After a very long trip from Poland to Aksai(KZ), beacon finally arrived to Nick UN3M.
Nick reports no damage in transport, and the beacon appears to be working OK.
Because Nick has no special licence with beacon call yet, he will use the beacon at 10W output into 5el YU7EF duoband Yagi at 70.090MHz - personal beacon portion of the band.
Hope we can hear the beacon soon on Es.
GL!
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Friday, June 24, 2016
New 70MHz PI4 Next Generation Beacon - 4O0BCG from Montenegro
Today first heard on some weak ES/tropo mostly with meteors enchancement at 1091km distance.
QTH - Montenegro, grid JN92PK.
Operating QRG 70.048MHz. Remeber to tune 70.047.2 USB dial to get carrier at 800Hz, and proper decoding.
More info from Luci 9A1Z who is one of the constructors crew.
Well done Luci !
73!
QTH - Montenegro, grid JN92PK.
Operating QRG 70.048MHz. Remeber to tune 70.047.2 USB dial to get carrier at 800Hz, and proper decoding.
More info from Luci 9A1Z who is one of the constructors crew.
Well done Luci !
73!
Sunday, June 19, 2016
New DXCC on 4m in 2016 - Andorra C31 - UPDATED
According to news on 70MHz.org we'll have a chance to work new one on 4m during Perseids meteor shower.
Jean ON7EQ known from last Year ZB2 activity, will be active from Andorra as C37SM.
Below is planned schedule for C37MS activity :
GL!
Jean ON7EQ known from last Year ZB2 activity, will be active from Andorra as C37SM.
Below is planned schedule for C37MS activity :
GL!
Sunday, June 12, 2016
ICOM IC-7300 setting for Meteor Scatter and digimodes
If You having troubles getting IC-7300 on digimodes, here's a short tutorial "how to" simply and effective.
Although it's another new family ICOM radio, they made changes in PC communication.
As You remember when using IC-7100 we were obliged to use separate Virtual COM port software to get running on 7100 on TX via CAT command. Things are slightly different in 7300, I would say they simplify the settings.
There's only need to choose right settings in TRX descibed below.
Starting with USB Driver download from ICOM's page
Remeber not to connect your TRX prior to have USB driver installed. Well, it will not kill You ;-) but can make some trubles installing USB driver properly.
After positive instalation You'll get Windows Device manager screen like this :
Of course the numbers of the port will be set depending of your PC. This is the port we will use to connect the 7300 for sending CAT commands and other things.
Now time to set some things inside TRX. Enter the MENU, SET, and choose the CONNECTORS label.
NOTE: These setting are valid, assuming You will use 7300 for digi modes work using PC. If other interfaces - we need to change other settings as well.
Position to change : ACC/USB AF Output level - set it according to your PC needs to have proper level of audio signal steering the software You are using.
Position to change : USB MOD level - a level of the PC signal going into TRX - check with ALC readings on TX and power meter in radio.
This is page 3 of 4 where we change default settings, obviously we need to choose USB as DATA MOD port.
And finally position which will help us to key 7300 TX via USB COM port installed lately.
You can simply choose which type of Serial command line will key the TRX. We have "Data Terminal Ready" line (DTR) and "Request To Send" (RTS) lines. Choose according to your software settings.
This is it. Now the radio is ready to get PTT signals from MS/digi software.
For Meteor scatter digi modes I am using MSHV software developed by LZ2HV, and this is how the settings look like :
All we need is to set the COM port number installed previously, set the speed accordingly, and check DTR or RTS line same as TRX settings.
As You can see, LZ2HV offers direct CAT communication with TRX. Althought there's IC-7100 on the list already, it will not work with 7300. I am pretty sure that LZ2HV will expand RIG list soon.
We are done! GL with MS/digi.
Although it's another new family ICOM radio, they made changes in PC communication.
As You remember when using IC-7100 we were obliged to use separate Virtual COM port software to get running on 7100 on TX via CAT command. Things are slightly different in 7300, I would say they simplify the settings.
There's only need to choose right settings in TRX descibed below.
Starting with USB Driver download from ICOM's page
Remeber not to connect your TRX prior to have USB driver installed. Well, it will not kill You ;-) but can make some trubles installing USB driver properly.
After positive instalation You'll get Windows Device manager screen like this :
Of course the numbers of the port will be set depending of your PC. This is the port we will use to connect the 7300 for sending CAT commands and other things.
Now time to set some things inside TRX. Enter the MENU, SET, and choose the CONNECTORS label.
NOTE: These setting are valid, assuming You will use 7300 for digi modes work using PC. If other interfaces - we need to change other settings as well.
