I didn't much time at Field Day this year. The weather was windy and rainy, and my radio didn't want to play nice away from home and attached to a strange antenna. Luckily, I've got it up and running as good usual back home.
I'll have to make sure that next year I don't have as many distractions planned for the weekend. And PLEASE let the weather be better!
2008/07/02
2008/06/24
2008/04/17
Fail
I failed the General License test last night. Took it twice and missed twice.
At least I know where I have to study harder.
At least I know where I have to study harder.
2008/03/24
WK0J
I talked with Jerry WK0J Jones today. I'm still bringing the TH-78A to work, and Jerry popped on to check to see if his radio (FT-23R) was working. He was sounding loud and clear, but then KC0KVX came on and let him know that he was only transmitting on simplex. Jerry couldn't find his manual, so I looked online and was able to find it in PDF. He should have that radio up and running good as new.
FT-73R Manual [PDF]
FT-73R Manual [PDF]
2008/03/14
Monitoring
I've been bringing my TH-78A to work with me this week so I can listen to the 146.73 and 443.5 repeaters. I've been curious what the traffic is like on those repeaters weekdays during normal business hours.
For the most part it's been pretty quiet. I've heard a few calls from local members looking for someone, but I never heard any responses.
However, on the .73 today I overheard KD0AJB (QTH: Dodge Center) talking with KC0UOW (QTH: Owatonna) who was testing a new dipole antenna to see if which area repeaters he could hit. By the sounds of it he was successful in hitting most of them. They were going to try Rochester's repeaters next, but since I can't hear Rochester from here, I never found out how it went.
For the most part it's been pretty quiet. I've heard a few calls from local members looking for someone, but I never heard any responses.
However, on the .73 today I overheard KD0AJB (QTH: Dodge Center) talking with KC0UOW (QTH: Owatonna) who was testing a new dipole antenna to see if which area repeaters he could hit. By the sounds of it he was successful in hitting most of them. They were going to try Rochester's repeaters next, but since I can't hear Rochester from here, I never found out how it went.
2008/03/09
Road Trip Contacts
I decided to take my handy TH-78A along with me on a trip to the Twin Cities for my nephew's 6th birthday and see if I could make a few QSOs along the way.
On the way up I made two contacts. Gary KC0UOP in Owatonna and Larry N0ZXH in Faribault.
I didn't get anyone in the cities.
On the way back home I talked with Dave WB0VAK in Owatonna. I think he was control operator for the Owatonna repeaters, or at least they were located at his QTH, and I learned from him that the Owatonna UHF repeater was down for maintenance, but that it would return.
Finally, as I was pulling into Austin I chatted shortly with John KB0SPM.
On the way up I made two contacts. Gary KC0UOP in Owatonna and Larry N0ZXH in Faribault.
I didn't get anyone in the cities.
On the way back home I talked with Dave WB0VAK in Owatonna. I think he was control operator for the Owatonna repeaters, or at least they were located at his QTH, and I learned from him that the Owatonna UHF repeater was down for maintenance, but that it would return.
Finally, as I was pulling into Austin I chatted shortly with John KB0SPM.
2008/02/19
20 amps of Power!
Carl WA0RLY brought me a spare 20 amp power supply he had at his place. Not free of course though.
When I got home I hooked it up and had it ready for the 410 Net. No problems, so I should be good when Field Day rolls around.
When I got home I hooked it up and had it ready for the 410 Net. No problems, so I should be good when Field Day rolls around.
2008/02/17
Radio City
Drove to the cities yesterday to stop at Radio City and visit an old friend.
I brought my TH-78 along for the trip to see if I could hit some of the repeaters along the way. I was able to hit the Owatonna 145.49, Faribault 146.79, and Twin Cities 146.85 along the way, but received no response.
Radio City was a very nice shop, I will certainly have to start a special savings so I can afford some of the nice equipment I saw up there. I did pick up a grid and azimuth map, some insulators, an A/B antenna switch, General Class study book, 100' of 450 ohm Ladder line, and a couple BNC connectors.
On the way home that night I was surprised when I received a response from KB0SPM John while monitoring the Owatonna repeater. We chatted for a bit while I was still on I-35, then went back monitoring. Apart from Field Day, that was my longest distance contact.
I brought my TH-78 along for the trip to see if I could hit some of the repeaters along the way. I was able to hit the Owatonna 145.49, Faribault 146.79, and Twin Cities 146.85 along the way, but received no response.
Radio City was a very nice shop, I will certainly have to start a special savings so I can afford some of the nice equipment I saw up there. I did pick up a grid and azimuth map, some insulators, an A/B antenna switch, General Class study book, 100' of 450 ohm Ladder line, and a couple BNC connectors.
On the way home that night I was surprised when I received a response from KB0SPM John while monitoring the Owatonna repeater. We chatted for a bit while I was still on I-35, then went back monitoring. Apart from Field Day, that was my longest distance contact.
2008/01/31
410 Shotgun Net
I was able to get in on the 410 net the other night(Tuesday).
Apparently, my signal was much better and I wasn't having problems with the mic. I'm not sure, but I might have had a bad connection with the antenna last week.
I was talking to Carl WA0RLY today about Quad Antenna's and think that that might be a good project to work on this spring/summer.
Apparently, my signal was much better and I wasn't having problems with the mic. I'm not sure, but I might have had a bad connection with the antenna last week.
