I=============Antennas Antennas Antennas==============I

“When Marconi suggested the possibility of wireless transmission of sound (the radio),he was committed to a mental institution. But people like Lincoln, Edison, and Marconi were strongly motivated. So they didn't give up. They somehow knew that the only real failure is the one from which we learn nothing. They seemed to go on the assumption that there is no failure greater than the failure of not trying, and so they continued to try in the face of repeated failures.”― John Powell, Will the Real Me Please Stand Up?: 25 Guidelines for Good Communication

There is nothing like a good antenna for getting your signal out to the waiting world of radio and Guglielmo Marconi had some whoppers look at the one he used in Poldhu thanks to the GB2GM website for the pic

Antenna's are VITAL if you are going to be transmitting and you have to match the impedance of your antenna with your radio.

You can do it in various ways and most hams  choose  a radio with a built in antenna tuner , though there are very good external automatic and manual ones out there . I am not  going to review any here , there are too many , just Google the one's  you are interested in.I am not going to say which ones I have or which one I like but if you visit my QRZ webpage you will see what I use . (that's a link by the way) 

Suffice it to say that for an antenna that is unbalanced you WILL need to tune it for the  frequencies you want to work on .t I have found there is nothing like a dipole for the frequency you are working on, (like say 20 mtrs this being one of my favourite bands )  tuned to be resonant (note RESONANT) on that band with a good SWR from the lower end to the upper  end of that frequency  , you will find you do not need an antenna tuner so that most of the power that you use will be effectively radiated, there will be losses due to coax and fixing etc but most are to small to be relevant. 

I have built a Rybakov antenna , and this required me to make a 4:1 un-un . This works fine for vertical use with the wire up a fibreglass fishing pole , but again I needed an antenna tuner to use it and the effective radiated power from the antenna would have been a lot less than what I was using. the point being that all the power was being taken up by the un-un and making the rf effectively heat up the box it was in ,sending the rest to the wire  for transmission  so 50 watts in and perhaps about 30 watts of radiated RF . I am probably wrong on this but it can make a difference.

So what am I trying to say ? Well its always better if you can get an antenna for the band you are working , and most hams who have towers or a nice large garden can use the likes of yagi antenna. One particular antenna I liked using on my rotator was the  cushcraft MA-5B mini beam .

I think that's enough for now,  just get out there and make or  buy a GOOD antenna and no  matter what the radio  you have ;if your antenna isn't up to the job you won't get out and you won't be heard. The  amount of power (wattage) doesn't matter. My good friend 2E0STZ has used 2 watts into his M0CVO antenna on JT65 and PSK31 and has been heard halfway around the world  and he doesn't need a tuner for that particular antenna on some bands which is why he can be heard , most of the power was EFFECTIVELY radiated  . 

Well that's all for now I hope you enjoy reading my blogs .

Phil de M1PAC (c) 2015 m1pac productions 

AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

AIRE VALLEY REPEATER GROUP 

We Need Your Help (Cash!) Urgently We are asking for donations urgently from regular users and supporters in the area to ensure we can keep our local amateur VHF & UHF radio repeaters operational. The cost of maintaining amateur radio repeaters is increasing every year and in common with many groups across the country, we are now struggling to keep our repeaters on the air. Background: As you would expect, the major costs are site rent and electricity. In addition, much of our equipment and infrastructure is becoming old and unreliable so we have a “shopping list” for future replacements running into several thousand pounds already. Apart from the generous donation of equipment and funds from Adam 2E0LXA, Karl G1YPQ, and the Keighley RAYNET group, all costs have been covered by the repeater keepers for several years now. This simply can not continue. Reluctantly, we will have no choice but to close down the repeaters in the district (GB3TP, GB3XL, GB7TP & MB7UL) by June 2015 if we fail to raise additional funds in time. Next Steps: If you feel you can help with a small cash donation, there are several ways you can give. PAYM: e-payment from your current a/c to mobile 07 454 316 603 PayPal: g8zmg.avrg@yahoo.com Cash: In person to Geoff Priestley G7JZM at the Keighley Amateur Radio Society, Parkside Social Club, Butt Lane, Haworth, BD22 8QJ, Thursday evenings from 20:00 We intend to publish a list of all donations received on the AVRG website and on the AVRG Facebook group page. If you wish to make a donation anonymously, please let us know and we will withhold your details from publication. Thanking you in advance for your continued support. Aire Valley Repeater Group Keepers: Phil Holmes M0IRK Steve Watson G8ZMG

