INTERMEDIATE LICENCE

Building On The Foundation

I said previously that I'm happy with my 10W restriction as it forces you to pay more attention to getting your station in good fettle instead of just burning your way through with more power. That still stands, but Winter is coming (as they say in Winterfell) and it doesn't hurt to study something that will enhance your understanding of the hobby on those cold, dark nights.

I was going to buy the new updated (Revision 7) RSGB book but then I saw it on Amazon Kindle so I purchased that so it's available to me wherever I am. If I want to do a bit of study at work during my lunchbreak, it's easy to log onto my Kindle account using a PC or tablet.

Yaesu YF-122S Collins Filter

Filter Out The Mush!

The Yaesu FT-818ND isn't the best receiver - real world side-by-side comparisons with a KX3 tell you that - but there is something that you can do to improve your listening experience (apart from use the best possible antenna in the best location) and that is to install a mechanical filter.

The 818 only has a single filter-slot, so you'd need to choose between a filter for CW or one for SSB. Not being a CW capable operator, the decision was made simple, so I looked at SSB filters.

The Yaesu YF-122S Collins Mechanical Filter runs out at about £125, so quite expensive! Needless to say, I opted for a used one and found a bargain (eventually) on eBay.

The difference between the 818's internal filter and this Collins Mechanical filter (at 2.3kHz) is markedly noticeable and makes listening much more pleasurable, helping to cut off noise either side of the wanted signal.

Recommended? Not at full price, but certainly if you can find a cheap second-hand one.

ELECRAFT AX1 - MIRACLE WHIP??

A Match Made In Heaven?

I was playing around with my Yaesu FT-818ND when it struck me that I should be able to use the ELECRAFT AX1 Telescopic Antenna on the 818. So I went and got it out from the homemade storage tube and attached it directly to the 818.

I was in the back garden, and switched to 20M. The standard AX1 can be used on 17 or 20 by the flick of a switch. Having tuned into OV1CDX on 14.226MHz, I was able to make contact and have a 5/9 QSO with Frank.

Now bear in mind that I was running the FT-818ND from the internal batteries which was outputting 2.5 Watts! That equates to approximately 400km per Watt which in itself isn't that special, but doing it from a very poor location and using a small telescopic antenna attached directly to the radio, is pretty impressive as far as I'm concerned.

I've also got the new 40M coil which extends the AX1's capabilities further, introducing 40 and 15M to the existing 20/17M, making this a very versatile vertical.

Rob Ramsey (AH6X) has experimented with a different whip and radial to make the standard AX1 resonant on 5 bands! Click HERE for more.

This is for sure one of the most compact HF verticals around and although that AX1 is a compromise antenna, it has proved itself to be a very capable performer if the conditions are right.

I think perhaps too many people expect too much from this antenna and don't put enough effort into helping it work well. I've even seen people try to use it without the supplied counterpoise wires (there's one for 20M and another for 40M). It can be negatively affected by body capacitance and height, so wherever possible, I use it away from my operating position and often on a raised tripod. That's not always convenient though and sometimes I have to have it connected directly to my radio using Elecraft's little support legs, which add a surprising amount of stability.

So I say (again) well done Elecraft!

      TRIPOD ADAPTER

ICOM IC-705 with ELECRAFT AX1

Elecraft AX1 20/40 stripped
down and packed in tiny case

Elecraft AX1 with Xiegu 6100

HOMEPAGE

BIWOTA 2019

British Inland Waterways On The Air 2019

Having a keen interest in inland waterways (canals in particular), this event caught my eye as soon as I saw it mentioned on the WMRC site. The event is being held on the late August Bank Holiday (24-26th August) and if you wish to participate you have to register in advance.

The event is open to all Amateurs who are boaters, cyclists, walkers and other users of the canals, rivers, towpaths, riverbanks for work or recreation. Even lakes and reservoirs that are used for recreation uses classify as an inland waterway, so there are many places for activating. 

Many clubs and individual Amateurs on or near the UK inland waterways obtain Special Event Station (SES) callsigns. Others operate mobile or portable using their own callsigns. Many more like to contact the BiWota stations. It is also a good chance for WAB enthusiasts to get some rare WAB squares.

The primary bands will be 40m (7MHz) and 2m (144MHz SSB and FM) but all bands will be acceptable.

