New HAM First QSO

SlowBlowin · 08-04-2020 7:36pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Sheep can damage a mast ? that's a good one.

I like the tuner, that should get you on 160m, I'd say that windom will get you out on 160. 160 can be a nice band because there aren't too many people on it.

Yes the sheep rub thier bums on the mast, they really lean into it, they do it to gates too so they just see the mast as another gate to get off on.

I thought this windom was only 33m but its over 40m, so I am sure it will tune to 160 with the palstar. The earth is another matter, to really perform on 160 a good earth helps loads. I am not far from bedrock here.

I have a mountain directly behind me, north (we are half way up it), I get out well east and west. What direction are you from my QTH (my nearest village is Sneem).

08-04-2020 9:47pm

SlowBlowin wrote: »

Yes the sheep rub thier bums on the mast, they really lean into it, they do it to gates too so they just see the mast as another gate to get off on.

I thought this windom was only 33m but its over 40m, so I am sure it will tune to 160 with the palstar. The earth is another matter, to really perform on 160 a good earth helps loads. I am not far from bedrock here.

I have a mountain directly behind me, north (we are half way up it), I get out well east and west. What direction are you from my QTH (my nearest village is Sneem).

On the Windom the ground will be very important regardless.

With my EFHW it's not going to matter much on 160m because the UNUN 49:1 becomes a lot less efficient on non resonant bands. I've seen on youtube where eliminating the 49:1 and connecting just the coax to the antenna direct and a good ground should allow 160 m however it actually works pretty ok on 160m as it is.

I'm about 5 kms from Carlow Town.

SlowBlowin · 09-04-2020 6:08pm

Hi ML

I got the mast in from the mountain (my shoulder still hurts), so I thought I would take a pic so you can see what I mean.

The mast has been up (and down) for 8 years, but the damage comes from the sheep, as you can see from the blue sheep dye on the wood, they rub their bums just on one side. This puts loads of twisting strain on the mast, as its held in place by big rocks (the ground is too hard 4 inches to bedrock at that end).

A decent end fed would be ideal for me, but I couldn't get one in time and the windom is a known quantity, I have used them before but they are a pain putting up and down compared to a end fed.

I am just putting a final coat of preserver on the mast and I should get it back out in the morning, so I am hoping to be operational by tomorrow evening.

mlad.jpg

Edit: There are two other sections to the mast that butt up against it to make a solid base, and also increase the height.

09-04-2020 6:36pm

Ah it makes sense now, I must admit, I was scratching my head thinking how sheep bum could effect a metal mast.

How do you keep it from blowing over ?

End feds are grand to hook up but if you can't do it in a straight line like I couldn't then it can be a right pain too, getting any wire antenna up 40 meters long or more is going to be a pain one way or the other because getting rope up 50-65 feet isn't an easy task, it's a pain in the ass especially when access to the trees is a pain also. + the antenna is going to come down sooner or later due to the rope is fraying of the rope against the branches in the wind.

My EFHW goes N/S E/W Starts at three 1, UNUN is about 3 feet off the ground, goes at around a 90 degree angle north to tree 2 then swings east to tree No.3, tree 1 was grand because it starts at the base of that tree but the birch tree was a right pain in the ass with all those little springy branches three No.3 was a right pain altogether, getting access with the stream beside it.

I noticed after the very stormy winter the ropes are on their way out so my plan is to get more rope and attach to the existing rope and pull up new rope which will make it a lot easier than starting from scratch.

SlowBlowin · 09-04-2020 9:10pm

Deleted User wrote: »

How do you keep it from blowing over ?

If you look at this pic you will see one of the braces lying on the ground. They butt up to the mast frame and a metal strap/collar wraps round the lot (2 top and bottom) and tightens up with a big bolt.

If there is a big storm coming I can move the big rocks, take off the straps and braces and lay it down.

One end of the windom is on the house, the end mast is 45m away, straight line, on the mountainside, my land but the farmer grazes mountain sheep there and its beyond my current fence line. The middle mast (with the balun) is in an old stone ruin the other side of the stone building you can see in the pic.

