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New HAM First QSO
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Sorry Guys, only free just now as the other thing was late starting. Had a flick around but I am sure you guys are tucked up in bed by now...
No bother, there was lots of QRM we had to QSY and then more QRM but that's the way it goes.
1200 Watts of RF would make them move like they make everyone else move
Next week.0 -
I came up with a plan for your new 40 meter long antenna Shyboy
This would be a good place to start and probably your only way because of the power line.
Is that the entire layout of your garden ? it looks smaller than an acre but yours is probably wider, mine is traditional Irish style, long and narrow lol.
I would guess that ESB line is 10Kva and a right pain in the arse having ESB line so close and hopefully it won't emit much noise.
The EFHW 40 meters long usually has a coil to bring the other bands in resonance where needed.
Here's a good PDF on the EFHW.
http://gnarc.org/wp-content/uploads/The-End-Fed-Half-Wave-Antenna.pdf
There'll be some experimenting involved getting the resonance right and that will mean bringing the antenna up and down. If the resonance is lowest say around 3.5 Mhz and you want it around 3.6 or 3.7 Mhz then you need to shorten it, fold it back don't cut it because if you go too far you can't add it back easy.
You'll need an antenna analyser mine is the RigExpert AA-35, it will be essential or borrow one for a weekend.
https://rigexpert.com/products/antenna-analyzers/aa-35-zoom/
Getting rope over tree branches can be a pain, I have a pneumatic antenna launcher that I got from the U.S, it's got a led fishing weight and attached to that is A fishing reel, pump it up with a bicycle pump, release the valve and bang up she goes, then attach the rope to the fishing real and real it in over the branch then tie the antenna on to the rope and pull up the antenna. It really makes the job a lot easier.
You won't have 160 meters with this antenna, I mean it will work but it will be inefficient causing RF in the house like using yours now on 80m.
My antenna gets out well on 160 m despite it's 16:1 SWR at around 1900 Khz, probably the height is helping, get the antenna high as you can.
Ground UNUN at the base of the tree and ground the coax before it enters the shack to help reduce any static build up it picks up from UNUN to shack, keep as much of the coax on the ground or under as you can, helps to act as counterpoise.
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Deleted User wrote: »I came up with a plan for your new 40 meter long antenna Shyboy
This would be a good place to start and probably your only way because of the power line.
Is that the entire layout of your garden ? it looks smaller than an acre but yours is probably wider, mine is traditional Irish style, long and narrow lol.
I would guess that ESB line is 10Kva and a right pain in the arse having ESB line so close and hopefully it won't emit much noise.
The EFHW 40 meters long usually has a coil to bring the other bands in resonance where needed.
Here's a good PDF on the EFHW.
http://gnarc.org/wp-content/uploads/The-End-Fed-Half-Wave-Antenna.pdf
There'll be some experimenting involved getting the resonance right and that will mean bringing the antenna up and down. If the resonance is lowest say around 3.5 Mhz and you want it around 3.6 or 3.7 Mhz then you need to shorten it, fold it back don't cut it because if you go too far you can't add it back easy.
You'll need an antenna analyser mine is the RigExpert AA-35, it will be essential or borrow one for a weekend.
https://rigexpert.com/products/antenna-analyzers/aa-35-zoom/
Getting rope over tree branches can be a pain, I have a pneumatic antenna launcher that I got from the U.S, it's got a led fishing weight and attached to that is A fishing reel, pump it up with a bicycle pump, release the valve and bang up she goes, then attach the rope to the fishing real and real it in over the branch then tie the antenna on to the rope and pull up the antenna. It really makes the job a lot easier.
You won't have 160 meters with this antenna, I mean it will work but it will be inefficient causing RF in the house like using yours now on 80m.
My antenna gets out well on 160 m despite it's 16:1 SWR at around 1900 Khz, probably the height is helping, get the antenna high as you can.
Ground UNUN at the base of the tree and ground the coax before it enters the shack to help reduce any static build up it picks up from UNUN to shack, keep as much of the coax on the ground or under as you can, helps to act as counterpoise.
Cheers Mad_Lad, I really do appreciate you taking the time to do this.
No, sorry, my poor drawing skills (Thank God I didn't become an architect) do not fully reflect the space we have, there is much more space in the garden to the right of the house, nearly twice as much as the left side.
Your idea looks great, but one major thing I didn't put in the drawing is that there is an electricity cable just about those trees running at the back of the house. Actually the ESB come every couple of years to trim the trees as they tend to grow up over the cable.
I believe this is the cable which brings the electricity into the houses, (although ours is underground, but probably still connected up to a transformer on that line somewhere?).
I assume it is too risky to run the wire anywhere near it?0 -
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Deleted User wrote: »The ESB will trim only the branches that are at risk hitting the cables, if you think they are getting close then call them up and they'll cut them. They do this in my Property too.
It looks like a 10 Kva distribution line, you don't want to mess with that, there will be a single phase feed from that to your house via transformer. Which is probably the line you said nearest the trees.
Those 10 Kva lines can emit horrible qrm, there is a pole that the ESB still haven't fixed in the field beside me, I must get on to them.
