AmateurRadio.com

How to Save Ham Radio – Parts 4 & 5 – N1IC  – The Easiest Two!

So first of all let me say that I had a started 4 and 5 a long time ago when I was writing this series but due to some personal challenges with my health I had to take a step back from blog posting and this series … with that said I wanted to close it out. 4 and 5 as I started writing them were both serious topics but I wanted to combine them since one will be a little more controversial than the other and hopefully 5 will help bring everyone back from their thoughts on the 4^th part 🙂

http://nicktoday.com/how-to-save-ham-radio-parts-4-5-n1ic-the-easiest-two/

I just happened to have my tablet with me at work today. During lunch, I sat down and was looking through Google News. In the science section, I happened across an article that was posted from The Christian Science Monitor, written by Peter Spotts.

Peter Spotts?   W1PNS, Pete Spotts?  “From the Key of W1PNS” Pete Spotts – fellow blogger?

So I clicked the little hyperlink that also served as the byline, and sure enough. Besides all the very prestigious accomplishments that were listed in the brief bio, was a mention of an interest in Amateur Radio.

So it appears that our Pete is not only an accomplished Amateur Radio op and QRPer and CW fan, but also a very accomplished author and writer. Some of you might have known that, but I didn’t and I thought that this was the coolest.

Just goes to show, there’s a lot of really talented writers authoring some of these Amateur Radio blogs. I don’t count myself among their number, but there’s a lot of quality reading to be found in the links on the right side of this blog. Don’t deprive yourself of their wordsmithing.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care to send the very least!

This afternoon I took the kayak out on Hermit Lake. I worked Orlando, Florida and Worcester, Mass with an Icom 51AD d-star handie talkie.

The setup was pretty simple. I parked the camper at the edge of the lake. On the front seat I used a Raspberry Pi computer (credit card sized) connected to a DVAP. A DVAP is a tiny repeater. It’s about 1 by 2 inches and runs a few milliwatts for local access. I also had a mifi card supplying an internet connection in the camper. This setup gave me a range of about a half a mile from the camper. I was connected to reflector 30 which is like a conference room comprising 50 local repeaters. One of the advantages of d-star is that there’s a lot of activity and it’s always easy to reach someone to chat with.

Out on the water, I talked with Dave KB1PVH in Worcester, Ma for a few minutes and headed over to an island to check out some wild irises.

This lake is also known for two varieties of carnivorous plants… the pitcher plant and the sundew plant. They aren’t in bloom yet.

As I headed back toward the shore, I said hello to Mike KA9ZRZ in Orlando, Florida. He was also using a Raspberry Pi and DVAP. Suddenly, as I passed a quiet cove on one of the islands, a huge gray heron swoshed right across the bow of the kayak a few feet above the water. I think we were both startled.

I put the kayak back in the camper and listened to VK4TUX from Australia chatting with another station. International contacts on d-star are common.

POWER POLE ADDITION TO 3 AMP POWER SUPPLY

I wanted a 3 amp power supply for my Kx3. The 12 volt ‘laptop’ power supply did not quite have the ‘chutzpah’ to charge the internal batteries, all the way!

I bought it from local ham that no longer used it and wanted to make it compatible with all my other gear. I use Power Pole connectors on all my radio gear including accessories. Manufacturers are ‘Getting the picture’ by using Power Pole connectors which are superior to all other types, (in my opinion) but they are catching on slowly. My first thought was to simply place one power pole connector on the face of this Radio Shack 3 Amp power supply.  (See the rectangle on the face plate)

Second Option Layout

It was a mistake to use a ‘permanent marker’ to layout the face plate cut out, but fortunately, it went away with the cut out! This, proving once again, that not all my original ideas are good ones!

Cut Out Portion of the Face Plate is Shown Here.  

The internal components were removed to facilitate soldering.

There is not a ‘whole lot’ of room inside this power supply, but more than in some I’ve seen. None the less, I opted to remove the internal components to allow a good solder job from the Power Poles to the original binding posts. I covered the splices with heat shrink tubing.

I used a Dremel Tool  to remove the lower right corner of the Power Pole face plate and a hacksaw on the cut out.

