[Elecraft] Bluetooth serial interface for K2, etc
I picked up some more parts, enough to make a few (10) more Bluetooth serial interfaces. These are designed for the K2/KIO2, but can be used with K3 or KX3. See http://n5ib.net/Index.xht There's enough info there to roll your own. 73 Jim, N5IB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] K2, Bluetooth, and Android
Well, I've slipped cautiously into the 21st century... Bought an Android tablet device last week and did some playing with it using the BlueTerm app to communicate with my K2 using the little Bluetooth adapter I concocted a few weeks ago. As expected, I was able to control the radio with text strings transmitted over the Bluetooth link. Proof of concept. But inconvenient to actually operate the radio. After a modestly rigorous search I've not uncovered any Android apps designed to control the K2 (in the manner of the ones for K3 and KX3). Piglet comes close, but uses WiFi rather than Bluetooth, so needs a network environmment. Anbody know of any I missed, or any in the works? Alas, my programming skills would be at the level of Android Programming for Dummies :^)) 73 Jim, N5IB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] Bluetooth serial interface for K2/KIO2
I finished a prototype of the little Bluetooth serial data interface for my K2. Just plugs in the back of the K2 on the KIO2's DB9 connector, drawing its power from there. The prototype seems to work fine. Have been running for about a week. I'm presently using it with N3FJP's ACLog, and have tried it out with an older version of Ham Radio Deluxe. Info (schematic, BOM, photos) here: http://n5ib.net/Elecraft%20K2%20Bluetooth%20Interface%20Overview.pdf 72, Jim, N5IB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] Bluetooth Connection to K2
I was playing with Bluetooth serial links for another project and, just on a whim, cobbled up a MAX232A with an HC-06 Bluetooth module. Very nice to run ACLog's rig interface, or HRDeluxe, wirelessly from the Lazy Boy. It worked so nicely I laid out out a little PCB that would plug right onto the DB9 on the back of the K2, stealing its few MA from the KIO2 connector. But then... reality check... surely I'm re-inventing the wheel. A modest web search didn't turn up much that is recent. Anybody done this, or know of such a gadget? Jim, N5IB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] What does the frequency readout mean?
One of the features of using LSB convention for receiving CW is that when you tune the dial to a lower frequency the pitch of the received audio gets lower. In fact, that was the old timer's test back in the day of non-single-signal receivers... if you tuned to a lower frequency and the pitch got lower, you were on the lower sideband side of the carrier. Jim, N5IB On Wed, 20 Feb 2013 08:02:45 -0500 Pete Smith N4ZR n...@contesting.com writes: normal for the K3 in CW is lower sideband on all bands. I wonder if this is generally true of modern transceivers - seems to me as if my TS-930 and Mark 5 - both now gone - switched CW sidebands as I described above. Fast, Secure, NetZero 4G Mobile Broadband. Try it. http://www.netzero.net/?refcd=NZINTISP0512T4GOUT2 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna
I put this together a few months ago for a trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and it served well from our cabin in the woods Wanted to try it at the seashore near Hatteras but the weather cut thr trip short. Jackite 31' fiberglas mast, with the very top section replaced by a broken piece from an earlier mishap. AWG14 stranded wire runs **inside** the mast from the bottom until it protrudes an inch or so from the top of the (now hollow all the way) tip section. A little fitting made of PC board with a BNC for coax feed, and four screw lugs for radials/counterpoises. I usually use two pieces of AWG22 about 60 ft long and just stretch them out along the ground, zigzagging or bending as needs for the space. vertical counductor connects to BNC center with ring lugs and thumbscrews. T1 autotuner connected at the base with a bias tee in front of it. Another bias tee at the transmitter end. Optocoupler at the antenna end bias tee connected to remote jack of the T1. Battery and PB switch at the bias tee transmitter end. I carry a piece of rebar and hammer. A 3 ft section of PVC pipe large enough to slip **over** the bottom section of the Jackite. Some PVC Ts are drilled to slip over the rebar. Have used it on 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10. I'm beginning to believe it works better than my 40 m full wave loop at home that is only 15 ft or so off the ground. 73, Jim, N5IB Woman is 57 But Looks 27 Mom publishes simple facelift trick that angered doctors... http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5108463dd8cca463d40a3st01vuc __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] T1 autouner - remotely located
