The Arctic!

 

On the way to the 'Worked All Continents' (WAC) award

One of our recent course grads, Dmitry VA7DVO got his first HF radio, a Yaesu FT-891. It is a portable 100W radio that he plans on taking around for 'Parks On The Air' (POTA) activations. For now, he has it set it up on a low-power digital mode, FT-8 and is making contacts around the world. He uses a wire half-wave end-fed antenna stretched between the trees in his backyard. Its working for him because the most distant contacts completed were in Indonesia.  He reports that North and South America and Europe work just fine as well. 

Dmitry's most interesting contact so far is a Russian science exploration platform RI41POL in the Arctic. 

If anyone is interested, Dmitry has offered to share his notes on how to do FT-8 on an FT-891, a very popular and common radio. Great start Dmitry!

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Getting registered on QRZ

Secondly, Dmitry was trying to get registered on QRZ.com, a popular site to look up the details of your contacts and a free on-line logbook. I was not aware that you first had to be logged on by an existing QRZ account holder to start your account. I did so for Dmitry and he is now on-line.

~ John VE7TI
   SARC Course Coordinator

So many radio choices

 

Here are some hints

Our new class is well into the course now, and no doubt pondering your radio and antenna options. I thought I'd pass along some thoughts and suggestions.

Your initial foray into ham radio will almost certainly be VHF or UHF. If your goal is a radio for communications while hunting, off-roading etc then perhaps simplex (line of sight) contact with friends in the back country is what you're aiming for. A cheap Baofeng or even a Motorola GMRS may be all you need.

If your goal is something more ambitious like logging onto Nets or making contacts over 10, 20, 30 or more kms then you'll want a radio that can reach repeaters. The cheap Boafengs, like the GT-5R with a stock antenna probably won't do the trick. Baofeng GT-5R 5W Dual Band Radio [Upgraded Legal Version of UV-5R]– Radioddity claimed to be fully FCC certified without the previous UV-5 ‘issues’. YouTube review: https://youtu.be/1JyM8oNtoaE. Dave Casler checked out the GT-5R. It is restricted to the 2m/70cm band frequencies, and he found that it had significantly reduced spurious emissions. US$25.

Save yourself some grief. Spend a bit more and look at the tri-band Jianpai 8800 - review: https://youtu.be/TXICTC150GU.

You'll want to upgrade the antenna as well with a 1/4 wave whip, an RH770 telescopic, or a j-pole that you can make in John VE7TI's antenna workshop.

Here's some links to help you get started. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.☺

Here's an excellent comparison by Reg VA7ZEB: Radio Comparison.

A nice intro to buying your first radio by the ARRL: http://www.arrl.org/buying-your-first-radio.

Off-road and other outdoors use

Now if you are on off-roader your ham radio may not be enough. As soon as you mention communicating with logging or other commercial vehicles, such as Resource Road and LADD, you need an approved radio, not a ham radio. It is all explained in a video that John VE7TI has put together at:  https://youtu.be/SjwCSLSZtXk

 

A Vancouver area dealer for commercial transceivers (that will also take ham frequencies) is: RH Electronics in Richmond: rhe.pdf (rhecomm.com). 

And for back country use you will want to invest in a 5/8 wave antenna for a better signal.

73,

Larry Bloom VE7LXB

Surrey Amateur Radio Communications

Build W4RQ’s 2m Triangle Antenna

 Easy enough for a beginner

A detailed presentation is here. 

Note that, as shown, this antenna is oriented horizontally for SSB and digital use. For FM the antenna should be mounted vertically (Just rotate the mounting bracket 1/4 turn).

Randy, K9BCT came up with the simple triangle loop modified to use as a simple feed loop.

This is an antenna with over 4db of gain... that is more than twice the signal over a simple 1/4-wave vertical and should work very well for you. It can be painted any colour to blend in with your surroundings, and could even be made with copper foil tape.

The resonant frequency is adjusted by the spacing
off the gap with the nylon screw

 

Components: 

Note: Almost all the components are available at your local Home Depot or hardware store.

Quantity	Component
1	36” aluminium Rule
1	Chassis mount SO-239 (UHF) female connector
4	#440 x ½” machine screws and nuts
1	9” long #12 AWG solid copper wire
1	#10-32 x ¾” machine screw (for the feed loop)
1	#10-32 star nut (for the feed loop)
3	#10-32 x 1” Nylon machine screw for the SO-239 connector
3	Nylon #10-32 nuts for the SO-239 connector
1	Beta, or Stauff saddle block clamp assembly for the size of the mast or tower leg the antenna will be mounted on (to start, this could be a couple of heavy duty nylon zap straps). Available at Ace Hardware or often on Amazon. Prices vary depending on source and mast size ($3 -$12).

Construction:

Start the build by bending the first half inch, and last 1/2” of the 36” Rule 60 degrees in the same direction (i.e.: Up).

The Rule is then bent 120 degrees in the opposite direction (i.e.: Down) at the 12” mark and again at the 24” mark to form the triangle, with the two ½” ends parallel.

Clamp a round screwdriver shaft in the vice with the Rule so the bends are not made too sharp.

Drill a thru-hole in the centre of the ½” parallel ends. Install the #10-32 Nylon screw and three Nylon nuts. The Nylon screw and three nuts will be used to adjust the resonant frequency of the antenna.

 

Drill a hole at the 16” mark, for the #10-32 machine screw that will secure the end of the feed loop wire.

 

Match the position and drill the Rule for the mast Saddle Clamp assembly.

 

Drill and mount the UHF connector at the 20” mark. Scrape the surface of the Rule to make good contact and use antioxidant compound (i.e.: Noalox).

 

Solder one end of the 9” wire to the centre pin of the UHF connector, then form an 8” loop, using the extra 1” of wire to form an “eye” used to secure it to the Rule with the #10-32 machine screw and star nut at the 16” mark, using Noalox after scraping the aluminium when securing the “eye” to the Rule.

 

Set the resonant frequency with an antenna analyzer. This antenna is very forgiving, adjustable from below 139 MHz to above 148 MHz by adjusting the gap with the Nylon screw.

Results:   

• Cost to build the antenna was less than $10 plus cost of the Saddle Clamp Assembly.
• It took less than an hour to build the antenna.

~ Surrey Amateur Radio Communications

Field Day stories in the Communicator

 

You're famous...

John VE7TI has just published the July/August Communicator and, as always, it's packed with juicy ham radio articles and fun stuff.

 

Be sure to check out a RadioActive profile of Doug VE7JDJ beginning on page 94. He's a fascinating and technically savvy guy - but you already know that if you joined us for Field Day. Doug's amazing and his help on FD was greatly appreciated.

And on pages 100-103 there's an article about our incredible GOTA Field Day experience, and of course Manvir 'The Contesting Machine' on video. With pics!

73,

Larry

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Larry Bloom VE7LXB

Surrey Amateur Radio Communications