Being high up on a mountain lightening is a big issue, we have been struck or suffered major damage 2 times in the past few years, so theres an advantage to having something easy to drop, without leaving a metal mast sticking up.

Mlad2.jpg

10-04-2020 3:38pm

SlowBlowin wrote: »

If you look at this pic you will see one of the braces lying on the ground. They butt up to the mast frame and a metal strap/collar wraps round the lot (2 top and bottom) and tightens up with a big bolt.

If there is a big storm coming I can move the big rocks, take off the straps and braces and lay it down.

One end of the windom is on the house, the end mast is 45m away, straight line, on the mountainside, my land but the farmer grazes mountain sheep there and its beyond my current fence line. The middle mast (with the balun) is in an old stone ruin the other side of the stone building you can see in the pic.

Being high up on a mountain lightening is a big issue, we have been struck or suffered major damage 2 times in the past few years, so theres an advantage to having something easy to drop, without leaving a metal mast sticking up.

Mlad2.jpg

All good stuff, definitely get that Ground sorted and maybe one of the lightning protectors too, won't do any harm.

Hopefully you can test it out tomorrow night.

10-04-2020 3:39pm

So Lads, QSO tomorrow night say around 21:00 ? on 80m ?

Anyone else want to join in ?

SlowBlowin · 10-04-2020 7:50pm

I am in, if I am ready. I am the worlds slackest ham, I have done the technical work (mast all sanded and 2 coats of wood preserver), checked and I have enough coax, so I should be ready....

I might use the Icom 7600 as its got a good tuner, and I discovered the Palstars a bit squeaky, needs investigation.

I will give it my all to be ready, looking forward to it...

10-04-2020 9:12pm

SlowBlowin wrote: »

I am in, if I am ready. I am the worlds slackest ham, I have done the technical work (mast all sanded and 2 coats of wood preserver), checked and I have enough coax, so I should be ready....

I might use the Icom 7600 as its got a good tuner, and I discovered the Palstars a bit squeaky, needs investigation.

I will give it my all to be ready, looking forward to it...

Good stuff, get it up asap,

check the 7600 tuner is up to the job first

I'll post the freq here around 20:50.

Looking forward to it.

orm0nd · 10-04-2020 10:18pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Grand, we'll go with Saturday evening then ?

Frequency will be posted here around 9:00 PM ? I'll find a spot and keep it warm, anyone can join of course so feel free if anyone hears us on.

I presume that's 9.00 pm local, not 9.00 utc,

don't operate ssb much these days but if I'm around I'l say hello.

Edit just saw your last post. ok

10-04-2020 11:43pm

orm0nd wrote: »

I presume that's 9.00 pm local, not 9.00 utc,

don't operate ssb much these days but if I'm around I'l say hello.

Edit just saw your last post. ok

Grand no bother the more the merrier.

10-04-2020 11:44pm

Shyboy, you still on for tomorrow night ? hopefully the QRM will be less than last time.

11-04-2020 8:40pm

Band is packed lads, I'll keep looking.

11-04-2020 8:54pm

Lads, 3.608 grab it fast, some QRM but unavoidable.

11-04-2020 8:56pm

Yes I meant to say 9 PM local.

SlowBlowin · 12-04-2020 8:26pm

Thanks for the QSO last night ML.

I found out that the connector at the balun was shorted, I have fixed that now. I have also switched to the Icom 7600, all seems good.

12-04-2020 8:39pm

SlowBlowin wrote: »

Thanks for the QSO last night ML.

I found out that the connector at the balun was shorted, I have fixed that now. I have also switched to the Icom 7600, all seems good.

Good stuff, glad you got it sorted.

Yes good QSO lads last night thanks for getting on, shame Shyboy couldn't make it, I had a really good QSO with him last weekend.

You were sounding good for half a G5RV or whatever was radiating that signal!

dxhound2005 · 12-04-2020 9:54pm

I listened to two Irish stations on 17 metres today for about half an hour, on the North West SDR. They were having an interesting conversation about antennas etc. and they were both very strong. Only when one of them needed to go for a meal did he announce his call sign. The other one finished his transmission without giving his call sign. They obviously knew each other well, and forgot the requirement to give their call signs more often. As a listener I find this annoying, especially if there is a pile up with some potentially exotic dx.

