LA5MDA blog
The top of my radio log:
Last 12 months my log statistics says:
Mode:
- CW 97%
- Phone 1%
- RTTY 1%
- Others 0%
Band:
- 160m 1%
- 80m 12%
- 60m 3%
- 40m 26%
- 30m 10%
- 20m 25%
- 17m 2%
- 15m 7%
- 12m 10%
- 10m 7%
- 6m 1%
Make your own predictions with VOACAP Online!
[15/May/2010]
On May 13 OH6BG Jari Perkiömäki sent me an e-mail with great news:
May 13, 2010
VOACAP goes Online
online.voacap.com
I am glad to inform that making point-to-point HF propagation predictions is now easier than ever as VOACAP Online has been opened to the public. The service uses VOACAP (Voice of America Coverage Analysis
Program) which is arguably one of the best HF prediction engines available on the market today.
VOACAP Online is free to all and makes using VOACAP a no-brainer. Just enter the coordinates of the transmitter and the receiver, and that's all. To find the coordinates, you can use the Google Maps based QTH Locator at www.voacap.com/qth.html
The prediction is given as a "circuit reliability" graph that shows the probability of achieving a CW-grade transmission quality between the transmitter and the receiver.
VOACAP Online is brought to you by Jari Perkiömäki OH6BG, James Watson HZ1JW and Juho Juopperi OH8GLV.
The 60 meter band (5260 - 5410 kHz) opened for Norwegian radio amateurs
[7/November/2009]
The Norwegian Post and Telecommunications Authority has released the new regulations that opens the very interesting 60 meter band for Norwegian hams. The whole spectrum from 5260 - 5410 kHz is now officially available for us with secondary status. Maximum power is 100 W, maximum bandwidth is 6 kHz, and all modes are accepted. Some odd segments of the 4 meter band - 70 MHz - is also opened for us now. The 40 meter band extension we got in March 2009 - from 7100-7200 kHz - has now officially become a amateur band where we have full rights. That includes that the maximum power limit has been raised to 1 kW in this segment.
One of the more peculiar changes the regulation offers is the 150 kHz extension of the 12 meter band - from 24740-24890 kHz with secondary status and 100 W maximum transmitter power. I believe we are very much alone in the world on this segment. These changes are very much appreciated, and it is very seldom we see so comprehensive extensions of our rights. NRRL has done a great job.
Please see also the ARRL article: Norwegian Amateurs Receive New Privileges
Please see the new regulation:
New Norwegian Ham Radio Regulation
New HF/6 m transceiver from Kenwood: TS-590
[30/August/2009]
On the Tokyo Ham Fair 2009 Kenwood presented the new HF/6 M rig. It seems like a predecessor of the TS-570. I don't have any further information, but this is what it looks like:
New HF/6M/VHF/UHF D-STAR transceiver from Icom: IC-9100
[30/August/2009]
On the Tokyo Ham Fair 2009 Icom presented the new HF/6M/VHF/UHF transceiver with D-STAR. It has twin RX, 100 W, auto-tuner and optional roofing filters. This is what it looks like:
New Yaesu FT-2000 firmware release from Vertex Standard
[27/July/2009]
July 27 2009 Vertex Standard released a new update for the Yaesu FT-2000 transceiver. This is a new main CPU version (ver. 0149) and the EDSP 11.53 version is added in the release.
The improvements are:
- The REC (Record Function) setting will be recalled when the power is turned on if REC was
turned on before power was turned off.
- The CAT MW command is corrected.
- In the QMB-MT mode, when the VFO frequency is moved, the memory channel indication is
cleared to 0.000.
- Holding of the F6 or F7 keys will permit scrolling through the DMU Memory Channel
List, when the DMU-2000 is installed.
- The FH-2 Up Down keys are made the same function as the MIC-UP/DN keys.
- Corrected the CW FULL BKIN keying when used with the VL-1000 Quadra Amplifier System.
- Corrected the RX in CW FULL BKIN 30wpm.
- The DNR algorithm is not reset between TX/RX, to eliminate the increased receive noise after a
transmission.
- Increase the response of the compression level meter in conjunction with the PROC knob. (Max
up to 12dB).