The aim of the event is to bring together Radio Amateurs who regularly use the waterways to celebrate their hobby and raise awareness of the UK waterways. 

I am probably going to setup station somewhere on the Leeds-Liverpool canal around the White Bear Marina at Adlington which is not far from my QTH.

Coincidentally, I have got 7 nights on a canal boat the week after this event :-) 

HOMEPAGE

LDG Z-817 AUTOTUNER

TUNING MADE EASY

I like AutoTuners. They're simple and reliable and fit in well with my modus operandi - KISS. Pressing a single button and achieving a 50ohm match within a few seconds, is right up my street! And if the autotuner is dedicated to your radio, great!


I've had these tuners before and feel good about them. I've actually got one connected to my Icom IC-7100 and I've never experienced any problems. I get the impression from their construction and materials that they are a good quality item. So as soon as I started to look for an ATU for my Yaesu FT-818ND, I had no hesitation looking for an LDG.

The Z-817 is specifically designed as a QRP tuner and it is referred to (by LDG) as Zero Power meaning that it consumes almost no power when in sleep mode. It basically doesn't have an on/off switch - it just goes into a deep sleep when not being used. Power (when needed) is supplied in the form of 4xAA internal batteries which last approximately one year.

The Z-817 interfaces with the Yaesu FT-817/818 via a CAT cable. This makes it an integrated tuner powered by the interface; no extra power cables are needed. Just press the tune button on the tuner and the mode is set to carrier, the RF power is reduced, a tune cycle runs and the radio is returned to the original settings. A CAT pass through port is provided for computer control, which is a great feature - one which Yaesu's own tuners always omit!

The Z-817's are around £129 new, which I think is a bit choppy, so I looked on eBay for a used one. Unfortunately, most sellers on there had the opinion that their used devices were worth almost as much as a new one, so I looked elsewhere and soon found one on a Facebook 818 Group.

The guy wanted just a fraction of the new price and his included a very nice waterproof carry-case, so the deal was done! I do like a bargain :-)

Since writing this little review, I’ve added a Z-100PLUS to the shack which can be seen HERE.

Z-817 Spec…

• RF Power 0.1 to 20 watts SSB and CW, 5 watts for digital modes.
• Latching relays for ultra low power consumption
• Battery operated 4 x 1.5V Alkaline AA (not included).
• Built-in CAT port interface. CAT thru port for computer connection. 38400 baud.
• 2000 memories when used with FT-817/818 interface (200 memories for other radios)
• 1.8 to 54 MHz coverage
• Tunes 6 to 600 ohms (about 10:1 SWR range). 16 to 150 on 6M (about 3:1)
• SO-239 in and out connections for dipoles, verticals, beams, G5RV, OCF, ect.
• Dimensions: 5.1L, 4.7W, 1.7H.
• Weight: 9.3 ounces (without batteries).
• Includes 3 foot CAT cable.

OPERATING MANUAL

MINI SHACK IN A BOX

YAESU FT-818ND SHACK-IN-A-BOX

Today marked the arrival of a Yaesu FT-818ND All-Band, All-Mode Portable Transceiver. I've fancied an FT-817 for a long time, but somehow never got around to adding one to the shack. I've got its older sibling, the FT-290R but of course that only did 2M (multimode). The FT-817 has been made obsolete by the introduction of the new FT818ND and yet the truth be told, there's hardly any difference between the two!

The 818 has an extra 1W (which some 817 owners achieved by modding), a TCXO and 1900mAh battery. Other than that, they're pretty much the same rig.

Anyhow, buying an 817 is a precarious affair - I had one guy offering me a "great deal" and then at the last minute, I discovered that the radio was 16 years old!!! So for an extra £50 I got an 818 and that way you know it's only a few months old.

Although I have an Elecraft KX3 (with built-in ATU and 2M board) which I love and adore, I am always conscious of the fact that it's like taking a Rolls Royce to the top of a hill when you know damned well that you should have taken the Land Rover.

The FT-818ND is tough and robust. You can chuck it in a backpack with little thought about its well-being. If you keep the radio in the (superb) Yaesu Leather Case, you can virtually guarantee that it will remain in good condition even after years of SOTA work.

Taking the Elecraft on a hike is like taking a box of eggs! I'm not suggesting that the KX3 is fragile or poorly constructed - it's not!! It's a superb radio, but it just requires a lot more care when handling it outdoors. I should really buy some of the protection options available for it and stop worrying!

