SM7NCL summer activities JO66

SM7NCL in JO66JI

144MHz 

 A little sample from the log of the 144 MHz activites during July and August - fantastic tropospheric propagation during several days. 90% are FT8 contacts. 

Also activated Nordic Activity Contest.

A lot of DL, PA stations QRV, nice to log G and F also. Tried many times for OY but did not hear anything on FT8 at least

I used a 15el yagi, 150Watt amplifier with a single SD1485-2, 7meter of 1/2inch coax, IC-706 "Mk1" and a analog radiointerface to my laptop running WSJT-X

15 element Yagi old design

It was fun with so many stations are QRV

I do lack CW the  activity which adds even more fun - compared at staring at the laptop ;) and some odd clicks in the GUI

Not many contacts needed the extra sensitivity of MGM during this period, most was heard by ear and CW QSO's are quicker

Did try some MSK144 as meteors ramped up a little as Perseids was getting closer, also got request for FSK144.

Thing is  - in my opinon (and others) FSK144 is BETTER than MSK144 when it comes to decoding in the decoding window.
Also - WSJT-X has excluded FSK144 from the MODE option, while MSK144 is the only option.

So - I do not appreciate this move at all, QSO automation before actual performance is really not the way to go IMHO.
So - in the next update on my laptop I will uninstall WSJT-X and change main MGM SW where both FSK144 and MSK144 are available.

432 & 1296 MHz

Additionally, also activated 432 and 1296MHz random and Nordic Activity Contest

On 432, using a TR-851E, the 250W PA broke down and 25W was used with the 13el yagi

On 1296, using a transverter, no LNA available but QRV with a 100W PA and 33el yagi

Station

The antenna rotator is an old bell-type casting from US, turns very slow, has very noisy gears and the positioning wirewound potentiometer has some weak spots. 

Could be a CDE AR-33 or similar antenna rotator.

NoiseMachine

Did refurbish the bearings and gears by cleaning up and apply new marine grade grease (less aggressive for metal corrosion, does low temperatures and is water "resistent"). The motor capacitor was replaced as it was found dead.

The US type rotator is about to be replaced with a JA type rotator - faster and less noisy.

Using short length of low loss coax is a nice feature, as I lack LNA's on all bands.

Antenna is 25meter above sea level, and only 6m above ground -  meaning that energy is absorbed in the nearby trees - which is not a good thing for the DX's especially above 432MHz ;)

The 2m yagi is an old wrecked CueDee 2x15el X-yagi, now reduced to a horisontal-only yagi, as most directors and insulators was broken and bent.

The 13el 70cm yagi is in good conditions, a Vårgårda yagi. Would like to get hands on a larger yagi to gain some gain 8)

The 23m yagi is unknown brand, maybe made in DL, and has reasonable return loss in the driven folded dipole with a 1:4 semirigid coax balun

MICROWAVE ACTIVITY JO66

A joint effort with SM0RJV we managed to participate in Nordic Activity Contest microwave section July.

QRV on 5.7GHz and 10GHz as SM6RJV/P in JO66

Weather was unpredictable but lucky enough the rain clouds was kept on a distance while sun set over Kattegatt. Almost no wind during the operation.

Also lucky to have some troposphering enhancement over water to OZ, and also lucky to have RainScatter propagation northbound. 

Manged to complete 16 QSO in total before the 12V lawnmower battery lost its capacity/voltage after about 2hours of operation.

After dismantling the station and returning to homes, heavy wind gusts, lightning and heavy rain set in.

Station by SM0RJV

A 80cm dish with dual-band feedhorn, about 1W on both bands

Tripod mount with fixed 360 scale and an added vertical aluminium tube for dish mount

IF transciever IC-9700 and laptop with 4G internet connection, running waterfall software and on-line chat.

IC-9700 consumes quite a bit of ampere with all features in use ;) 

( compared to a FT-290R with no features available ) 

So a heavy 60Ah 12V car battery should allow 4hours of operation in NAC