Category Archives: Equipment

Hamfest buys

Equipment, Misc

Saturday was my clubs Bergen Amateur Radio Association Hamfest. I knew I was going to purchase the Heil Proset 5 headphones, adapter for my Kenwood TS-2000 and the PTT hand switch so I made sure Gene from KJI Electronics had that with him for me. Well when they were setting up their table early in the morning, I decided I should get the MFJ Voice Keyer too. I’ve been watching it on eBay and figured I’d just get it from KJI. In addition, I grabbed the Gordon West audio CDs for the Extra Class exam so I could start studying.

At the hamfest I helped in administering the VE testing session. I think there were 13 testers with most passing. Since I’m a General class, I can only verify Tech class tests, so it’s yet another reason for me to upgrade to extra class.

When I got home late in the day, I pulled out the Heil headset and I noticed something isn’t right with what looks like a switch on the right ear cup. It’s just a hole and it looks like a tiny spring was sticking out. I looked for a switch or button that should go with it that might have popped off, but I didn’t find it. So I’ll call Gene at KJI on Monday and arrange to exchange it for one that has the switch.

I ripped the Gordon West Extra Class audio CDs to my computer and then loaded them up on my Blackberry so I can listen to them during my commute. There’s 6 CDs with each CD containing a bit over 1 hour of audio, so it’s a lot to listen to. But I’ll listen over and over and it will sink in and when I’m ready (some time before the spring) I will take the test.

I didn’t pull the voice keyer out of the box yet.

Oh, I also grabbed 2 line holders. They would be used to put the line that holds my G5RV up though and it holds the rope tight. Right now I have the rope wrapped around the trunk of the tree a few times, and as it slips a bit each month it isn’t very convenient to tighten it up. That will be especially true in the winter. So hopefully next weekend I can get up on the ladder and get these secured to the tree and then the line through the holder and I’ll be all set.

I also ran into someone that used to live in my town and moved a couple towns away. He has a daughter the same age as my older daughter and they used to be good friends. I didn’t know he was a ham so I looked up his call sign by using his name and it’s N2AXX. He said that his dad was a ham and he was licensed since he was a young teenager. He might even stop in for our clubs monthly meeting tonight.

73, David

MMTTY and N1MM working

Contests, Equipment

When getting ready for my first RTTY contest I couldn’t seem to get MMTTY and N1MM working with my SignaLink so I just used HRD and DM780 which was fine. But I wanted to get N1MM working with MMTTY before the next contest. I downloaded the latest version of MMTTY which was just updated to 1.66 and isn’t on the official site. Saw a reference to it in the MMTTY Yahoo Group. I then followed the steps at AA5AU’s RTTY site and it worked. Not sure if it is the updated MMTTY, a step I missed that AA5AU’s site noted or I was just rushing to get it done. Anyway, MMTTY is working fine. In a quick look, DM780 is a much better program and other then for a contest I probably wouldn’t have a need for MMTTY.

But MMTTY integrates with N1MM which I also just updated. I followed the steps in the MMTTY help documentation that they have for N1MM and it’s all hooked up. Just need to fire up N1MM and select the Digital Window and it does what it needs to do. Hopefully when the next RTTY contest comes up shortly everything will still be properly configured.

73, David

PSK31 & Oak Island Lighthouse

Contacts, Equipment

My Tigertronics SignaLink USB came in this week from DX Engineering. Easy to set up with a couple of jumpers to get going based on the rig and then pretty much plug and play. It works extremely well with HRD’s DM780 and PSK31 Deluxe programs. As an aside, I’d buy from DX Engineering again in a heart beat. They were fantastic to deal with and had great communications through the 6 week delivery (Tigertronics is back ordered and that was known putting in the order). I couldn’t ask for better service!

The only piece I haven’t yet figured out, and I’ve made some posts looking for assistance, is how to get it to send CW. Supposedly the TS-2000 doesn’t support sending CW through the ACC2 port which is what the SignaLink connects to. There are some posts hinting at ways to make that feature work (which might involve not using the SignaLink) but I don’t have clarity yet on specifically what to do. Hopefully someone will give me something more to go on.

Tonight I fired up PSK31 Deluxe and made my first PSK31 contacts. 2 in the US, 1 in Canada and 1 in Costa Rica, all on 20m. Looked like there was a little PSK31 contest going on at the time.  I also used the SignaLink earlier in the week to grab some SSTV pictures also on 20m. Pretty neat stuff and a bunch of new modes to try out.

N4C is a special event station running now to celebrate 50 years of the Oak Island, NC lighthouse. At 50, it’s still the newest lighthouse in the US according to the operator. I’ve been to Oak Island before as my in-laws live not too far away in Wilmington, NC. Real nice op and I was glad to catch them on the air.

