored in the radio using the K3 Utility. All the KPOD does is activate one of those 16 macros when you tap or hold one of the 8 buttons.



In the case of a remote station, the macros are stored in the remote host radio, not your local control radio. If the system is yours and you're the only operator this works fine. If the station has multiple users, then there has to be some agreement on what macros will be stored.

The KPOD is somewhat expensive. If you have own antennas at home then you will be happy with that PigKnob.


http://pignology.net/pkug


73 - Petr, OK1RP
.../-.-

04 July 2018

SMA/N and SMA/UHF + SMA/BNC jumpers

Hi,

The measuring SMA/N and SMA/UHF + SMA/BNC jumpers arrived. I will measure them on VNA in lab before any assessment or judgment. I ordered several versions for lab test with N, UHF, BNC using the RG316 PTFE coaxial cable. As I said several times I hate Chinese craps but these looks well for the first view...

Specification:
Product NameCable Connector
TypeN Type Female to SMA Male
Cable TypeRG316 Coaxial Cable
Cable Length22.5cm/9"
Main MaterialMetal, PTFE
Main ColorBlack.Gold Tone
Weight29g
Package1 x N Type to SMA Cable Connector Cable

I will make the lab report and short review of the jumpers when lab time will be available.


73 - Petr, OK1RP
.../-.-

A1 Club - 20 years Anniversary QSL cards

A1 CLUB has been established in October 1998 by 11 charter members who gathered under the same slogan "Let's gather CW lovers, enjoy CW and attract people to CW"

After 20 years, A1 CLUB has grown with more than 3000 members from 50 countries worldwide as a free and open community which anyone who has interest in CW can join.


A1 CLUB has been and will continue to be a supporter of "CW" as the only one digital mode which can be code and decode by human.CW4EVER!



My new 20 years A1 Club Anniversary QSL cards are ready to go...



QSL policy: Effective from 1st Jan 2017 please paper QSL via OM-bureau only!(S.A.R.A. P.O.BOX 14, 900 31 STUPAVA, Slovakia)


73 - Petr, OK1RP
../-.-

03 July 2018

K144XV transverter module "must have" modification by Steve, DH1DM

If you are not so satisfied with the K144XV transverter module installed in your Elecraft K3 transceiver then you should read it...

Thanks to Steve, DH1DM you can make "must have" modification which could solve your issues or it can help you at least...

After re-tuning has been completed these modifications result in an increased TX stability and no oscillations can be observed anymore at any power/frequency.


Component alignment has also been found less critical after modification. Output power has been measured at 9.5W.

http://www.qsl.net/dh1dm/k144xv_txmod/index.html


73 - Petr, OK1RP
.../-.-

Sea of Peace Award 2018 (SOP) started!

Sea of Peace Award 2018 (SOP) started!
 
If you want to get beautiful pennon or following your last year achievement you would like to continue to get sticker then you should turn on your radio and pay attention to the stations from the required countries during the July 2018...

This certificate in form of a silk pennon will be awarded for QSOs with the Baltic neighbouring states and regions in July. Annual stickers can be acquired for repeated fulfilment of the rules during the subsequent years.


Beyond coming SOP-owners will receive special recognitions after 5-and 10-times achievements of the pennon and stickers.



This popular certificate was awarded by the amateur radio organisation of the former GDR in 1958. And has been continuing by the DARC district Mecklenburg-West Pomerania since 1991.

In 2018 we celebrated 60 years of SOP with a special call signs DL60SOP.

Supplement for 2018: Foreign stations with the suffix "SOP" (e.g., OZ4SOP, SJ1SOP...) count as a joker for a not achieved area.
 
http://ok1rp.blogspot.com/2017/07/sop-sea-of-peace-hunting-started.html
http://www.dl0sop.darc.de/Seite-1e.htm

01 June 2018

Are you a True Blue DXer?


If watching a computer make contacts for you is not your idea of DX...

If you are decoding by human ears and brain power...



...then you are a True Blue DXer!






LET US TELL YOU RIGHT AWAY: WE ARE NOT AGAINST ANYTHING, OR ANYBODY

Digital modes, particularly FT8, have literally taken Ham Radio by storm. We at True Blue DXers Club (TBDXC) applaud technical innovation, and we are glad that so many people have found a new avenue for their amateur radio passion. We wish digital operators every success and lots of enjoyment.

 

HOWEVER

We are somehow saddened that such explosion of activity has come to the detriment of traditional, person-to-person modes of communication. Experience tells us that, even with poor propagation and rising noise, both high-level, competitive DX activity and leisurely rag-chewing on CW and SSB are possible and highly enjoyable, even for stations with modest means. Yet, the CW and SSB sub-bands are often nearly deserted, whilst the FT8 "watering holes" literally explode with signals which would be perfectly copyable by ear.


WE RECLAIM THE PRIDE AND JOY OF DXing AS A DIFFICULT, CHALLENGING PURSUIT

DXing means pushing the limits - one's own and the station's. DXing requires skills, knowledge, determination, patience, endurance, investment - it's a constant pursuit of excellence, one that, for some, has lasted a lifetime. It is that spirit that makes a DXer, and not the results he or she has achieved. The Old Timer waiting for the last DXCC country to complete the #1 Honor Roll and the newcomer struggling to push beyond 100 from a noisy city lot belong together - they are True Blue DXers.




WE LOVE THE PLEASURE AND WARMTH OF PERSON-TO-PERSON COMMUNICATION

There is more to DXing that competing in furious pileups, waiting for that elusive 6m opening or spending sleepless nights trying to dig a signal out of the noise on Top Band. Simply communicating with a fellow ham thousands of miles away remains, for most of us, an exquisite pleasure. True Blue DXers love the sound of DX - the auroral flutter on Polar paths, the slow fading over the oceans, the slap-back delay on multi-paths. They like to hear that there is a fellow ham behind the key or the microphone, in a faraway place.

IF THESE SIMPLE IDEAS SPEAK TO YOU, YOU ARE A TRUE BLUE DXer

Then, why not joining the Club? Apart from your personal commitment to pursuing and promoting more traditional forms of DX activity, there are no requirements. And, there are no membership fees. Belonging to the True Blue DXers Club is essentially a proud statement: this is what we do, this is what we are.




TBDXC link: http://www.tbdxc.net


73 - Petr, OK1RP

TBDXC #12
 

24 May 2018

The 17th A1Club QSO Party 2018

[Japanese]
A1 Club is pleased to announce the              A1 Club QSO Party, which is open to all radio amateurs world-wide and which
aims to encourage the use of and excellence in Morse code.                                            Event: The A1 Club QSO Party.
This is an operating event, not a contest.

Date & time:
From 2018-4-30 15:00Z to 2018-5-31 15:00Z, for a month
.

Object:To try communication by the international Morse Codes on all amateur bands.

Exchange: Normal QSO style. --> Ragchew if possible
<
a QSO which includes at least an exchange of information other than RST report.>

Frequencies: CW portions of the amateur bands assigned in each country where you operate.


Mode: CW using the internatinal Morse code

Internet Tool: Following internet sites are recommended to find participants.

A1 CLUB Facebook Group


Activity Report: Send following information from the [ENTRY FORM]
(1) Your Callsign, (2) Your name, (3) Comments, (4) Photos (if any)
< The entry form will be available from 1st May to 15th June>

Certificate: No awards will be given as this is not a contest.
An entry certificate in electrical format will be provided on request (see entry form)
           


RESULTS(in Japanese)         A1 CLUB Top