Well I was just about to start collecting some contacts for my advanced VK4ARA callsign (nothing in the logbook) when priorities changed and I am now the new holder of VK4ER. VK4ARA will be released back into the pool.
Previous holders of the VK4ER callsign have included Bob Lees, and Eric Reilly. Thank you gents.
My Mobile install in the Alfa is finally finished, ICOM IC-2730a is programmed, wiring is tidied up, and the ICOM IC-440 is configured. Now to use it on the way in and out of work.
Today I was assigned AI7FR as my extra class call sign. Woohoo!!! Onwards to the Aussie advanced call sign.
After about 6 weeks of study, today I sat my Technician, Standard, and Extra class exams all one after the other. And I passed. Now to see what callsign I receive. Be sitting my aussie regs exam soon and onwards to the advanced licence.
Biggest change in the shack has been the peace and quiet following the replacement of a droning power supply fan. Ah the serenity!
First blood for the Xiegu G90, 3462kms with 10 watts on 40m from Brisbane to Jason, VK6YTS in Gundaring, WA.
A little bit of work on the second mast with my DIY UHF beam replaced with a VHF-UHF beam and the HF vertical was straightened. Still waiting on the EFHW to arrive.
It took 2 days to program this thing but I only really twigged where I was going wrong when VK4MGC explained the need to program a channel for each talk group on each repeater. 😲😲😲. The HD1 works fine, nice quality and performance. I have a Kenwood clip and Motorola antenna on the way for it but for now I'm liking it.
The DMR Handheld is here along with the FT-891, and the 2m/70cm Yagi. Just waiting on the 40m EFHW. I love taking the plastic off new radios, some don't but I do.........
I've got 2 radios and 2 antennas on the way and apparently all I need is just a little patience.....
It would seem my DIY skills are not all that flash as my DIY 477MHz Yagi is resonant on 1.36GHz........ Looks like it is destined for the bin!
On a more positive note the 11M Vertical is 1.2 on channel 35, with no tuning on the antenna and no tuner in front of the rig. Caught lightning in the bottle with that setup!
Making steady progress with the HF vertical and Yagi up on the second mast and wired. Still needs to be tuned and the HF vertical straightened, and coax run into the shack. 3 new antenna switches arrived and getting ready for the rewire inside. Still waiting on the 40m EFHW.
All day in Queensland’s humidity sucks but the outcome was worth it. First 11M vertical was disassembled, tuning coil replaced, connector replaced, and some of the PVC tubing replaced. I think I have the right length but will have to wait to see when I tune it.
Next was making a UHF CB yagi (477 MHz) from scratch. I had the dimensions for a 4 element yagi and just added some extra directors. I’m not sure how this will work but keen to see once I get it up in the air.
I wasn't sure what comp this was for, sounded Indonesian and some DX spotters mentioned a Gold Trophy comp (????). Interesting to see the caller ask for quiet amongst the bedlam and then call in a few individual stations for contacts before departing the scene, and the bedlam recommenced. Not a place for QRP ;-)
Tried for JA5WNH (Tosi) but unfortunately he could not copy all of my suffix. Tosi was calling for Europe and Africa long path on 40m. I didn't think I would qualify as long path so waited till he finished his calls and went back to his Japan based QSO and then I called. Nearly but not quite as he could not hear all of my suffix. Oh well, until next time.
Tosi's QRZ profile: https://www.qrz.com/db/JA5WNH
And we were doing so well with the cheap HF radio and then the PLL unlocked again across all bands. Opening up the radio it then locked and was back to normal???????? Put it back together and it was fine for 20 minutes and then unlocked again. Opened it up AGAIN and probed around, touching/pressing two cans caused it to lock up and then on touching them again it unlocked and then locked. OK, seems to be a bad joint, bad track, or some other issue with the board, maybe due to stress??
In case this helps anyone else with FT-900 PLL issues (and I know there are a few after perusing the QRZ forums), I've circled the area that I reflowed.
First contact on my new to me $40 Hamfest special is FK8IK (Mic) in New Caledonia. Using my max licence limit of 10W which is still QRP for phone and it made the trip of 1463 kms no problem. Audio is much nicer than the Anytone 6666 and the notch and shift make a big difference there.
Mic's QRZ profile: https://www.qrz.com/db/FK8IK