Please visit the Yaesu Vertex Standard web pages at:
New equipment in the shack: Acom 1000 linear amplifier and the Palstar AT2K tuner
[10/May/2009]
To celebrate the new shack, I decided to upgrade the station with a decent linear - a piece of equipment I have dreamed about for a long time. I have read so many good reviews of the Acom 1000 from very happy owners, and I have had the opportunity to try the Acom 1000 in LA3PK's shack. So I knew this was a product of high quality and exactly what I have been looking for - a very solid, well designed no compromise linear amplifier. I got in touch with mr. Ron Stone Wine Antennas in Wales. He was very helpful, serviceminded and offered me a good price on the linear. Along with it I also ordered a decent tuner - the Palstar AT2K. I needed something to handle a wide range of antennas and the power from the Acom. Ron Stone had some delivery problems on the Palstar, so I had to wait two months for the shipment. But he had competitive prices, so it was worth waiting for. I must admit that - from a practical rational point of view - I didn't really need these items very strongly, but it has been a dream to be able to operate with full power for many years. And I have used the Ameritron AL-811 for some time, and it really didn't do it for me - stay away from the AL-811! So I decided to go for the real thing this time.
The Acom 1000 impresses me, and I immediately fell in love with it. It is very easy to tune, it gives the full kW with 57 W drive on all bands, it's very well protected and very silent - both keying and the cooling fan. The display interface is intuitive, and gives you many interesting features. I was also impressed by the manual - very informative and easy to read. This is a piece of equipment that will stay with me for ever (along with the Begali paddle and the Fritzel FD-4 COM version!).
I'm also very pleased with the Palstar AT2K. This is also a high quality product, and I was especially impressed by the peak power meter. The tuner does exactly what it should do, it handles the kW from the Acom easily and it has a very smooth operation with its ceramic core roller inductor. The capacitors are tuned with two Vernier dials with 6:1 ratio. The tuner covers 160 m to 6 meter! Together with the FT-2000 and DMU-2000, the Acom and Palstar gives me a great operating experience.
Improved station ground system
[1/May/2009]
Due to some construction work outside the house - just outside of my shack window (heath pump installation), I have been able to improve my station ground system. I took the opportunity to lay down about 10 square meters of iron grid leftovers along with about 10 radials of different lengths. All this is connected together at a 1 meter long copper tube that I hammered down at the same time. The ground here consist of about 30 meters of wet clay above solid rock ground. I have connected the coax shield of my coax to this ground point. I'm considering a inverted L outside the shack, and this ground system could be very helpful in that respect.
The Cushcraft R-8 vertical is up!
[25/Apr/2009]
Finally - the vertical is up. I have now talked to all the neighbors and asked them how they feel about having a 10 meter high vertical on the roof close by (my roof). None of them had any problems with my plans, they only showed some curiosity regarding the ham radio hobby. So - I did a total brush up of the old R-8 (I dismounted all connections and gave them a decent round with steel cotton) and called my old friend Tore, LA7FKA. He is always willing to help me with antennas when I need it. And today we got it up on the mast tube facing no problems. The job was done in 45 minutes. I have pulled a H-1000 coax down through the shack window, along with a 6 mm2 ground wire. The antenna plays perfectly as it did back on my old QTH, except form a little high SWR on 17 m. The noise level is higher on the R-8 compared to the FD-4 - as expected. It's great to have full coverage of the HF + 6 M with matched antennas, and I'm expecting improved performance compared to the FD-4 on the higher bands.
The Fritzel FD-4 ("Windom") is performing
[24/Apr/2009]
After four months on the air with the Fritzel FD-4 hanging slightly inverted V-style with the feedpoint 15 meters above ground, I must say that I'm impressed by the performance of this very simple antenna. The Windom - AKA Off Centered Dipole - is a 41 m long wire with the feedpoint at the about 13.5 m/27.5 m point. It's very broad banded, and I use it with no tuner covering all frequencies on the 80, 40, 20, 17, 12, 10 and 6 meter bands! It's many MHz on a single wire! I get great reports on 30 m with the tuner. I'm especially impressed with it on the 40 and 20 meter bands. I have worked KH6 Hawaii several times on 20 m with 100 W and zero sunspots. LU Argentina is also logged multiple times - also with 100 W and zero sunspots (QRB 13 000 km). If you could get up only one antenna - the Windom/OCD should be the one.
40 meter amateur band extended
[27/March/2009]
From March 29 2009 the 40 meter amateur band is extended to 7200 kHz for IARU region 1. Hams will get primary status.
LA5MDA QRV again!
[29/Dec/2008]
After 166 days of unwilling radio silence, I finally got my FD-4 up in the air on my new QTH. Tonight I got the coax in the shack, and connected the FT-2000 to it. What a feeling! I was quite exited to see that the antenna was working properly - the SWR readings was very good on all bands. With great relief I could ascertain that the noise levels is relatively low in this neighborhood - especially on 40 m. I have worked some stations on 80 m and 40 m with good reports. I even got a DX - JY4NE answered after first call on 40 m!
