A great job, David. The work reflects your personality. I wish all radio products would be handled with the quality care you have demonstrated.
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On Apr 29, 2025, at 01:41, David via groups.io <dkvarn@...> wrote:
? The David-izing is complete, and I am happy to report that the operation has been a success (at least I think so, pending next ops checkout). The two storyboards attached document the operation. If your Devil works, don't fix it--this vacation really took a lot of time and patience!
?
The third pic compares my version to another available version (I think this is Dick G's version). I believe the latter version is superior and preferable due to more reliable ground connection--but see cautionary note!
?
Best, --David KM6RI
<Alternate Versions.JPG> <Storyboard 1.JPG> <Storyboard 2.JPG>
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The David-izing is complete, and I am happy to report that the operation has been a success (at least I think so, pending next ops checkout). The two storyboards attached document the operation. If your Devil works, don't fix it--this vacation really took a lot of time and patience!
?
The third pic compares my version to another available version (I think this is Dick G's version). I believe the latter version is superior and preferable due to more reliable ground connection--but see cautionary note!
?
Best, --David KM6RI
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Nature, Manna and Chowhound
The WX forecast c. Friday morning indicated a minimal chance of rain, so I packed my radio gear and bike and headed to Baylands. It would not be so: upon arrival at the ops site, raindrops began to fall. Headstrong, I decided to take my chances with nature, and set up on the newer picnic bench. I had my IC703 (10W) and Alpha Loop (the previous commercial antenna that I debugged).?
As raindrops began to fall, I placed the plastic bag with the '703 accessories as a shield atop the radio and tuned to 20M (10M was hot, but Hiroki's transmit energy was a bit intense). Murphy was absent (deterred by the rain?) and my equipment worked beautifully. The Alpha Loop tuned smoothly and the '703 autotuner functioned gracefully. Without optimizing the loop's azimuth, made contacts in Paso Robles and North Dakota (POTA), the latter about 1700 mi. I was quite happy that my gear was working; I love it when stuff just works!?
?
The most interesting contact was with special event station VB7MAN, near Vancouver BC (~1K mi). They were commemorating operations Manna and Chowhound, which toward the end of WWII involved the RAF and allied forces dropping food supplies to the starving population of German-occupied Netherlands. You can find background info, a video and a link to a special website at the URL below (QSL Dave C?). I believe they are still OTA, check the link to confirm, and seek them OTA!?
?
As the rain intensified, I took mercy on my equipment and packed up and sheltered in my car. After saying 73 to Hiroki and Howard, and after the rain let up, I broke out my bike and did my usual tour to Shoreline Lake and back. Rain was mild starting out, but intensified around Shoreline. Actually saw a few other cyclists. Saw some phombie walkers, who wiped raindrops from their phone screens as they satisfying their surfing addictions. Thankfully I was able to prevent mud from decorating the back of my water-repellant jacket. Despite the non-optimal WX, it was a good day.?
?
Best, --David KM6RI
----------------------------------------
https://www.qrz.com/db/VB7MAN
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Re: Appeal from a guy who lives a long way from Baylands
Hiroki, you are my hero again!? Perfect for me.? Just what I needed. Thank you.
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Re: Appeal from a guy who lives a long way from Baylands
A brief summary.
Howard, Paul Simon, David Varn, Oliver and Hiroki were at lunch, fewer than usual. Howard, David and Hiroki went to the field after lunch. Rain started with a few drops but soon which turned into a ?drizzle. David stayed out in rain and continued to operate at a picnic table. Howard and Hiroki operated from inside their respective vehicles, Howard with an AX2 antenna situated next to his Tesla, Hiroki with his delta loop attached to the back of his SUV. ?Hiroki¡¯s antenna is bi-directional pointing to JA/VK/ZL and South America.?
20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 were all open; 10 was very robust with South America and JA, VK, ZL coming in loud after 3pm or so. Hiroki had SSB QSOs with VK, ZL, LU, PY and JA back to back. Howard operated FT8. I know David had some contacts but I will let him fill in his record.
73, Hiroki AH6CY?
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On Apr 26, 2025, at 09:08, Doug Hendricks via groups.io <ki6ds1@...> wrote:
? [Edited Message Follows]
Every Week I read about who is going to show up for lunch and then play radio at Baylands.? It reminds me how much I miss going there on Friday and sharing time with all of you.? I learned tons of things every week from you guys.?
?
