SIGNALINK SL-USB

FT-8 & FT818

When I tried out FT-8 in the shack using my Yaesu DX-3000, I quite enjoyed it but the limitations of my QTH meant that I was constantly seeing the same operators over and over, so I kinda fell out with it.

But now I've decided to give it another shot but this time I will do it from much better locations - ie outdoors. Even locally I can get to the top of a 1500ft ASL hilltop (Winter Hill) and I reckon that I should do really well with my FT-818 and a multiband antenna.

But the FT-818 doesn't have a built-in soundcard like the DX-3000, so I found a second hand SignaLink SL-USB on eBay, complete with the appropriate interface cable. I've already got a decent laptop but ideally, I'd like to find a 12V power-adapter for it so I can hook it up to an external power source, should the internal battery get too low.

UPDATE <<< 10 Jan 2020

So it arrived in the post today and it looks totally mint! The great thing is, it includes the SLMOD6PM and SLCAB6PM which means that as it stands, the SignaLink SL-USB will work with 3 of my radios - the Yaesu FT-818, the ICOM IC-7400 and the ALINCO DR-735E.

UPDATE <<< 11 Jan 2020

I spent the last hour or so trying to setup a Portable FT8 Station using my FT-818, SignaLink USB and WSJT. I struggled quite a bit because I'd watched a few videos and read a few things on the internet which all lead me to believe that I just needed the SignaLink USB interface cable connected to the radio along with a USB lead. That's not the case - you still need a CAT control lead (6-Pin DIN to USB) so I had to make one up! Grrr!

Anyway, I was doing all this in the corner of the lounge and just for testing purposes I had the FT-818 connected to a Discone on the roof, just to see if the RX was working ok. It was, so I then switched to FT8-2M (144.174MHz) to try a transmit at 2.5W (the discone can tx on 2M). To my surprise, G7DEY (Peter in South Wirral) responded to the CQ and we managed to log a contact. So now I know that I can get out there with a decent antenna and do some FT8 work.

UPDATE <<< 15 Nov 2024

Since posting this (some 4 years ago), I can confirm that the SignaLink SL-USB works incredibly well and the device has served me well. It’s a very high quality bit of kit which works flawlessly. 

I sold my FT-818, so I decided to buy an interface cable to allow me to use the SignaLink with my Elecraft KX3.

 

BATTERY POWER

MOTORCYCLE BATTERY

Just before I sold my Honda FireBlade, I bought a YUASA YTZ10S (9.1Ah(20HR)) battery for it, so  rather than let the bike go with the new battery, I put the old one back in and kept the new one for days when I'm playing radio outdoors (but not too far from my vehicle).

If I go hill-walking, I always take my LifePO because it's light, but if I'm actually driving to a take-off spot, then I can afford to take something meatier and heavier, so this YUASA will do the job nicely and prevent me from using the cars battery.

On a Club Field Day outing, it should also be fine for a good while at higher power levels. We'll see.

SHACK PIC

PORTABLE HF ANTENNA REVIEWS

MY PORTABLE HF ANTENNAS

I was talking to another M7 the other day and the only antenna he had was a Diamond X30 antenna for VHF/UHF but he was preparing to move into the HF arena as soon as funds permitted. I was telling him how I loved to play QRP on HF and how much I enjoyed the success of making a DX contact on 10W or less, using simple portable antennas.

At home in the shack, I tend to use my permanent EFHW or G5RV, but outdoors I have a choice of portable antennas which are listed below. All these are used at one point or another with my YAESU FT-818 or my ELECRAFT KX3. The antennas can also be used for QRO work on Field Days with my local Radio Club.

So, for the benefit of any newbies wondering what to buy, here's what I chose to invest in...

• SOTABEAMS 20/40M LINKED DIPOLE (BandHopper II)
   
• SOTABEAMS 7-BAND LONG WIRE (BandSpringer Midi)
   
• WIRE-ANTENNAS EFHW - 40/20/15/10 

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The SotaBeams products are highly favoured by me (and many others) and I consider them to be fantastic products at a very reasonable price. The best thing about them is that they are so 'complete'. They come with absolutely everything you need, including tent-pegs and a neat carry-bag.

