ft817@groups.io | Messages

Re: receive above 154 mHZ

David McMillan

At 09:12 PM 5/24/01 +0000, you wrote:
Wouldn't it be simpler just to use a dedicated NOAA receiver?

Julian, G4ILOThe issue is weight for me. I'd currently carry the ft-817 and my vx5r , using the vx5r for weather which it has done a good job of in the past. But it does weigh a bit. I don't know how much a dedicated weather receiver would weigh. Some backpackers measure their load out in grams.
Other people have wanted other ranges besides NOAA above 154mhz so a broader receiver would be more useful I'm guessing.
Dave-

Re: amplifier

[email protected]

#6929

--- In FT817@y..., "Steve Howell" <AB8JC@y...> wrote:

thinking of getting the filter kit for the power-MOSFET amp in the 
ARRL Handbook and using the rig's ACC band data output for an 
automatic switch.  A'course, I'll be using an antenna "tuner" with 
it, so that'll also help cut down on spurious emissions.
A word of caution - if there is no filtering on the output section 
and with the meter right after it, the measured SWR will read 
incorrect (high, I think) based on the harmonic power level and the 
line sampler's frequency respone.  In other words, you should not 
adjust the SWR with the amp turned on.

Good luck, and please drop us a note on your success!

tom
wa2phw

Amplifier

Gavin Stirling

#6928

I was in my local dealers in Ealing, West London and they are a pretty
switched on bunch.

They've been told that an add on amplifier will be available shortly.

Maybe it is being made only for use outside the US?

All I need to do now is buy one, importing still looks quite a good option!

Gav
G0WDD
GM0WDD in exile (c;

Re: "Little yellow book"

[email protected]

#6927

I also picked up the little yellow book at Dayton, and am pleased with
it.  I should have picked up the Z11 and One Button tune gizmo there,
as well, but was overloaded and overwhelmed.  I've since ordered that,
and saw the yellow book on the web site.  I WAS NOT able to use their
web page for ordering, since it failed in sevral different ways for me
within 24 hours.

And speaking of Z11's, was it here, or on the QRP list that someone
mentioned putting a toroid balun inside the Z11 case?  

My current idea for very portable antenna system is two of the six
foot RS whips, mounted in horizontal or V dipole style, fed with
parallel wires, using anything from some surplus twinlead antenna wire
that looks a bit like zip cord or 300 ohm twinlead, to homemade open
wire.  That would fit inside a hotel window, or hang outside the
window, or be attached to a field-expedient pole.  It wouldn't be very
efficient, but would be quick and flexible, especially when driven by
a balun equipped automatic tuner.

73, doug

Re: "Little yellow book"

#6926

I got mine from W4RT Electronics at the Dayton Hamvention.  I believe it is
available on their website (www.w4rt.com)  which has on-line ordering.  The
price is $9.95 and well worth it IMHO.

72,

Bill
W4RK
Nashville, TN
USA

Show quoted text

----- Original Message -----
From: <ka4lbd@...>
To: <FT817@...>
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2001 3:49 PM
Subject: [FT817] "Little yellow book"

To W4RK regarding the little yellow book you memtioned in posting
#6740 - is it still available?  Where did you get it?

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Re: receive above 154 mHZ

[email protected]

#6925

Wouldn't it be simpler just to use a dedicated NOAA receiver?

Julian, G4ILO

--- In FT817@y..., David McMillan <davemc@E...> wrote:

Lack of NOAA weather is one of my sticking points as well on purchase. If 
some people have suggestions on where to start making a Rx down converter 
it be willing to try and report. If other people want to try or conspire in 
such a thing lets start a new thread on this list.

Dave-

Re: MP-1 Mobile/Portable/Pedestrian SuperAntenna for FT-817

[email protected]

#6924

But this goes completely against the accepted advice for installing a 
vertical in a home or mobile situation. You should always use the 
best possible ground. A couple of people on the Elecraft list have 
both said they got much better results coupling the antenna ground to 
some corrugated iron or similar. Not very portable, admittedly, but 
it does demonstrate that to get good results from a high Q antenna 
you need a good ground system, not a poor one.