With some ikky rainy weather here in La, decided to try out a Jackite lifted 31 ft vertical with the T1 autotuner remotely located at the base. A couple of homebrewed bias tee units carry a control signal to the T1. Working very nicely. Have made some nice QRPp contacts on 12, 17, and 20 m this afternoon. I set the K2's autotuner to CALS so as to let the T1 do the work. Simple and easy would have been a SPST momentary switch at one end of a shielded cable, but I opted for the complex and wonderful instead :^)) Bias tee at the antenna end has an optoisolator whose open collector goes to the T1 control jack. The rig end's bias tee has two 3 V coin cells, the switch, and a resistor. Testing return loss with a TAPR VNA gave VSWR nicely around 1.1 from 3 to 30 MHz with a dummy load on the far end bias tee. The whole outside end affair is inside a watertight box obtained at the WalMart camping dept, with a couple of O-ring sealed BNC bulkhead fittings to get the cables in and out. 73, Jim, N5IB Look Young in 17 Seconds Doctor Reveals Lazy Way To Look Up To 15 Years Younger in 17 Seconds http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/50ec815fd28dd15f4826st03vuc __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] FS: K2 QRP version, SN1322
My K2 needs a good and loving home for, alas, I covet my neighbor's KX3 I am the builder and sole owner, purchased and built starting in May 2000 It is essentially mint, one small nick on the RIT button, and two pinpoint marks on the left side panel Non-smoking environment Photos on request $695 plus actual shipping (your choice) from 70810 will get you... Basic K2 QRP CW Transceiver, serial number 1233 Firmware revision 2.01E, I/O Controller firmware 1.02 Internal autotuner (KAT2) SSB module (KSB2) Noise Blanker module (KNB2) 160 meter / RX antenna module (K160RX) RS-232 I/O Module (KIO2) Serial I/O cable included (K2 -- DB9) WJ4P sidetone purity mod done Filter flattening mod done (XFILMDKT) BFO (L33) mod done (BFOMDKT) MIC jack wired as Kenwood 8-pin (MC-50) standard RX audio wired to MIC jack for PSK operation Filters set at 1000 Hz, 600 Hz, and 250 Hz Power cord terminated with Anderson PowerPoles Homebrewed isolated interface for soundcard modes, with cables Original manual (not marked in) plus one copy that was used for the actual build Original invoices Manuals for all option modules Copies of miscelaneous builder's notes and modification notes The noisy audio gain pot mod was NOT done, so there's some noise when turning the pot, but it never bothered me. A copy of the user's note describing the mod is included. 73, Jim N5IB Serve#174; Digital Prepaid Get $25 after adding $25 to a new Serve#174; account. Get started today! Learn More. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/50ce45874b2b245873d12st02vuc __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] LSU-OSU BCS Championship game Operating Event
Don't forget...Details at ARRL posted to the special events pages, http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html#jan QRZ Announcements section. http://www.qrz.com/ib-bin/ikonboard.cgi?s=a808dbee7f7cf575a01a6c16f1f918 6b;act=ST;f=9;t=179596 K5LSU will also be on for the Spartan Sprint. 73 Jim N5IB ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Special Event Operation for The Big Game
Ohio State and LSU radio clubs are planning an event. Here's the announcement going out to the usual outlets. 73 Jim, N5IB -snip--- Ohio State and LSU - Tailgating on the Air CQ Buckeyes, CQ Tigers - Ohio State And LSU Radio Clubs Celebrate BCS Gridiron Championship On Monday, January 7, members of the Ohio State University Amateur Radio Club and The Amateur Radio Society at LSU will be on the air to celebrate their respective schools' football teams meeting in the New Orleans Superdome for the BCS Championship. Game time is 7 pm CST, Jan 7 (0100 Jan 8 UTC), when the 11-1 Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten take on the 11-2 LSU Fighting Tigers of the SEC. W8LT (OSU ARC) and K5LSU (ARS at LSU) will operate from approximately 1200Z, Jan 7 until 0600Z, Jan 8. Modes will include SSB, CW, and PSK-31 on 20 m, 40m, and possibly 75/80 m. The clubs will be making contacts with any and all operators, and are particularly interested in other collegiate club stations and alums of OSU and LSU. Commemorative QSL cards will be available for a SASE, and a unique special joint QSL card will be the reward for operators who contact both club stations during the day-long event. Approximate frequencies are listed