So I hope all the new hams will give their call signs, even if just as a courtesy to us SWL's. With QRZ.com and the like available now, it can be interesting to look up the details. Not possible if a station fails to identify.

12-04-2020 10:38pm

dxhound2005 wrote: »

I listened to two Irish stations on 17 metres today for about half an hour, on the North West SDR. They were having an interesting conversation about antennas etc. and they were both very strong. Only when one of them needed to go for a meal did he announce his call sign. The other one finished his transmission without giving his call sign. They obviously knew each other well, and forgot the requirement to give their call signs more often. As a listener I find this annoying, especially if there is a pile up with some potentially exotic dx.

So I hope all the new hams will give their call signs, even if just as a courtesy to us SWL's. With QRZ.com and the like available now, it can be interesting to look up the details. Not possible if a station fails to identify.

I always give my call. several times during QSO and at the end of QSO as per regulations. Usually every time when passing the conversation back to the other person and then when I take over.

For instance,

I'll pass it back to you Tom M0xxx from EIxxx

and when I talk again, M0xxx from EIxxx yes tom it was a lovely day.......

It's a common thing especially on top band not to give their call signs.

Why don't you get your licence ? it opens up a whole new world.

Shyboy · 14-04-2020 9:34pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Shyboy, you still on for tomorrow night ? hopefully the QRM will be less than last time.

So sorry Mad-Lad, I didn't get anywhere near this forum or the radio at the weekend. The youngest was sick with vomiting bug of some sort, so my weekend was tied up with that.

All is back to normal here again so I will definitely get on the band this weekend if you might be around yourselves?

Sorry again guys.

14-04-2020 11:09pm

Shyboy wrote: »

So sorry Mad-Lad, I didn't get anywhere near this forum or the radio at the weekend. The youngest was sick with vomiting bug of some sort, so my weekend was tied up with that.

All is back to normal here again so I will definitely get on the band this weekend if you might be around yourselves?

Sorry again guys.

No bother, Family comes first.

Yeah sounds good to me.

Glad the kid is doing good again.

Shyboy · 16-04-2020 8:03pm

Thanks Mad_Lad. Yes, she is back to herself again, just in time for the good weather!!

Again, Friday or Saturday night. You guys choose and I'll be there.

17-04-2020 11:30am

Shyboy wrote: »

Thanks Mad_Lad. Yes, she is back to herself again, just in time for the good weather!!

Again, Friday or Saturday night. You guys choose and I'll be there.

I'm good for Saturday night around 9pm local time, hopefully we can find a free space.

Shyboy, any thoughts about adding 20m to that antenna ? you could relocate the UNUN to nearer the ground and then work from there with the 40m of wire, doesn't have to go in a straight line, some can go straight up and then cross over in a straight line or sloping.

I think if you can manage that then you should be able to work 160m ( inefficiently of course ) but should be able to get on the band with external tuner, with the UNUN in place it doesn't work so well on non resonant bands, removing the UNUN for 160m and putting down a radial or 2 would help a lot on 160m it would make it quarter @ 40 odd meters long.

Still, my EFHW gets out to the U.K pretty well on 160m around 40 meters long with the UNUN.

I have a long wire fence that I intend to connect the UNUN to to see what happens.

Anyway, if we can all get on 160m it would be a lot easier to have peaceful QSOs.

Shyboy · 17-04-2020 2:45pm

Saturday night sounds great to me. It might be a few mins after 9.00pm before I can get on (possibly closer to 9.30pm). I will let you know on Sat evening for definite.

I still have the plans to do something with the antenna, but my problem is that I will need the help of my brother, who can't travel to me because of the restrictions...so I am a bit snookered at the moment...:(

It is certainly towards the top of the list to jobs to do.

Will chat tomorrow evening!!

orm0nd · 17-04-2020 10:13pm

Guys it's been a very sad week in my area.

As a mark of respect for those concerned, I won't be on air for a few days.

18-04-2020 10:17am

Slowblowin, are you coming on later ?