The 20/40 Linked Dipole BandHopper II is probably my primary choice - it is permanently stored in my Go-Bag and because those two bands are the ones I use most frequently, it ends up being in constant use. Needless to say, no ATU is required, since this antenna is resonant on both bands (with the links connected or disconnected accordingly).

Despite how it may look in the photos, the BandHopper II is very simple to erect and rebag. When I first saw it I thought it would be like getting the Genie back in the bottle, but thanks to those fantastic (supplied) winders, it's an absolute breeze! Just be sure to wind the cables back onto the winders in a 'figure of 8' motion so that they unravel easily the next time you use them. I strongly recommend that you watch some of the videos on the SOTABEAMS website.

Apart from the antenna itself, you will, of course, need some means of getting it up in the air. Personally, I use a portable mast and erect the antenna in an inverted-v, as recommended by the manufacturer. You can use SOTABEAM's Tactical-7000HDS or the smaller Tactical Mini.

M7MCQ up on Winter Hill, G/SP-010

I'll be honest and admit that I struggled a little to get the mast and antenna to stand up at first, but then I came up with the idea of using a small Guy-Tube to make things infinitely easier even in high winds....

Simple  'Guy-Tube'

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The next antenna I purchased was the BAND SPRINGER MIDI and this is a 'Long Wire' with a Counterpoise. Again, the kit comes complete with a carry-bag, winders and tent-pegs - and a handy BNC connector that many other manufacturers would probably have left out.

The BandSpringer is available as a MAXI too, but the MIDI seemed like the best choice for me, since I wasn't interested in working 80M portable. The MIDI will work on 8 bands but an ATU is required! Whilst I prefer to use resonant antennas like the BandHopper, it sure is nice to be able to switch from 10 to 60M for when conditions are really good and the other bands have lots going on.

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My 3rd choice of portable antenna is an End-Fed-Half-Wave. I wanted to invest in one of the American products from MYANTENNAS but they're just not readily available here in the UK so I took a chance on a UK manufacturer called WIRE ANTENNAS and it should arrive in a couple of days. When it does, I'll test it and report back.

This product claims to be resonant on 40/30/20/17/15/12/10m and to be honest, I'm interested in how much better (or maybe worse) it will perform than the similar BandSpringer.

UPDATE <<<   It arrived! First thing to note, is that it's quite heavy. And it's not exactly 'compact'. I'm guessing that this thing will put quite a bend in your fibreglass fishing pole and isn't really practical to fasten to the very thin sections at the top. Much more likely to be fixed lower down the pole. The SotaBeams BandSpringer Midi weighs 190g whereas this weighs 720g!!!

The quality looks fabulous! All components seem to be of a high quality and well constructed. The wire is wrapped onto a plastic winder and there's a Hook & Loop belt to keep everything in place. The UNUN enclosure is actually attached to the winder itself.

I just unwound the 66ft of cable in my office to see how easy it was to work with - and let me tell you - it's nowhere near as easy as the thin SotaBeams wire antennas! The cable is 1.5mm copper in a plastic jacket and is quite stiff.  It feels like single-strand wire, but it is, in fact, Class 2 Stranded copper  and for some reason, the outer sheathing is LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) which is normally used in conduit and for fixed, protected installations where fire, smoke emission and toxic fumes create a potential risk to life and equipment. Weird!

Winding it back onto the winder takes time, although I think it would have been a hell of  lot easier if one end was attached to something to stop all the twists and kinks that there in the wire on my office floor, lol.  The ABS enclosure is good quality and the components within all look good, so no complaints there.

This EFHW is meant for 'portable use' but I would say it's most certainly not for SOTA use. It's probably better suited to a Field Day with the local Radio Club at a location where you have got your vehicle close by and are able to take a more sturdy mast with you than you would on a SOTA trip. Anyway, I'm looking forward to trying it out at the weekend and will update again.

Another option is a Magnetic Loop. There are a few DIY designs on the internet for those who like projects, or for those who have some spare cash, you can invest in a commercial loop such as the fabulous ALEXLOOP.  I invested in the AlexLoop Hampack and you can read about that HERE.

