Youkits TJ2B QRP HF Handheld

I picked up a new to me YouKits TJ2B last weekend. I liked these some years ago but it seems YouKits are no more and have been overtaken by other SDR radios from the likes of Xiegu and others. Renowned for poor speaker volume this one was beyond a joke as you needed headphones to hear anything coming out of it. In hindsight it was a gamble as I could not tell if the speaker was the issue or if the receive section was deaf.

After taking it apart and doing some research I found a section in the TJ2B build instructions on this being an issue caused by cold solder joints on the mini transformers T1, T2, and T3. Problem was that the build instructions were for an older model and the PCB was different. I reflowed them anyway and problem solved with an actual sound coming out of the speaker for a change. I then proceeded to stuff up the assembly 4 times and could not understand why I did not have access to all of the tuning options. Well after taking it apart again I finally noticed I had put a screw through the ribbon cable from the main tune control. With that repaired, normal service was restored and receive was fine. It currently puts out a 3W carrier and I have no confirmed contacts with it yet even with local hams assisting in testing. We can hear each other but signal is so low as to be unintelligible and barely even able to tell when the over has ended. More testing to come.

When masts are not as they should be...

Myself and Dan went to pick up the 10m mast and found it was not one continuous mast, not even 2 pieces, but about 5 seperate sections bodgied together - even had a tyre iron in there to complete the friction coupling. I got a lot of RG213 co-ax, the UHF CB 6DB and 9 DB antennas, the sections of mast and that was it. The antennas have seen better days but I have restored one of them to a working condition which will probably go up on the new mast. Speaking of which I will still need to buy a new mast but can use the sections I got on the weekend as a cross beam.

No new contacts to report but I have made some progress on the 10 metre man-pack/portable. I purchased a Philps TP-92 which was used to set a Philips FM-92 up as a portable unit. I've now put my Dragon on there and started re-fitting a lot of the old and obsolete components. The watt meter has arrived and I'm waiting on the Li-Po battery and regulator to arrive before I commence the wiring.

EFHWV

Thinking about the next antenna and I'm liking this end fed half wave vertical in the video below. I already have the squid pole (need to check the length) and just need the 9:1 transformer dooby and some wire...and some coax. Looks great for portable work or on the side of the car when stationary.

Dragon 10m HF portable is finished

A final bit of motivation and I finished my 10M portable radio. Here we are on Sunday finalising the wiring:

It has a Dragon SS-485H HF rig along with a Z11 ATU and runs a 7Ah SLA, All housed in a bench instrument enclosure from Jaycar. Some space constraints within the enclosure so the ATU is on the outside. I have a section to attach some counterpoise wires but haven't made any up yet.

And out in the back garden running a 2.4 metre ex-mil HF whip - ANT-129 22-30Mhz....

A local operator Darren - VK4HDO, came back to my call on 28.480 reporting my audio as good but the signal was low and according to his radio I was about 3Khz off frequency.

.....and with a more managable HF antenna

.....and on the radio bench running into the external 10M vertical

I'm hoping to get it ready for the WIA National field day on the 13th and 14th of April and see how it goes communicating from a hilltop.