I’ve been thinking of ways to get more power to W3GMS, and coax might be the weakest link. I have about 75ft of RG-58 outside and maybe 8 ft of RG-174 inside. I took down the flag pole Yagi to replace the coax.

I learned how to measure loss with a “through measurement” on the nanoVNA watching Youtube:

• The old coax run measured at least -6.5dB loss total
  • -4.5dB for the RG-58 by itself
  • -2.0dB for the RG-174 by itself
• The new coax, 100ft of KMR-400, by itself measured -1.5dB, and -3.3dB with the patch of RG-174
• SWR sweep of antenna on old coax showed lots of wiggles and hung generally low, because of all the loss.
• SWR sweep of the antenna with the new coax runs much higher on the 100MHz side, and takes a nice dip at the resonant frequency.
• Incoming signals look good and strong by the S-meter on the TYT-9800

The Radtel RT-880G got new firmware yesterday: 1.16. I had to run the upgrade software in WINE.

• APRS occasionally receives a message that PASSES the FCS check, but still mostly failed, and some are completely garbled chinese characters.
• TX APRS looks pretty good now. I’ve seen on BTech UV-PRO and on https://aprs.fi/.
• Listening to “Radio” mode is cool: 20M CW, FT8, and a little voice.
• The menus are pretty confusing, and it’s hard to remember the controls, especially in “Radio”.
• I was using the radio in “Full Band Tuning”, but it causes problems in spectrum mode, so I went back to normal mode.

My Week in Radio

• seeing more “alternate” FT8 traffic on the waterfall: dxpeditions and contests!
• tempted to replace my old cheap coax with something lower-loss for my 50W VHF to compare.
  • bust out the attenuators and the tinySA or maybe just the little digital power meter I have to measure at the antenna feed point.
• bring a wire and a whip to demo the Nano VNA before or after breakfast.

Others

• WA3CRW, CR:
  • working with W1RC to do some WIRES-X
• W3JAM, Jeff:
  • Simplex Net
  • Central PA Skywarn Net
  • Heathkit 102 on the workbench for refurbishment
  • amplifier and odds and ends to fix and sell
  • looking at antennas to mount on the barn
  • rebuilding a 16 element yagi for more convenient deployment/tuning
• WA3VEE, Ron:
  • won’t be at breakfast, but Antique Radio Show instead in Kutztown
  • Red Rose Repeater Hamfest coming up on Oct 4.
  • has some gear from some other people to unload
• KB3ZIM, Bob:
  • wondering about 160m antennas:
    • been meaning to launch an antenna every year this time of year.
    • maybe inverted L.
  • IC-7100: radio in 2 pieces, so you don’t need so much at the control head.
    • using a 75-foot cat8 cable for a really long run between TCVR and head.
    • run to the gazebo to operate outside but high power if he wants.
    • lots of fun chasing on all bands.
• KC3YSM, Steve:
  • building a go-box
• WA3KFT, John:
  • 6m SSB nets
  • antique wireless net on sunday
• W3MFB, Mike:
  • VHF contest. spoke to someone randomly.
  • working some special events and pota stations
• KC3OOK, Bill:
  • working at Joe’s on antenna
• KC3SQI, Wayne:
  • moving antennas to the new mast
    • 2m operational
• KD3AIS, Tim:
  • collecting equipment to put radio in truck
• KD3APR, Paxton:
  • coming in on an HT
• AA3LH, Leon:
  • feeling better today
• AF3Z, Jim:
  • normal CW sked

Questions

• KD3EE, John:
  • I have my 50W mobile radio, home-built YAGI, 75ft cheap coax in a couple connected sections. How should I evaluate this system?
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • check that the antenna is matched with the nanoVNA: SWR
    • have people on the repeater talk, so I can point for maximum signal
  • KC3SQI, Wayne:
    • with nanoVNA, calibrate at the nanoVNA, then move calibration load to end and use a through-measurement to see loss in coax.
  • AF3Z, Jim:
    • bury-flex is a good deal
  • KC3SQI, Wayne:
    • if you’re going to an LMR type cable, should good with bury-flex, since the outside doesn’t allow moisture. they use glue between outside braid and the seal. bury-flex will need heated a little to force the crimp end underneath the braid
    • buryflex is available at ham radio outlet.
• KB3ZIM, Bob:
  • What are some 160m antenna options?
  • height and length is a challenge.
  • aiming for an inverted L, but the radials will be a challenge.
  • W3GMS, Joe:
    • 240-foot wire, 60ft in the air, fed by open wire line
    • 3/8-wave would need less radials
      • could be end-fed or inverted L
      • not balanced, so noisy
      • will need a tuner to match
    • 1/4 wave would need extensive radials
  • KC3NZT, Harvey:
    • $150 automatic tuner outside. tunes anything.