SlowBlowin · 18-04-2020 11:06am

Deleted User wrote: »

Slowblowin, are you coming on later ?

Yep I will be there, it would be good to get a before and after report from you know the antenna is fixed. I have been on an English 80m net in the mornings and I seems to be working well.

18-04-2020 11:48am

SlowBlowin wrote: »

Yep I will be there, it would be good to get a before and after report from you know the antenna is fixed. I have been on an English 80m net in the mornings and I seems to be working well.

You wouldn't be on the DXCommander Net by any chance ?

I'll post the frequency here around 20:50 pm. Need to get on fast though, free space gets taken fast.

SlowBlowin · 18-04-2020 1:03pm

Deleted User wrote: »

You wouldn't be on the DXCommander Net by any chance ?

I'll post the frequency here around 20:50 pm. Need to get on fast though, free space gets taken fast.

Nope, not been on, although I am retired, I have not reached that age yet ! I do go on one of the oldies nets though, where I am the whippersnapper.

Ok, I will make sure to be there, the minute I see the post I will go on.

18-04-2020 9:00pm

3.633 lads ?

Shyboy · 18-04-2020 9:28pm

Hi Mad_Lad,

I have been on the frequency for the past 10 mins and you are coming in +20 but with a fair bit of QRM. SlowBlowin is very faint here just making it over the static. I did hear you call out for me and I tried to return the call but I must not be getting through this evening

I will keep trying...

18-04-2020 9:40pm

we've moved to 3.684 maybe try again ?

SlowBlowin · 18-04-2020 11:05pm

Hi Madlad

Enjoyed that QSO tonight, even if 20% of it was saying my callsign !

I will try and get into that ATU next week, and get the firmware upgraded on the Icom 7600.

Shyboy its a shame you couldn't get on, but the qrm was terrible. My QTH has a big mountain directly north of me so its not surprising that I was weak with you, hopefully next time it will be better.

18-04-2020 11:59pm

SlowBlowin wrote: »

Hi Madlad

Enjoyed that QSO tonight, even if 20% of it was saying my callsign !

I will try and get into that ATU next week, and get the firmware upgraded on the Icom 7600.

Shyboy its a shame you couldn't get on, but the qrm was terrible. My QTH has a big mountain directly north of me so its not surprising that I was weak with you, hopefully next time it will be better.

Yeah great QSO thanks for getting on.

Your call is a bit of a tongue twister alright.

QRM and QRN tonight, that's not going to get better now we're in Spring, lots of lightning over the continent.

Get that ATU connected and we can try top band and 60m.

ShyBoy, hopefully next time you'll make it through, maybe you'll find room for an extra 20m of wire

Shyboy · 19-04-2020 12:39am

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeah great QSO thanks for getting on.

Your call is a bit of a tongue twister alright.

QRM and QRN tonight, that's not going to get better now we're in Spring, lots of lightning over the continent.

Get that ATU connected and we can try top band and 60m.

ShyBoy, hopefully next time you'll make it through, maybe you'll find room for an extra 20m of wire

Couldn't believe that it was so bad tonight, at least at my end, especially how clear I could hear Mad_Lad on the original frequency. I tried the second frequency but I found it worse.

I suppose that's the way HF goes sometimes. There's always next week...or whenever you guys are next on...

dxhound2005 · 19-04-2020 9:26am

Yesterday 18 April was World Amateur Radio Day. But the only stations I heard marking it were Spanish, with an AM prefix and a WARD suffix. The extra QRM these days must be down to more operators being at home.

https://www.iaru-r1.org/2020/world-amateur-radio-day/

SlowBlowin · 19-04-2020 6:28pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeah great QSO thanks for getting on.

Your call is a bit of a tongue twister alright.

QRM and QRN tonight, that's not going to get better now we're in Spring, lots of lightning over the continent.

Get that ATU connected and we can try top band and 60m.

ShyBoy, hopefully next time you'll make it through, maybe you'll find room for an extra 20m of wire

So I did the firmware upgrade on the Icom 7600 and although I got a bunch of new features, still no 60m Band.

