Sunday, September 24, 2017

YU7EF 6m array project.

Aftre 6m season came to an end it was good time to prepare something for incoming Lance's W7GJ VK9C/X dxpedition as well as Bouvet 3Y0Z in January.

The choice was obviously YU7EF antennas, designs You will never regret to build and use. This time decided to go bigger than 2x EF0601WL, so after short debate with Pop 4 Yagi's array was cleared as target antenna. Because of backyard space limitations EF0405CX was choosen, and Pop prepared custom design for me, accomodated to use 4m boom lenght. 6,1m horizontal distance with 5,1m vertical distance looks perfect for me. Initial design data were very promising, but I did not even dream how complicate it will be...


So, target is known, let's stack something - part II started. This is probably second 6m array in Poland, but no doubts first 6m array in SP3.
After assembling 4 antennas each one was measured - it simply shows that Pop's designs are reliable and accurate. Every of 4 antennas giving perfect response, see below.

Projected data


Measured (1 lambda above ground):

Each antenna is feed directly with CNT-400 coax cable, lenght of 5,30m calculated upon stacking distance on H-Frame, with 6 Fair-rite cores as CMC, ended with N-male connector. Home made ALsquare coax splitter was made on occassion, calculated from freeware APPCad software.
Single antenna weight without coax cable 4,65kg. 


This was the easiest part.
Now H-Frame need to be made, but how to, if You never did it before?
Well, few cups of cofee, few cigars and initial project was on the table.
Finally H-frame is made of AL pipes dia 45mm(2mm thickness) in the middle part, and 40mm pipe at ends of frame. Cross parts are 60x20x2mm profile, welded to get desired strenght, and prevent of frame saging with antennas. Of course I know this looks very "amateur" construction, but it's my first attempt to build something like that. Finally got a phone call from welding shop, that frame is ready : Overall weight 6,54kg's.
      
 

Time was running fast so no time for afternoon nap.
Next day H-frame was installed on the tower, with elevation G550 rotator. Isn't it too small for array? No, not at all, after 2 weeks I can say it's robust machine. Lifting the array up to 50 degrees, and smoothly going down. Yes, maybe it will not survive a hurricane, but who knows ?    


Another full day of work and Two upper antennas and right lower antenna in place - clearly visible that nothing more than this design can fit limited space at my property.
The problem started with left antenna - it simply don't fit into space between fence and tower...    
 
But, there's always emergency exit :-) Boom was placed where it should be and, after assembling rest of
the array, elements were added.


Done ! But did You noticed lower right Yagi is tilted? Yep, it is... I did not noticed it when antenna was 2m above the ground, this will be corrected later. Anyway measurements are just perfect !

 
 Some more pics. 

 "Beauty" - OR -

 
  the Beast ?  ;-)



First attempt to listen VK9CGJ immediately after installing last N plug resulted quick QSO, and some minutes later couple of his CQ's at 37deg elevation confirmed that project is done and running.

Addendum Oct.03.2017
Another good shot after Lance QSY to VK9X.



As always - thanks to Pop YU7EF.  Hat's off master.

73 & CU with delayed signal !

Friday, September 1, 2017

SP0OTC QSL's ready to send

As promised  before the dxp - here are the QSL's. Will ship them to Central bureau next batch.


Thanks to all who participate this short event.

73 ! 

Monday, August 21, 2017

SP0OTC #JO82XJ Old Timers Club Meeting

Polish Old Timers Club meeting gave us opportunity to activate another rare grid on 70MHz - JO82.
This will be last 70MHz grid pedition this Year, another joined one with Mek SP7VC.

Worked (no mode select) : DK2EA, DG1VL, DF5VAE, G0CHE, G3YDY, G4BWP, DD3SP, PA2CHR, PA2IP, G3SHK, PA2M, GI4SNA, PA3ECU, OK1VBN, SP2HHX, ES3RF, OH8MGK, OZ1JXY, OH7TE, OF1ZAA, OZ1BNN, SP3OCC, G0LFF, OZ0XX, G4BRK, S57A, SP5XMU, PA5Y. QRT 08:30UTC 

Operating site, room 106 :-)

 Antenna looking West, only "tree clear" direction

Mek's yellow GPS  #JO82XJ




We will be QRV under S.E.S call SP0OTC starting Friday, August 25around afternoon, and finish the activity Saturday morning hours ~10UTC.

Operation is pending now from Giewartów Palace #JO82XJ, where the OTC meeting is organised.
  
 pic source: Wikimapia.org

The station will be located behind the Palace building, only free place to put antenna, about 25-30meters  above Powidzkie lake level.
Almost free takeoff 240-300deg, but we will try other directions as well. More info/pics e.tc. after arrival.

