985 Workbench: 2024-07-29

 Posted on 2024-07-29

My Week in Radio

  • During last workbench, I used the TYT HT in crossband for the whole net. It gets hot but works.
  • I found a bug in the Aubs firmware on my Quansheng radios. It skipped lots of my repeaters for a day.
  • Trying the TIDRadio TD-H8 tonight on M/5W power with the good old tape measure Yagi. It’s sounding really nice here.
  • On linux, I found cwcp for CW training. I run it at 20wpm with a very slow 20-dot gap.
  • I’ve been trying APRS with QRZ-1, an 8-year-old Nexus phone, and a btech APRS cable.
  • POTA in York:
    • I had a terrible time throwing into trees that were too high.
    • Resorted to an inverted-V EFHW, 2ft-10ft off the ground with telescoping fishing pole.

Questions

  • KB3ILS, Keith
    • How does a hack learn to read basic schematics: conventional or electron current flow?
    • Tips for reading schematics?
    • Chuck, NA3CW
      • Except when dealing with tubes, work in conventional current.
      • Diode and transistor arrows show positive to negative (conventional) flow.
      • Inside tubes the electron flow is shown negative to positive.
      • Reading schematics:
        • Look up different circuit functions
          • Amplifier
          • Audio oscillator
          • etc
        • recognize those groupings as a “block diagram”.
        • learn to read like a block of functions
        • trace with your finger
    • WA3VEE, Ron
      • Think of circuit groups as mechanical operations.
  • KC3YIG, Dave
    • Recommendations for distributing power to multiple radios?
    • Astron powering 2 kenwoods: 25w and 65w, 2m and HF base stations.
    • W3QP, Tim
      • Ham Radio Workbench has a nice power distribution block as a kit:
        • 1 anderson power polse for input
        • 5 anderson power poles for output
    • WA3VEE, Ron
      • PowerWorx gear for power poles
    • KC3NZT, Harvey:
      • Anderson power pole has become standard in ham radio.
  • KC3NZT, Harvey
    • Operating internationally, in Canada, do we just add “/ve3” to call?
    • W3QP, Tim
      • That’s right for Canada, as long as you’re there temporarily, up to 180 days or so.

Upcoming Hamfest

Reading Radio Club will host their hamfest in Sinking Springs.

985  workbench  net 

See also