I have a request.? Could someone take it upon themselves to write a brief report of who was there, and what rigs and antennas were operated?? I? would die to know that.? I'm sure others who can't make it are interested too.
?
Is this possible?? Doug from far off Fresno.
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Re: Appeal from a guy who lives a long way from Baylands
Yeah, me too!? Very interested to hear about who, condx, qsos, antenna experiments, etc.? really miss getting out there regularly.? Cliff K6CLS
On April 26, 2025 9:08:34 AM PDT, "Doug Hendricks via groups.io" <ki6ds1@...> wrote:
[Edited Message Follows]
Every Week I read about who is going to show up for lunch and then play radio at Baylands.? It reminds me how much I miss going there on Friday and sharing time with all of you.? I learned tons of things every week from you guys.?
?
I have a request.? Could someone take it upon themselves to write a brief report of who was there, and what rigs and antennas were operated?? I? would die to know that.? I'm sure others who can't make it are interested too.
?
Is this possible?? Doug from far off Fresno.
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Appeal from a guy who lives a long way from Baylands
Every Week I read about who is going to show up for lunch and then play radio at Baylands.? It reminds me how much I miss going there on Friday and sharing time with all of you.? I learned tons of things every week from you guys.?
?
I have a request.? Could someone take it upon themselves to write a brief report of who was there, and what rigs and antennas were operated?? I? would die to know that.? I'm sure others who can't make it are interested too.
?
Is this possible?? Doug from far off Fresno.
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Cliff, I will update after post-David-izing checkout.
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I'll be there tomorrow.
73, Oliver KB6BA
Glad you mentioned the FARs meeting Dick I had planned on going but forgot. I will be at the meeting, not sure about lunch or ops.?
Joy
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Good diagnosis!
So you're happy with the telescoping sections of the whip antenna?? They make sufficient contact even when retracted?
On April 24, 2025 7:28:41 PM PDT, "David via groups.io" <dkvarn@...> wrote:
My curiosity compelled me to take the barrel apart, results in the pix. Poor practice: very short and narrow screws holding the SO-239, not very tight (out of necessity I believe, as the plastic seems quite fragile and would surely strip otherwise). Probably barely sufficient to hold the SO-239 in place.?
?
Lug strips used for connections to end sockets, secured without locknuts; one screw was pretty loose. Unbelievably, the shield side relies basically on point contact between the SO-239 body and a lug strip. Probably dissimilar metals (tinned copper lug vs. nickel-plated brass SO-239?). ?If this was not causing a (the?) problem, it eventually would.?
?
The center connection lug was formed in a "Z" to enable the SO-239 to be inserted after soldering. I understand that sharp bends in connections are not good for RF impedance control--yes?
?
Despite the poor construction, I like this thing and want to "David-ize" it. Planning to replace the lugs used with short lugs and stranded wires (soldered to the SO-239 body on the shield side). Could use braid instead of the wire.?
?
Thoughts / ideas? Thanks, --David KM6RI
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Interesting pictures.? I haven't taken mine apart (yet), but it
is slightly different because the ground lug extends beyond the
SO-239.? This lets me know which way is up with the barrel and
possibly lead to a little better connection.? Dave C's barrel
doesn't have the extending lug either.
I don't know if I'm going to make it out tomorrow, but if I do,
we could do some A/B comparisons between our two barrels.
Dick K6PBF
On 4/24/2025 7:28 PM, David via
groups.io wrote:
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My curiosity compelled me to take the barrel apart, results
in the pix. Poor practice: very short and narrow screws
holding the SO-239, not very tight (out of necessity I
believe, as the plastic seems quite fragile and would surely
strip otherwise). Probably barely sufficient to hold the
SO-239 in place.?
?
Lug strips used for connections to end sockets, secured
without locknuts; one screw was pretty loose. Unbelievably,
the shield side relies basically on point contact between the
SO-239 body and a lug strip. Probably dissimilar metals
(tinned copper lug vs. nickel-plated brass SO-239?). ?If this
was not causing a (the?) problem, it eventually would.?
?
The center connection lug was formed in a "Z" to enable the
SO-239 to be inserted after soldering. I understand that sharp
bends in connections are not good for RF impedance
control--yes?
?
Despite the poor construction, I like this thing and want
to "David-ize" it. Planning to replace the lugs used with
short lugs and stranded wires (soldered to the SO-239 body on
the shield side). Could use braid instead of the wire.?
?