According to others, the reception on the FT-818ND cannot hold a candle to the KX3, but they say it's also not that bad! The sheer convenience and durability of the FT-818ND means that you will be much more willing to throw it over your shoulder when going out - and you will therefore be much more likely to make a contact. Taking the KX3 out on the other hand needs some care and so you might not be as eager to "throw it over your shoulder". The big advantage of the KX3 is that it's got 3 times the power of the 818.

Anyway, no matter what the reason for buying an 818 - I just did! And I absolutely LOVE IT!! I really do. I've had some amazing contacts with it, even reaching deep into Russia on 5W and Denmark and Iceland on 2.5W.

 

Weather permitting, I'll take it out this weekend and have a play. In addition to using the regular antennas that I use with my KX3, I'm also going to try the Elecraft AX1 Telescopic Vertical. Should be interesting.

Features of new 818 :

•      Improved frequency stability ±0.5 ppm: Built-in TCXO-9
•      Larger battery capacity: 9.6V/1900 mAh (SBR-32)
•      5MHz band Operation available
•      208 Memory Channels / 10 Memory Groups
•      Operates on 160-10m, HF, 6m, 2m and 70 cm Bands
•      Ultra-Compact and Portable
•      Two Antenna Connectors
•      IF Shift, IF Noise Blanker, IPO, ATT
•      CW "Semi-Break-in", CW Reverse, CW Pitch Control
•      Built-in Electronic Keyer
•      Multi-Colour Easy to see LCD
•      Internal Battery Operation Capability
•      ARS Automatic Repeater Shift
•      APO Automatic Power Off
•      Front Panel Key Lock Mode

Specifications:

• Frequency Ranges: RX 100 kHz - 30 MHz
• (Amateur Bands only) 50 MHz - 54 MHz
• 76 MHz - 108 MHz
• 87.5 MHz - 108 MHz
• 430 MHz - 440 MHz
• TX 1.8 MHz - 54 MHz
• C2 Version (5.2500 MHz - 5.4065 MHz) WRC-15 + UK
• B2 Version (5.3515 MHz - 5.3665 MHz) WRC-15
• 144 MHz - 146 MHz
• 430 MHz - 440 MHz
• Circuit Type: Double-Conversion Superheterodyne (SSB/CW/AM/FM)
• Single-Conversion Superheterodyne (WFM)
• Modulation Type: A1A(CW), A3E(AM), J3E(LSB, USB), F3E(FM), F1D(PACKET), F2D(PACKET)
• RF Power Output: 6 W (SSB/CW/FM), 2 W (AM Carrier) @13.8 V
• Memory Channels: 208
• Case Size (W x H x D): 135 x 38 x 165 mm
• w/o knob and connector
• Weight: 900 g (w/o Battery, Antenna and Microphone)

Supplied Accessories:

•     Hand Microphone(MH-31A8J)
•     Battery (SBR-32 9.6V 1900mAh Ni-MH )
•     Battery Case (FBA-28) (Requires 8 "AA: batteries)
•     Whip Antenna for 50/144/430 MHz (YHA-63E
•     DC Cable (E-DC-6)
•     Shoulder Strap, Ferrite Core, Rubber Foot
•     Operating Manual
•      Battery Charger (PA-48U/C)

Read more: https://www.nevadaradio.co.uk/amateur-radio/transceivers/mobile-transceivers/yaesu-ft818---new---coming-soon#ixzz5w6nUoA1W

EASY ERECTIONS!

GETTING IT UP QUICKER

As I get older I seem to struggle with the simplest of things! Having bought a TACTICAL 7000HDS Telescopic Antenna from SotaBeams, I was fully expecting the erection of said antenna-mast to be as simple as it looks on SotaBeam's video demonstration....

No! It wasn't that simple - or maybe I'm the simple one. There just had to be an easier way to do this on your own. After watching something on Tim McKim's channel, I decided to have a go myself with some little mods. So here's a very simple, very effective way to get that mast erected....

Click Above To Watch Video

It's worth noting that the Mast could be stored inside the tube and then the tube placed in a sling-bag to throw over your shoulder if you're going hill-walking.

On a separate note, I had absolutely NO problem getting my 2M vertical and yagi elevated using a parasol base in the garden today, enjoying the wonderful weather we're having just now.