I wanted to do something to improve my Station performance on 160m, so I thought a Receive Antenna would be the way to go. Everyone tells me that you need a decent RX Antenna for 160m, because you can not expect much on the RX side, from a 160m dipole. The dipole is sure to... Continue Reading →
Getting into the Game on 160 meters
I have slowly been adding 160 meter Band capability to my Station, mainly in some recent contests. With sunspots so low, and the high HF Bands suffering badly as a result, this seems like a good time to do some work on the Low Bands. I have started trying some antennas and have been able... Continue Reading →
AntDecoder Testing and Logic Levels
I have been asked about the progress of the AntDecoder project. I have been working with a prototype PC board along with a 2X6 Antenna switch. The antenna switch is a homebrew model made by Mike, K4GMH. Mike was kind enough to provide the switch at minimal cost and also has supported this effort with... Continue Reading →
Important N1MM+ Antenna Config Changes
I just installed the latest version on N1MM+. I have been looking at using the Antenna Data provided by N1MM+ for controlling my antenna switching. In the latest version, the Change Log shows two changes that were made to the Antenna Configuration table: Alt-F9: Fix issue with 1.8 and 3.5 in Antenna table when country/locale... Continue Reading →
Updating FTDX-3000 Firmware
I finally decided it was time to update my FTDX-3000 to the latest Firmware. Yaesu has been good about making updates available for this Rig. Recent updates have greatly improved the spectral display including adding a nice waterfall below it, and added access to the 5 MHz Band using the Band buttons on the front... Continue Reading →
Hints – Using the ICOM IC-7600 on RTTY with N1MM+ and MMTTY
I keep seeing people having trouble with this setup. Every time I go to RTTY Mode, something is not working. It seems that some of the parameters in MMTTY and in the Radio keep resetting themselves. There are some other posts on this blog that may help, but here are a few reminders. Mode -... Continue Reading →
Using N1MM+ Serial (OTRSP) Data for Two-radio Antenna Switching
I have been investigating ways to automatically switch antennas in a 2-Radio (SO2R) station for use in Contesting. Using multiple antennas is nearly a must for HF contesting, including Yagis, Veticals, and any of a variety of wire antennas. When working a Contest, Band Switching is a key time-waster, and steps need to be taken... Continue Reading →
First Trial of Horizontal Loop
I installed a prototype 40m Horizontal loop for testing in a recent contest. This was a test to see if a low-elevation loop would be useful for NVIS propagation, as I was trying to maximize the number of close-in stations I could work. If it showed promise, it might be something I would use for... Continue Reading →
Trying an HF Horizontal Loop Antenna
I was looking for a new antenna to try this weekend. I will be in the NAQP CW Contest and there will be many stations active across the US, Canada, and hopefully some DX. I have been thinking about a Loop antenna for some time. My main use for it initially will be as an... Continue Reading →
DXDUSB Instructions
I have started to create some instructions for installing the DXDUSB. Go to the DXDUSB Page on this Blog (from the Top-level) and you will find a Link to the Instructions File. This is a work in progress, and will be updated frequently. For now, it mainly provides details on how to get the needed... Continue Reading →
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