My Week in Radio

• KC3WWC changed to KD3EE
  • nice for CW
  • start over with a whole new log book
  • days to find and update everywhere
• packet radio for Winlink and BBSes including KA3TKW
  • like my old modem BBS days
  • phone + btech HT as TNC
• POTA, FT8 + CW
  • new Gabil whip with the sliding coil is very convenient
  • learning value of chokes in the right places: computer interference from RF
  • chasing CW POTA from home
• working a little more 10M now as we near autumn
• have a google calendar feed from https://contestcalendar.com/ keeping my calendar very full should the mood to do some contesting strikes

Others

• KA3TKW, Tom:
  • trivia net has new format: 5 digital
  • digipeaters
    • 145.010
    • 28.105
• K3EA, Greg:
  • heard hamsci presentation:
    • study from eclipse
    • upcoming study on meteor scatter
  • training session on the local club station
  • contests:
    • AARL Sept VHF this past weekend
    • WAE SSB contest
    • next weekend: QSO parties
    • following weekend: CQ WW RTTY
    • https://contestcalendar.com/ for more details
  • solar flux index and sunspots down this past week
  • normal/average propagation
  • some disruptions coming up: increased K index
  • minor storms coming tomorrow.
  • check clusters for current DXpeditions
    • Palestine/West Bank on the air for about a week, FT8+CW
  • no QSL cards this week
• WB3LNY, George:
  • local hamfest in Indiana
    • sold some LMR-400 + other things
  • new tower in place
• VE3HOH, Pete:
  • recovering from back injury
  • cleaning up radios
  • working on some amplifiers
  • getting some HF wires up
• KA3TKW, Tom:
  • Owen Garriott, W5LFL, was the first person to operate ham radio from space in 1983
  • easy sats:
    • ISS
    • SO-50: tues + wed 7:30pm
    • SO-124: tues + friday 12:25pm
    • SO-125: tues 11:25, wed 12pm, thurs 10:30am
  • looking for a presentation for next luncheon
• K3DMM, Denny:
  • worked PO-101 earlier in the week
  • Route 66 on the air: 12 of 19 cities, and 2 of 5 rovers
    • request a cert with even 1 contact
  • met fellow ham at RV show, recognizing antenna
• KC3ZBI, Ron:
  • had someone try to cut his coax
  • wondering about periodically reprogramming the keps in his OpenGD77 HT
  • Tom: every 10 days or so
• W3MW, Don:
  • VHF contest, but not participating
  • antenna work in nice weather
  • looking forward to december contest
• KC3NWN, Jim:
  • new alinco rig, 60m monoband, beam pointed to repeater
  • watched recent ISS pass
  • SO-50 often works for him
  • east stroudsburg hamfest
  • there’s AM on 17m
  • lots of simplex 2m and other VHF
  • QSL card from oklahoma on 17m

Swap and Shop

• VE3HOH, Pete:
  • rohn tower with guy cable, 8 sections

My Week in Radio

• I tried to get in with RF, but couldn’t make it, so on AllStar
• packet radio for Winlink and BBSes
  • like my old modem BBS days
  • phone + btech HT
• POTA, FT8 + CW
• learning value of chokes in the right places: computer interference from RF
• chasing CW POTA from home
• saw more FT8 this afternoon on 10M after a summer of quiet
• not ready to consider Winter Field Day and cold temps

