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A note re shipping...
Hans Summers
Good evening all A quick note about the shipping. Orders are normally shipped the next business day after they are received. The exceptions are: 1) When a huge volume of orders are received suddenly, it can take a while to clear. An example is the sudden influx of orders from people who wanted v2.02a or v2.02k chips. In that case the orders are worked through but it took a week until every order was sent.
2) When the kit is out of stock, such as the Ultimate2 - in which case you'll have been advised on the ordering page of that. The U2 kits are now pending only on the PCB, which the manufacturer claimed would take a week to make but in fact took very much longer. The latest date they gave me is tomorrow (Tuesday 25'th), then they have to be shipped to me; hopefully we are getting close now.
So please be patient in case 1) because as you know, this is a low cost operation, there are not a whole army of people waiting on orders and ready to go immediately an order comes in :-)
73 Hans G0UPL |
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Re: U2 and GPS report (good)
Frank Allen
Thanks. I was was heading in that direction, but thought I'd ask. Up here in the puckerbrush of Maine Radio Shack knows cell phone and almost nothing else, so I've got to order online ! ? On Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 1:08 PM, Andy Cutland <gj7rwt@...> wrote:
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Re: U2 and GPS report (good)
Andy Cutland
Hi Frank, I used a separate 3.3v reg to supply pins 4 and 5 directly. no resistors were used anywhere on the gps unit. Pin 6 is pps and pin 2 is txd. Pin 3 is earth. Hope this helps. 73's De Andy From: Frank Allen To: QRPLabs@... Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 4:22 PM Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] Re: U2 and GPS report (good)
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How do you handle the additional 3.3VDC for the UP501 ? On Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 10:13 AM, Andy Cutland <[email protected]> wrote:
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Re: U2 and GPS report (good)
Frank Allen
How do you handle the additional 3.3VDC for the UP501 ? On Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 10:13 AM, Andy Cutland <gj7rwt@...> wrote:
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Best DX on 80 meters
"Paul KE7HR"
I was surprised last night when no one on my continent copied my WSPR signal but I WAS copied for about an hour in southern Australia! 13360 km per watt on 80 meters I will take any day!
2013-06-24 12:48 KE7HR 3.594085 -24 0 DM33xo 1 VK7DIK QE28sf 13360 237 2013-06-24 12:36 KE7HR 3.594085 -22 0 DM33xo 1 VK7DIK QE28sf 13360 237 2013-06-24 12:24 KE7HR 3.594085 -22 0 DM33xo 1 VK7DIK QE28sf 13360 237 2013-06-24 12:12 KE7HR 3.594085 -19 0 DM33xo 1 VK7DIK QE28sf 13360 237 2013-06-24 12:00 KE7HR 3.594085 -19 0 DM33xo 1 VK7DIK QE28sf 13360 237 2013-06-24 11:48 KE7HR 3.594085 -24 0 DM33xo 1 VK7DIK QE28sf 13360 237 2013-06-24 11:42 KE7HR 3.594085 -23 -1 DM33xo 1 VK7DIK QE28sf 13360 237 The U2 is performing quite well. I just got the note that the updated firmware and filters that I ordered finally shipped. I have a 6 meter test all ready to go! Paul KE7HR in Phoenix, AZ |
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Re: U2 and GPS report (good)
Andy Cutland
Just received my version 2.02a 20 minutes before heading off to work. Can confirm the unit fired up first time with gps working and calibrating the output. No fuss and no hassle. My gps is the UP501 unit. Well done Hans, you are onto a winner here. I will fire up most probably on 20m wspr tonight when I get back home and monitor the frequency accuracy on my grabber at www.qsl.net/gj7rwt/gj7rwthomepage.html 73's de andy From: "andyfoad@..." . To: QRPLabs@... Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2013 6:57 PM Subject: [QRPLabs] Re: U2 and GPS report (good)
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Hi David,
It's nothing special at all - honest. It's a pure 8ft square loop which is fed at the bottom centre via a suitable matching unit in order to transfer as much power into it as possible ;-) Experience with this stealth antenna for about the last 10 years has shown that just plonking a CLC type T match is the best way to feed it. Capacitor (series), Inductance to deck, the another Capacitor(series). I think the first time I made a QSO on it was on 17m SSB to 3B4CF with just 15 watts. It was nothing more than a wire loop drawing pinned to the bedroom wall :-) I wrote a brief article about it here: Really, it's just a piece of wire... Hope that helps. 73 de Andy --- In QRPLabs@..., "David Atkins" wrote: > > Hi Andy, > > Can you share a bit more info about your loop and its tuning? Especially for > the lower bands. > > Best Wishes > David G8XBZ |
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Re: U2 and GPS report (good)
Tony Volpe
On randomness and antenna length, I generally try to ensure with loops that they are at least a full wavelength long on the lowest operating frequency. If that is achieved you can tune them on that all higher bands, even though they are non-resonant. Take my current free space forty meter loop, it will work on all the higher bands I've tried it on and is pretty good on 20, but works on 30 to an acceptable level. |
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Nice clean signal on 28Mhz.