Hope to work as many of You as we can.

GL & 73



Monday, August 14, 2017

#KO26XX YL/SP7VC log - QRT now

KO26XX operation started 14:00UTC. GL all ! 

 4m FSK & SSB MS : G4BWP, ON4PS, OZ8ZS, S51DI, OZ2OE, OZ3ZW, PA3DOL, PA2IP, PA2CHR, OH2MA ES3RF, OH7TE, SP9HWY, SP3RNZ, PA5Y, S51DI, PA0RDY, DF5VAE, DD3SP, PA2M, PA3ECU, OZ1DLD, DK5EW, OZ1JXY, G4SGX, SP1MVG, OZ1BNN, PA2M, DL6BF, PA0RDY, DG1VL.


DJ5MN - NC (timeout) 






KO26XX operation QRT 18:48UTC

Sunday, August 13, 2017

#KO36DX Cesvaine, YL/SP7VC log

YL/SP7VC log starting August,13.2017 #KO36DX Cesvaine. QRT now !






4m FSK : DJ9YE, PA3DOL, OZ1BNN, SP9HWY, OZ1JXY, DD3SP, DK5EW, S51DI, SP1MVG, DL5WG, OH2BYJ, PA2IP, DL1SUZ, ON4PS, OK2BRD, OZ3ZW, YL2CP, SP2MKO, PA2CHR, DJ4TC, OZ8ZS, PA0RDY, SP3RNZ, DH8BQA, ES3RF, OZ2OE, PA2M, DJ5MN, OK1TEH, OZ1DSD, SP3OCC, OH7TE, OZ1DJJ, LA9BM, OZ5AGJ, G4BWP, PA3ECU, DB8WK, DK5SO, DL6BF, DF5VAE, OZ1DLD, DK5YA, DL4KUG, OF1MN, OF3DP, DF1AN, ON7GB, DG1VL, OH1TM, G4SWX, DL4WO, OH2MA, OH7TE, PA7ES, YL2CA, PA5Y

4m SSB MS : OK1DIG, SP3RNZ, PA2M, OZ3ZW, PA3DOL, ES1CW,  ES1II/8, OZ5AGJ,


4m NC (timeout) : OK1MAC,
*****************************************************************************

6m (JT6M & MSK144)  : OZ1DLD, DJ6YX, OZ1BNN, DD3SP, DJ9YE, S57TW, SP3UR, PA3ECU, DL1SUZ, DH8BQA, OK5TK, DF5VAE, SP2MKO, SP1MVG, OZ3ZW, SP3OCC, G4SGX, S51DI, SP3RNZ, OF1MN, OF5ZA, OH7RJ, SP2IQW, OK2BRD, SP1JNY, PA3DOL, SP3JSD, SP3RNZ, OZ1DJJ, OK1DIG, OZ1DSD, LA7DFA, SP3CFM, OH7RJ, SP3DV, OZ3K, YL2CP, OF3DP, OH3LCH, YL2AO, LA9BM. QRT now 08:45 UTC





# more info https://sp3rnz.blogspot.com/2017/08/ylsp7vc-cesvaine-ko36dx.html

Friday, August 11, 2017

YL/SP7VC on the way to Latvia #KO35DS


QRT QRT QRT now on the way to KO36DX

While driving to Cesvaine, we stopped for some rest after LY/YL border crossing.

4m log: OZ3ZW, OZ1JXY, SP3RNZ, OK1DIG, OZ2OE, PA2IP, ES3RF, PA2CHR, PA5Y, DJ9YE, DD3SP, SP9HWY, S51DI, PA3CMC, ON4PS, YL2CP, OH7TE, OH2BYJ, DJ5MN, DF1AN, OZ5AGJ, OK1TEH, G4BWP, OZ1DJJ, PA0RDY, OZ8ZS, OZ1BNN, PA3DOL, PA2M, PA3ECU, OZ1DLD, LA9BM, DG1VL, PA2J, DF5VAE, ON7GB, S52OR, OK2BRD, DH8BQA, S57A, DJ4TC, OK1MAC, OZ1DSD, SP1MVG, G0CHE, DB8WK. QRT 12:15UTC  

DL6BF, SP3OCC, OZ2M - NC (timeout)





This will be somewhere in KO35 grid, exact place to be determined.
I will be QRV for 3-4 hours, depending on interest, rocks and weather.

Please be vigilant, as there will be only random work. 

Start time ~3:30 - 4:00UTC - QRG 70.173 MHz, only FSK441 mode TX 1period.

More info in due course.

