With Varying Frequency - Amateur Radio Ponderings

I had a long chat with Milt Cram, W8NUE at AmQRP’s NUE-PSK Booth. Though I received the NEU-PSK modem I ordered under the early-bird program a few weeks before Dayton, I had made less than 20 QSOs with the unit and was eager to learn more.

Presently there is a firmware update that Milt W8NUE offered to install if I had my unit with me. (I didn’t)   Future Firmware Updates are planned to expand the ability of the modem! 

Additional Modes and Logging Ability are high on the list.  Following the NUE-PSK reflector since Dayton some of these features are becoming reality, and again I need to get out the same interface I use with my Arduino boards to update firmware.

Fellow AmQRP team members were final assembling full kits for sale at the booth and demonstrating the modem to the gathered crowds of amateurs.

Not surprising that this excellent Modem Project has a personable and excellent team behind it!

Here are some of my previous articles on the NUE-PSK Modem:

AmQRP Releases a Significant Upgrade to the NUE-PSK Modem 

First QSO’s with NUE-PSK Digital Modem 

NUE-PSK Unit Arrives at K9ZW 

NUE-PSK - Huge Amateur Support for AmQRP PSK Project 

AmQRP NUE-PSK 

AmQRP’s “NUE-PSK Digital Modem” Reviewed in QST and QEX 

Field Portable PSK without a Computer - AmQRP’s NUE-PSK Digital Modem 

73

Steve
K9ZW

At Contest University 2008 the importance of this book was again stressed, and a discount coupon to buy a copy was part of the CU packet.  Here is my write-up & review of the book from 2007.  It is also being reposted as it was done before Tags and RSS feeds were implemented for this blog.

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At Dayton 2007’s Contest University one book on the important issue of station design for Multi Stations and SO2R (Single Operator Two Radios) Stations was mentioned by several of instructors.

Managing Interstation Interference by W2VJN

During the Dayton show I made a beeline to the INRAD booth to buy three copies - one for my local club, one for my Dayton traveling partner George W9EVT and one for my amateur radio library.

I found George W9EVT speaking with a long lost old time High-Speed CW contact who had worked Skeds for years between them. Imagine my surprise to find that with the books fresh in hand that this CW expert was none other than George W9JVN - Author of the Books!!

I mentioned how this book had received multiple mentions and recommendations during the Contest University and how I appreciated meeting the Author in person.

From the introduction of the book:

Whenever two or more transceivers are used in close proximity there is some level of interference involved. This level can vary from practically no problem to actually burning up components in the receiving radio. The purpose of this book is to identify and quantify the various parameters that create the interference and to show methods that will reduce or eliminate it.

My read of the book since Dayton has found that the CTU Profs understated the quality and usefulness of the information in this book. And that the book has not gone unnoticed by other experts:

ON4UN says:
“George [W9JVN] covers every imaginable
aspect of the interference
problem in this book…”

The actual stubs can either be designed and made by the amateur themselves, or one of George’s other businesses Top Ten Devices offers W2VJN’s Stubs as a commercial product:

Band Reject Coaxial Stubs
Every multi-transmitter environment suffers to some extent from harmonic interferences. In some cases, coupling due to closeness of antennas is sufficiently high that potentially damaging voltages may be present at the receiver terminals. Harmonics can be so strong that operation within 25 or 50 kHz is not possible due to receiver overload. Application of band reject coaxial stubs will reduce transmitted harmonics from the final amplifier and reduce fundamental pickup as well. This translates to fewer complaints from the operators, higher contest scores, and reduced risk of receiver front end damage.

Approximately 30 dB of harmonic attenuation can be expected from a single stub. Lumped constant filters can also provide the mentioned benefits, but none are available for amateur use unless they are home built. Top Ten Devices uses high quality RG-213 coax with a silver plated, teflon PL259 and heat shrink tubing on the shorted or open end. Rated ultra-conservatively at 1.5 kW continuous duty operation, these stubs will last a lifetime.

Stubs are manufactured to order and are individually trimmed with a Hewlett Packard network analyzer to +/-10kHz. When ordering, please specify CW or SSB, and the stub will be cut to plus 25 kHz from the sub band edge.