Others

• KC3SCY, Luke:
  • hamfests
  • check out Kutztown Hamfest coming up
  • 1929 hardware
  • practicing with CW on vinyl
• W1RC, Mike:
  • hamfest in the rain is good for deals
  • Nearfest is coming up in MA
• W8CRW, CR:
  • Mullica Hill Hamfest
• WA3VEE, Ron:
  • acquired some rare Dimac gear, which preceded HP
  • clearing out more stuff.
  • breakfast coming up
• KC3RFG, Jim:
  • antenna maintenance
• KB3ZIM, Bob:
  • talked to W3GMS mobile a bit
• KB3ILS, Keith:
  • Mullica Hill Hamfest in the rain
  • planning for Winter Field Day
  • got some parts for the parts box
    • power supply boards with heatsinks
    • some air variable capacitors
• AB3AP, Mike:
  • looking forward to Winter Field Day
  • traveling with army spouse: Orlando, Hawaii
• KC3SQI, Wayne:
  • antenna mast work, but not much
• KC3OOK, Bill:
  • net control for Simplex Net on Saturday and Welfare Net on Sunday
  • got an HP spectrum analyzer from Ron
  • tower work coming up at Joe’s

Questions

• KB3ILS, Keith:
  • Comment: POTA is great practice for CW, and KD3EE sounds easier to send than KB3ILS.
  • How do you clean up and make variable capacitors turn easily?
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • there’s an electronics-friendly lube from the same people who make deoxit
    • oxidation may not have any effect on capacitance.
• KD3AIS, Tim:
  • He has a new vehicle with blanks in the dash. Can he add switches to the dash to switch on the radio? Should he use a relay instead of plain switch? What’s the difference?
  • KB3ZIM, Bob:
    • some equipment demands more current than a switch (and wiring to it) will allow, so then you need a relay.
    • avoid heating of the switch, too.
  • W8CRW, CR:
    • relay for higher-current hardware.
    • maybe avoid connecting the radio to the vehicle power considering warranty.
  • KC3OOK, Bill:
    • check with Harvey
• KC3SQI, Wayne:
  • consider using a dedicated battery to avoid noise from the car electrical system
    • also keeps it from draining the car battery
• KC3YSM, Steve:
  • second the idea of a small dedicated battery
• WA3VEE, Ron:
  • 4 radios in the van, and none of them are connected to vehicle power system.
• KC3NZT, Harvey:
  • a relay is popular, because the connections on the back of a switch are often too small to handle the current without heat.
  • use low current to control high current
  • low current to the switch also makes it safe to pick anything handy as a ground, so you only need to run one wire.
• KC3YSM, Steve:
  • Dabbling in HF, and feeling like he may no longer be getting out like he had been. How should he evaluate his antenna? He doesn’t have an antenna analyzer yet.
  • Can we do an antenna day at the field day site?
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • excellent idea.
    • remember it could be the bands.
      • check solar weather
    • come to the Thursday roundtable to discuss.
    • dxmaps, dxheat, dxsummit
    • hf propagation maps on google
    • watch SWR on the 991.
    • analyzers: rigexpert, mfj, bird, etc
  • KD3EE, John:
    • let’s play at the next breakfast.
    • watch for solar storms
    • check that colorful chart on QRZ

I have the new Pixel 10 Pro XL, so I needed to setup Winlink again. I purchased WOAD this time from Play store, and signed up for access to the beta. Previously, I had installed the downloaded APK. One can export sessions from old WOAD, but there’s no way to import it into my new phone.

I’m having trouble getting a node that reliably does Winlink. K3IR seems to fail to connect and complete the transaction. I could use the BBS nodes at KA3TKW and W3CRS. Just watching packets on 145.010 shows some advertisements of services on nodes: Winlink, BBS, and mail

Uploading to http://pota.app/ from a phone can be difficult sometimes, but I found a way to do it.

• Export from POLO to Google Drive
• In the mobile browser, zoom out just a little and turn the phone sideways to get pota.app to allow you to upload.
  • make the zoom adjustment in chrome.
  • alternatively, switch to desktop mode, but then you need to adjust back
• Download the ADI file from Google Drive to local Downloads folder, then upload to pota.app. If you don’t download it, you’ll see a network error in pota.app.

US-9719 Susquehanna Riverlands.