(c) Phil Holmes M0IRK  & Steve Holmes G8ZMG 

blog produced by Phil Cole M1PAC

This blog (c) m1pac productions 2015

The Yaesu Musen FRG-7 An Oldie But a goodie

 Yaesu Musen FRG-7 Communications Receiver

My FRG-7  in the shack of 2E0STZ ,connected to a decent antenna a G5RV 

The Yaesu FRG-7 is an all mode receiver covering 200 kHz to 29.90 MHz in four bands .It is  capable of  AM, USB and LSB/CW. The display is linear analog providing up to ±5 kHz dial accuracy. Features include:  RF Attenuator, Preselector, Fine Tuning , Tone Control and ANL. There is a carry handle on the right side. The rear panel has high and low impedance antenna inputs. My FRG-7 operates from   250VAC, 13 VDC or 8 D cells that plug in the battery pack that is accessible via the rear panel and is an optional extra. Early production FRG-7's did not have a Fine Tuning knob.

What all the switches and knobs actually do

 View From the front, A stock Photo from Yaesu 

View from The rear of the FRG-7, the screws in that plate are the battery box

This is the battery box it holds  8 D Cells 1.5v x 8 =12v 

From the brochure by Yaesu  

 I was asked by my good friend Adam  from Ham Dmr if I could give him a hand attending the Red rose radio Rally over at the  The George H Carnall Leisure Centre,Kingsway Park, in Manchester . 

I am always happy to assist Adam in any way I can . So early one morning on the 18th of January we set off in the ice , snow and fog to attend the rally . Once there we unloaded and set up the equipment .

Yes  I was fixing dust guards on those radio's 

That's Me on the right

Adam Lowery

Adam doing what he does best

The Stall at the rally

Afterwards I went for a walk around to take some pictures and have a look to see if there was anything worth spending my hard earned pay on. I noticed this nice looking FRG-7 on one of the stalls , and asking for a bit of a discount  could I please purchase that nice looking  FRG-7  , there was  some haggling and I managed to get the said item for  the bargain price of £60 . The stall holder asked I I could leave it on the stall till the rally was over. I readily agreed , with the proviso that it had a SOLD sticker on it .

 It is an old communications receiver first manufactured in 1976 and production ceased in 1980 there are better ones out there, and I hope to one day  purchase  a yaesu VR-5000.

This is the VR-5000 in question.

OK , Update on the E-Bay FRG-7, most of the old electrolytic Caps  have been replaced, All seems Fine , the Tuner box that I got with it has had BNC sockets fitted, and I re-soldered a few loose connections and you know what ! IT WORKS . Now I am going to replace all those sub miniature bulbs with yellow led's  and later maybe fit a digital frequency readout . All in all 100% successful day.

Thank you for reading my blog, Please feel free to make any comments 

(c) 2015 M1PAC Productions, 

The Blackpool Rally 2014

As seen  from the other side of the table 

This Year at Blackpool I was on the other side of the table helping my good chum Adam (2E0LXA) with his DMR Radio equipment. He had booked two tables and I had some stuff to shift  we set of  early  and we got there with  lots  of time to spare to finalize the setting up .
We had already been the night before to set the tables out and fix  the banners to them ,all that was needed was to write out the prices for some items .

The Blackpool rally is always a good one to attend , even if you don't buy anything there is lots to do and see. 
I have been going for a long time and as long as I can I will attend future rallies.

