I had a few problems with the initial location where I’d put the Tune-A-Tenna. Due to surrounding structures, etc., I could only orient the legs E-W, which is the shorter dimension of my lot. Too close to my wife’s office, so QRO was out of the question (while she’s in there). Metal mast interacting with… Continue reading Moved The Tune-A-Tenna
Category: Ham Radio
Going Old School With An Inverted Vee Dipole
I know I’ve had various flavors of Wire Dipoles over the years. At least one of them was an Inverted Vee configuration. I’ve never had a tower. I’ve had a metallic mast once before, but what was on it was something where all the working parts of the antenna were above the mast. A few… Continue reading Going Old School With An Inverted Vee Dipole
60 Meters Is Weird on FTdx3000
Someone on the Twitters challenged me that 60m was “hot” for FT8 about a week ago, so I endeavored to try working at least one station on that band – had never worked that band on any mode yet. It was challenging. I have since learned some “tricks” to get it to work. So, when… Continue reading 60 Meters Is Weird on FTdx3000
Simpler Mic Audio Path
How I Used To Do It Condenser Mic XLR-XLR Cable Mixer with Phantom Power Input gain setting Compression setting (usually 0) 3-band EQ (usually flat) FX Send knob (half-way) FX out 1/4” “Left” plug 1/8” stereo “Left” connection FTdx3000 “Line” jack (3-cond mini handles line in & out) How I Do It Now Condenser Mic… Continue reading Simpler Mic Audio Path
What To Do For 160 Meters?
Even if I could put supports up high enough on the furthest four corners of my lot (and I don’t think I could), the entire perimeter of the lot does not amount to 160 meters, so there isn’t room for a full wave horizontal loop. If I simply used the furthest-out trees that are tall… Continue reading What To Do For 160 Meters?
Bencher Keyer Does Double Duty
I had thought it’d make sense for a keyer plugged into a modern HF transceiver to be able to function as a PTT switch when using the radio in a voice mode. I searched through the radio’s enormous menu, but found nothing. Then I thought, “What if I just wired it up to both jacks?”… Continue reading Bencher Keyer Does Double Duty
13 Colonies
…is a Ham Radio Special Event running all this week. I forgot that it started before the 4th, so I wasn’t paying attention until today. Derp. One of the things I’d noticed during and just after Field Day is that although my long-wire antenna should tune up well on 80-meters (it’s more than long enough, and… Continue reading 13 Colonies
Field Day 2019 – Follow-Up
I did not do great in the contest, from a points perspective. It will be very easy to improve upon, especially as my CQ-ear tunes in further. But – Field Day is only somewhat of a contest. Depending on whom you ask (or watch, or operate with), it might be slightly more, or significantly more,… Continue reading Field Day 2019 – Follow-Up
Field Day Station Setup About Dialed In
Video Station Tour I’d seen many mentions in many forums/groups/etc. of people using Serial Port sharing, splitting, virtualization, or whatever. I tried to do the things they were doing, using the software packages they were using, and I couldn’t get it to work. Repeatedly failed. Quite frustrating. Then, whilst a-googling the interwebs, I found some… Continue reading Field Day Station Setup About Dialed In
Another Weekend, Another Contest
I didn’t even look online at first. I just turned on the radio, because based upon past experience, if there’s no CW contest active, the bands will be dead quiet, aside from the typical QRM, because, as you know, the sun-spot cycle is set to crappy propagation mode. Lo and behold, turned on the radio,… Continue reading Another Weekend, Another Contest