"andyfoad@..."
Must have been a few oddities in previous tests with the U2 on 28Mhz.
Now that I've moved mine up into the attic, and walked a mile away to do some listening tests using the FT817 the signal is as clean as a whistle ! Gives some hope of the possibility of 50Mhz operation being useable, assuming of course that there's a suitable PA attached to it. I don't think those BS170's are gonna be macho enough ;-) I wonder if the Mitsubishi RD06HHF could do the job ? Rated at 50mw for 6 watts out aT 30Mhz with 12v dc. I see that SDR Kits sells them in the UK. Food for thought for anyone wanting to push the boundaries a bit. 73 de Andy G0FTD |
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Re: U2 and GPS report (good)
"andyfoad@..."
Try it and see how it works Tony.
As if often seen, random bits of wire work better on some bands rather than other, depending upon the distances in the doglegs etc etc. Sometimes results are surprisingly good, and others can be disappointing. Suck it and see ;-) 73 de Andy |
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Re: U2 and GPS report (good)
Tony Volpe
On the matter off loops, I am thinking of running wspr on two frequencies simultaneously and am planning to make an invisible horizontal loop of fine wire using the mountings for my plastic gutters to provide the structure for one of the frequencies in use. I already have a forty meter horizontal loop which is hanging in free space and is currently running on 30 meters via ?matching unit. For me and for many people, 'stealth' operation is needed and is part of the fun really. The new loop will only be at about twenty feet, and there is house wiring inside the loop - the upstairs lighting ring main for example which will be surrounded at the same level by the loop, but it will only cost pennies to do the experiment and a little ladder time to thread the antenna through the gutter brackets. Worth a try? I think so. We'll see when I get around to doing it. |
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Re: U2 and GPS report (good)
"David Atkins"
Thanks, Andy,
At present, I have a wire loop that goes all round the loft, following the pitches of the rafters. I'm always looking for ways to improve things, and you have given me a few ideas. David G8XBZ -----Bits of Original Message----- From: QRPLabs@... [mailto:QRPLabs@...] On Behalf Of andyfoad@... Sent: 22 June 2013 18:57 To: QRPLabs@... Subject: [QRPLabs] Re: U2 and GPS report (good) I wrote a brief article about it here: s.htm Really, it's just a piece of wire... Hope that helps. 73 de Andy |
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Re: U2 and GPS report (good)
"andyfoad@..."
Hi David,
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It's nothing special at all - honest. It's a pure 8ft square loop which is fed at the bottom centre via a suitable matching unit in order to transfer as much power into it as possible ;-) Experience with this stealth antenna for about the last 10 years has shown that just plonking a CLC type T match is the best way to feed it. Capacitor (series), Inductance to deck, the another Capacitor(series). I think the first time I made a QSO on it was on 17m SSB to 3B4CF with just 15 watts. It was nothing more than a wire loop drawing pinned to the bedroom wall :-) I wrote a brief article about it here: Really, it's just a piece of wire... Hope that helps. 73 de Andy --- In QRPLabs@..., "David Atkins" <kelley@...> wrote:
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Re: U2 and GPS report (good)
"David Atkins"
Hi Andy,
Can you share a bit more info about your loop and its tuning? Especially for the lower bands. Best Wishes David G8XBZ -----Bits of Original Message----- From: QRPLabs@... [mailto:QRPLabs@...] On Behalf Of andyfoad@... Sent: 22 June 2013 16:23 To: QRPLabs@... Subject: [QRPLabs] Re: U2 and GPS report (good) I've only just got the U2 up in the loft after I first had the idea 6 months ago when I got the U1.(I also intend to have the U1 running in the loft too!). But that's enough for one day. I've spent my Saturday putting mains supply into the loft since I couldn't find a lighting rose to tap into. Built the loop frame and assembled it and played a bit with the tuning. 73 de Andy G0FTD |
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Re: U2 and GPS report (good)
"andyfoad@..."
