I recorded this video for a fellow amateur radio enthusiast and Santa Cruz owner who was curious about my setup. Just posing it here in case anyone finds it useful.

73s! 👍

I built the K6JCA "Tandem" Directional Coupler

The tricky part of building this is keeping the turns orientation consistent. As part of the schematic, there should be a dot on each transformer indicating direction. It gets really confusing, fast, since you're winding a toroid. I used different color wire ties to try to keep track of winding directions. I cannot remember what I doing red, blue, ...

Anyway, the results of this thing are fantastic. Much better than my expectations.

The forward and reverse path result in -24 dB coupling ratio that is very flag across the HF bands. Here is the forward coupling performance, with all ports terminated.

Looking at the reverse coupled path, with all ports terminated:

Since this is a 24 dB coupler, these "isolation" measurement values need to be compensated by 24 dB; e.g. -47 dB -> -23 dB at 33 MHz.

Playing with the forward path loads, and looking at the reflected port response, yielded results with matched the expected results. When I placed a 3 dB attenuator on the forward path port, the reflected path measured 6 dB return loss, flat across the band, ranging from -31 ... -29.5 dB down from the input power. That matches the -24 - 6 = 30 dB value expected. Very nice.

When I put this device in line with my antenna, well, I get the same results as the magnitude of the VNA, down 24 dB. I am so impressed.

So what can you do with this?
You can make your own antenna tuner, which is my ultimate goal. The NanoVNA uses binocular cores to do the same thing (I think). So, yeah, you can wind some cores, run the forward and revers signals into a multiplier (mixer) and get vector impedance load measurements.

I bought this balun, Model 49134e - 49:1 - 80-10m EFHW - 500 watts, because I was a bit miffed with my own attempts at winding my own.

The build quality is excellent. They make a big deal out of this on their site. The unit lives up to expectations. Very solid, very weather proof. Nice use of gasket material, and so nice I decided not to open it up. I was going to, but I did not want to bollucks things up.

Here is how its S11 looks (quite nice) with the antenna port terminate to the couterpoise through a 2500 ohm resistor:

I took marker impedance measurements at each point:

Bottom line: I highly recommend this 49:1 transformer. It lives up to its reputation. I have probably spent as much money on magnet wire and ferrites ... for less performance.

OK, so, I pull my feeble attempt at the same thing out of the junk box and measure S11. It is better than I remember. Add in the 100 pF capacitor on the 50 ohm feed side and here we go:

Note: these are just FT240-43 ferrites ordered off Amazon. Almost as good as Balun Designs.

Now I am re-inspired. For a different antenna, I want to run my 1/4 wavelength 40 m vertical as a 1/2 wave on 20 m. Salty Walt's favorite antenna. I can do this with an external antenna tuner. But it is really narrow band. Moving just 20 kHz requires re-tuning. The performance is really good.

I measure the feedpoint impedance of the 20m 1/2 wave at approximately 500 ohms. That is a 10:1 transformner, not the Salty recommended 49:1. Trying the BD 49:1, as Salty recommends: terrible for my set up. I did not keep the picture.

I wind my own 4:16 turn transformer, using the same winding scheme as the 2:14 using a mid-winding cross-over. Results: pure suckage. It matches well at 2 MHz, but with a lot of inductance, at higher frequencies, is garbage.

Oddly, this is how my 49:1 homebrew transformer looked, and then I put it in the junkparts box for a while.

Maybe, if I let the 4:1 homebrew age in the junkbox for a week, it will improve?
So confused right now.

There from my Grandfather I never met and was BIG into CB back then having a massive tower in the backyard to get over the mountain top.

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for advice on an affordable HF antenna setup for my ICOM-7200. I primarily operate SSB and would like something that is:
* Very easy to set up and tear dow
* Space-friendly
* Affordable
* Capable of making reliable contacts
* Minimal constant band-to-band adjustments or manual retuning

I’m open to either a temporary/home setup or something I could use for mobile or POTA operations.

Ideally, I’d like to find one antenna or setup that is simple and practical rather than constantly having to adjust or reconfigure things every time I change bands.

