Author Archives: Dave
Elecraft K3: KSYN3A synthesizer installation notes
Overview: At one point, myself and K7OLN were living about 700 feet apart. Both of us were very active, and as a result could not operate on the same band at the same time. I purchased an Elecraft K3, and that helped, K7OLN then purchased a K3 and that helped more. Then Elecraft came out … Continue reading
RFI Site survey – Part II, interpretation
This is part II in a series of articles which will cover how I interpret and use SDR captured spectrograms as they relate to my RFI mitigation efforts. See Part I, Using a SDR as a Site Survey Tool for how I setup and use the SDRPlay RSP1 as my SDR of choice, while using HDSDR as the radio control program. The concept was to view my RFI environment as a whole, not in realtime, but across long periods of time, and very wide frequency spans. Continue reading
RFI Snapshots
Clicking on any of the images on the RFI category page will take you to yet another page, which contains any number of RFI signatures. This may be helpful in identifying a source of RFI. While it is not a a RFI fingerprint, it is an indication of what may be causing your RFI. Continue reading
Notes on tuning a Hustler 6BTV
I thought I would share a few of my notes on tuning up a 6BTV antenna, and constructing a radial field. I have been using a GAP Challenger DX, (review here), for the past fifteen years, unbeknownst to me, and over that time, water had been slowly seeping into the tuning harness of the antenna. Continue reading
Using a SDR as a RFI site survey tool
Over the past several years it seems I have done nothing but hunt RFI sources. This process reminds me much of the old childs game called “Whac-A-Mole”. So the use of a SDR came to mind… This is how I set up an SDR site survey tool. Continue reading
Review of the Palstar AT2KD Tuner
Over time I have had both auto tuners, and manual tuners. I have used differential tuners, and standard tuners… I always return to manual tuners, using roller inductors, and large caps every time… An auto tuner is simpler to operate, but the power levels just are not there yet for me on anything I can afford, nor have I been able to get an autotuner, (of the ones I have used), to tune to an exact 1:1, every time, on every band. It is always something like 1.x:1, I have seen as high as 1.7:1, which can cause issues with the new solid state amps, such as the ALS-1306, which I own. See the section under “Conclusions”, for more on that subject. Continue reading
Adding an external keypad to the K3
The Genovation keypads have either forty eight or twenty four keys on them depending on which model you purchase. Each individual key can be programmed to send a single character, or a series of characters. Further, each key has a removable plastic cover so you can put a label under the plastic. All of this allows you to program a key, then label it, then use it to send a macro trigger to the P3. Like the P3, the Genovation also needs to be programmed in advance of use. Fortunately Genovation provides a rather nice piece of software with each keypad for just this task. Once a key is programmed, if you tap that key, the Genovation sends out the character(s) you pre-programmed into it via the USB port. This lends itself well to the function of sending macro triggers to the P3. Continue reading
I have RFI, now what– Part I, Locating it
This allows me to verify I am working with the same RFI source. I record the audio from the FT-900, and then I can play it back into Spectrum labs, and see if it matches the RFI I am hearing at home. Once I have a match, I know without a doubt I have the same source. I then look at the map, and it becomes pretty obvious where the RFI is most of the time. I next start running the frequency up as high as possible and still hear the RFI. I then grab a Google Map of a smaller area, around where the signal is strongest, and do the drive around again. I repeat this process moving ever higher in frequency. Continue reading
Review of “DX World”
“DX World” is broken into sections, and is sort of a running blog on the DX community, and what is current. The first section in “DX World”, is the “DX World Weekly Bulletin”. The Bulliten starts off with “DX This Week”, and is a recap of what DX was active in the past week. It provides general information on many, many DX stations. Continue reading
Review of Ameritron’s RCS-4 Coax Switch
I remembered my RCS-4, sitting on the floor for the past two years, and decided to move it outdoors. Given I don’t have a tower, but I had an outdoor building, I elected to mount the switch on the side of the building, giving me the ability to run the feedline to the building in the event I wanted to add tuners, or anything else that needed to be in a covered environment. The included U-bolt mounting hardware made this a simple task, I drilled two holes in the wall of the outbuilding the width of the U-Bolt, straddling a stud in the wall, and fed it through the holes and into the RCS-4. Continue reading
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DX-World News:- DX Maps News:
- 29-Jul 0700 New version 3.1 (build 766) of VQLog
- 06-Jul 0800 VE7BQH 50, 144 and 432 MHz antenna charts updated
- 17-May 0730 144 MHz animated sporadic-E maps 2024 available
- 23-Dec 1700 144 MHz EME calendar 2024
- 18-Nov 1200 VE7BQH 50, 144 and 432 MHz antenna charts updated
- 11-Sep 1700 New version 3.1 (build 717) of VQLog
- 09-Apr 1000 New version 3.1 (build 708) of VQLog
- 11-Sep 1700 New version 2.14 of WSJT DX Aggregator
- 09-May 1530 144 MHz animated sporadic-E maps 2023 available
- 06-Feb 1200 VE7BQH 50, 144 and 432 MHz antenna charts updated
