PY worked with 5 watt

Tonight I managed to break the pile-up and work PY5QW with just 5 watt SSB and a W3DZZ antenna. This is my first PY-station - in fact this is my first South American station ever. Vigand gave me a 44 report and we were able to chat for a couple of minutes. He was truly 57 with me.

My QRP DXCC list now counts 64 countries: http://home.broadpark.no/~mnygaa/dxcc.html

Brendon TCVR completed!

Yesterday I finished building the Brendon TCVR. Now I only need to find a suitable Dynamic Mic to test the radio. I have already tested the receiver and it works very well. The first station I heard was LA9XV.

I have ordered parts to build a simple audio oscillator to align the radio before going on the air. I'm also waiting for the linear amplifier kit to arrive but will test the radio at 1,5W before adding the amplifier.

I found the building instructions easy to follow and I especially liked the test procedures after each building step. This way the builder can be confident that the previous sections are working before a new section is added.

88 feet doublet

On portable operations I use a 2 x 13.4 mtrs doublet that Ken GM0AXY described on the sota reflector. I'm very impressed with it on 20m - 10m, it's working OK on 40m and it's working on 80m. I have read that you can improve NVIS performance by laying a wire on the ground beneath the antenna but I've not tried this myself yet.

Here the other day I discovered an article about the antenna by Casey NA7U.
http://www.tomochka.com/na7u/doublet/w4rnlbackup.html

Building the Brendon phone transceiver

This morning I started building the Brendon phone transceiver. I've already mounted the front panel with all the controls and started to add parts to the main PCB. The instructions are easy to follow.

I have also ordered a linear amplifier kit from Tim Walford to upgrade the rig.

Later I might try to modify it to work on 40m with a 7.159MHz crystal from the G-QRP club shop. I'm aware that the tuning range will be very narrow with this mod.

QRP Day log

I have now e-mailed my QRP day log to Peter G3XJS, the communications manager of G-QRP club. Not too many QRP stations were heard on SSB and I don't know how many QRP stations I worked during the event.

June 17 - International QRP Day

I'm planning a SOTA activation on June 17, the International QRP Day. As some of you might know I always operate at QRP levels on my SOTA activations. To celebrate the International QRP Day I hope for a lot of 2-way QRP QSOs on this activation.

I normally start calling cq on 7.125MHz before QSYing to 14.285MHz.

I'm a G-QRP and QRP-ARCI member and a 2-way QRP QSO will count towards the Worked G-QRP club and Worked All ARCI awards.

FTBasicMMO

I have for some time now wished to synchronise the memories on my 3 Yaesu Radios, the FT-817ND, the FT-857D and the VX-6. Yesterday I purchased a program called FTBasicMMO written by Bob G4HFQ. At first I had some problems getting it to work so I sent Bob an e-mail asking for help. He replied quickly and it turned out I had chosen the wrong type of radio (FT-857 not FT-857D US model). After correcting the setting in the software it all works like a dream.

I have now programmed all the repeaters and simplex frequencies that I use for mobile operating into my FT-857D and will soon do the same thing with my FT-817ND. When it comes to the VX-6 I will use VX-6 Commander written by Jim KC8UNJ.

http://www.g4hfq.co.uk/ftbasic.html
http://www.kc8unj.com/vx6.html

And BTW: My FT-857D is always turned down to 5w ;-)

New DXCC

Tonight I stopped by at the Club Station again the check if 10m was still open. I worked 3 stations including Iceland which is a new DXCC for me! I'm off to the post office tomorrow morning to buy more IRCs.

My QRP DXCC list now counts 63 countries: http://home.broadpark.no/~mnygaa/dxcc.html

5/8 CB antenna

Yesterday we temporarily replaced the faulty 80-10m Moonraker vertical we used to have on LA1G Club Station with an old 5/8 CB antenna. I have been testing it for some time today with good results. I worked 7 stations in an hour including DL, GW, F, LA and a 2-way QRP contact with a G-station. All stations were worked with 5 watts SSB.

Nordic Portable Contest - results

The results from the Nordic Portable Contest May 17th 2009 are ready:

http://www.sk3bg.se/contest/res/r09smpv.htm

LA1KHA/P got the 4th place in Single Operator - Mixed (Winner in Norway). La1TPA/P was number 18 in Single Operator - SSB (Winner in Norway). We were the only two Norwegian stations in the contest...

The contest is hosted by the Swedish Radio organisation Sveriges Sändareamatörer, SSA

The Brendon Phone TCVR

This morning I finally decided to order one of Tim Walfords kits, The Brendon Phone TCVR. This is a double sideband (DSB) 80m transciever producing 1.5W. I'm looking forward to build it and also to test it on the air! You can have a look at the kits available at http://walfordelectronics.co.uk/.

NAC 10 update

This was really not a Big Hit! On the summit I erected my Extended Double Zepp antenna and did a test qso with an Italian station. He gave me a 57 report and that's a good report considering I was running 5 watts.

Very soon the wind was getting very heavy and I decided to pack my portable station away and move inside the car. I only worked two local stations even though I could hear several stations calling CQ. I did not bother to work the FM period.

Rig: Yaesu FT-857D turned down to 5w
Ant: ATAS-100 mobile antenna

NAC 10

Tonight I will be active in the NRAU Activity Contest on 10m from a local hilltop called Vealøs. This is also a SOTA summit but my activation will not qualify for SOTA as I plan to drive there by car.

I will work the SSB (28,500 ± 50 khz) and FM (29,600 ± 80 khz) periods using my Yaesu FT-817ND at 5W.

Periods:
CW: 17.00 - 18.00 UTC
SSB: 18.00 - 19.00 UTC
FM: 19.00 - 20.00 UTC
MGM/Digital: 20.00 - 21.00 UTC

Contest rules in Norwegian

Shack in a box

Today I finished making a pine box with shelves for my QRP station. On top I placed the Diamond GSV-3000 power supply. Bellow that I put the control box for the MFJ-1788x mag loop and the Kent twin paddle. At the bottom I made room for the Elecraft K3/10 QRP transciever.

Magnetic Loop problems solved

When opening the plastic cover on the MFJ-1788x mag loop antenna I found that one of the micro switches that indicates that the capacitor is turned all the way up/down was not working. Somehow I got it fixed and the antenna is now working. I haven't had much time to play with it yet but at least I'm hearing stations! Will be back with a more thorough report later