JIDX Contest 2008 Phone

I am very happy to received a very nice award and Plaque for the JIDX Phone Contest 2008, in the category 14Mhz Single Operator High Power.

Headset with Switch Box

Recently I am using a computer headset for my radios, it works great and have good audio report around. I also made a small box to switch over three radios, that help not to have too many microphones on the shack table.

Compare with my Heil Proset Plus, it is more light weight and comfortable, especially in the hot and humid weather here in Hong Kong.

However, the mic input level need very careful adjust because of high level output from the electret condenser microphone.

WW RTTY Contest 2008 Certificate

World Wide RTTY DX Contest received.

New Type International Reply Coupon

Hong Kong Post start to sell new type UPU International Reply Coupon.

Last week, I went to the nearest Post Office and bought one for my friend's collection.

VP8YLG - Falkland Islands

I am lucky to have a QSO with Victoria while she operating in Falkland Island as VP8YLG (one of YL expedition 17-31 January 2009) on 27 January 2009 at 0005z on 20M.

A very nice QSL card received from Victoria, SV2KBS.

RDXC 2008 Contest Award

Received the RDXC 2008 award, nice one.

Mirek Rozbicki - VK6DXI

On 6 September, Mirek Rozbicki VK6DXI spent half day in Hong Kong while the way back home from Taiwan. He visited me and being one of the operator of VR2009EAG and participate in the All Asian DX SSB contest.

We enjoyed our second eyeball QSO and he was happy to QRV from DXCC nr 50.

VR2009EAG QRV !

The special call VR2009EAG was on air yesterday, first good opening on six meter into JA, HL, BV and BY. In the late afternoon, good condition on 17M with JAs. In the evening, made good contacts to EU and NA with RTTY. a total of around 450 QSOs were made.

SB-220 from W7RY

Recently I purchased one nice SB-220 from Jim, W7RY. It is 100 % stock unit without any modification, plus original manual. Price ask by Jim is reasonable, but shipping charge is very expensive, almost half the price of the amplifier. Jim help me to remove the tubes and ship separately. The box with amplifier weight about 64 lbs after packed. It is on the way back by USPS, probably arrived next week. Here are some pictures from Jim before shipping out.

Although I have the same for daily operation, but would like to have one more for backup. However, I need to perform some modification / upgrade to it , in order to have a stable working unit.

Membership with HARTS

I am no longer the member of Hong Kong Amateur Radio Transmitting Society (HARTS) since 13 April 2009. All the incoming QSL cards address to me will be disposed.
Stations like to have my QSL card, need send direct to me. Information well in www.qrz.com

Six Meter Open to Europe

At 0723z, first QSO with UT7QF with 55 report, and my signal was 59. Countries worked as follow: UR, F, YO, I, IS0, EA and DL. Not bad at all in the low sun spot. Band close at 0814z.

Sound Card Interface

The sound card interface which I am using is only one port. It cannot switch over to other radio. So I make another one last week by using one surplus RS232 DB9 switch box, save a lot of drilling time.
It is connect to FT-2000 with SSTV and RTTY FSK, FT-920 RTTY FSK.
It work great so far.

SSTV LIVE CAM

Recently I have installed a “FTP Widget” program in my work station, it will automatically posting received images from my SSTV software (MMSSTV) to the remote host, while I am QRV and or stand-by on the frequency, mostly on 14.230 MHz.
This way the image is sent to the web page in the best resolution and create real time for amateurs sending pictures to see how well their pictures are being received from my station in Hong Kong.

Below is the link and feel free to visit:

VR2XMT SSTV LIVE CAM

HAVE FUN.

OK RTTY CONTEST 2008

Although not spent much time in the contest, but still have plenty of fun. Also, have this nice certificate, which received yesterday.

HB9SPACE QSL CARD

Very nice QSL card received direct yesterday.

ARRL International DX Contest 2008 Award

ARRL International DX contest 2008 Award.
I am the only VR2 participate , so no question - first place.

FT-2000 Firmware Upgrade

I have carried out the firmware upgrade during the Easter holiday The new version FW 1.46 and EDSP 11.50, called "PEP" from Yaesu. The performance is outstanding, which is highly recommended.
Of course, look forward to have more new upgrade and enhancement again.

SSTV QSO

It was a very quiet afternoon and nothing to do, configured the MMSSTV program and made some QSO through SSTV on 20M. Condition not really good, but acceptable. Here are some pictures.

Beat the Banana 3km Fun Run 2009

1 March 2009, my company, ASC (HK) Limited volunteer team particpate the charity run "Beat the Banana 3km Fun Run" of World Cancer Research Fund Hong Kong. My wife sponcered me for the run.

The running route – around 3km - starting from the Cultural Centre > Tsimshatsui Promenade > International Mail Centre and then back to Cultural Centre >

We took the picture with Mr. Wong Wing Tak, Banana Man of the 2009.

2008 CQ WW WPX SSB Certificate

I am very happy to receive the 2008 CQ WPX SSB Certificate today.

21 Mhz
First place - Asia
Third place - World

A good memory to "VR10" Prefix.