below: SSB 14260 +/- 7260 +/- 3960 +/- CW 14050 +/- 7030 +/- 3560 +/- PSK 14070 7070 Operators at K5LSU and W8LT will be self-spotting on the Straight Key Century Club spotting cluster, AI4OF-1, through the generosity of Phil, AI4OF. To access the spotting cluster via telnet, log into skcc.matrixlist.com on port 7300 using your call sign. The usual DX Spider commands work: e.g. SH/U shows all users logged in and SH/DX will list all recent spots. Additionally, the Adventure Radio Society's Spartan Sprint CW QRP Contest http://www.arsqrp.com/ is set for Jan 8, 0200 to 0400 UTC, and ARS at LSU members will make a special effort to participate as a QRP CW station. OSU ARC and ARS at LSU each boast a storied past. The OSU club dates to 1926 when the original call sign, 8LT, was issued. Now located on campus in Bevis Hall, the club station at one time was housed on the fifth floor of the football stadium. While in the stadium, the OSU ARC signal could often be heard rather loudly when using the infamous W8LT long wire antenna that stretched from the stadium to the smoke stacks of the University Power Plant - about a quarter mile. After the renovation of the stadium, the move was made to Bevis Hall. The club celebrated their 80th anniversary in 2006 with a special on air event, works with the University Disaster Team to provide emergency communications, and participates in several contests throughout the year, the big one being Field Day. http://www.w8lt.org Originally issued the call sign 5YW in 1925, the LSU club became W5YW a few years later and still holds that call sign for its station at the BREC/LSU/BRAS Highland Road Astronomical Observatory. Housed at various times in the Electrical Engineering building, and even for a time in a quonset hut in the middle of a (populated) cow pasture, the present on-campus station is K5LSU, located in Nicholson Hall, the home of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. During the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita club members worked with the Red Cross and Salvation Army to provide needed communications. Field Day and the School Club Roundup are the popular operating events for members, who boast a couple of top finishes in the SCR. QSL routes: to W8LT: ARS W8LT; 1080 Carmack Road, Room 20 Bevis Hall; Columbus OH 43210 to K5LSU: ARS K5LSU; c/o Department of Physics and Astronomy; Louisiana StateUniversity; 202 Nicholson Hall; Baton Rouge LA 70803-4001 Contact persons: Jim Giammanco, N5IB, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dana Browne, AD5VC, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dan Kulhanek, AB8VE, [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] OT: Hate the word ham
I'll offer a comment here... I beleive that the phrase ham radio operators carries more recognition with the public than amateur radio operators. At least here along the hurricane coast if you tell someone your hobby is amatuer radio you might get a quizzical look, but if you say you're a ham operator they tend to perk up and say somethig like Oh, like the guys who helped out after Katrina? The news media usually refers to reports via ham radio operators and similar words. Our Louisiana call letter plates have the legend Ham Operator. To that end, the magnetic signs we are making to put on vehicles when we are doing public service communications at events will read - (with BRARC Club and ARRL logos) Baton Rouge Amateur Radio Club HAM RADIO COMMUNICATIONS - 73, Jim, N5IB ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Re: (Elecraft) First K2 question
Just to add one more suggestion to the ones already offered about organizing your build. In addition to the parts sorting and inventory, I made an enlarged (11x17) copy of the schematics. As each part was installed I used a highlighter pen to mark that component on the schematic. Not only did that serve as one more cross-check, but in addition to a physical sense of the part location I also gained some insight as to its purpose in the circuit. 73 Jim N5IB ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Multimeter Altitude Limits
