Messages

286

For Sale / Wanted / Barter / Re: WTB: KiwiSDR

« on: June 23, 2020, 1543 UTC »

They're very much still an active product, and are selling well. 

Signing up for the Kiwi forum is a good way to keep up to date with their status.

I love mine.

287

The RF Workbench / Re: dumb soldering question of the day

« on: June 23, 2020, 1220 UTC »

I'll second the recommendation to get a big soldering iron.

I have picked up two--- the first is a 500+ watt monster which was probably used for duct work. I paid a dollar for it at a garage sale. This thing (after 5 min of warm up) solders even big connectors like PL259's like a boss, with little damage to the cable.  I can reflow solder on a PL259 in 10 seconds or so.

Likewise, I got a 300 watt American Beauty for a couple bucks at a hamfest. Same same.

With all cable connectors (unless you've purchased REAL silver plated stuff from Amphenol, etc), file off the plating in the area you're about to solder.  The junk plating put on most cheap connectors is tough to get solder to flow to.

Also: Cheap connectors have cheap dielectrics which melt easily.

288

FM Free Radio / Re: I/Q recordings of fm pirates

« on: June 22, 2020, 0029 UTC »

What could be more festive??

289

FM Free Radio / Re: CZE-7c for broadcasting

« on: June 22, 2020, 0028 UTC »

I suspect it would work just fine for that purpose.

Waaay better than being off the air (and much easier to get, as you mention)

290

Equipment / Re: RFI from Recent Installation of Metal Rain Gutters?

« on: June 20, 2020, 1735 UTC »

Agree!

Turn the RF gain down a hair and you're back to where you started 

291

Equipment / Re: New T2FD Antenna Construction and Performance

« on: June 20, 2020, 1734 UTC »

Thanks Chris. How high up is the 120' T2FD  (tilted?) I'm really impressed at its s/n even with stormy wx here in SE

292

Equipment / Re: RFI from Recent Installation of Metal Rain Gutters?

« on: June 20, 2020, 1342 UTC »

Interesting question!

The gutters are going to act as an antenna just like any other conductor, so for sure it will affect any antenna that is nearby it.  It sounds like its coupling more RF into your mag loop just like putting a large wire in the vicinity would

It might be easier to move the antenna than to pay for the re-guttering. 

293

Equipment / Re: New T2FD Antenna Construction and Performance

« on: June 20, 2020, 1227 UTC »

Zombie thread I know but antenna discussion are always undead!

Chris, I notice that your Kiwi is noted as a 120 T2FD ... did you change from the short one to the big version ?   I've been using your kiwi on and off for the last  week or so and am really impressed with the results.  I have  an acre of trees out back , some of which are probably pushing 100'. The usual issue is there's too many trees and it's a struggle to find an antenna path.  On the other hand, I own a Stihl chainsaw......

WIth your 59 foot version of this antenna, did you scale the wire to wire spacing to the new shorter length? I'm guessing yes, but I wanted to confirm before I get out the soldering iron and tape measure.

294

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: WV vy strong 13553.48

« on: June 19, 2020, 1425 UTC »

Any station owner info for WV?   Tried searching for it on LWCA but that didn't work...

I'd like to send a report. It was loud enough for a CW qso easy.   Disappeared about 30 min later.

Never mind! Found it there.....

295

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / WV vy strong 13553.48

« on: June 18, 2020, 2349 UTC »

Chris's Kiwi has great copy on this station right now.  Easy 5-7 9 signal

296

The RF Workbench / Re: HF Beacon, design questions

« on: June 18, 2020, 0052 UTC »

You might try replacing the output filter (Pi?) with a 47 ohm resistor to ground. Then test at both frequencies and see what the result is.

297

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: Beacons circa 1415 UTC 17 Jun 2020

« on: June 18, 2020, 0050 UTC »

CW mode?

I just got a screen grab sent to me by a friend...there's a fair amount of QRSS activity there as well.

298

The RF Workbench / Re: HF Beacon, design questions

« on: June 14, 2020, 2034 UTC »

You transmitting into a 50 ohm load at both 4 and 8 Mhz?

299

The RF Workbench / Re: HF Beacon, design questions

« on: June 13, 2020, 2358 UTC »

That's looking really nice, and I'll look forward to listening for it.

that output filter sure neatened up that waveform!

300

The RF Workbench / Re: HF Beacon, design questions

« on: June 12, 2020, 2150 UTC »

Really nice work. And it works which is even better!

Congrats. That's a really nice looking transmitter .   When Im debugging/building something new it usually ends up looking like a dogs breakfast.   You did a nice job