Good luck !  Mek YL/SP7VC


Monday, August 7, 2017

YL/SP7VC Cesvaine #KO36DX

Following info on behalf of Mek SP7VC:

Coming weekend August 12-15.2017 I will be QRV from Cesvaine village, Latvia, KO36DX square.



As usual, main focus on 70MHz with some HF when no interest or no rocks.

Possibly I will do short activation of KO37DA, and if any spare time and good WX also KO26XX.
Rig: FT847 modded by RNZ_LAB, base station antenna in KO36DX 5+5el YU7EF, portable 4ele YU7EF Yagi. 
Frequency TBA upon arrival, possibly 70.173MHz, mode FSK441, 30s 1st period. 
Log will be posted here with updates when time permits. 
If You feel You can support this and furter 4/6m dxpedition, feel free to send small donation via Paypal. Details can be found here:

SN8NCJ # KO12PD Summary

Now SN8NCJ is over.
Thanks to all who participate in Andy's commemoration.
Complete band log in previous post, and below 3 VHF bands statistics.
QSL please via SP3RNZ, direct or via bureau.
Will upload LOTW within a month. 
 
50 MHz: 34QSO's

  70 MHz: 61QSO's, 58 unique callsigns, 3 dupes.

144 MHz: 22QSO's

Sunday, July 23, 2017

In memory of Andy SP8NCJ R.I.P - QRT now

Special HF/VHF dx pedition "In memory of Andy SP8NCJ" by me, Mek SP7VC and Janek SP7TOP will take place August 4-6.2017 from small village Pokinianka, nr. Biala Podlaska # KO12PD.


The goal of this square dxp is to commemorate activity and HF/VHF achievements of our friend Andy SP8NCJ, whose key gone silent August 26.2014

pic credit Henryk SM0JHF

We will use event permit with special event callsign 

SN8NCJ 

HF 80/40m, and VHF 50/70/144 MHz all possible modes.

Log for 50/70/144 contacts will be posted here, as usual will try to do it almost realtime.
Special QSL cards will be printed after dxp, QSL info: SP3RNZ, direct, buro, LOTW.

4m Log (no mode selection):
SP3OCC, OZ8ZS, DB8WK, SP2MKO, DK5EW, OK1VBN, S52OR, SP5XMU, DJ9YE, OH7TE, SP8SN, PA3ECU, PA5Y, PA0RDY, ON4PS, DK5SO, DL4WO, 9A/S51DI/P, SP2HHX, SP9HWY, OK1DIG, DD3SP, OZ1BNN, OZ1JXY, DF1AN,G3SHK, OK1MAC, ON4FI, DJ5MN, OZ1DLD, DL6BF, OZ5AGJ, PA7ES, OZ1QZ, GW4WND, EI3GYB, EI4DQ, GD3YEO, OZ1DJJ, 9A1Z, DF5VAE, DL8FBD, OZ1MFP, LA9BM, DL1SUZ, DK2BJ, OM5KM, OK2BRD, OZ2OE, S57A, ON7GB, LZ1ZP, OH1MLZ, OF5ZA.
6m Log (no mode selection):
OZ8ZS, SP3OCC, SP2HHX, OK1DIG, DF5VAE, SP8SN, SP3UR, S52OR, PA5Y, SP8SN, OK2BRD, OM5KM, YO2NAA, YO5LD, S57TW, G3YDY, DK2BJ, GI4SNA, DK5SO, ON4PS, LX1JX, ON3CF, OZ1DSD, SM5KWU,DD3SP, PA7ES, 9A/S51DI/P, ON6NL, OZ1QZ,SM5CUI, PA0JMV, SM7FJE, OZ1DJJ, 9A2DI, US5WE, UR5WA, OF5ZA, OH6KTL.
2m Log (no mode selection):
F1DRR, RX1AS, EU3AI, SQ5TF, SP5WCK, SP8WJW, DK5SO, SP3UCA, F1EBK, SP2HHX, PA0JMV, OZ1BEF, OM5KM, DJ6AG, F8DYR, PA3BIY, SM7FWZ, SN7L, SP8BRD, SP8PRZ, 9A/S51DI/P.

some KO12PD pics :

6m & 2m antenna in front of the house

What You gonna do if You're getting old? New plate mount for 4ele Yagi :-). Shit happens.

4m antenna looking West - flat horizon.

Panoramic view South West to South

Panoramic view South to North West

and rocks are here !

60m & 4m station

5UTC isn't a good time to make neat pics :-) 


HF station, Janek SP7TOP in action

6m & 2m operating position, Mek SP7VC & Janek SP7TOP


Non human visitors...

Human local visitors :-) L to R:
Kamil SQ8ISJ, Robert SP8NCL, Janek SP7TOP/8, Greg SP3RNZ/8, Mek SP7VC/8