• 40m mostly, 10m, 2W, FT8
• 40m CW, 5W
• KD3EE is very nice for CW
• Gabil whip with sliding coil is great
• CA, MX, VA, NC, OH, etc
• I was seeing interference on the touchpad, so reintroduced the choke at the feed point, and that fixed it.
• I had removed the choke, thinking I could use the coax as another counterpoise.

My Week in Radio

• POTA over the weekend
  • in addition to digital, practiced some CW
  • enjoying new Gabil whip with sliding coil
    • got some other CW contacts from the camp site

Others

• N3CGA, Keith:
  • studying for extra
  • hiking around Pine Grove Furnace and Appalachian Trail
  • operating VHF repeaters
• WA3VEE, Ron:
  • installing radios in the new van
  • Mullica Hill Hamfest coming up
• NA3CW, Chuck:
  • usual 985 nets and PMAM net/pre-net
  • working at Joe’s on tower project
• KC3OOK, Bill:
  • working up the tower at Joe’s, aligning mechanical things
  • south control for Simplex Net
• KC3SQI, Wayne
  • working on his own tower
  • home-run coax cables are buried
  • moving 2M off the garage to get it to the tower.
• KD3APR, Paxton:
  • just broke 2 HTs by dropping
  • diagnosing some ribbon cables
  • learning about DMR
  • battery life is surprisingly good on these cheap HTs

Questions

• KC3SQI, Wayne:
  • Looking for an effective disconnect for some accessible powered fishing reels. He has anyone used barrel connectors for this application. It’s just a 3A motor. The 5525 plug is not waterproof.
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • should handle 3A, depending if it’s tight enough.
  • KC3NZT, Harvey:
    • assuming wire’s good gauge, it should be fine.
    • mismatches in the pin size could be a problem
    • they sometimes get weak.
    • GM-style blade connectors are common, waterproof, and cheap.
    • in marine, bullet connectors can be fine, but not waterproof. can be quick-release for safety.
  • KC3SQI, Wayne:
    • still early prototype, so this is good info.
• AF3Z, Jim:
  • He has an Astron linear VS-50M with an LM723 chip in it (regulator?), and an SCR and capacitors across output. When it’s been off for a while, upon powering on, the voltmeter needle will stay low then pop up. He uses an extra breaker/switch to turn on the radio after the voltage has stabilized. Initial load on the supply causes it to take very long to come up to ready. What’s its problem? https://www.ameradio.com/product/420223/description.html
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • sounds like a capacitor issue.
    • SCR can be there for over-voltage.
    • maybe a resistive connection on the capacitor itself?
    • make sure caps are connected well.
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • is it a soft-start mode that limits current?
    • seems like a problem, though.
  • AF3Z, Jim:
    • built-in ammeter barely registers anything
  • W3GMS, Joe:
    • separate supplies for 723 and the path transistors, since they want different voltages.
    • secondary winding on transformer vs “tertiary” windings.
    • it’s not a slow-start control.
    • SCR has current limit pins looking for 0.7V differential.
    • if you don’t see the right voltage, it’ll rob base current and cause output to go to 0V.
    • best to check it with a scope and float the ground during the test.
    • analog meter might be ok, but digital might have too latency.
    • look at CL and CS for voltage.
• KC3NZT, Harvey:
  • He has a receiver that shows a fault that the antenna is shorted to ground. It’s a bad module, but as a receiver, do receivers generally use discrete components, say in the matching network, that could fail?
  • KC3SQI, Wayne:
    • some will have a diode in the module to bleed off residual voltage from the antenna going through the wind
    • could use RC network to do the same thing
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • is the input of the receiver a built-in antenna or external?
    • it could have a bias voltage that it could monitor and know there’s a problem.
    • if there’s a coupling capacitor that’s failed, it may know that.
    • it could be monitoring and expecting a certain level of background noise
  • KC3NZT, Harvey:
    • it’s an external, passive antenna on 15ft of coax.

I went camping and operated there and in Michaux Forest, Pine Grove Furnace, and Caledonia. I ran the 40M EFHW in trees at the parks as a sloper and inverted-V for 40M, 10M, and 15M. I did FT8 and a little CW.

At the campground, I contacted NY and ME on CW on 40M in the morning using the Gabil slider coil and whip. I discoverd that the my older Gabil antenna with jumpers on the coil has different thread size for the whip, so not interchangeable.