2010 Oceania DX Contest Certificate

As indicated from the Oceania DX Contest Committe that the certificates have been published on-line as pdf files for us to download. Today I download my certificate for reference. For sure, will participate again this year.

L-Match Antenna Tuner - Completed

Project completed. It become my daily use antenna tuner, very nice.
So far, so good.I have been able to match all my antenna up on the roof, and there is absolutely no signs of any component heating or arcing.

LY2SA - #158 on Six Meter

LY2SA worked on 25 June 2011 at 0655z. Vidas returned me a nice QSL. Now my Six Meter Score going up to #158 - all confirmed.

L-Match Antenna Tuner

I always needed a "HEAVY DUTY" antenna tuner that could take about 2KW to match with my Heathkit SB-220. I have the Ten-Tec 238B which purchased many years ago, working fine without any problem. However, like to have another one connect to my second amplifier.

Since I have the 238B (L-Match) and thinking to use other tuning method. Finally I selected the modified "L-Match" network again for the reason that it has only two adjustable parts, one inductor and one capacitor, it make the tuning more easier.

The tuning capacitor is a Jennings 500pf vacuum capacitor and the roller induction is from Jonhson 229 series (10uH), it is more than enough because I do not operate low band much.

The case is from China, very nice and heavy duty, most important is very cheap. (around US$20 including shipping) and size is 110mm*275mm*250mm (H*W*L).

With some effort over the weekend, it is almost complete except for some hardware, like the tuning knob and extender rod for the antenna switch.

Tuning is very easy and all my antennas from 10M-40M.

KN-Q10A QRP Transceiver from BA6BF

Recently I bought a very nice QRP Transceiver ( KN-Q10A) from BA6BF.
It is a four band (80/40/20/15M) 15W CW/SSB gear, very nice collectable radio.

Front End Saver with 80M Pre-amp

Further to my recent DIY project of the "Front End Saver", I make another one together with 80M pre-amp in one single PCB. It also can switch over to three radios. The box was completed yesterday and very pleased with the performance and high gain / low noise level of the 3SK88.
It is easy to add 160M in with appropriate tuning capacitor and control realy and switch. However, I don't need it at the moment.

ARRL International DX Contest 2010 - Phone

I almost forgot in 2010, again the first place in Hong Kong for single operator 20 Meters in the ARRL International DX Phone Contest.
The award certificate came in very late this time.

JH1BED/VR2RJ

Taka-san (JH1BED/VR2RJ) is now working in ShenZhen and his QTH is closed to Futain Check Point. He sent me email last week and we arranged eyeball QSO. Last Sunday (27 March), I picked him up at the Fanling Station at around 11:30 am. After lunch , went back to my QTH and he operated CQ WPX SSB contest for about 2 hours. He worked 150 stations. We look forward to have more gathering in the future time.

Front End Saver

I use a separate receive antenna for 80M, to eliminate the possibility of blowing out the radio’s front end, I made the ‘front end saver’ followed the circuit designed by KD9SV. It disconnect the receive antenna during transmit, ground the receiver input when transmitting thus keeping RF out of the radio and eliminating the chance of blowing the radio’s front end.

The box installed with a switch to select three radios, I also reserve some space inside the box for a low noise pre-amp.

FT-736 lost audio output

My FT-736R suddenly lost audio output (only the scanning beep OK).
I checked the AF unit Q06 upc2002 pin 5 have only 2V. Looks like the IC failed and shorted out the 1Ω,1/4W resistor (fuse), 13.8V at the supply side.
Then I replaced the 1Ω, the sound come back. Well, I am a little bit lucky this time, not the upc2002, otherwise need to do more soldering work.

80 Meter DX

I have set up the 80M antennas this winter and hope to make some DX QSOs on 80M. Noise is a big problem around my QTH. So I need to use the 0.75 Meter coaxial loop for receiving. The input signal level is very low, but with good S/N ratio. Transmitting using the Butternut HF2V vertical, it perform very well. Please look for me daily on 3.797 Mhz +/-

Eyeball QSO with E21EIC

Champ, E21EIC and his XYL spent four days holiday in Hong Kong recently. We went to the hotel and met him up for our second eyeball QSO. He gave me a very good present (HS0AC Six meter QSO QSL card )by hand.

Although it was a very short time for the gathering, but a lot of fun. Look forward to meet him again.