M1PAC behind the tables of the HAM DMR Stand at the Blackpool Rally

Adam with prospective buyer

The stand at Blackpool

DMR UK

Traders 

Radioworld stand

Lammcomms stand

THE BAR

The view from the table 

My Ju.... Equipment  to sell .

I found A few bits and pieces that I needed as well as some new AA rechargeable batteries for my camera.

I hope to be on the other side next year as there is a whole lot of sitting around waiting for people to come an buy your equipment.

All photos (c) M1PAC 2014 m1pac productions 

THIS IS A LOCAL SHOP FOR LOCAL PEOPLE

HAMSHOP

 welcome to royston Keighley

There is a whisper in the wind that soon you will be able to purchase  supplies and equipment for the amateur radio enthusiast in the local area known as the HAMSHOP.

I am informed that there is a link to the site HERE . The folk tell me that you can buy accessory's such as coax,Plug's  ,connectors ,swr meters, and all those pretty little things that make life so interesting for the lowly radio ham.

There is also an assortment  of the new digital radio equipment both new and refurbished and that you will be able to trade in good radio hardware on a part exchange.

The scribes have told me that there will be someone attending a stand at the Blackpool Radio rally and that the there is a webpage link HERE .There will be a demonstration of the DMR-MARC  network  and you can buy a radio there and then .


I will be attending the rally and you may see me at the stand, you will easily recognize me I will be wearing my call sign badge with my name on it  , please come over and say hello .

 THE SHOP HAS NOW GOT A SPOT ON A POPULAR FORUM 

www.hamradiodeals.co.uk

We like to think that all our radios are very competitively priced as standard. So we are offering all HRD forum users free carriage on all orders, of any value (usually only for orders over £200)
Use coupon code: HRDFORUM at checkout.
We're hoping to get a few more offers together, but keep an eye on the for sale forum for lists of our latest trade-in / refurbished equipment.
Adam
www.hamdmr.co.uk
01535 517277


p.s. don't forget to come say hello at the Blackpool rally where we will have a range of digital equipment (new and used) for purchase on the day. Radios can also be programmed / re-programmed on the day.

(c) m1pac productions 2014 

The Blackpool Rally

Well I was hoping to take a few friends with me over to the rally at Blackpool but two of them dipped out, one with prior commitments to family and the other to a bunch of cyclists!!!!
Ah well maybe next year .

Saturday the 10th of aprill at oh my god O'clock

At an event like Blackpool you get to meet a few people that you may have talked to in the past, meet up with old friends whom you always hope to meet again and scramble for a few bargains .

Trying to squeeze your way into a crush of bodies that seem to be looking at something interesting on one table whilst the really interesting stuff is in cardboard or plastic boxes under said table.

This year I will be looking for a yagi or beam like antenna for 20,40,80 mtrs failing that somthingthat will perform better than a vertical. I really couldn't do justice to the 6BTV in my small garden, its a wonderful antenna & I have used it on various occasions with my good friend and fellow radio ham 2E0HTS.After owning the great Hustler 6BTV for a year , I am reluctantly taking it along with some other stuff to the bring and buy at Norbreck.

I fully intend to come away from Norbreck with an antenna that I can operate on the HF frequencies of my choice. As well as looking for antenna's I will be craning my neck looking for test equipment.I have already purchased a good frequency counter,now all I need are a signal generator,ossciloscope,and somthing else that slips my mind at the moment.

I will update this blog after my trip to Norbreck with pictures etc. as this part is being written the day before. Lets see if I get what I am after.

Well now I have stitched all the piccys together and added titles etc, so here have a look comment if you will.

The Slide show ( try not to yawn )





I did purchase a GM3VLB mini delta loop multi band antenna from the sandpiper stand and as they didn't have any poles with the bottom bit cut off,
(originally 4 meter GF fishing poles) he knocked £10 off the purchase price.
Thanks to everyone who I talked to ,and to the chap who found me and gave me the cover for my signal generator that I had bought from his stall. I knew I should have bought the scope as well. There are a few more rally's to attend so I will be visiting them to view and hopefully purchase some more test gear.

Thank you for stopping by
M1PAC