Back studying again with the Radio and Electronics School

It's been a long time and after many false starts I'm hitting the books again to work towards my Standard licence.

I've purchased the new Radio Theory Handbook by Ron Bertrand VK2DQ. I chose the kindle version as it is easier to lug around and hopefully a bit easier to sneak some opportunistic study time during the day.

And I have also signed up for the Standard licence course run by the Radio and Electronics School. This is the second time I've had a crack at this course but chose the multimedia download in the hope of being able to sneak some time and watch it on my ipad.  Let's see if I can actually make it through this time and move up in class.

Programming repeater shift in the KT-8900D

So I'm very grateful to 'The Rob One Group' for the youtube clip on programming the KT-8900D. I don't think I would have ever gotten it that the +/- shift is only required in VFO mode otherwise you enter the repeater output frequency, save in your chosen channel, then exit the menus, enter the repeater input frequency, save in the same channel and then exit the menus..........intuitive not but then again it's not an established brand that seems to understand user interface and interaction.

I've ordered the programming cable but also input my local VHF repeaters for the interim. BTW - the Yaesu VX-7R programming cable does not work on the KT-8900D.

The original clip can be found here.

https://youtu.be/g4p7Syk8W-E

Mobile is almost done

The KT-8900D arrived and I was able to easily mount it in the car. Programming it however seems to be a different story. I manually entered all my local 2M and 70cm repeaters but the radio does not seem to keep the shift and tone on each memory. I'm not sure where I'm going wrong but will keep at it.

Updating the mobile shack

Seeing as I just spent nearly $3000 on replacing the gearbox in the mobile money pit I thought it would be a good time to get my radios back into the car - I'm not planning on selling it anytime soon.

Starting with the antennas I am running a Nagoya dualband steel whip for VHF/UHF and an RFI elevated feed whip for UHF CB. The Ford Falcon interior does not have that many flat surfaces to mount radios so I opted to use the centre console as the main spot. With the antennas mounted on the front guards and the cables routed back into the cabin I then started dismantling the dash and centre console to mount the Uniden UH089B UHF CB. It was a mission to not break the stupid plastic clips holding the trim together and in the current heatwave Australia was going through not a very enjoyable experience.

Work in Progress

And with the radio mounted.

The bracket on the left side is the mount for my Yaesu VX7R and the other loose cable is for the GPS. I've just ordered the QYT KT-8900D mini transceiver and expect to slot that in under the Uniden. Hopefully I can make it fit.......

QRP rig has arrived

My new YouKits SK-1A QRP rig has arrived along with the 2 LiPo batteries, battery alarms, and DC regulator. The radio was well packed and seeing as it was Chinese New Year I was impressed with the turn around time. First impressions are.....this thing is small. I got into it straight away with setting up the power cables for both the radio itself and the low power tuner I will be using. One thing I didn't pick up on when I ordered it was that there is no internal speaker, only a jack for an external one or headphones to be used. Not a problem usually but it will be a little more difficult to get good audio when videoing some future activations I am planning.



So the first QSO I have logged  in over 3 years and the first with the new rig was with Craig, VK5CE/P3 working out of Gabo Island as IOTA OC196 - oc196.blogspot.com.au with a good 55 signal for portable and I in turn received a 53. Not bad for 5 watts.



The radio works fine straight out of the box and gave me a 1600km contact on the first try. I'm looking forward to getting used to this radio and some future field work So far so good ;-)



The radio with the external tuner

And the LiPo battery with cell monitor and alarm, and the dc regulator.

Manpack is gone and the new QRP rig is ordered

Well the manpack radio has been sold in preparation for another addition to the stable....the Youkits SK-1A

With Chinese new year coming up it may be slightly delayed. I've kept the LiPo battery pack from the manpack and with an operating voltage range up to 15V I should not need to use the voltage regulator. I'll be pairing this with my Z11 tuner.

...and where have I been again?

...life just gets in the way. I've been slimming down the radio herd so most of the Motorolas, the Alinco HH, and the scanners are gone. I still have not managed to sort out the issue with the manpack although I am getting closer with slipping a choke over the mic cable but will pull it apart again to try and add some onto the feed line - thanks VK2ZRH. Who knows I may even start talking on the radio soon ;-)