I looked into it more and its a soldering iron job, and you have to remove a number of surface mount diodes. I opened up the radio and found the diodes and they are as small as it gets. This is going to have to wait as I broke my prescription glasses a few weeks ago, and I am using some reading glasses I got from Don the chemist, they are OK but not the best for surface mount work.

The next option is to use the FT-897 and mod that to get 60m, I have had a look at that modification and I believe its within the scope of Don's glasses, so I might try that.

I am going to start looking at the Palstar in a minute.

19-04-2020 9:06pm

Shyboy wrote: »

Couldn't believe that it was so bad tonight, at least at my end, especially how clear I could hear Mad_Lad on the original frequency. I tried the second frequency but I found it worse.

I suppose that's the way HF goes sometimes. There's always next week...or whenever you guys are next on...

Yeah QRN bad last night and it's only going to get worse as we get closer to Summer as more and more Thunderstorms form.

Do try get that extra 20 meters of wire in the air as high as you can, see below a rough sketch of the layout of my property and antenna. Antenna length 40m and property 1 Acre.

SlowBlowin · 21-04-2020 10:51am

No more tongue twister, now got the EI call

21-04-2020 7:48pm

SlowBlowin wrote: »

No more tongue twister, now got the EI call

Happy days, will be easier to say with a few beers !

21-04-2020 7:51pm

I was listening last night to the FT-891 and have to say it really impresses me, the Noise reduction, NB, Contour and IF shift all together just blow the IC-7300 away.

I'm so impressed with the 891 that I'm seriously considering selling the 7300. I like the 7300 but it just does not have the ability to clear up the signals like the 891. It reduces static noise really well too.

The 7300 can't even eliminate the constant popping of all the electric fences around me. The 891 = no popping noise.

I think I might get the FTDX-3000.

24-04-2020 3:26pm

Who's up for qso tomorrow night on 80m ? Same time 9pm local ?

SlowBlowin · 24-04-2020 4:25pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Who's up for qso tomorrow night on 80m ? Same time 9pm local ?

I should be here, dont think Im going out !!!

I have 60m too now.

Malmsteen · 24-04-2020 9:54pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Who's up for qso tomorrow night on 80m ? Same time 9pm local ?

If you let me know the frequency I would see If I could listen in... acquired a G4CFY ATU recently and with a random length of wire just 6ft of the ground its amazingly quiet and I have stations Booming in from all over Europe and farther...

24-04-2020 10:46pm

Malmsteen wrote: »

If you let me know the frequency I would see If I could listen in... acquired a G4CFY ATU recently and with a random length of wire just 6ft of the ground its amazingly quiet and I have stations Booming in from all over Europe and farther...

Yes, I will post the frequency around 20:50 so if everyone could check in here around then and get on as fast as they can because a free space doesn't last long on 80m.

I'll try around 3.680 Again, I'll start from there and post the actual frequency around 8:50 Pm.

Shyboy · 25-04-2020 5:52pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Yes, I will post the frequency around 20:50 so if everyone could check in here around then and get on as fast as they can because a free space doesn't last long on 80m.

I'll try around 3.680 Again, I'll start from there and post the actual frequency around 8:50 Pm.

Perfect, I will be there. Third time lucky??

25-04-2020 6:24pm

Shyboy wrote: »

Perfect, I will be there. Third time lucky??

Ah yeah sure give it a go, I'd say you would have been fine except for all the QRN last week, hopefully it will be quieter tonight.

25-04-2020 8:49pm

3.629 lads, band is packed but isn't as noisy as last weekend but lots of QRM from packed band. We'll give it a go anyway.

Malmsteen · 25-04-2020 9:03pm

Listening here on my FRG7700 5/6 clear in Co.Clare... and 5/9 plus on HackGreen just wish I could join in on the QSO but will enjoy listening....

Shyboy · 25-04-2020 9:14pm

Deleted User wrote: »

3.629 lads, band is packed but isn't as noisy as last weekend but lots of QRM from packed band. We'll give it a go anyway.

I just got onto 3.629 but can only hear +20 severe QRM here...:(

New HAM First QSO

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