Thoughts / ideas? Thanks, --David KM6RI
|
Dave, I am really glad you did this and posted pictures. I really appreciate having the images illustrating, poor construction, and a little commentary about the consequences. ? and then how you think you could improve it. ?
I hope you will update with pictures after you've modified it to your satisfaction!
best, Connie W6EFI
On Thu, Apr 24, 2025 at 19:28, David via groups.io < dkvarn@...> wrote:
My curiosity compelled me to take the barrel apart, results in the pix. Poor practice: very short and narrow screws holding the SO-239, not very tight (out of necessity I believe, as the plastic seems quite fragile and would surely strip otherwise). Probably barely sufficient to hold the SO-239 in place.?
?
Lug strips used for connections to end sockets, secured without locknuts; one screw was pretty loose. Unbelievably, the shield side relies basically on point contact between the SO-239 body and a lug strip. Probably dissimilar metals (tinned copper lug vs. nickel-plated brass SO-239?). ?If this was not causing a (the?) problem, it eventually would.?
?
The center connection lug was formed in a "Z" to enable the SO-239 to be inserted after soldering. I understand that sharp bends in connections are not good for RF impedance control--yes?
?
Despite the poor construction, I like this thing and want to "David-ize" it. Planning to replace the lugs used with short lugs and stranded wires (soldered to the SO-239 body on the shield side). Could use braid instead of the wire.?
?
Thoughts / ideas? Thanks, --David KM6RI
--
Connie KN2EFI
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My curiosity compelled me to take the barrel apart, results in the pix. Poor practice: very short and narrow screws holding the SO-239, not very tight (out of necessity I believe, as the plastic seems quite fragile and would surely strip otherwise). Probably barely sufficient to hold the SO-239 in place.?
?
Lug strips used for connections to end sockets, secured without locknuts; one screw was pretty loose. Unbelievably, the shield side relies basically on point contact between the SO-239 body and a lug strip. Probably dissimilar metals (tinned copper lug vs. nickel-plated brass SO-239?). ?If this was not causing a (the?) problem, it eventually would.?
?
The center connection lug was formed in a "Z" to enable the SO-239 to be inserted after soldering. I understand that sharp bends in connections are not good for RF impedance control--yes?
?
Despite the poor construction, I like this thing and want to "David-ize" it. Planning to replace the lugs used with short lugs and stranded wires (soldered to the SO-239 body on the shield side). Could use braid instead of the wire.?
?
Thoughts / ideas? Thanks, --David KM6RI
|
Glad you mentioned the FARs meeting Dick I had planned on going but forgot. I will be at the meeting, not sure about lunch or ops.?
Joy
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We are on grand kid babysitting duty which limits the day.? I might make it out later in the afternoon to the Baylands and am planning to go to the FARS meeting. Dick K6PBF
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On 4/23/2025 4:45 PM, Hiroki Kato wrote: I plan to be at the Baylands starting with lunch followed by ops.
Hiroki AH6CY
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I am dying to see you all again, but after a nasty eye infection kept me down for nearly two months, I rolled my ankle this week!? Six x-rays today, and I'll be down again for a while.
I'll be there in spirit.? Have fun! 73, Eric NF6S
ex WD6DBM
?
On Wed, Apr 23, 2025 at 4:45 PM, Hiroki Kato <hiroki@...> wrote: I plan to be at the Baylands starting with lunch followed by ops.
Hiroki AH6CY
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I plan to be at the Baylands starting with lunch followed by ops.
Hiroki AH6CY
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David,
One of the common causes of SWR's sudden change while seemingly everything appears to be correctly connected is a faulty connection inside the PL259. I have had this problem more than once in the past. I know you say you tried different coax cables. But just in case, try to open up the PL259 and see they are alright.
Hiroki AH6CY
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On Apr 21, 2025, at 9:36 AM, Cliff Sojourner K6CLS via < cls@...> wrote:
Hi David,
I bet the change in swr is from the telescoping antenna.? The untelescoped (retracted) sections make poor to intermittent contact as it rattles in the wind.? I have done this before ;)
Pull out each section just a little bit, so they are grabbed - feel the friction of the crimp at the end of the enclosing section - then adjust as desired for length.
That little red cylinder looks like like it is just an SO239 to 3/8" x 24 adapter.? Dual, one side for the coax braid, one side for the coax center.? Can you check its connections with your VOM?
