Well, FD 13 turned out pretty well. I didn't spend much time on the radio at all and got 26 contacts. Obviously, if I had more time, I could have gotten a lot more.
As expected, 40m and 20m were wide open and crowded. I have a 40m OCF, and 15m was open really well also. I have a Par OA-50 6m antenna that is only about 20-25 feet off of the ground. Usually, I don't get anything, especially living in Kentucky. Sunday morning, 6m opened up big time! The map was red with lines. I talked to south Texas and south Florida with 59 signals. Then I heard a CQ reply with my middle name (the one I go by). I answered it, and it was a ham about 5 miles away from me.
On to the next topic--DXpedition DVDs. I am a big fan of James Books' DVDs. He produces professional quality DVDs that are very enjoyable to watch. I have the expeditions to Kermadec Island down by New Zealand, and the Midway Island expedition. I just ordered the Clipperton Island DVD.
You should not only check out his web page, but at $25 with free shipping, purchase some of the DVDs.
http://www.dxvideos.com/index.htm
About Me
- Steve, KJ4KKI
- Welcome to my little piece of the cyberworld. I am an Amateur Extra Class ham radio operator from Kentucky. In addition to ham radio, other interests include paddling kayaks and canoes, camping, flyfishing, shooting and photography...I am a major Jimmy Buffett fan (fans are known as Parrotheads). But, location, work and finances sort of got in the way of being a beach bum as a career. I am also an animal lover and have several pets. I also have a Facebook page at steve.kj4kki.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Thursday, June 6, 2013
MFJ-259B Antenna Analyzer
Not too much ham radio news to report. Just getting back on the air, after working midnights and being sick for a while. I'm working on getting all my wire antennas fine tuned, as I now have access to a MFJ-259B analyzer. This model is considerably cheaper than the next model up, and goes from HF through 2 meters. I just made a quarter-wave 2 meter, and it tuned great with very minor adjustments.
I have mixed feelings on the analyzer. Some screws were shorter than the others, and the banana plug for ladder line broke when I plugged it in. The edges of the case have some scratches. It appears that a screw holding on the SO-239 connector is either stripped of a nut has come loose. I'll check, however there is another one holding it in, so o.k. for now.
With these issues noted, it appears to work alright. My first impression was so-so, but as I use it more and more, I am increasingly pleased with the performance. I am going to expand a 40m OCF to 80m, as well as fine tune some EndFedz antennas, and some portable dipoles--a 20m, and a 10/20/40m. Hopefully, it will do alright with these. I do like the small size of it. I suppose as with any mass-produced equipment offered "affordably", there are compromises (?). MFJ retails it for $289, but Gigparts had it on a Dayton Hamfest sale for $215. That is tremendously more affordable than the one made by Comet.
eHam reviewers give it around 4.1/5.0 stars. People who like it, absolutely love it. I have talked to numerous hams at HRO, GigaParts, and radio manufacturers, and many of them have this model and praise it highly. I think the performance is probably there. I just think that they don't pay enough attention to preserving outside aesthetics, and I'm not sure about the soldering abilities...not that mine are any better. If it works, that is the issue. My Yaesu radios, Signalink and power supplies all came in pristine condition. The metal case has some scuffs, but it appears that it was powder coated before the corners were bent. A final note of confidence: When I called MFJ to tell the tech about the couple of shorter screws and broken banana plug, he seemed genuinely upset. A bag of screws and plug were promptly mailed to me. I'm hoping I don't need it, but they have the No Matter What warranty. I'll update as I get it used more in the field, and can report on it.
I managed to re-route some coax, and figured I'd give the 259 a decent workout. My 6m was about perfect on the meter. I had tuned it on my rig's SWR meter, and the amount the results matched were amazing. Based on small frequency differences around 50.125 MHz, it read 1:0-1:1 to 1 with 50-52 ohms. The 40m OCF did pretty well, but it needs closer attention. I have also tuned up a LNR) EndFedz 40/20. It made tuning it so easy. I got mid-band down to a 1.0-1.1:1 SWR at 50 ohms. I did notice that sometimes the analog meters don't precisely match the digital readout. But, the meters are only off by a very small amount. I can't believe how easy it is to work on antennas now, compared to making adjustments with my radio's SWR meter.