The system you are describing sounds to me like you are using the MP-
1 and its counterpoise like two halves of a dipole, with one half 
trailing on the ground. That may be the compromise you have to adopt 
if you insist on being able to move along while operating but I have 
no desire to do that. I would much prefer to be able to have an 
effective ground plane system so that all the RF energy goes into the 
vertical element. Unfortunately, it seems that more than 4 10ft 
radials are necessary to achieve that. Nevertheless, when I bought 
the MP-1 I thought I was buying a vertical, not half a wonky dipole.

Julian, G4ILO

--- In FT817@y..., "KQ6XA" <xtalradio@a...> wrote:

Yes. A proper portable or pedestrian counterpoise contributes equally 
to the radiation of a whip. Therefore, it is "hot".
This is good.

However, if you don't like current delivered to your counterpoise, you 
can replace the antenna with a 50 ohm resistor :-)

Bonnie KQ6XA

Re: QRP ARCI information

#6923

I'd like to add that I have purchased the two most recent issues of the QRP
ARCI Quarterly Magazine and was very surprised to find such an extremely
high level of professionalism shown in the diversity of topics and editorial
standards of content and appearance.  The in-depth review of the 817 was
extremely well done.  Lots of excellent technical articles, plus coverage of
QRP contests, and a nice article about QRP in the UK written by a G-ham.
The "International" in ARCI seems to be for real.  QRP-related advertising,
calendar of events, and it goes on and on.  The QRP ARCI booth at the Dayton
Hamvention was also well done and usually had a large crowd of
enthusiasists.  My membership application is in the mail.

72,

Bill
W4RK
Nashville, TN
USA

Show quoted text

----- Original Message -----
From: <w4qo@...>
To: <FT817@...>
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2001 3:36 PM
Subject: [FT817] QRP ARCI information

Folks,

I have been very impressed with the 817 list.  This is what ham radio
is all about IMHO.

I did however want to mention a very closely allied group that you may
or may not be familiar with - the QRP Amateur Radio Club
International.

We have been in existence for 40 years now and we are devoted to low
power (useful in the 'field') and in homebrew (to get that weight
down). In fact, we recently held our sixth Four Days in May
conference in conjunction with the Dayton Hamvention.  There were
'817s all over the motel!  We had about 400 folks attend some part of
the 4 days of activities and this was 10 miles from the hamvention!
We publish a quarterly magazine which I feel you would enjoy.  It
runs 68 pages per quarter in 8.5x11 format.

We have many other activities/awards/fun in our international club
with almost 11,000 members now.  We'd like to invite you to be one of
our members if you're not already.  Come visit our guest entrance web
page at:     Then from there
you can browse around the site.  I'd like to see some '817 List' news
in our magazine.  If you have some, please feel free to send to our
editor at: craigwb@...

If I may answer any questions, please let me know or post some to the
list.  I'm sure others who are members of QRP ARCI will be glad to
answer.  Subscription rates/PayPal/who to send to/etc are all over the
web site.

72,

--
Jim Stafford, W4QO@...  770-993-9500
President - QRP ARCI   

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
FT817-unsubscribe@... and for a great FAQ ( Frequently AskedQuestions ) see 

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Re: receive above 154 mHZ

Dave B

#6922

I too would have liked the extra coverage for wx, but, as a substitute I can almost always find a local FM broadcast station from where ever I've been and get local wx.

Dave

From: "Pres Waterman" <pres@...>
Reply-To: FT817@...
To: <FT817@...>
Subject: Re: [FT817] RE: receive above 154 mHZ
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 15:42:49 -0400

Lack of NOAA weather is one of my sticking points as well on purchase. If
some people have suggestions on where to start making a Rx down converter
it be willing to try and report. If other people want to try or conspirein
such a thing lets start a new thread on this list.
Yaesu, of all makers, had some sort of VHF to short-wave converter. I have
one somewhere. I used it on a FT-767 to convert NOAA down to 22.475MHz on a
remote base.

