I was operating my remote-access Elecraft K2 last week in a short Contest. In the past, I had to wait as much as 1-3 seconds for a single up/down change in operating frequency on Ham Radio Deluxe. This night, it suddenly became very responsive. I no longer wait, in fact I can now make very quick... Continue Reading →
K2 PTT-line is Tied to Key Line – AGAIN!
As I found out before, the Elecraft K2 uses the same signal line for PTT input and for one of the Key lines (dit I think). This is a royal pain when integrating into a more complex arrangement such as a computer controlled station, or an SO2R contest station. In these configurations, you are likely... Continue Reading →
Finally on-the-air with Remote Station
After working on configuring my Elecraft K2 for remote operation. I am finally on-the-air. I had been using it in receive-only mode while I completed a "dead-man" timer, that would shutdown the transmitter if I ever lose my Internet connection while in transmit mode. This is required by the FCC. It turns out, that remote... Continue Reading →
IC-7600 Antenna Tuner Testing
I did a bit of testing with 2 wire antennas this weekend. Here is a summary of the results, which I also posted to the IC-7600 e-mail reflector: The antennas: 1 - A "long" 80m Dipole, ladder line, 4:1 balun, then a long coax run to the rig 2 - A fan dipole with 80/40/20... Continue Reading →
Icom IC-7600 Added to the Shack
I have been looking to purchase a new rig for some time and finally decided to go with the Icom IC-7600. I was torn between this rig, the Elecraft K3, and the Yaesu FT-2000 (because I can not afford the FTDX-5000). For my needs, this is the best of the three. and I will maintain... Continue Reading →
Remote K2 Power Timeout
Finally completed the power watchdog timer for the K2. This allows me to operate the K2 remotely within compliance of the requirement to have an automated means of shutting down a transmitter if it exceeds 3 minutes on the air. This is an FCC requirement, and you definitely need to be concerned about the possibility... Continue Reading →
First “Remote” QSO Success
I finally got the Transmit audio interface together and connected and started assembling the "dead man" timer. The timer is required on a remote Ham station to stop a runaway transmitter after it is on the air for 3 minutes. Skype seems to work fine for the audio interface in both directions. I got good... Continue Reading →
Remote Audio for Ham Station
I have been using Skype for remote receive audio. That seems to work fine except I have to mute the microphone at the remote location to hear the audio from the rig clearly. So that is what I have been doing. But now I want to setup the transmit audio link from the operating position... Continue Reading →
ARRL CW Sweepstakes 2011 – The Contest
I worked CWSS again, one of the few contests I try to work every year. It's complicated exchange makes it a real challenge and the activity level is amazing. Band conditions were good this year, with 10 and 15 meters having long openings. I worked SO2R this year with an Elecraft K2 as my primary... Continue Reading →
ARRL CW Sweepstakes 2011 Diary – Preparation
Preparing for CWSS this year mainly consisted of antenna work and integration of the SO2R (Single Operator Two Radio) setup in the Shack. I use mostly wire antennas (no Yagis) but one, a "Fan Dipole" (one design example found here) for 80/40 meters had been hanging for several years. I took it down to check... Continue Reading →
Kg3v Ham Radio Blog 