I have mixed feelings on the analyzer. Some screws were shorter than the others, and the banana plug for ladder line broke when I plugged it in. The edges of the case have some scratches. It appears that a screw holding on the SO-239 connector is either stripped of a nut has come loose. I'll check, however there is another one holding it in, so o.k. for now.
With these issues noted, it appears to work alright. My first impression was so-so, but as I use it more and more, I am increasingly pleased with the performance. I am going to expand a 40m OCF to 80m, as well as fine tune some EndFedz antennas, and some portable dipoles--a 20m, and a 10/20/40m. Hopefully, it will do alright with these. I do like the small size of it. I suppose as with any mass-produced equipment offered "affordably", there are compromises (?). MFJ retails it for $289, but Gigparts had it on a Dayton Hamfest sale for $215. That is tremendously more affordable than the one made by Comet.
eHam reviewers give it around 4.1/5.0 stars. People who like it, absolutely love it. I have talked to numerous hams at HRO, GigaParts, and radio manufacturers, and many of them have this model and praise it highly. I think the performance is probably there. I just think that they don't pay enough attention to preserving outside aesthetics, and I'm not sure about the soldering abilities...not that mine are any better. If it works, that is the issue. My Yaesu radios, Signalink and power supplies all came in pristine condition. The metal case has some scuffs, but it appears that it was powder coated before the corners were bent. A final note of confidence: When I called MFJ to tell the tech about the couple of shorter screws and broken banana plug, he seemed genuinely upset. A bag of screws and plug were promptly mailed to me. I'm hoping I don't need it, but they have the No Matter What warranty. I'll update as I get it used more in the field, and can report on it.
I managed to re-route some coax, and figured I'd give the 259 a decent workout. My 6m was about perfect on the meter. I had tuned it on my rig's SWR meter, and the amount the results matched were amazing. Based on small frequency differences around 50.125 MHz, it read 1:0-1:1 to 1 with 50-52 ohms. The 40m OCF did pretty well, but it needs closer attention. I have also tuned up a LNR) EndFedz 40/20. It made tuning it so easy. I got mid-band down to a 1.0-1.1:1 SWR at 50 ohms. I did notice that sometimes the analog meters don't precisely match the digital readout. But, the meters are only off by a very small amount. I can't believe how easy it is to work on antennas now, compared to making adjustments with my radio's SWR meter.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
CW, Awards and Stuff
Not too much going on in my ham radio stuff lately. After a new midnight job, not much time left for the radio. I am down to one state for my WAS.
I received my Appalachian Trail Basic Award for contacting every state the AT runs through. I also got my 3905 Century Club 100 Point Award for various contacts. Back in the summer, I became a member of the Old Man International Sideband Society, and recently became a member of the Straight Key Century Club.
Right now, I am in the process of learning CW. I am using a Morse Express T-Tone practice oscillator, and an Ameco K-4R J-38 key. One day, I've got my sights on a Begali Camelback Key (maybe). Who knows?
I am hoping things will stabilize out and I can get some contacts going. With some warm weather, maybe I can get outside for some portable work. I did get a Youth DX Adventure special event in Costa Rica last summer. They sent me a very pretty, 4 page QSL card.
I guess that is about all for now.
Steve
I received my Appalachian Trail Basic Award for contacting every state the AT runs through. I also got my 3905 Century Club 100 Point Award for various contacts. Back in the summer, I became a member of the Old Man International Sideband Society, and recently became a member of the Straight Key Century Club.
Right now, I am in the process of learning CW. I am using a Morse Express T-Tone practice oscillator, and an Ameco K-4R J-38 key. One day, I've got my sights on a Begali Camelback Key (maybe). Who knows?
I am hoping things will stabilize out and I can get some contacts going. With some warm weather, maybe I can get outside for some portable work. I did get a Youth DX Adventure special event in Costa Rica last summer. They sent me a very pretty, 4 page QSL card.
I guess that is about all for now.
Steve
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