Anyway, the idea of building a small converter with a NE-602 mixer strikes
me as doable, with perhaps a 10m ( FM mode ) IF. Going from 162 to 146 seems
a little risky from the image standpoint, although the LO crystal would be
reasonable.

But at many airports there is a weather broadcast on the AM/Aircraft band.
Look for it by scanning. They give temperature, dew point, barometer
readings, and of course bird warnings.

Not a horrible substitute

Thanks

Pres Waterman W2PW
c/o Patchogue Motors, Inc.
Long Island Ford and Kia dealer

GO BILLS!
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at 

"Little yellow book"

[email protected]

#6921

To W4RK regarding the little yellow book you memtioned in posting 
#6740 - is it still available?  Where did you get it?

Re: amplifier

#6920

Well, I can tell you, because I have tried it, that my Ten-Tec Hercules II
solid state linear will produce about 150 watts output when driven by the
FT-817. So far I have used it only once to snag one DX QSO in a heavy pile
up on 20 SSB. Much to my own surprise, 5 watts is usually more than
sufficient and I have made a few DX QSO's at 500MW! I never thought I would
be a QRP'er but the FT-817 has turned my head :-)

The specs say that the Herc II requires 50 watts for full output, but in
fact it's less. 35-40 (depending on the band) watts runs it full tilt at
about 550 watts output. Given the 50 watt minimum rule, I'm not sure how
Ten-Tec got away with that. Maybe because it's not a 1500 watt linear?

----
73, Rich - W3ZJ

Show quoted text

-----Original Message-----
  From: w4wb@... [mailto:w4wb@...]
  Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2001 7:42 AM
  To: FT817@...
  Subject: [FT817] Re: amplifier

  Hi Jeffrey,

  The applicable rules are 97.315 and 97.317 plus a few referred
  rules.  In short, 97.317 says that an EXTERNAL RF HF amp must require
  NLT 50 W drive to produce its full rated output.  You may use such an
  amp and drive it with the 817, e.g., if you have a Yaesu Quadra, then
  the output will be 50 W.  (Of course the Quadra is $4,000.)

  In the US, a docking station would be considered an external amp.
  Not allowed.  You may build one amp per year, but not from a kit.  If
  you find an amp to buy, it is OK to buy, own and operate (as long as
  you comply with the emission rules) regardless of the source.  For
  example, THP can not legally sell its amp in the US or ship it to the
  US, but it OK for you to buy it and own it.

  And yes, all of these oddities are the result of the CB problem of
  the late 70's.

  Don't look to Yaesu for an expanded top cover or such.  The thermal
  design of the 817 simply would not support the added dissipation.
  The 817 was designed as a QRP rig (with the capability to interface
  to an external amp -- see the ACC jack legend on the schematic).

  I note that these rules apply in the US and not necessarily in other
  countries.  FWIW, I estimate that presently about 40% of the FT-817
  are owned by non-US hams.

  72 de Barry - W4WB

  --- In FT817@y..., "Jeffrey Steinberg" <jeffreys@c...> wrote:
  > I think this is illegal, per FCC.  A radio has to load an amp with
  a minimum
  > of 50 watts.  Its a rule
  > that came out, if I remember right, in the 1970's so that CB
  linears would
  > be harder to come by.
  >
  > My friend, K2ACB asked Yaesu about this (apparently there used to
  be a
  > similar Yaesu amp a number
  > of years back) and the guy at Dayton gave the reason above.
  >
  > Don't hold your breath in the U.S.
  >
  > Dave, not sure where you are, though.
  >
  > --jeffrey steinberg, K2MIT
  >   -----Original Message-----
  >   From: Dave B [mailto:dave756pro@h...]
  >   Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2001 8:13 AM
  >   To: FT817@y...
  >   Subject: [FT817] amplifier
  >
  >
  >   Anyone have ideas on a docking station to be released by Yaesu
  with
  >   amplifier?
  >
  >   Dave
  >   _________________________________________________________________
  >   Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at 
  >
  >
  >         Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
  >           www.
  >
  >
  >
  >
  >
  >
  >   To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
  >   FT817-unsubscribe@... and for a great FAQ ( Frequently
  Asked
  > Questions ) see 
  >
  >
  >
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QRP ARCI information