A single stub can be connected to the output of an amplifier with a UHF tee connector. For multi band operation, the stub(s) may be connected after the antenna switch. There is no requirement for a specific length of coax between the amplifier and the stub. Well shielded line should be used to prevent radiation of harmonics before they get to the stub. Two or more stubs for a given band may be used together. For example, a CS-4 and a CS-5 together will null 40,15 and 10. They would be connected with two UHF tee connectors close to the amplifier, if possible, to minimize pick up or radiation on the connecting lead. For stations where the amplifier is used on more than one band, automatic stub switching can be accomplished [and the] station antennas can be switched at the same time.

It is worth noting that not only has George W9VJN passed on what he has learned in his book, he is ensuring that his product knowledge & products remain available by passing the torch at INRAD. International Radio now in the very capable hands of new owners Trey, N5KO, and Mark, AG9A with George staying involved in the development of new products.

A recommended Book!

73

Steve
K9ZW

Scott NE1RD has created a wonder Manual on assembling the Small Wonders Lab “Rockmite” QRP transceiver.

Scott NE1RD was very kind and gave me a copy at Dayton Hamvention 2008 at Contest University.

As is NE1RD’s custom he has done an ace job of making something moderately complex into something easy, by writing good directions laced with photos.  

It is like having an injection of self-confidence for a neophyte builder to have a manual like this!

This isn’t Scott NE1RD’s first build instruction project, having done the Assembling the MFJ Cub Transceiver by Scott NE1RD 

Here are the links:

Scott NE1RD’s Homepage on the Rockmite Build

NE1RD’s Rockmite Assemble Manual On-Line

Check out all of Scott NE1RD’s Project Websites and see if you can help in Developing Young Ham’s building experience through a club build!

Recommended!

73

Steve
K9ZW

Ok, here is one great value if you are building a station - Building a Super Station by David Robbins K1TTT

Here are reviews on eHam: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/6573

At you will find the download or the book at Lulu : http://www.lulu.com/k1ttt

History of the construction of a Ham Radio super contest station. 21+ years of construction, reconstruction, and maintenance at K1TTT with tips for both big and small contest stations

K1TTT’s website is: http://www.k1ttt.net/

Here is the Table of Contents:

Contents

Introduction …………….ii
Contents …..iii
Figures …….vii
Evolution ……1
The First Year ……..1
Growing ..7
The First Tower Party ..11
And now for some operating! …..13
Spring Cleaning 1986 ..16
And Growing …….22
And Growing Some More ………..28
And Still Growing .. …48
One more big growth spurt! ……..71
And Still Growing? Well, not for a while ..82
Happy Birthday! .. ….108
Inventory ..116
Property …………..116
Outside ……………117
150’ 20m Tower …..117
60’ Misc Tower ……118
120’ 10m Tower …..119
120’ 15m Tower …..120
180’ 40m Tower …..121
Other Stuff …..122
Inside …126
VHF Station …127
80m …………….128
10m …………….129
40m/SO2R ……130
20m …………….132
160m …………..133
15m …………….134
Cables ..135
Contest Scores Summary ……………136
The Land ..154
Where to go? ……154
Finding ……………154
Zoning and Covenants …………..155
Neighbors ………..155
Start Small ……………156
Single op to multi-single transition ………..156
Thinking Big ………..157
The Vision ……….157
Keep it simple ….157
Radios …………….158
Planning the outside layout …….158
Keep notes ……….159
Planning the Inside layout ………159
Buy vs. build furniture ……….159
Lighting ……….160
Power! …………161
Baseband noise control ………162
Computers ……….162
Insurance …………163
Hardware ……..164
Liability ……….164
Adjusters ……..164
Antenna Support Structures ………..165
Selecting the type .. ..165
Installation ……….165
Bases, anchors ….166
EHS vs. Philly vs. Insulators and other guy wire things …….166
Grounding ……….168
Putting the mast in the tower ….169
Antennas ..171
Buy or build …….171
Wire or aluminum ……171
Vertical vs. Horizontal …………..171
Refurbishing used antennas ……171
How long? ……….172
Stacks ..172
Dedicated spot antennas …………173
4-squares and other phased verticals ………173
Inverted V’s vs. Loops …………..173
Beverages ………..174
Insulated Copperweld vs. other wires …….178
“Improvements” .. ….179
40-2cd …………179
Yagi Element Vibration ……..179
Telrex sleeves .. ….180
Boom vibration ……183
Oddities …………..185
Backwards 10m Yagi ………..185
Tribander poisoning …………..185
Sub-Harmonics from floating transmission line ……………185
Amps ……..187
Buy or build? ……187
New or Used? …..187
Tubes …187
Auto or Manual ..187
Cable and wire ……..188
75ohm hard line .. ….188
Use good cable …188
Above or below ground …………188
How to support cables ……………189
Lightning protection …190
Rotors, switches, phasing boxes ….192
Buy or build? ……192
Simplicity is nice .. …192
Single band on a coax ……………192
Remote switches .. …193
Simple stack matching vs. bought boxes ..193
Outside Enclosures …..196
Tools ……..197
Chain saws ………198
Wrenches …………199
Crescent hammers ……199
Pliers, cutters, and other nasty things ……..200
Misc Stuff ………..202
Socket sets ……….203
Belts and harnesses ….204
Buckets ……………205
Pulleys and other rigging ……….205
Come-alongs ……206
Other specialty stuff …206
Capstans, winches, cars, tractors, and other lifting power ….208
Ropes! …………….208
Cranes and Helicopters ………….209
Gin Poles …………209
Inside Tools ……..210
Doing the work …….214
Planning, planning, planning ….214
Ground control to Major Tom… ……………214
Rigging – or how to break a boom in one easy lesson ……….214
Knots – back to the basics ………215
Tripods – get out Boy Scout lashing book ………….215
Trams – the easy way up a tower …………..217
Tilt and tip - working in 3 dimensions ……220
Having the fun ………221
M/M Operators …221
Guest Operators and recruiting ..221
My call, your call, club call?? …222
Propagation ……..222
Goals …224
Special Techniques ….224
Spotting network notes ………….225
Food and drink …227
Sleeping …………..227
Checklists ………..227
Maintenance …………230
Annual inspections …..230
Repairs – Danger, Will Robinson! …………231
Repair or replace? ……232
How long do things live? ……….232
Trees and Weeds .. …233
Technical Miscellany ……234
Filters… ………….234
Stubs ….235
Analysis of Single Coax Stub ……………237
Analysis of pairs of Coax Stubs …………239
419A input isolation …243
Sub harmonic analysis …………..244
Cheap TDR ……..246
Tuning gamma matches …………249
50 vs. 75 ohm cable …250
Hard line connectors from plumbing fittings ………250
Cheap Doppler DF …..253
Yaesu G-xxxxSDX series control box problems …255
Temporary fix for stuck indicator: ……..255
Replacing indicator motor: ….256
Rotor turns faster one way than the other: ………257
‘Rain’ static ……..258
TV RFI cleanup ..259
Many ways to do 4-squares …….261
TS-870 Beverage Switch ……….265
U-L-BIP-BOP ….266
Yaesu CAT mod .. …267
The End ….268

An absolutely awesome collection of information!

Check it out - well worth the modest download or book price!

Recommended!

73

Steve
K9ZW
 

AmQRP has released a significant upgrade to the NUE-PSK

This is an easy upgrade, much along the likes of loading an Arduino or Boarduino with a program.

Here are the release notes:

===================
   v1.20 Release Notes 
       May 13, 2008
===================  

Bug fixes …

1) CwID is now working.

2) Some non-printable characters no longer print as “garbage” on display.

3) ”Right Half Of Display Blanking” has been fixed by adjusting the timing of the control sugnals to the LCD. 

4) Improved locking onto PSK signals on the spectrum.

5) Smoother interaction with the Tune encoder control, primarily with the menu slections under the Select pushbutton.

New Features …

1) F10 for TX Toggle … F10 is now used to switch between Tx and Rx modes. (F12 was previously used for this, but using F10 is much more convenient for operators using the popular “2366″ minikeyboards that require you to hold the Fn key to get to F11 and F12.)

