985 Workbench: 2024-12-30

 Posted on 2024-12-30

My Week in Radio

  • ISS on scan, so I caught part of an image
    • passes are a bit early right now, and low
  • Nice weather
    • local POTA including a couple solid CW
    • some maintenance of the VHF antennas
  • Noticed today I can disable the tuner on my random wire antenna and still get OK SWR
    • sounds like loss to me
    • but putting 5W into the wire is still getting identifiable weak signals to Europe, Alaska, etc.
  • Reading the AllStar manuals
  • Adding 4:1 balun to my list of things to build
    • delta loop
    • Rybakov vertical

Others

  • KC3SCY, Luke:
    • crystal receiver
  • W8CRW, CR:
    • working on a 10m antenna
  • W1RC, Mike:
    • likes SWR tools, since antennas are the final frontier
  • AF3Z, Jim:
    • took the Kenwood mobile out of the car to replace the memory battery
    • how’s my audio?
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • Jim is low
    • arcing in a band switch, so disconnected 10m taps to avoid problems
      • added some feed line and changed antennas, so maybe time to try fixing it to do 10 again.
      • works now
    • finding some bad solder joints in some coax.
    • been in repair mode
  • KC3OOK, Bill:
    • working on Joe’s tower again soon
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • presenting in Pottstown on Friday on antenna analyzers
    • May be visiting the field day site
  • KC3YIG, Dave:
    • picked up Alaska
  • W3QP, Tim:
    • 2 SOTAs in Western PA
    • new Retevis 25W radio
  • KV3JGB, Matt:
    • fixing some lines to get an antenna up in some trees
      • it’s working
      • first contact on 10M
      • also 15M for a rag chew
    • starting CWOps on Friday
  • KB3ZIM, Bob:
    • published in latest QST, page 20
  • KC3NZT,
    • testing coax with NanoVNA

Questions

  • KC3SWC, Charles:
    • How do 12V batteries apply to Winter Field Day? li-ion, lead acid, deep cycle lead acid, AGM, gold cart batteries, lifepo4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each.
      • WA3VEE, Ron:
        • at field day, we won’t be charging any batteries inside
        • uses AGM and lifepo4 for radios, no trouble in cold weather
        • AGM vents, so ensure it has ventilation
      • W3QP, Tim:
        • lifepo4 is a good choice for amateur radio
          • lighter
          • output amperage is usually only 2x capacity
      • W3MFB, Mike:
        • used marine cells lots
  • W3FES, Fred:
    • Troubleshooting a switching power supply.
    • Rated for 15 amps.
    • Running a radio, 15W output
    • Voltage drops to 8V.
    • What can he do to diagnose the problem in the power supply?
    • WA3VEE, Ron:
      • need to look at the manual to see ratings
    • NA3CW, Chuck:
      • switching power supplies are usually working or dead
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See also