[email protected]

#6918

Folks,

I have been very impressed with the 817 list.  This is what ham radio 
is all about IMHO.

I did however want to mention a very closely allied group that you may
or may not be familiar with - the QRP Amateur Radio Club 
International.

We have been in existence for 40 years now and we are devoted to low
power (useful in the 'field') and in homebrew (to get that weight 
down). In fact, we recently held our sixth Four Days in May
conference in conjunction with the Dayton Hamvention.  There were 
'817s all over the motel!  We had about 400 folks attend some part of 
the 4 days of activities and this was 10 miles from the hamvention!  
We publish a quarterly magazine which I feel you would enjoy.  It
runs 68 pages per quarter in 8.5x11 format.

We have many other activities/awards/fun in our international club 
with almost 11,000 members now.  We'd like to invite you to be one of 
our members if you're not already.  Come visit our guest entrance web 
page at:     Then from there 
you can browse around the site.  I'd like to see some '817 List' news 
in our magazine.  If you have some, please feel free to send to our 
editor at: craigwb@...

If I may answer any questions, please let me know or post some to the
list.  I'm sure others who are members of QRP ARCI will be glad to
answer.  Subscription rates/PayPal/who to send to/etc are all over the
web site.

72,

--
Jim Stafford, W4QO@...  770-993-9500
President - QRP ARCI   

Re: Fw: MP-1

#6917

Interesting point.  Anyone know exactly what the Power Output setting 
of the meter is actually reading?  

<snip>
Hmm. I wonder how faithful an indication of power out this is into a non 50 ohm load? Many indicators just work on voltage, which is not 
reliable with mismatched loads.

Julian, G4ILO

Re: QRP ARCI information

Pres Waterman

#6919

you can browse around the site.  I'd like to see some '817 List' news 
in our magazine.  If you have some, please feel free to send to our 
I give you permission to quote whatever you read here in your magazine

Thanks

Pres Waterman W2PW
c/o Patchogue Motors, Inc.
Long Island Ford and Kia dealer

GO BILLS!

Re: MP-1 Mobile/Portable/Pedestrian SuperAntenna for FT-817

#6914

Don W6ZO writes:
I also aggree with Bonnie that the HF Pack group may be
more helpful to you, as this is more of an issue for 
that group then the 817 
specifically - but watch out Bonnie - Pres is going to accuse you of 
trying to steal members -   ;)Well, Don, I don't think either moderator Pres W2PW or co-moderator 
Barry W4WB would mind it a bit if we put this thread somewhere else... 
:-)
As far as stealing members from FT817 to HFPack goes... there seems 
to be little risk of that... the two groups have a big percentage of 
members in common already. In fact, the moderators of each group are 
"frequent flyers" on each others groups...

Bonnie KQ6XA
(just another FT817 op here)

Re: MP-1 Mobile/Portable/Pedestrian SuperAntenna for FT-817

Pres Waterman

#6916

Don W6ZO writes:
I also aggree with Bonnie that the HF Pack group may be
more helpful to you, as this is more of an issue for 
that group then the 817 
specifically - but watch out Bonnie - Pres is going to accuse you of 
trying to steal members -   ;)Hah! I missed this little tidbit the first time around!