You can simply choose which type of Serial command line will key the TRX. We have "Data Terminal Ready" line (DTR) and "Request To Send" (RTS) lines. Choose according to your software settings.
This is it. Now the radio is ready to get PTT signals from MS/digi software.
For Meteor scatter digi modes I am using MSHV software developed by LZ2HV, and this is how the settings look like :
All we need is to set the COM port number installed previously, set the speed accordingly, and check DTR or RTS line same as TRX settings.
As You can see, LZ2HV offers direct CAT communication with TRX. Althought there's IC-7100 on the list already, it will not work with 7300. I am pretty sure that LZ2HV will expand RIG list soon.
We are done! GL with MS/digi.
Friday, June 10, 2016
ICOM's new child, first measurements and impressions of IC-7300
Not sure what is all the rumour about, but it's seems lot's of peoples are
more excited about the new IC-7300 than a pretty girl ;-)
As ICOM life user I'll try to look with cold eye on this new piece of stuff.
Today I had a chance to get first measurement, thanks to Mek SP7VC for lending me the RIG.
Yep, this is it. Small neat RIG, looking just great at first sight.
Knobs reminds me older brothers 7600/770 family, and homestly to say, pictures are not as good as radio standing on the table.
Hard to say anything bad about the material, front panel looking great, clear rear panel with quite big fan - overall impressions are very good.
Additionally 7300 remembers TX Power settings between HF/50/70MHz.
Let's go to some initial measurements I did today. Testing device used : STABILOCK 4015 by Schlumberger.
Measurements : RX sensivity both bands 4 and 6m, TX power measurements at low stages.
NOTE: I know that serious measurements needs to be SINAD ones, but please keep in mind that NOT everyone of ham radio users of 7300 are familiar with SINAD levels, noise ratio comparisons etc, etc.
In this case "SENSIVITY" describing a signal with a level You can hear with You own ear and see on screen.
(Assuming You have not experienced any problems with hearing :-) )
Closer to MDS method of tests, levels are given in uV and dBm.
RX conditions : mode CW, 1,2kHz FIL1, DSP off, frequency 50.200MHz for 6m, and 70.100MHz for 4m band.
TX conditions : mode FM/RTTY
There's one thing what makes me sad... Initial tests on TX show that Icom still struggling with the ALC "pre time".
It seems like 7300 is "bad" same way as 7100 with low TX output power on SSB.
But this need further investigation.
T.B.C
73 !
more excited about the new IC-7300 than a pretty girl ;-)
As ICOM life user I'll try to look with cold eye on this new piece of stuff.
Today I had a chance to get first measurement, thanks to Mek SP7VC for lending me the RIG.
Yep, this is it. Small neat RIG, looking just great at first sight.
Knobs reminds me older brothers 7600/770 family, and homestly to say, pictures are not as good as radio standing on the table.
Hard to say anything bad about the material, front panel looking great, clear rear panel with quite big fan - overall impressions are very good.
Additionally 7300 remembers TX Power settings between HF/50/70MHz.
Let's go to some initial measurements I did today. Testing device used : STABILOCK 4015 by Schlumberger.
Measurements : RX sensivity both bands 4 and 6m, TX power measurements at low stages.
NOTE: I know that serious measurements needs to be SINAD ones, but please keep in mind that NOT everyone of ham radio users of 7300 are familiar with SINAD levels, noise ratio comparisons etc, etc.
In this case "SENSIVITY" describing a signal with a level You can hear with You own ear and see on screen.
(Assuming You have not experienced any problems with hearing :-) )
Closer to MDS method of tests, levels are given in uV and dBm.
RX conditions : mode CW, 1,2kHz FIL1, DSP off, frequency 50.200MHz for 6m, and 70.100MHz for 4m band.
TX conditions : mode FM/RTTY
There's one thing what makes me sad... Initial tests on TX show that Icom still struggling with the ALC "pre time".
It seems like 7300 is "bad" same way as 7100 with low TX output power on SSB.
But this need further investigation.
T.B.C
73 !
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Summer activity LA9BM #JP21MO 6&4m
Hi guys
Just to spread out info we've got from Leif LA9BM - watch for him from rare LA square JP21MO June 14-20,2016.
QTH city Florø.
Image credit F6FVY
Rig IC-7300, some Expert PA and 4+4el Yagi. More info to come.
GL !
Just to spread out info we've got from Leif LA9BM - watch for him from rare LA square JP21MO June 14-20,2016.
QTH city Florø.
Rig IC-7300, some Expert PA and 4+4el Yagi. More info to come.
GL !
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