7L1FPU

Kuniyoshi "KUNY" NAKADA (7L1FPU,JG0VCM,W1FPU,AH0BT) and his XYL visited Hong Kong on 26 Jan 09 for a three days tour for the purpose of commemerating their 10th year wedding. By chance, Kuny help me to bring along four trap coils for my Create 318jr, which have problem earlier, thanks Kung for your help!
I met them, as well as Logan, VR2XRW in the Chek Lap Kok Airport and drove the couple to the hotel in Hung Hom.
Now Kuny already back home and look forward to meeting him again next month. He planned to come again with his two friends in February.

Lion Dance

We start to work after three days of Chinese New Year holiday, our office is invited a Lion Dance to celebrate and wish for prosperous year of OX.

Special event call sign VR2009EAG

To commemorating Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games, our Radio Club, Hong Kong Amateur Radio DX Association (HARDXA) is scheduled to activate a special event call sign VR2009EAG later this year to celebrate the 5th East Asian Games to be held in Hong Kong from 5-13 December 2009.
Operations will be primarily HF from 7MHz through to 28MHz and VHF on 50MHz, modes operated shall be primarily SSB, RTTY and PSK31.

The QSL card is being designed and will send out to printer shortly.

Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car

On 2 Jan 09, we spent several hours to tour the world-class cable car “Ngong Ping 360” in Lantau Island, Hong Kong.

Ngong Ping cable car is a visually spectacular 5.7km cable car journey, travelling between Tung Chung Town Centre and Ngong Ping on Lantau Island. We enjoy very much on the panoramic views of the Hong Kong International Airport, South China Sea, the Tian Tan Buddha Statue, as well as North Lantau Country Park.

Wetland Park

Pansy and I visited the Wet Land Park on 31 December 2008. The park is located at the northern part of Tin Shui Wai, New Territories, Hong Kong. The mission of the Hong Kong Wetland Park is to increase the public awareness, knowledge and understanding the values of wetland throughout the region.

Wedding day – Dr Martin Bayes (VR2/AA1ON)

First met Martin (VR2/AA1ON) in April, 2005 when he came to Hong Kong for business. He set up the station in his Fanling office and active in most of the contest.

Today he got married in VR2.

Congratulation to Martin and Queanne!!

Heathkit SB-220 Amplifier Meters

I recently had the need for a pair of meters to complete the Heathkit SB-220 amplifier project. I quickly found that these original meters can be expensive! However, I also found there are reasonably price meters available if you don't mind doing a little work to replace the meter face and get them to suit the purpose.

Create CB-3F/2K Balun

Yesterday I have problem with my three element yagi - Create 318jr that intermittent of high SWR occur. I dismantled the balun and checked that the colour of the wire changed, may be the result of handling high power all the time. I need to replace another balun or repairing the balun this weekend.

Volta RTTY contest Award

Recently recieved this nice certificate through mail.

JARL 2008 ALL ASIA DX CONTEST - PHONE

JARL ‘All Asia DX Contest’ is one of my favor contests. The contest period is Sept. 6-7, 2008.
During the contest, stations exchange RS report plus operators' age. I have decided to enter the category as SO20HP, but finally moved to SOABHP. As a result, made 844 QSOs and have the score 82343 points.
The eldest operator age logged is 89 and youngest is 15

VR10XMT RTTY Award

Here are two RTTY contest awards for the Prefix "VR10".

4X4DK QSL Card

Ami, 4X4DK sent me the QSL card for our six meter QSO. Many thanks.

AP2DKH QSL Card

W2FB Steve, QSL Manager of AP2DKH sent me the QSL card to confirm the great six meter QSO with Dr. Khalid.

Many thanks.

50Mhz opening to AP and 4X

Good six meter opening to AP and 4X on 26 Jul 08.

Worked:

AP2DKH 0627z 50.163
4X4DK 0638 50.168

Look forward to have more opening soon.

Digital Terrestrial TV Reception

Since the launch of DTT services on 31 December 2007, the first phase of DTT services covers the northern part of the Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon peninsula, part of Shatin and the eastern part of the Lautau Island, amounting to around 50% of population in Hong Kong. My home is located in northern part of New Territories, so need to wait until mid of July, 08.

Last week, I purchased one decoder and connect it to my old "Sony" TV and test the reception before making any decision to but new HD TV set. The decoder start to search TV program when power on and finally all 13 channels were shown up. Signal strength is in between 57-60 % , not bad.

The next step is searching around a suitable HD TV .

3-500z flash over

One of the 3-500z experienced with "flash over" problem recently. I am not sure if the tube already damaged or it can re-condition with burn-in procedure apply.

I plug in the tubes (both V1 and V2) into an empty chassis, with only heater voltage connected, no HV. I have observed the V2 (flash over tube) heater not light up correctly, compare with V1.

I have no idea why it is, need to check later.

2008 IARU Contest

Over the contest weekend, the band condition was really terrible. It also happened that thunder storm during the Sunday afternoon time, I need to switch off the radio and unplug all antennas.

Of course, the scores was very poor ...

FT-2000 Remote Keypad

FT-2000 has 4 voice memories, which is a convenient feature for me during contest. However, I find it inconvenient to hit the F1 - F4 function keys with my big fingers. The alternative is to buy the remote keypad FH-2, but consider it is very expensive.

Information from the net that the keypad is a combination of push button and resistors, which make it as voltage divider and it is the same as the previous model FH-1, see attached circuit diagram and resistor values.

The original FH-2 keypad has 12 buttons, which are for other functions. My application is for F1-F4, so I decided to make the keypad as simple as possible by using a plastic box, with 4 push buttons. It works fine and ready for the IARU contest.