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I should like to mention my dinky telescopic! I bought this to use with my KX3 radio - it's the fabulous ELECRAFT AX1. Yes, £100 is an awful lot of dosh to spend on a little telescopic, but believe me, this thing is special!

For more information, CLICK HERE to read a previous post about this fantastic little antenna.

Finally, I invite you to consider the wonderful SUPER ANTENNA MP1. You can read all about it HERE and I strongly recommend that you do! I covers nearly all HF bands, PLUS 2M and 4M. Of course small verticals are ‘compromise’ antennas, but this one does incredibly well and lets you work all those bands.

SINCE WRITING THIS POST, I've bought an Icom IC-705 and use these antennas with that radio too.

Thanks for visiting - please take a minute to leave a comment below 

73, Tom, M7MCQ.

YAESU FT-817 FT-818 CHEAT SHEET

FT-818ND ADAPTED CHEAT-SHEET

I found a rather useful "Cheat Sheet" on the internet today - it was designed by Arthur C Bross over in Arizona, USA and it was for the Yaesu FT-817. Since the Power Settings for the FT-818ND were slightly different, I altered the sheet and printed it off.

It folds into a very neat and handy little "concertina" arrangement which you can slip into a little pouch to keep in your rucksack close to the radio.

I was going to write to Arthur (KC7GF) to thank him for this very handy little page, but sadly, when I looked him up on QRZ, he was listed as a Silent Key :-(

The 818 version can be printed from the image below or you can (again) email me for a proper PDF version for printing.

RIP  Arthur (KC7GF)

ELAD DUO-ART FT-817 INTERFACE

ELAD DUO-ART FT-817 INTERFACE (NOT)

When I invested in the ELAD DUO-ART it was for a number of reasons and it was only the sum of these reasons that made me shell out for it....

1. I fancied a PANADAPTER that would work with my ELAD FDM DUO and with my YAESU FT-818ND.
    
2. I fancied an ATU that would work with my ELAD FDM DUO and with my YAESU FT-818ND.
    
3. I fancied an AMP that would work with my ELAD FDM DUO and with my YAESU FT-818ND so that I'm future-proofed if I upgrade my licence.

The DUO-ART rather uniquely met all the criteria, so I got one. Connecting the DUO-ART to my FDM DUO was a breeze and it all worked very well (once I'd done the FDM DUO updates). Everything pretty much worked as expected, apart from a slight issue of "tuning noise" coming through the audio of the radio - something I'm still working on to resolve.

So with the FDM DUO interfacing properly, I went and got my YAESU FT-818ND from my rucksack and switched the DUO-ART to "FT-817 INTERFACE" mode.

Sadly, it ended there, because I could find no interface lead to go between the DUO-ART and the 818. That's because the DUO-ART doesn't come with such a lead and after contacting ELAD, I was told that no such interface lead exists! Now that seems a bit ridiculous to me.

I asked ELAD for a very simple diagram to show me exactly which pins in the 818's ACC connector to connect to the DUO-ART's RS-232 connector, but I got very little useful information. I have ordered a YAESU CT-62 Lead from ML&S which is an 8-PIN DIN to RS-232 but of course that won't give me a connection to the PTT-IN on the DUO-ART.

SO VERY ANNOYING! Why design an FT-817 INTERFACE and even build it into the menu system if you can't also provide an Interface Cable. Or even provide a simple guide how to make your own!

I've asked for help on a few forums but got nowhere so far. As a newbie (Foundation Licence holder) I could 'experiment' but I don't want to end up blowing up my amp or radio! I've asked a few "G0's" but had no joy there either. I even wrote to TechnoFix UK to see if I could PAY to have a lead made up but they weren't interested either.

If I can't get any help soon, I guess I'm going to HAVE TO have a go!

  

UPDATE!!!!!!! 

I've managed to make an interface cable myself.

See HERE to see how.

ELAD SP-1A SPEAKER

MATCHING SPEAKER FOR FDM DUO

I've been using various speakers with the ELAD FDM DUO with varying success and so decided to get the proper matching component from ELAD. The SP-1A is an amplified speaker which takes its power from the ELAD DUO linear. It has decent power output (but it's not the loudest speaker in the world) and has a built-in 3-stage DSP circuit. Fits in very well and completes the station.