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.
- wondering about 160m antennas:
- 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
- moving antennas to the new mast
- 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.