VK2RH ham radio

Blog

  • Digging out useful info on gear

    Spent a bit of time visiting WW2PT’s site and reading the thread of messages tagged with ‘K3’. It’s great when you discover someone who has followed a similar path to the one you’re on and can write about with a combo of wisdom and wit.

    A key post is this one ‘Concerning computers’ about getting his K3 to talk with his MacBook Pro.

    This has to be the great difference to doing ham radio now compared to when I first got the bug back in the 1960s and 70s. The sheer volume of experience and overwhelmingly good will that’s materialised on the net has created an always available knowledge bank that’s transformed the most enjoyable part of hamming for me at least – troubleshooting. Sure there’s nonsense out there but it’s not too hard to discern. And then there’s the user communities!

    Elecraft’s trail-friendly KX1

    I bought the KX1 and K3 partly due to the solid community of users on the main reflector, lead in the best way by gurus like Don W3FPR who are so generous with their experience and don’t hesitate to share it, as well as the active involvement of Elecraft principals, Eric WA6HHQ & Wayne N6KR and others. Other purchases are informed as much as possible by getting a taste of the user community – aside for the occasional eBay impulse of course. Buddipole’s BUG has a similar shared spirit. It’s probably no accident that both lists are well moderated.

    As an example of what I’m talking about here’s an excerpt from Don’s reply to a recent query about whether or not to build the 80/30m option kit as part of the initial build of the KX1 or to do it later:

    “…there are pieces of the KXB3080 that can be installed during the initial build so you do not have to remove any more than 2 toroids. At one time, I created a “cheat-sheet” telling a couple of builders how to do it – I can try to find that email if you would like to try. I would only recommend doing that to an expert and confident builder. OTOH, an expert and confident builder would have no problem removing components from the PC board without damaging the board or burning the relay cases either.
    The KXB3080 is difficult to install because of the small space available in the KX1, and the instructions must be followed exactly, particularly the LPF board – if not done exactly like the instructions, it will interfere with the tuner.”

    Maybe this impresses me so much because I never was lucky enough to have an Elmer when I started out!

  • Buddipole set up videos

    I’ve only just discovered the set of video tutorials on YouTube featuring Chris W6HFP of Buddipole. They’re clear and well shot and edited, I suspect by Steve WG0AT. And they’ve been online for over a year!

    In this one Chris explains setting up a Buddipole Versatee Vertical.

  • European keying

    Attention drawn by a post to the SKCC email list to video on the GHD keys site illustrating the ‘European’ style of keying, demonstrated appropriately enough in this video by a Japanese operator. On their How to operate a straight key page, it’s described as the ‘Reaction Method’.

    Also saw an interesting exchange of comments on the SKCC list about this style.

    Also found the GHD catalogue an eye-opener. Some very sophisticated keys and paddles there. Again these keys are also available from Morse Express.

  • CW and the missing link

    How the Palm mini paddle can stow away – perfect for portable operation.
    How the Palm mini paddle can stow away – perfect for portable operation.

    I’ve been keen on finding out more about the Palm mini paddle. I like the look – and the size – of the paddle. I haven’t worked out yet if there’s a way to strap it onto your leg, but it certainly doesn’t seem to require too much in the way of real estate.
    I also like the design style of this line including the modular keyer, the “code cube”.
    Most impressive of all is the Infra Red link technology they’ve incorporated into the line. It looks like you can purchase an IR enabled Code Cube to plug into an existing Mini Paddle so you can link up via an IR receiver connected to your transceiver, or even a tiny sensor within the txrx – up to 5 metres away.
    Marshall Emm’s Morse Express seems to be the most accessible distributor. The site hosts extensive info including the pdf manuals, which can also be found on the German site.

  • Waiting for the iPad

    How long will it be before an app is developed and released for the new iPad which will enable you to remotely operate an SDR? The opportunity to use more screen real estate more effectively must be well-suited to such a task. How brilliant would it be to be able link back to your home station with a rich graphical interface via wifi or G3!

  • Joe Taylor K1JT presentation on WSJT-X

    Joe Taylor, K1JT gave a 75 minute long presentation on WSJT-X at the recent MicroHams Digital Conference in Redmond Washington in mid March.

    This link takes you to the section within the full day’s 8 hours and 21 minutes long recording.

    This link takes you to a version edited by Budd, WB7FHC of the same talk.

    During the presentation, Joe Taylor showed this slide indicating the comparable signal to noise limits resolving different weak signal modes compared to traditional modes like SSB and CW.