Cliff K6CLS On April 21, 2025 1:36:37 AM PDT, "David via ?" < dkvarn@...> wrote: Antennas, that is, my name (trademark pending) for the popular (at least among our group) simple vertical antenna kits. I have a couple of related questions (see at bottom) but will first provide some background.?These are advertised as 14-30 MHz 1/4 wave, 16.4 ft. length of both stainless telescoping whip and counterpoise (see pix). Strangely, they are advertised as QRP but rated 300W. I bought mine via Amazon, and it arrived in time for me to try it out at Baylands Friday (report below). An OK deal IMO at about $44 (much less on AliExpress?et al., but I didn't want to touch them for reasons discussed). Mine came in a plastic bag; jealous of Dave C.'s unit, which came in a nice cardboard box. ? Intending to operate 10M, I extended the whip and counterpoise to about half length, elevated the counterpoise with help from a cooperative plant. ~1.6 VSWR at about 25 MHz. This allowed the '703 autotuner to converge on 10M, though with plenty of exercise for the tuner relays. 10M was hot--S. America and VK-land boomed in, however they would strangely cut in and out. The MFJ 259b similarly showed the VSWR suddenly going from 1.6 to >10:1. Tightened connections, no change. Substituted coax, no change. Repeated several times and it seemed to settle down. Managed to work Chile, and though it was with some difficulty and I got a 5/1, I was happy. No other contacts, though I heard British Virgin Is. on 12M; on to the bike tour (WX was beautiful). Got home, checked the coax and the red barrel and counterpoise connections, all of which seemed OK.? ? Questions: * Any owners tried disassembling the red barrel? I'd like to do so for a visual, but don't want to break it.? * Can anybody recommend some type of inexpensive transport case, maybe a music instrument case? You can get an idea of the size from the pic. I think a flute case would be too small. ? Thanks, and best, --David KM6RI
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There was a article a few months ago pointing out that stainless steel is a terrible material for antennas.
The DC resistance is much higher than copper or aluminum. The magnetic properties significantly reduce the skin depth making the total losses much higher than other metals.
That said, most portable antennas use stainless and talk up the mechanical ruggedness but don't compare electrical performance with similar antenna made from other metals.
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Hi David,
I bet the change in swr is from the telescoping antenna.? The untelescoped (retracted) sections make poor to intermittent contact as it rattles in the wind.? I have done this before ;)
Pull out each section just a little bit, so they are grabbed - feel the friction of the crimp at the end of the enclosing section - then adjust as desired for length.
That little red cylinder looks like like it is just an SO239 to 3/8" x 24 adapter.? Dual, one side for the coax braid, one side for the coax center.? Can you check its connections with your VOM?
Cliff K6CLS
On April 21, 2025 1:36:37 AM PDT, "David via groups.io" <dkvarn@...> wrote:
Antennas, that is, my name (trademark pending) for the popular (at least among our group) simple vertical antenna kits. I have a couple of related questions (see at bottom) but will first provide some background.?These are advertised as 14-30 MHz 1/4 wave, 16.4 ft. length of both stainless telescoping whip and counterpoise (see pix). Strangely, they are advertised as QRP but rated 300W. I bought mine via Amazon, and it arrived in time for me to try it out at Baylands Friday (report below). An OK deal IMO at about $44 (much less on AliExpress et al., but I didn't want to touch them for reasons discussed). Mine came in a plastic bag; jealous of Dave C.'s unit, which came in a nice cardboard box.
?
Intending to operate 10M, I extended the whip and counterpoise to about half length, elevated the counterpoise with help from a cooperative plant. ~1.6 VSWR at about 25 MHz. This allowed the '703 autotuner to converge on 10M, though with plenty of exercise for the tuner relays. 10M was hot--S. America and VK-land boomed in, however they would strangely cut in and out. The MFJ 259b similarly showed the VSWR suddenly going from 1.6 to >10:1. Tightened connections, no change. Substituted coax, no change. Repeated several times and it seemed to settle down. Managed to work Chile, and though it was with some difficulty and I got a 5/1, I was happy. No other contacts, though I heard British Virgin Is. on 12M; on to the bike tour (WX was beautiful). Got home, checked the coax and the red barrel and counterpoise connections, all of which seemed OK.?
?
Questions:
* Any owners tried disassembling the red barrel? I'd like to do so for a visual, but don't want to break it.?
* Can anybody recommend some type of inexpensive transport case, maybe a music instrument case? You can get an idea of the size from the pic. I think a flute case would be too small.
?
Thanks, and best, --David KM6RI
|
David
Cliff Sojourner K6CLS
