Norwegian QRP net on 60m

The last two days I have checked in to the Norwegian QRP net on 60m at 11:00 utc. The net is controlled by Per-Olav LB1AF and the purpose of the net is to learn more about propagation on 5MHz.

Today I checked in as LA1TPA/P from Holtankollen, a local summit with SOTA reference LA/TM-049. I used my Yaesu FT-817ND, a 88ft doublet, the Elecraft T1 ATU and a switchable 4:1/1:1 balun from Elecraft.

QRG: 5.335 - 5.340 MHz

MFJ-1788x

Paul PC4T asked me for some info about the MFJ-1788x magnetic loop antenna and I have decided to share my opinions so far.

As some of you might know I live in a row house with no possibility for outside antennas. After reading some reviews I started to check prizes from different suppliers and found that I could save some money by importing the antenna directly from MFJ Enterprises in USA.

I do most of my operations away from home but I have had QSOs with MW, I, GM, LY, S5, OH, 9A, HG, LA and EA with the mag-loop and 5w SSB so far. All QSOs were on 20m except the EA station whom I worked on 17m. My main problem is the very high local QRM that I experience at home, most of the time it reaches S7 - S9!

The loop is located 3 - 4m above the ground in a spare upstairs bedroom I use as my shack. The antenna is mounted in a vertical configuration, currently without a rotator. As this is my only HF antenna at home I haven't had any possibilities to compare it to others but the signal reports I receive doesn't seem to bad for a QRP station with an indoor antenna.

Julian G4ILO has written an excellent review of the antenna that you can find here.

My first 5MHz activation

The Norwegian Post and Telecommunications Authority announced the new Regulations for Radio Amateurs Friday. The new regulations gave us access to 60m, 4m, and extensions on 12m and 40m.

Today I decided to try out 60m from a local summit in the Summits On The Air (SOTA) program. I worked 9 stations in G, GW and GM with my Yaesu FT-817ND, Elecraft T1 ATU and an inverted V style 88ft doublet.

IARU HF World Championship - 2009

The IARU HF World Championship was arranged this weekend and I attended from our cabin in the western part of Telemark County. I mounted the 14AVQ on a fence post and laid out 2 quarter wave counterpoises for each of the bands. I discovered that the low W3DZZ (5 - 8m above ground) could beat the vertical on almost any distance on any band! Next time I will try to mount the vertical closer to ground and with 16 0.1 wavelength radials according to the manual.

I attended in the category: SINGLE-OP ALL QRP SSB

Hy-Gain 14AVQ

Today I've got my self a used Hy-Gain 14AVQ vertical antenna. It's a four band trapped vertical for 10m, 15m, 20m and 40m. I'm not sure if a trap vertical is the best choice for QRP operations but it was so cheap I decided to try it.

I plan to test it from our cabin in the upcoming IARU HF World Championship. Will be back with a report from the contest.

http://www.hy-gain.com/man/pdf/AV-14AVQ.pdf

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

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.

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

10m contacts

Today I made 7 10m QSOs during my activation of SOTA LA/TM-018 Hørsfjell. The equipment I used was a Yaesu FT-817ND at 5 watts, Elecraft T1 ATU and a 20m Extended Double Zepp antenna (2*13,4m) inverted V style supported by a 6m telescopic pole. I also did some listening on 12m but could not hear any other stations.

DXCCs: OM, DL, HB9, S5, 9A, YU

Magnetic Loop problems

I received the MFJ-1788X Magnetic Loop antenna today. When first trying to tune the antenna I noticed that the UP buttons worked OK but not the DOWN buttons. Now none of the buttons are working! The back-light in the power meter on the control head is working so I guess the power supply is OK. I have sent MFJ support an e-mail and I'm waiting for their answer.

Magnetic Loop - an update

Last night I received an e-mail from MFJ to notify me that my loop antenna has been handed over to UPS for shipment. That is even sooner than stated by MFJ in their last e-mail where they said I had to wait for 2 - 4 weeks.

MFJ Magnetic Loop - part II

I'm still waiting for the MFJ-1788 Mag Loop I have ordered.

One of the reasons that I decided to choose this antenna was all the good reviews I found on different websites. I'm living in a row house and has no opportunity to put up any outside antennas. I will try the Mag Loop inside the guest room I also use as my shack.

Here's an article by Julian Moss, G4ILO: MFJ Magnetic Loop

Backorder

I got an e-mail from MFJ today explaining that the Mag Loop I'm waiting for is back ordered for 2 - 4 weeks. That's bad news because I'm really looking forward to start playing with it.

MFJ Magnetic Loop

Today I have ordered a MFJ-1788 15-40 Meters Super Hi-Q Loop Antenna directly from MFJ Enterprises in the US. I've read a lot of positive reviews of this antenna and I'm looking forward to test it. The reason why I want to go for a magnetic Loop is that I live in a row house where I can't have any outside antennas. I also have a lot of noise and I hope the loop will be able to cancel at least some of it. Fingers crossed!

MFJ-1788

6m delta loop

A while ago I built myself a delta loop for 50MHz much like the one documented by GW7AAV. I've only tested it once and the SWR was very high. Today I decided to do another test and brought the antenna and my MFJ-259b Antenna Analyzer on a short hike into the woods. The measurements show that the antenna is just a little to short and has a SWR at 1.5 : 1 at 50.150MHz. I didn't bring the Yaesu FT-817ND but will test some qsos one of these days.

http://gw7aav.googlepages.com/50mhzdeltaloop

W3EDP followup # 2

I tested the W3EDP antenna during my Easter vacation and my first impression is not very good. I found it a bit noisy and I received rather poor reports during my qsos. I will do some more testing before I throw it away.

W3EDP followup

I started the day by visiting our local radio club because of the great open parking place. There I raised my new W3EDP antenna to check that I could tune it properly with the Elecraft T1 ATU. It tuned all right on all the bands I tried with the long "second leg" on 80m and 40m and the short "second leg" on 20m and 15m. The antenna was mounted inverted V style with a 6m telescopic rod supporting the center. I didn't test any qsos and will report back with more results later.

W3EDP antenna

Tonight I've spent a little time making myself a W3EDP antenna for portable use. The longest leg is 25.6m and the two changeable short legs are 5.16m and 1.98m. I plan to tune it with my Elecraft T1 ATU.

I'm looking forward to test it during the easter holiday, maybe from a SOTA summit or some other portable location.

http://www.i1wqrlinkradio.com/antype/ch4/chiave1826.htm