On Fri, 4 Aug 2006 07:58:37 -0700 Peter writes: Hi Jim; I understand arcing at standard Temp. and pressure. I thought that the reduction of media would produce an increase of voltage Vs. distance (vacuum relays and Caps.) Air is a dielectric. While its dielectric *constant* is almost identical to vaccum, its dielectric *strength* (volts per distance) decreases with density (pressure) until you get into some really hard vacuum situations. See http://www.isi-seal.com/searchs/doc/DielectricStrength.htm for a chart. For air at STP it's about 3000 volts per millimeter In interpreting that chart, remember that standard atmospheric pressure is 760 torr, and at 2000 meters altitude (the notorious 6500 ft) the pressure is about 600 torr. Pressure and density aren't linearly related because of the temperature drop as you go up, but its a decent approximation for the first couple thousand meters or so. By the time you reach 300 torr, at about 7500 meters, the dielctric strength of air is degraded by about a factor of 2, and by 30,000 meters (10 torr) it's degraded by about 90%. We routinely fly our balloons above 38,000 meters. See http://weather.uwyo.edu/cgi-bin/sounding?region=naconfTYPE=TEXT%3ALISTYEAR=2006MONTH=08FROM=0412TO=0412STNM=72240 for a representative chart of pressure, altitude, and other meteorological parameters. The vacuum relays and caps incorporate some pretty hard vacuum, I'd surmise. Pretty bitter pill to swallow... paying premium bucks for a better grade of nothing :^)) So, if your working around higher voltages than most of our QRP gear, I guess it's best not to inhale :^)) 73 Jim N5IB ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Multimeter Altitude Limits
In our high altitude ballooning program at LSU (120,000 feet) it's necessary to be very careful about sharp edges and corners in circuits of even modest voltages. Vacuum chamber testing is an essential part of the payload development. Our student payload had a Geiger-Muller tube, and that's a couple hundred volts, so they had to be sure to test in the chamber. Interestingly... 6500 ft is 1981 meters, so I speculate a conversation like.. Pointy Haired Boss: We need an altitude limit because of HV arcing, what do think it should be? Alice: Oh, couple thousand meters or so should be safe enough. Pointy Haired Boss: OK, tell marketing. Alice: Fine, but remember we're selling it in the USA. Pointy Haired Boss: Not to worry, ad copy writers will take care of conversion. I recall a wireless device whose range was specified on the package to be up to 328 feet. Amazing how they knew it would work at 327 but not at 329. Of course what was meant was that the range was about 100 meters. :^)) 73 Jim N5IB ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] plexiglass
On Sat, 08 Jul 2006 05:30:16 -0500 John R. Lonigro [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: John: It would be nice, but acrylic doesn't make a very good RF shield! Ah... what we need is transparent aluminum. But, of course we don't have such a thing. at least. not officially clandestinely yours, Scotty, aka N5IB ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] plexiglass
On Sat, 8 Jul 2006 11:42:50 -0500 [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Ah... what we need is transparent aluminum. But, of course we don't have such a thing. at least. not officially In the interests of academic integrity, I gotta come clean :^)) In his book The Wizard War Prof. R. V. Jones, soon to become Britain's director of scientific intelligence during WW2, relates how he spoofed an overly inquisitive Admiraty Research Lab staffer who had had suggested the value of a substance that was both a good conductor of electricity and also tranparent to light. But we haven't got transparent metal, have we Doctor? the staffer asked. No, Jones replied, then paused conspiritorially , Well, no, not officially. Jones was such an accomplished master of the art of spoof that he soon convinced the staffer that the admiralty was trying to build an invisible battleship, but had only been able to produce enough of the metal to build an invisible topedo boat, which was still troubled by the fact that the wake was visible, as was the crew. If you've never read it... get The Wizard War by R. V. Jones., ISBN 0-698-10896-5 published in Britain as Most Secret War There is a passage where he credits the contributions of Britain's ham radio enthusiasts in providing a cadre of sorely needed radio and electronics savvy personnel out the onset of the war. And points out how Germany's supression of hams had deprived them of a similar resource. Hence Germany had to bring a device nearly to the point of fool-proof perfection before releasing it for use, whereas the British could put systems barely past the prototype stage into operations, knowing they had enough tinkerers who could make it work. Jones also relates that as a boy he had built a SW receiver that could pick up Australia, and had received from Radio Australia a QSL card signed by the English Test Team (cricket, for us yanks) 73 Jim N5IB ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Re: [Electricity] K2/100 and Condensation