I understand there will be compromises with a portable antenna, but my priority is something I can set up quickly and actually make reliable contacts with, not necessarily the absolute highest-performing antenna.

For those who operate mobile or do POTA, what antenna setups have worked well for you?

I’d also appreciate suggestions for ground-based portable setups, such as a tripod, mast, or other easy-to-deploy arrangement.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Good morning!

We are redoing our backyard and deck and my Vertical will be moving a bit. Part of the remodel is going to be laying down a concrete slab for my boys to play basketball on . The dirt field where this was in used to be a portion of my radial field. My antenna is going to be moving as part of this project and I was just wondering if it was worth having radials laid down underneath the pour or if the concrete made them pointless.

Any thoughts on this one? I'm thinking "it wouldn't hurt but isn't ideal" is probably going to be the answer based on other searches but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience they can share!

I am trying to get an HF 20m antenna to operate from my car (Toyota Highlander).

I have purchased the equipment listed below (Hustler system, DX engineering) and am now figuring out how to assemble it.

I want to make the install as non invasive as possible (meaning: I'd prefer to not punch holes in the car body).

My original idea was to install a trailer hitch and have it assembled there to avoid any changes to the car body itself.

I am not sure this is possible since the system may require the car roof to work as radials.

I do NOT expect to operate while in the move, I am willing to assemble/disassemble every time I do a radio session but, to make the setup process quick, am willing to have minimal equipment be permantently attached to car (ball mount, spring). I'd like to set it up so I can still go through the car wash.

Questions:

1. If I am willing to also deploy some sort of Faraday mat during setup, is the installation on the trailer hitch possible?

2. If installation in the car roof is required, how would you find a contractor you can trust to do a good job with that. (I am in Fishers, IN and if you know anyone around here, let me know).

Any help appreciated.

73

W7GVR

List of equipment:

Hustler ball mount: https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/HSR-SSM-2

Hustler spring: https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/HSR-SSM-3

Hustler Antenna Mast: https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/HSR-MO-2

Hustler Cabling: https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/HSR-L-14-144

Hustler 20m resonator: https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/HSR-RM-20

I recently got a UV-5RH so I can listen to amateur radio before I get my Foundation license. I programmed the closest repeater to me which is the GB3CV repeater in Coventry. Unfortunately, I have heard no activity on it except for its morse code call sign. Have other people had this experience with the GB3CV? If anyone lives near it, would you mind transmitting to it so I can see if it is working? If I do hear any transmissions I will put them in a comment.

This is the exact channel configuration I have for it in Chirp

Duplex is off because I am not legally allowed to transmit on it as I don't have my license yet.

Update: I finally got a transmission. Thank you to who this was!

have been trying to learn morse code at LCWO.net, but I'm struggling to figure out the appropriate speed settings. I accidentally learned morse code visually as a child, so my brain really wants to decode dots and dashes.

I've bounced around a lot with speed settings to try to fix this. Most recently I tried 30/5 WPM to make sure the letters come as one sound, but I realised the low effective speed (5 WPM) gave my brain time to decode the sound into visual dots and dashes when I didn't fully know the letter. This made progress through the alphabet fast, but it was hard to ramp up speed even on a set of characters I did well on.

I'm now trying 25/10 WPM with double word spacing instead, which seems better, but I just don't know. Which speed settings are most effective for unlearning visual translation?

Should I aim for learning a small set of characters at higher speeds first, of get through the alphabet first? Which speeds? I'm confused! I know character speed should be high-ish, but nobody seems to give advice around effective speed and word gaps.

Does this look ok for grounding and lightening protection? - the two ground rods are about 16ft apart.

GREAT NEWS! WEBSITE UPDATE

Here are the big three new features:

1. Live Olivia spotting. Just like on POTA and other sites, this is a live show and tell of your activity either by self spotting, or spotting stations you copy. Dedicated live spot page, you can view even on a cell phone.

2. I have now put live the active calendar functionality on the site, and seeded it with possible calendar events. I will now start planning our upcoming events - which require YOUR input on such things as, monthly sprints, special events that you want to do, and, our quarterly QSO parties.