Hi Hans,
--- In QRPLabs@..., "andyfoad@..." <andyfoad@...> wrote: Joking aside, I must admit to being drawn to your website some time ago as I was looking at stuff for various interests of mine. The valve tx being one, but it was more the NBTV stuff that got me. I've been promising to make a mechanical 32 line tv for years. There is a kit available which I promise to get, just as soon I've fully completed other jobs. I've only just got the U2 up in the loft after I first had the idea 6 months ago when I got the U1.(I also intend to have the U1 running in the loft too!). But that's enough for one day. I've spent my Saturday putting mains supply into the loft since I couldn't find a lighting rose to tap into. Built the loop frame and assembled it and played a bit with the tuning. Hot, sweaty, dusty, thirsty and now time for a damn good shower ;-) 73 de Andy G0FTD |
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Re: U2 and GPS report (good)
"andyfoad@..."
Kits for them next week then ? ;-)
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--- In QRPLabs@..., Hans Summers <hans.summers@...> wrote:
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Re: U2 and GPS report (good)
Hans Summers
Hi Andy Glad it's working so well! For those who are interested: the 1-valve TX is here:?
The receiver and ATU were also homebrew see and ?
73 Hans G0UPL On Sat, Jun 22, 2013 at 3:49 PM, andyfoad@... <andyfoad@...> wrote:
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U2 and GPS report (good)
"andyfoad@..."
Just for info,I've had the U2 and the UP501 module on ever since
I got the beta chip in and never switched it off in the last few weeks. It's never skipped a beat! Today was the first time I'd switched it off briefly whilst I installed the U2 up into the loft with an 8ft square quad loop. Once again GPS switched on and worked first time, totally zero hassle. Even with just the 250mw, 28Mhz results are fantastic at the moment and far better than I expected. I've tuned such loops up before right down to 160m and has good results with them just sitting in the spare bedroom (yuk!), so as time progresses I'll slowly work down the bands again. In fact only recently I used such a wire loop in the spare bedroom on 80m and received a QSL card from the Ukraine for 80m CW. It's the same loop configuration as I used for the very first time I worked Hans on 80m about 10 years ago with his 1 valve tx. 73 de Andy G0FTD |
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Re: Pout drops on 20m
"andyfoad@..."
Do you mean that it starts high and then a few seconds later it drops ?
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Or do you mean that the higher the frequency = lower output ? With 3x BS170 @ 9v you will typically see:- 1.1w to 24Mhz 650mw @ 21Mhz 250mw @ 28Mhz (50mw @ 5v ?) This is normal. 73 de Andy --- In QRPLabs@..., "cecco.delprete" <hb9afz@...> wrote:
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Re: Handheld U2 v2.02 Boxed
Graham
Indeed, very nice.
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cheers, Graham ve3gtc On 13-06-21 02:06 PM, andyfoad@... wrote:
Nice and neat, and compact. |
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Re: Pout drops on 20m
g3zjo
On 21/06/2013 14:33, cecco.delprete wrote:
I notice that on 20m the power output drops dramatically (~50%).Hi Francesco I noted a drop in power after 10MHz in my tests but didn't worry about it, not 50% at 14MHz but a full drop 50% at 18MHz which the rises to give more power on 28MHz. It is a simple design, not optimised for any band, QRP, and after all its only a 3dB drop. Necessary fine-tune the LP filter?I don't think you do do anything to optimise the LPF. Or are other problems: eg. DDS-VFO?Have you got results above 14MHz, adjustment of the blue Mark Space adjustment pot is quite critical, I find adjusting for max RF power out to the antenna on 28MHz is as good as anything. 73 Eddie |
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