The feedpoint of the Windom is now 15 meters above ground, and the legs are sloping slightly. The long leg's end is at about 10 meter, the short is about 8 meters up. It was rather difficult to get it up - especially the oak at the long end gave me trouble because of its rich branch structure. And all the new neighbors were very curious about what the hell I was climbing around in the trees for. But all went well at last, and I'm very happy to have become QRV with nice signals again!
LA5MDA QRT, but new shack is all most ready
[7/Dec/2008]
I have moved to a new location, but the new shack has been delayed. But now I have finally got power in the shack, and as you can see on the picture the equipment is all ready installed. So far the only antenna I have is a 3 m long indoor wire in the basement. But that is enough to hear signals on the HF. I was able to copy the local QST transmission this morning for the first time in 5 months. I'm pretty eager to get QRV again, so if the weather conditions allow, I'll get some kind of antenna up in the air in the coming holidays.
[19/Dec/2008]
I have obtained permission from my new kind neighbor to use his 25 meter (75 feet) high spruce as support for the feed point of my Windom-antenna (Fritzel FD4).This implies that the antenna will hang in a north-south direction and the feed point will be the highest point with one leg sloping down to a distant oak on about 15 meter, the other will slope down to 10 m to my small tube mast in the garden. This will be a much better location compared to my former QTH. I'll mount my Cushcraft R-8 on the roof.
Yaesu FT-2000 Review
[22/Nov/2008]
My review of the Yaesu FT-2000 with some receiver performance test data from the ARRL publication QST.
Worked All LA Award (WALA)
[16/Nov/2008]
Requirements for obtaining the Worked All LA Award (WALA) are
found here:
It's darkest just before dawn: Double minimum between 23rd
and 24th cycle
[30/August/2008]
After 42 consecutive days of no sunspot, the 3-month running
average indicates a secondary minimum on July 2008 after the
first minimum in October 2007.There is no doubt that the dawn of
the solar cycle 24 is delayed compared to what most experts
expected. The predicted up-swing of the sunspot numbers early in
2009 seems unlikely, no spots from no. 24 has yet appeared. On
the bright side, the A and K indices are low, and the lower bands
should be in good shape for DX-ing in the coming months.
New HF/50MHz transceiver from Icom: IC-7600 (100 W)
[28/August/2008]
Icom is about to release a new HF/50 MHz base station to the
market - IC-7600 - which was on display on the Tokyo Hamfair '08
recently. The specifications of the new radio has not been
unveiled, but judged by the comments around, the IC-7600 is the
successor of the popular IC-756 PRO III. But the TFT display with
spectrum scope is similar to the high-end IC-7700. IC-7600
provides so-called dual watch, three roofing filters, USB ports
on front end rear panels and the receiver has IF-DSP
architecture. So far it seems like it's only a 100 W model
coming. Icom promises a +30 dB IP3. An interesting feature is the
direct RTTY/PSK31 encoding/decoding. The rig does not have an
internal power supply. Unconfirmed comments states that the
IC-7600 will hit the market summer 2009 - maybe in time for the
Dayton Hamvention. The price is expected to be around 4000
USD.
New HF/50MHz transceiver from Icom: IC-7200 (100 W)
[28/August/2008]
Icom announced some time ago (Tokyo Hamfair '07) a new
portable and mobile HF/50 MHz station - the IC-7200. It was FCC
certified in July 2008 and should be available by now. The look
and feel of this new transceiver is quite eye-catching. It's made
for outdoor use with military styling and gaskets to keep water
out. Icom characterize the IC-7200 as an entry level radio with
simple user interface and low price (around 1200 USD). The rig
has IF-DSP architecture and gives you 100 W output, but has no
auto-tuner.
How to interpret power meter readings during SSB
transmission
[20/Aug/2008]
A topic we quite often see addressed in different ham radio
fora is how to interpret power meter readings when using SSB.
Many often conclude that their transmitter doesn't provide the
rated power because the readings are so low when they speak into
the microphone.
Read the full
article.
An analysis of local propagation on 60 m band (5.4 MHz) for
the national amateur radio seasonal emergency net in Norway
[05/Apr/2008]
An analysis of the propagation on the 60 m band for the
national amateur radio seasonal emergency net in southern part of
Norway. The analysis contains maps and textual descriptions and
compares conditions on 5.4 MHz with 80 m and 40 m.
(Norwegian)
Yaesu FT-2000 Audio Settings -
How to make the FT-2000 sound clear and clean
[03/Feb/2008]
I have enjoyed the Yaesu FT-2000 HF/50 MHz rig for 16 months
now. Considered the price, the rig offers a range of versatile
features - a range of features not found in many other rigs. It
does offer a lot of flexibility - both on receive and transmit,
on SSB and CW. On SSB it gives you so much flexibility that many
amateurs have a hard time getting the signal sound clean and
clear.