I was talking to Carl WA0RLY today about Quad Antenna's and think that that might be a good project to work on this spring/summer.
2008/01/22
First Contact
I finished off the 10 meter dipole today at work in hopes of getting on the Austin 410 Shotgun Net (28.410.0 MHz), unfortunately things did not go my way. I was able to listen in, but my transmissions weren't getting anywhere. Eventually I was able to make a couple partial transmissions which where picked up, but nothing that I could maintain.
I called Net Control, John (KB0SPM), who figured that the problem was either with my mic or that the power supply just wasn't up to the task. He offered to loan me a 7 amp power supply and another mic to test out and see if either was the root of the problem.
I first tried the mic but had the same result.
Hooking up the 7 amp power supply, I was in business. John was able to copy my transmissions, but says that it wasn't the clearest audio. Adjusting the mic gain on the TS-440 helped a little, but not much. I could hear how bad I sounded, and figure that there might be something inside the case that may need fixing.
I should also check the volume nob--it seems to be a bit temperamental--and see if there is supposed to be a back-light on the power meter. If so, I'll have to replace it. Good thing there were two spare lights in the box when I bought it.
For John (KB0SPM). I found the link to the .pdf of the 440's manual:
Kenwood TS-440S Manual
I called Net Control, John (KB0SPM), who figured that the problem was either with my mic or that the power supply just wasn't up to the task. He offered to loan me a 7 amp power supply and another mic to test out and see if either was the root of the problem.
I first tried the mic but had the same result.
Hooking up the 7 amp power supply, I was in business. John was able to copy my transmissions, but says that it wasn't the clearest audio. Adjusting the mic gain on the TS-440 helped a little, but not much. I could hear how bad I sounded, and figure that there might be something inside the case that may need fixing.
I should also check the volume nob--it seems to be a bit temperamental--and see if there is supposed to be a back-light on the power meter. If so, I'll have to replace it. Good thing there were two spare lights in the box when I bought it.
For John (KB0SPM). I found the link to the .pdf of the 440's manual:
Kenwood TS-440S Manual
2008/01/17
Success!
Silly knobs.
I checked over the manual a bit more and found that the problem was with the knobs. I had the SQL and AF knobs mixed up so my volume was all the way down and squelch was all the way up. Not going to hear much that way.
Once I had that figured out, and turned off all the fluorescent lights in my apartment, I was able to tune in a few signals. I've found that the keypad on the front is a bit sensitive on a few numbers (8 especially) making manual entry a bit troublesome, but not totally impossible.
There's still a lot for me to learn about this radio.
I still need to think about how I'm going to set up an antenna (and what kind) I can use for broadcasting. With a Tech license the bands we can use is pretty limited, so my choices should be pretty limited as well. Carl (WA0RLY) suggested a G5RV antenna, but that thing is over 100 feet from end to end and my apartment is only ~50 long. There's got to be a better, and more compact, option...
I checked over the manual a bit more and found that the problem was with the knobs. I had the SQL and AF knobs mixed up so my volume was all the way down and squelch was all the way up. Not going to hear much that way.
Once I had that figured out, and turned off all the fluorescent lights in my apartment, I was able to tune in a few signals. I've found that the keypad on the front is a bit sensitive on a few numbers (8 especially) making manual entry a bit troublesome, but not totally impossible.
There's still a lot for me to learn about this radio.
I still need to think about how I'm going to set up an antenna (and what kind) I can use for broadcasting. With a Tech license the bands we can use is pretty limited, so my choices should be pretty limited as well. Carl (WA0RLY) suggested a G5RV antenna, but that thing is over 100 feet from end to end and my apartment is only ~50 long. There's got to be a better, and more compact, option...
2008/01/16
No Signal
I hooked up the power supply from Carl (WA0RLY) last night and my old shortwave antenna, but wasn't able to get any reception.
I'm hoping it's only a problem with my choice of antenna and not a problem with the radio.
I'm hoping it's only a problem with my choice of antenna and not a problem with the radio.
2008/01/15
Kenwood TS-440S
Welcome to my inaugural posting for my new blog for my adventures in amateur radio!
I've had my Tech Class license for two years, using a Kenwood TH-78A. It's been a very nice radio, but I have really been wanting something with a little more power!
So I bought a Kenwood TS-440S from Linton (KB0UCO) this past weekend during our Holiday Party. Unfortunately it came with a pungent ashtray odor--I'll have to do something about soon, but did not come with a power supply. Carl (WA0RLY) says I might be able to use an old computer power supply instead. That would be cheaper, but I'm not all that sure that's the way I want to go.
I will also need to get an antenna. I should be able to use the copper wire I'm using for my Shortwave radio, with the right connector, but I'd only be able to use it for receiving.
I've had my Tech Class license for two years, using a Kenwood TH-78A. It's been a very nice radio, but I have really been wanting something with a little more power!
So I bought a Kenwood TS-440S from Linton (KB0UCO) this past weekend during our Holiday Party. Unfortunately it came with a pungent ashtray odor--I'll have to do something about soon, but did not come with a power supply. Carl (WA0RLY) says I might be able to use an old computer power supply instead. That would be cheaper, but I'm not all that sure that's the way I want to go.
I will also need to get an antenna. I should be able to use the copper wire I'm using for my Shortwave radio, with the right connector, but I'd only be able to use it for receiving.
Amateur Radio Today (2003) - hosted by Walter Cronkite
Amateur Radio Today (2003) - hosted by Walter Cronkite
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