WA5RR Adventures in Ham Radio

       While I made significant improvements in equipment for the rover since the June VHF contest, this years ARRL January VHF finds me needing to stay close to home. My wife had a serious medical issue that required emergency surgery on 1 January 2020 (great way to start of a year) and she's recovering. So, I have everything set to go as a Single Operator Low Power (SOLP) station this year. Here's the equipment rundown: 6-meters     Yaesu FTDX-3000 running 100 watts SSB/CW and 50 watts digital into a homebrewed 6m Moxon antenna. 2-meters    Icom IC-706MkIIG into an RF Concepts 170-watt amplifier into a 4-element 'Cheap Yagi' 1.25-meters  The Icom IC706-MkIIG provides the 10-meter IF for a Ukrainian 220 transverter with 6 watts output into a 6-element 220MHz 'Cheap Yagi'. 70 cm  The Yaesu FT-857D runs 20 watts into an 11-element 'Cheap Yagi'. My 6-meter station runs an instance of N1MM logger and it's networked with the 2/70 station. I did this to m

      Always on the lookout for modes and techniques to improve my VHF+ rover, I ran across information on the use of inexpensive modules used to communicate over long distances with a protocol called LoRa (Long Range). This technology sends packets of information in 'chirps' across spread spectrum frequencies. Although typically used for ISM purposes, an amateur radio operator can use frequencies and higher power levels with these modules.     I started my experiments with some inexpensive Ebyte E32 433-MHz modules ordered off Ebay for $7 each. These radios will output 100-milliwatts and interface nicely with an Arduino Uno which I had on hand. Any other Arduino or even a Raspberry Pi will work with it. The initial tests were based on some proof-of-concept code which demonstrated the ability to send and receive.          The 1-watt modules cost around $36 apiece but I found the HamShield LoRa Edition board which is set up for ham radio use. I've since ordered two of them a

       It's been a few months since I last posted anything here on the blog but I've kept busy. The COVID virus has me working from home every other week. Since everyone has settled into the 'battle rhythm' of remote work, I stay surprisingly engaged.      I have focused on VHF+ operation since around April 2020 and have produced several projects in pursuit of improving my stations--both mobile and home. When my 20-meter half-square and 40-meter Double Bazooka antennas came down during a summer storm, I left them down for quite a while. The CQWW DX-CW contest was coming up and I have set a goal to get my Mixed DXCC done. At 64 countries confirmed, I decided to get back on the air.      A few years ago, I built a small 4:1 BALUN to use with my QRP rigs. This antenna accepted a half-wave section of wire and would work only on the band for which the wire was cut. It worked very well but it was only meant for temporary installation and had little to no waterproofing. To cha

     After a three-year hiatus from working some of the FM satellites, I have been itching to try again. When I worked them before, I used a home-brewed dual-band Yagi antenna which worked well. This time, I want to be able to sit at the home station and not have to worry about tracking the bird. So, I decided to try to build an 'eggbeater' antenna. I did buy an Arrow dual-band satellite antenna yesterday that I plan to take portable but these antennas might be an option as well.      I followed the excellent directions given by Jerry--K5OE on the site below: http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html      After gathering everything on the materials list, I was ready to start. One of the scarcer items, should you want to follow the directions explicitly, is sourcing RG-62 cable which is 92-ohm coax. Other commonly found coax can be used in a pinch but it might make it difficult to tune. Thankfully, our local Walmart sells an automotive replacement antenna which has ab

     Although there isn't much activity on the UHF bands in this part of rural North Texas, I decided to go out to see what I could stir up. Although I thought I might cover four grids, I adjusted due to conditions and only went to two.      As I pulled into my first spot on I-44 Exit 1 in Oklahoma, I saw a sign of good luck. Opening the door and looking straight ahead, I found this nice gift on the ground!      The antenna and mast went up in about 15 minutes. I really seem to have an efficient system now for 'stop-and-shoot' operations. Antennas up top are Directive Systems 'rover special' beams for 1.25m and 70cm. Although excellent antennas, I worked a majority of my contacts on my vehicle mounted Larsen NMO2/70 vertical antenna using FM. Those gleaming antennas still looked gorgeous in the Red River valley sun!      My first contact on 70cm was with N5XTR who was seven miles away in EM04. He and I chatted a bit on 446.000 FM as others joined in when t

I will attempt the 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest for the first time as a rover this weekend. Here is my planned route: I will start in EM04 at the I-44 Exit 1 and then swing over to EM14. Next, I will head to EM13 and end the route in EM03. As for now, I only plan to be out on Saturday but anyone who needs EM04 or EM03 on Sunday is welcome to email or call. Bands available are 2m (can be used for liaison frequency), 1.25m and 70cm. All modes. 73, Korey-WA5RR/R