See the the rest of the
article.
LA7DR 2 m/70 cm FM solar powered cross band repeater QRV
after maintenance
[18/Nov/2007]
The environmental neutral 2 m/70 cm FM cross band repeater is
QRV after a period of maintenance. Corrosion on the printed
circuit board in addition to a transmitter functional failure at
the moment of re-installation caused the solar powered crossband
repeater to go QRT for two months. We even got rid of a family of
mice that had moved into the repeater shelter box. Today LA7FKA
Tore finally got the swing of things and the repeater is fully
functional with it's huge coverage area - from down town Oslo,
around Oslo area and southwards to the Swedish boarder - even
with the winter power setting (5 W). Please visit the LA7DR homepage"
New HF/50MHz transceiver from Yaesu: FT-950 (100 W)
[8/October/2007]
Vertex (Yaesu) is about to release a brand new HF/50 MHz base
station to the market - Yaesu FT-950. The rig has been called a
contest station, and has similar features as the FT-2000 - both
radios based on the FTdx-9000. FT-950 has no power supply build
in and no 2nd receiver. By the look of the front panel the FT-950
seems to be a somewhat down stripped version of the FT-2000. The
FT-950 has a triple-conversion superheterodyne receiver with the
following IF frequencies 70 MHz/450 kHz/30 kHz (as in the
FT-2000). According to the preliminar manual the rig has much of
the same specifications as the FT-2000, and same DSP functions
(Shift, Width, Contour, DNR etc) and 3 kHz, 6 kHz and 15 kHz
roofing filters as standard. Unconfirmed comments on Yahoo Groups
states that FT-950 is placed between the FT-2000 and FT-450 in
the Yaesu product line. The price at
Universal Radio is 1500 USD. This might be a competitor to
the new Icom IC-7700 contest station.
New HF/50MHz transceiver from Icom: IC-7700 (200 W)
[8/October/2007]
Icom is about to release a brand new HF/50 MHz base station to
the market. The rig was introduced at the Dayton Hamvention.
IC-7700 follows its big brother IC-7800, but features only one
receiver. It's a double conversion receiver (one MF at 64 MHz
before twin 32-bit DSP at 36 kHz), and Icom announces "ultra high
intercept point"; according to latest adverts the 3rd
order-intercept point is +40 dB. They might have dropped a
sub-receiver to obtain a no-compromise main receiver. The rig
provides a 7 inch/17.5 cm TFT display on the front, but also
features a VGA connector to an external monitor. Icom denotes
this rig as "contesting rig" - probably based on the digital
voice recording features. It's interesting to see that the
IC-7700 has a pre-selector with automatic tracking. On 50 MHz the
receiver is designed with separate pre-amp and mixer for better
cross modulations characteristics. The rig has a dedicated audio
peak filter for CW. Another interesting feature is the standard
built-in Voice-synthesizer. The price tag (see
Radio World UK) is surprisingly high - USD 7000 / GBP 4000 -
which indicates that this rig is closer to the IC-7800 than the
IC-756 Pro III in performance and features. 200 watt as standard
might have pushed the price upwards.
New HF/50MHz transceiver from Elecraft: The K3/10 and K3/100
(10 W and 100 W)
[04/May/2007]
Elecraft releases a new HF/50 MHz all-mode high performance
transceiver - delivered both as factory assembled and
non-soldering kit. The K3 is based on a down-conversion design
with analog circuits and 32-bit IF DSP. This allow very narrow
roofing filters down to 200 Hz. The K3 aslo offers PSK/RTTY
encoder/decoder which allows digimode operations without PC (only
keyboard). The optional subreceiver is identical to the
main receiver and features fully independent operations. Also
optional is the general coverage filter kit. The radio
firmware is updateable. The 10 W version is upgradeable to 100 W.
The price begins below 2000 USD.
New HF/50MHz transceiver from Yaesu: The FT-450
[24/Mar/2007]
Yaesu (Vertex) releases a new HF/50 MHz transceiver in the low
price segment. It offers general coverage receiver (30 kHz - 56
MHz) with IF DSP at 400 MHz clock frequency. Transmitter gives
you 100 W. The FT-450 is equipped with shift/width, contour and
digital noise reduction filters as found in the FT-2000. It
provides a large multi-color display. A very sympathetic feature
is the voice announcement of the frequency, mode and S-meter
reading. The price at Universal Radio (US) is around USD 1000,
and will be available late in April.
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