Anyway, if you feel it's safe and there is a tall tree get a rope somehow over the tallest branch you can find. I got a pneumatic launcher that I put a lead fishing weight in, tie a fishing line to it, pump up and open the valve and it will go up about 100 feet, it's brilliant, saved me so much hassle, I ordered it from the states, you could make something up, go to woodies and buy some pvc pipe, anyway, tie the rope/fishing line to the rope that will hold up your antenna and pull back the fishing reel, then tie the antenna to the rope and pull up.
Take some photos of the trees and the ESB line. You may need to install a pole or mast, though that might effect the antenna.
Hi Mad_Lad,
This is the cable which runs above the tress at the back. Some of the trees are higher than others, the highest ones (just at the very left of the photo) are actually well over the cable again at this point and need another trim.
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Deleted User wrote: »Any chance you could take a pic of the trees you'd be hanging the antenna from ?
Those wires are insulated 240 volt lines.
Going by the diagram, it would have to be one of the trees in this photo, which are not as high.
So, as this overhead cable is insulated, it is safe to run the wire fairly close to it? I always run a mile when I see overhead cables (watched too many Public Information Films when I was a child :eek:)0 -
Going by the diagram, it would have to be one of the trees in this photo, which are not as high.
So, as this overhead cable is insulated, it is safe to run the wire fairly close to it? I always run a mile when I see overhead cables (watched too many Public Information Films when I was a child :eek:)
Unfortunately those are really only bushes and not nearly tall enough. What are the tallest trees you have take pics, pm me if you want, ideally I'd like the see pics of the whole property.
The insulation on those cables is pretty thick, they wouldn't be wrapped around each other if not. I'd be a lot more worried about the other line which could be 10 Kva. You don't want to go near that under any circumstances.
You may want to install a mast of some sort, a 40 foot mast, of some sort, get scaffolding poles but they'd need to be guyed.
Anyway hard to know what you can do without pics of the whole property.0 -
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Hi Mad Lad, I see sdr.hu is now finished. Is there a direct link to your online sdr now?
Here's another site that links to Kiwi SDRs.
http://kiwisdr.com/public/0 -
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It can be utterly amazing how far and how different contacts can be made on the various modes.
A few nights ago I got to Dorchester South Carolina on FT4 with reports of -12 for me and -3 for them, we decided to try phone, and I was 22 he was 44 for reports, I was just barely poking above the noise floor, and that was with 200-300W for me into the 1/4wave vertical of the DX Commander.
As for WSPR, I've been heard pretty much worldwide on <200mW.
I have not yet tried psk31 or Olivia or the other digital modes
Yes, radio is amazing!
I tried FT4 the other night, there was almost no activity compared to FT8.
PSK31 and Olivia are great for keyboard to keyboard chat, Olivia is slower but works down to very low signal levels, if conditions allow you can change to contestia which is almost the same but twice as fast but Olivia works better at lower signal levels.
I use fldigi, pretty cool software, I use it on linux on a little Chromebook I wiped and installed GalliumOS.
Digital modes are cool when the XYL is watching tv, I have the FT-891 hooked up to the MPAS 2.0 in the sitting room with the cable through the window, I have a EFHW cabled up there too, handy when I don't want to go to the shack or just listen around or do some SW listening.
If you get on PSK31 or Olivia you will need to set up macros. A lot of the qso's are just using macros which you will use a lot and it's handy. Sometimes you'll get People who want to chat and then you can use normal keyboard chat, it can take a little bit to figure it out if you haven't done it before.0 -
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Hadn't much time to chase 7q7ru over the last few days
Saw them spotted yesterday and checked 17 loads stations calling but no sign of the expedition.
Just as i was leaving their signals came through, after about 10 minutes came back to me with +02. Answered him and he missed his report. Missed it second time as well. After 2 attempts he moved on to working us stations.
Checked the online log and he didn't log me.
Was fairly pissed off cos some stations they gave 9 or 10 calls to.
That is a pity alright. Keep an eye out for me tonight on 40 and 10m if it's open. I'll be using the MAPAS 2.0 so probably not great for our short distance.
On a more positive note I got VK5SFA on 15 meters at around 11:20 am with the help of the Acom 1000, I have got to VK before with just the 100 watts all the way to Sidney on 40m I think it was.
Other DX on 15 was PY4BZ ln 3rd May 100w It's nice to be able to get some DX during the day when not in work and the Boys are in School. 0 -
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Deleted User wrote: »Alright lads, anyone up for a QSO on 80m tomorrow night ?
Count me in, Mad_Lad. Dying to try the new 80m wire that I eventually managed to get up lately.
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Count me in, Mad_Lad. Dying to try the new 80m wire that I eventually managed to get up lately.
Great, finally, You'll be amazed of the difference I will too hopefully.
We'll aim for 9 Pm when all the Children are tucked up in bed and not screaming their heads off.
+ I will have the Acom on standby if anyone is struggling to hear me 0 -
Deleted User wrote: »Great, finally, You'll be amazed of the difference I will too hopefully.
We'll aim for 9 Pm when all the Children are tucked up in bed and not screaming their heads off.
+ I will have the Acom on standby if anyone is struggling to hear me
Sounds good to me. 0 -
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