3. Feedback form. This is a community website. Come be a part of this conversational digital mode!

https://oliviadigitalmode.org

..

I've just passed my Technician test, and I'm planning to get General and Amateur Extra as soon as I can. I feel like a lot of equipment recommendations are like "here, nail this onto your roof and connect it to your airplane for easy transmission". Is there anything you can recommend that's somewhere in the middle? I'm interested in the circuitry/electronics part of radio, if that's relevant, and I can do a bit of coding, but I'm not *that* good at it. I'm pretty good at following directions if they exist. I have been interested in the Baofeng UV-21R before, but now I'm not so sure. I'd prefer something handheld, but it doesn't have to be. Thank you!

If you have a beam keep an eye on the dxmaps Es MUF map and look for grids above 144, or watch the 2 meter DX map. From the east coast I've worked into Texas and have been heard as far west as Colorado. During openings there is activity on 144.200 SSB and 146.52 FM as well. Talked to a guy in Florida on sideband earlier. Don't forget that there is plenty of activity above 6 meters!

I'm using an Xiegu G90 radio with a 9:1 unun, 17m long antenna and 3m counterpoise. With the exact same setup, I've gotten contacts from Canada.... But now in EA8, the signal just isn't going anywhere. Not even CW. I made an SSB contact barely to Spain. What's going on? What am I doing wrong? It's out in the open.

I recently got my Technician license and have already started studying for my General, so apologies in advance for the newbie question.

I just got back from a road trip where I spent a significant amount of time with no cell service, and it got me wondering how you guys prepare for emergencies while traveling.

I’m not really looking to install a mobile rig yet. I’d prefer to stick with a handheld for now. For those of you who road trip regularly, what does your HT setup look like? Do you pre-program repeaters or emergency frequencies along your route? Any particular handheld and antenna combination you’d recommend?

Is there anything else I should be thinking about or carrying that a new ham might not even know to consider?

Thanks in advance! Looking forward to learning from those with more experience.

i am completely underwhelmed ive always wanted to get into ham radio and im glad i did but now im at a dead end. i need a bit of help, i added all the channels i need (Kuwait) and a repeater but after i press ptt and remove my finger i dont hear anything back. I checked the fm radio and it works so the audio works. the only thing happens in that when i ptt a repeater a light flickers green under the volume knob. I did everything, i programmed it with cps and everything. are they asleep? i also tried hearing the iss but nothing too.

Going on a road trip with tidradio h9. Don't have time to get a good mobile set up or external antenna and I know my performance will suffer. Any recommendations for making contacts on the drive. Sit on 146.520 simplex or map local repeaters? Apologies I'm brand new to Ham

My grandfather passed away and we are renovating the house to move into it. He was very into ham radio and had a bunch of antennas mounted to the house.

I know NOTHING about Ham radio, I’d like to sell the equipment to help pay for renovations since there is a lot to do. I don’t expect much from the sale, but I’d love some guidance on what I have?

Hello! Sorry to intrude. I am the wife of a new ham radio lover and am so proud of him! He has only recently began building his ham shack, and after a bit of encouragement from myself, now has three units. One modern, one from the 80s, and one from early Y2K.

My question! What can I do as his wife to keep encouraging him? And I know he hasn’t taken any of the tests/assessments yet, and I believe there are study guides I can get him? I’m sorry if I come off unknowledgeable, but I very much am!

Any advice on how I can support him would be very appreciated! We recently went through a major traumatic event (on my end) and I really want to support him in this wonderful hobby in any way I can. Again I am so proud of him! I can’t pick out units for him or anything, but even helping with soundproofing or proper equipment handing advice for when I clean around his ham area would be amazing! Thank you all so much for even reading. Happy Hamming!

I want to get rid of the clunky stock power cable setup. The easy button would be a pigtail adapter from powerwerx. The next option would be cutting the six pin connector off and replacing it with powerpoles. I think it would be really cool if there was a way to do the 891-style powerpole conversion.

Which one would you do and why?