2) Backspace … The backspace key now works as expected when recording macros or transmitting. It always worked as far as the outgoing signal was concerned, but the display did not show the cursor backing up by blanking the previously-typed character.

3) Ctrl-S (”Switch To Transmit”) … is now available for use as a special control character at the beginning of a macro. The control character is looked for when a macro button is pressed, even while in receive, If the character is found at the beginning of a macro, the modem will automatically switch to transmit, and continue to play the rest of the macro. This means that you can generate a macro for calling CQ that will switch the modem to transmit without having to use F10, call CQ and return to receive mode if the macro is ended with Ctrl-Q … all by using a single key press. This makes it possible to significantly reduce, or even eliminate, the need for pressing F10 when conducting a QSO.

4) Speed tuning … 1X, 2X, 5X and 10X step rates are now available for tuning using the keyboard keys:
     1X: left/right arrow keys
     2X: up/down arrow keys
     5X: Alt + left/right arrow keys
     10X: Alt +up/down arrow keys

5) Configuration Menu Improvements … we added several user interface improvements concerning the displaying, saving and loading of configurable modem settings.

     a) “Current setting display” – When you dial up a configurable menu (Mode, Squelch, CwID, Backlight, PGA), the current setting is now shown. (Previously, the display always showed the first choice, regardless of another choice already being in effect.) 

     b) “Save Configuration” … A new menu item is available, one-position counter-clockwise from exit, whereby you can save the current settings to nonvolatile memory. Thus whatever changes made to the configurable items (Mode, Squelch, CwID, Backlight, PGA) will be automatically restored upon the next power-up. 

     c) “Report Configuration” … F12 now toggles the display of the current configuration settings. Pressing F12 once shows the current settings, and pressing F12 again (or any other key) brings you back to normal modem operation. This is a convenient way to view at a glance the current settings in the modem.

6) Supply Voltage … is displayed in the splash screen on the display during power-up. Helpful when running on batteries to see the starting voltage level of the supply.

 

All the upgrades are well worth it - I plan to upgrade mine after the Dayton Hamvention when I have some more time.

Check out all the action at:  http://www.nue-psk.com/

73

Steve

“Up Two - Adventures of a DXpeditioner” has been my bedside read for the last week or so.

Made up of the fascinating accounts of the VooDoo Contest Group in places like Benin, Mayotte, Togo, Burkina Faso, Macau, Tristan da Cunha and more!

 Are you a DX’er? Have you longed to be on the other side of the pile-ups? Do you dream of taking a rig to exotic locations? Do thoughts of mountains, oceans, and deserts send shivers down your spine? If your answer to any of the above questions is yes, you are in for a rare treat. This 240 page book spans over 30 years of G3SXW’s DX’pedition life experiences from 22 different rare countries. It is certain to bring you the vicarious thrills of operating from exotic places.

Table of Contents

• Foreword
• Introduction 
• Asia Afghanistan YA1R 1970-73
• Cyprus ZC4SXW 1992
• Iran EP2IA 1970-78
• Macau XX9TSX 1994
• Nepal l 9N1SXW 1995
• West Africa Benin TY5SXW 1995
• Burkina Faso XT2SX 2001-02
• The Gambia C56/G3SXW 1989-91
• Ghana 9G5SX 1994-2001
• Ivory Coast TU/G3SXW 1996
• Morocco CN5N 1990
• Togo 5V7A 1996-98
• Pacific Chatham Island ZL7/G3SXW 2001
• Nauru C21SX 1999
• Solomon Islands H44SX 1991
• Wallis & Futuna FW/G3SXW 2000
• Far-Flung Places Cayman Islands ZF2WW 1993
• Cocos (Keeling) VK9CXW 2001
• Mayotte FH/G3SXW 2000
• Seychelles S79SXW 2000
• Swaziland 3DA/G3SXW 1992
• Tristan da Cunha ZD9SXW 1993
• Failed Projects 
• Pile-Up Operating 
• QSLing 
• Diary 
• Thanks 
• Biography

I bought my copy from:  The Sales Page at: http://www.idiompress.com/books-up-two.html

Definitely a good read!

Recommended!

73

Steve