73s, K2DSL

Ham Radio Deluxe

Equipment

As a computer geek, I’m always investigating things online that I’m already interested in or thinking about ahead of when I need it. Before I even had a HF rig (loaner Icom from a friend), I was looking at computer controlled software and logging programs. I downloaded and installed a few just to see what they provided and the user interface of the application.

What I decided on, and have used since I’ve had a HF radio (a whopping 2 months), is Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD) by Simon rown HB9DRV. The decision was not made on price, though FREE is a really nice perk. The decision was made on the user interface and functionality provided in 1 integrated (or what feels to be integrated) solution. There’s also 2 online forums for the software – traditional site hosted forum and a Yahoo Group, both of which are active and receive responses from the developer.

I use HRD for controlling the radio for tuning the frequency, switching bands, initiating an antenna tuning, etc. What I typically touch the radio directly for, though I could use the program too, is for the volume and RF Gain knobs. Maybe I’ll get used to adjusting them in the program via sliders too.  The darn program does pretty much everything you’d want to control on my TS-2000.

The TS-2000 is mindless simple to connect to using a standard RS-232 cable. When I was borrowing a friends Icom, I got a cable for that unit on eBay for $10. If you can hook a radio to a computer, I’m guessing HRD will control it.

What I really liked about the program when I checked a bunch out is the logging functionality and integration with the radio control. I’m sure there are stronger programs to do just logging but if you’re not contesting it’s more then adequate. It’s also the area where I have the most ideas for more full featured integration with the rest of the program and with outside programs, many of which are already on the feature request list for the developer.  My main requests are about integration of creating new log entries and querying existing log entries based on the DX cluster window which is also integrated in the program. With these added it would save some clicks and make it more user friendly. There’s plans for additional integration in this area.

When logging, it automatically sends the log entries, in real time, to eQSL and supports exporting for signing/loading into LOTW. I’ve used N1MM in 2 contests and imported those contacts into HRD. There’s some manual work to do after importing (or I don’t know how to automate it) but it’s all possible if not a bit tedious.

What I did over the weekend is launch the Digital Master 780 (DM-780) program that is also installed/integrated and used it to have it read CW and show me what was sent, display RTTY data that it captured, and also capture SSTV pics just by hooking up the audio out (split my headphone jack) to the microphone connection on the PC. I was amazed at the accuracy of the CW and RTTY captures and even though 20m SSTV was noisy, I could still make out the still pictures that were sent. I’ve ordered a SignaLink USB which should be coming in the next 2 weeks and that will allow me to more easily send/receive CW/RTTY, etc. I’m really looking forward to checking those out. Maybe even make my first CW contact without really knowing CW.

So check out Ham Radio Deluxe to see the wealth of features it has. It really lets you become more productive on the radio.

My Setup

Antennas, Equipment

When I first received my license, i purchased a Kenwood TH-D7AG dual band APRS enabled handheld from KJI Electronics. I also purchased an inexpensive mobile antenna. I used it primarily for VHF repeater activity. Over time, I purchased a Mirage BD-35 dual band amp off eBay along with a MFJ-4225MV power supply to use at home. I subsequently purchased a Diamond X200A antenna I have off my bedroom balcony. I used this setup for repeater communications at home or in the car. I also had the TH-D7AG connected to my notebook and often ran UI-View APRS software. In the car the BD-35 is used with the HT and the mobile antenna for good communications.

In May, from a generous friend I borrowed an older ICOM 706 HF radio, LDG antenna tuner, Astron power supply and G5RV Junior type dipole. This was my first dip into HF and pretty exciting to hear all those far away stations. Based on how I had the G5RV Jr installed, I was never able to make contact. I subsequently purchased a True-Talk G5RV antenna and have it strung across my propery. Once that was up I was able to make contact with DX stations. Field Day was coming and I needed to return the loaner IC-706 so I placed an order (from HRO) for a Kenwood TS-2000.

Besides the TS-2000 I purchased my own an Ashtron power supply for the radio and a Diamond duplexer to split my dual band VHF/UHF vertical into the distinct VHF and UHF connections needed on the TS-2000. The TS-2000 arrived just before Field Day and I’ve been on the air with it ever since. It’s a tremendously powerful and sophisticated radio which I’m learning how to make it do what I want. I look forward to years of enjoyment and learning with the TS-2000. I have the TS-2000 connected to my notebook via a RS-232 cable and run HRD (Ham Radio Deluxe) to control it and for logging. I also use N1MM for some light contesting.