Well, Don, I don't think either moderator Pres W2PW or co-moderator 
Barry W4WB would mind it a bit if we put this thread somewhere else... 
:-)
As far as stealing members from FT817 to HFPack goes... there seems 
to be little risk of that... the two groups have a big percentage of 
members in common already. In fact, the moderators of each group are 
"frequent flyers" on each others groups...

Bonnie KQ6XA
(just another FT817 op here)
Awwwww shucks, ma'am! Jus' doin' our jobs ya know

Thanks

Pres Waterman W2PW
c/o Patchogue Motors, Inc.
Long Island Ford and Kia dealer

GO BILLS!

ARRLWeb Dayton Hamvention 2001 A Very Good Year

Pres Waterman

#6915

A nice write up on Dayton, with a good mention of our little darling radio

Thanks

Pres Waterman W2PW
c/o Patchogue Motors, Inc.
Long Island Ford and Kia dealer

GO BILLS!

Re: receive above 154 mHZ

David McMillan

#6912

Lack of NOAA weather is one of my sticking points as well on purchase. If some people have suggestions on where to start making a Rx down converter it be willing to try and report. If other people want to try or conspire in such a thing lets start a new thread on this list.

Dave-

Show quoted text

At 01:24 PM 5/24/01 -0500, you wrote:

I too would appreciate NWS capability on 162 MHz.  However, from the Dayton
buzz, I understand that this radio was designed for the Japanese market with
no thought that it would ever be sold in the USA.  In fact, it was also
stated that it was only through the concerted pleadings of Yaesu America
staffers that this rig was even considered for the US market as an
afterthought.  As they say, the rest is history.  Apparently Yaesu Japan was
the most surprised of everyone about the success of this radio.  If we would
have had to wait for a re-engineering to get 162 MHz,  I would rather have
the 817 sooner than later.  My workaround is my small HT which does a good
job on all the 162 MHz freqs.

72,

Bill
W4RK
Nashville, TN
USA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Curtis, Tony" <acurtis@...>
To: <FT817@...>
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2001 11:54 AM
Subject: [FT817] RE: receive above 154 mHZ

I never would trash this lovely little radio, but my initial reaction to
working with it was incredulity that someone would design a perfect rigfor
backpacking in wilderness areas and leave out the highly-necessary 162 MHz
NOAA wx stations. Truly an odd omission in this bandspread plan.

--Tony  K3RXK

k3rxk@... <mailto:k3rxk@...>

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Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to

Re: receive above 154 mHZ

Pres Waterman

#6913

Lack of NOAA weather is one of my sticking points as well on purchase. If
some people have suggestions on where to start making a Rx down converter
it be willing to try and report. If other people want to try or conspirein
such a thing lets start a new thread on this list.
Yaesu, of all makers, had some sort of VHF to short-wave converter. I have
one somewhere. I used it on a FT-767 to convert NOAA down to 22.475MHz on a
remote base.

Anyway, the idea of building a small converter with a NE-602 mixer strikes
me as doable, with perhaps a 10m ( FM mode ) IF. Going from 162 to 146 seems
a little risky from the image standpoint, although the LO crystal would be
reasonable.

But at many airports there is a weather broadcast on the AM/Aircraft band.
Look for it by scanning. They give temperature, dew point, barometer
readings, and of course bird warnings.

Not a horrible substitute

Thanks

Pres Waterman W2PW
c/o Patchogue Motors, Inc.
Long Island Ford and Kia dealer

GO BILLS!

Re: MP-1 Mobile/Portable/Pedestrian SuperAntenna for FT-817

#6911

Julian G4ILO wrote:
 
 All it seems to do is make the shield of the feeder and 
hence the radio itself "hot" with RF. If this does improve the 
radiated signal, presumably through radiation from the feeder and 
counterpoise......Yes. A proper portable or pedestrian counterpoise contributes equally 
to the radiation of a whip. Therefore, it is "hot".
This is good.

However, if you don't like current delivered to your counterpoise, you 
can replace the antenna with a 50 ohm resistor :-)

Bonnie KQ6XA

开云体育