On Tue, 4 Jul 2006 10:05:47 -0400 Bill Coleman [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The problem appears to be internal condensation building up in the K2. Is anyone else encountering this problem? What can be done about it? Moisture can only condense on a surface if the surface temperature is at or below the dew point, and the dew point will be below (rarely, at) the ambient air temperature. So all you have to do to prevent condensation is to keep the surface ever so slightly warmer than the ambient air (glasses fog up when you get out of the shower and put them on??run hot water over them, they'll stay clear as long as they're warmer than the bathroom air...) In the case of radios the easiest fix, if you have the electricity to spare in the field, is just leave the rig on. Even the QRP K2 consumes and dissipates as heat a couple of watts (200 mA at 12 V = 2400 mW) in Rx which should be enough to keep internals dry. Alternatively, put a couple of those chemical hand warmers on the top cover (NOT inside the radio). I'd put a sheet of plastic wrap or something between the rig and the packs, because there is an oxidation reaction going on and perhaps undesirable reaction products present. DON'T put the packs in a closed zip-lock bag though, they need a supply of oxygen to work. You could tuck a couple of those silica gel desiccant bags (like those packed with cameras, etc) inside the case. That will help to lower the dew point of the air trapped in the case. I'd take them out right after use though. My K2 is a temple, and I don't put no junk in the temple. :^)) 73 Jim N5IB K2 #1233 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Solar Panels
On Mon, 3 Jul 2006 14:38:59 -0500 Don Brown [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I sell the low power solar controller kits. Just want to add a testimonial for Don's solar charge controller kits. We used one at Field Day to run a 12 A-hr battery (RS Jump Starter) with a 15 watt panel for the K2, and also with a set of three 15 watt panels and a 100 A-hr marine battery to run the inverter for the logging computer - gotta figure out a better, more QRP friendly logger - maybe cellulose fiber graphic panels coupled with a manually vectored graphite character generator - I'm told they support the full ASCII set and have integrated error correction. Anyway, Don's kit are great - good parts, good boards, and good instructions, at a good price... The usual disclaimer... no pecuniary interest, etc... 72 Jim N5IB ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] OT: Stupid question about excess ladder line.
Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] X-Mailer: Juno 1.51 X-Juno-Line-Breaks: 0-3,5-13,17-18,22-23,26-27,29-33 X-Status: Unsent ps, once again I replied to the wrong list :^)) On Wed, 21 Jun 2006 09:53:31 -0400 Darwin, Keith [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I just picked up a dipole fed with ladder line. The antenna has 100 feet of parallel feed (window ladder line) and there is no way I'll need that much. So what do I do with the excess? Hi Keith, A really neat scheme is to go ahead and cut the ladder line, but install a set of 3 Anderson PowerPole connectors. If you put a dummy third connector in the middle as a spacer the two outer ones are almost exactly spaced for the ladder line. You can put Anderson connector sets on each end of several pieces of line of varying lengths and can then mix-and-match when you get to a field location. I always carry a 40', couple of 20' and a 10' with me whenever I head to the field. Add an 80' run and you'd have BCD :^)) A short pigtail of ladder line with Andersons permanently attached to the balanced line terminals on a tuner makes it quick and easy to attach and remove feeders. If you worry about tension pulling them apart, just use a cable tie to secure the connection. 73 Jim, N5IB ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] surface mount parts
Oooops, meant this reply to go here, but sent it to QRP-L instead :^)) -- I hadn't seen the QST note about PCB tweezers, but it sounded like a neat and easy idea so I made up a set. used two strips of scrap Manhattan PCB material about 3/16 wide by 2 1/2 long, spaced by two thicknesses of the same stuff. Stripped off all but about 1/4 of the copper, leaving just a small pad at the end of each strip. Super glued the whole affair together and wrapped a couple of turns of vinyl tape. I tinned the copper pads at the business ends and soldered on about 10 of scrap RG174 to connect to the AADE meter. The coax adds about 35 pF, but the meter zeroes that out nicely. Tested by grabbing a 51 pF 0804 size SMT cap. It read 49.8 pF. close enough. Great idea... very useful gadget... total cost approximately zero, plus or minus 10 percent :^)) Now to check those flyspecks I pulled off that old VCR board 72 Jim N5IB ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