This was necessary  in order to keep the cigarette lighter socket where it is. A good filing job was necessary to smooth out the hacksaw and Dremel tool marks. I used a cloth to shield the circuit board and transformer from flying metal chips, then vacuumed out the inside very, very well. The last thing I need in a power supply is a ‘rogue’ chip of metal bouncing around inside it. I also cleaned out the interior of the cabinet with Q-tips and rubbing alcohol to make sure I got them all. The voltage was off a bit, but that was easily adjusted by turning a small pot on the circuit board. It reads a prefect 13.8 VDC now.

This cigarette lighter plug fitted with Power Pole connector is such an example of the versatility that these sockets bring.

This particular plug works in your car as well, opening a myriad of possibilities for charging and lighting. This socket is very useful for accessories of all kinds.

My pocket flashlight is powered by 4.2 V batteries that can be charged via the cigarette lighter socket.

Cell phones usually have such an adapter too, as do Kindles, or MP3 players.

So here you have it, a 3 amp power supply modified with Power Pole connectors.

This little power supply now sits on a coffee table powering my Kx3, among other things. Please feel free to contact me for information about doing modifications like this one. Please note, this is a ‘regulated’ power supply, and not a ‘switching’ power supply. Radio Shack no longer makes this model. At least I could not find one like it in a Radio Shack Store search online. You might find one like I did, by looking for a used one.

73 de AA1IK

Ernest Gregoire

Links http://www.powerwerx.com/

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Tools/Pages/ToolDetail.aspx?pid=4000

My Buddipole Antenna, Configured as a 2 Element Yagi for 6 Meters

The ribbons are to keep me from poking my eyes out on the end of the whips.

Here, I’m trying the antenna out in my driveway before I take it to the beach.

Kx3 QRP Radio 

Six Meter Summer!

This pavilion is my favorite operating spot at Hagen’s Cove. 

It overlooks Dead Man’s Bay, on the Gulf of Mexico in Perry Florida.

I’m going to spend the summer playing around with my Kx3 on 6 meters. The antenna here is a Buddipole, configured as a 2 element Yagi. Its easy to assemble in the field, so I’ll take it to the beach (Hagen’s Cove) and try to make some contacts with it. I’ve been a ham for 22 years but have never done much with 6 meters. This will be a 6 meter summer for me. Join me, I’d love to have a ham radio buddy to share the adventure with.

de AA1IK, 73

http://www.nj2bb.org/museum/index.html

Beginning at 0000Z June 1 through 2359Z June 2, 2013 102 ships will be participating in the Museum Ships Weekend. 

There will be Aircraft Carriers, Battleships, Cruisers, Destroyers, Submarines and more participating on most ham bands.

The details about the ships, frequencies, and certificate information has been listed on the Battleship New Jersey’s NJ2BB.org web site.

This looks like a lot of fun and a good opportunity to teach our kids and grandkids about our amazing maritime history!

Thanks to Ron, AA2RR, for reminding us of this fun weekend opportunity!

I rode my bike to the Pemigewasset River today. I worked Mexico City, New Jersey and Maryland.

I stopped about half way down to the old bridge abutment and snapped a quick shot up-river. It’s rained every day for a week and the river is about 6 feet higher than normal. Today is gorgeous… 70 degrees with a stiff breeze to keep the bugs at bay.

I left my bike under some huge pine trees and walked down to the bridge abutment.

The old bridge used to cross to Hill Village. It was removed in the late 1940s. I stood on the edge of the old concrete support and looked upstream.

I found a sunny spot with some nice grass and heaved a line about 40 feet up into a maple tree. I was using a 33 foot wire straight up with the Elecraft T-1 tuner and the ATS-4 at a bit more than 3 watts. I started out on 20 meters and worked XE1RK in Mexico City. Ralph gave me a 569 and we completed the exchange before the QSB got us. 20 meters was pretty poor, and I only heard a few stations there so I switched to 40 meters.

I re-tuned the same wire on 40 meters without a counterpoise. Signals were stronger here. Right away I heard W2WSC/100 calling CQ. This is a special event station honoring the old Tuckerton WSC shore station in New Jersey.
We exchanged 599s and I called N3WT in Maryland as he was finishing up another QSO. John said he had to run, but he gave me a 579. He was 599. When I told him I was running 3 watts, he sent back,” VY GUD JIM UR 3W IS TRUE 579.”

With this I packed up and headed south along the river. I stopped at a favorite spot to take one more photo.

It was great to get out for a while after being stuck indoors for so long. Today was really well worth the wait… it doesn’t get much better than this.