FT-920 - High SWR on 50 Mhz

Main Unit



Q1084 - burned



After replace



The FT-920 experienced with the following problem recently:

1) high SWR on 6m
2) no control / adjustment of VHF power on the internal VR pot
3) TX on SSB , no mic input and getting full pwr output - at this point pwr cannot tune down
4) the above not appear on HF
5) turn on the ATT to 12 / 18, the above problem goes away.

I sent out help in the yahoo FT-920 group, but no solid hints on this. Two weeks ago, I saw Kevin, KI4NBO post that he had the same problem. He finally found out the problem realted to Q1084 - 2SC2714.

Q1084 is part of the T/R switching at the front end. It is turned on in transmit to keep the TX signal out of the RX antenna circuits. It is in the direct line of fire if the radio gets a lightning hit, so it goes along with those other JFETs being burned. (very lucky that the JFET is working at my radio) The attenuator circuits are also connected in at this point.

I have followed his hints to repalce the same, the radio back to normal now. Many thanks to Kevin, KI4NBO for his great work.

MFJ-269 Anatenna Analyzer Repairing

Few weeks ago, when I doing the routine inspection of my antennas, make a big mistake that the MFJ-269 antenna analyzer was connected into the vertical antenna and key the radio with the yagi antenna, strong RF signal caused the analyzer damaged. The problem was that the unit connected with a dummy load the it display R=27-28 Ohm X=0, no matter in what frequency range.

Searching through the web and tried to source the circuit diagram of the unit, not success. Finally I noticed that Goran SM7DLK wrote a very good article about repairing his unit to the common problem (27.9V display) of MFJ-269. Then I sent an email to him asking for the circuit diagram. He is very kind and sent me one.

I checked into the circuit and understand it by the help of Fai, VR2ZXP that the possible ways to cause the fault by strong RF are the diodes D14, D17, D15 & D16 in the bridge. D14-D17 is the DIODE SCHOTTKY HSMS2820. It is easy to obtain from Mouser Electronics.

Then I removed the PCB out and have the first try, but the SMD components are too small, that I could not go further. For this case, I need helping eyes … Fai, VR2ZXP promised to help.

Finally, he found the D16 was leakage and it was replaced. The unit back to normal.
My thanks go to Fai, VR2ZXP for his helping eyes and skillful hands.

All Asian Dx Contest - 2009

Our Club QSL Maanger, Loagn (VR2XRW) informed me a very nice Award and Medal for the 2009 All Asian DX Contest (Phone) was received.

The contest was operated by me and VK6DXI,category Multi-op, Single TX, by using the sepecial event callsign = VR2009EAG.

A92GR and A92IO - Confirmed

A92GR ( Mohamed ) and A92IO ( Dave ) returned the nice QSL card to me.







# 156 Country on Six Meter confirmed. !!!

HS0AC - #157 on Six Meter

Worked HS0AC 0031z 18 July 2010, #157 country on six meter.

Also, thinking it is the first ever six meter HS <-> VR2 contact.

=

HS0AC is the sole station authorised for 6-metres in CQWW VHF contest

Perhaps the biggest development to be announced by RAST President Chaiyong Wongwuticomjon, HS1QVD, during the July meeting at Sena Place Hotel was the temporary six-metre authorisation issued by the NTC for RAST's club station HS0AC to operate during the CQWW VHF contest on the weekend of July 17-18, 2010.
Information received earlier (and posted on this website) had indicated that other Thai stations might operate, but the letter issued by the National Telecommunications Commission grants permission for the HS0AC club station only, and the letter also specifies the use of licensed equipment for this purpose.
Nevertheless, operators are keen to be the first to transmit a legal six-metre signal from Thailand in almost 20 years, the last time this has been authorised was during a SEANET convention hosted by RAST in Chiang Mai back in 1992.

=

TV Antenna

I picked up the Maspro TV antenna dipole in the rubbish bin.
(easy to find after typhoon)
Try to use it for receiving the CCTV-1 HDTV, it is OK but signal is marginal with other channel.
I added few elements to it , perfect !!

香港業餘無線電遠程通訊協會HARDXA - Discuz Forum

Recently, Edward (VR2XSC) and Sing (VR2IL) set up the Discus Forum for our members

It is open to registered members only.

http://hardxa.ham-radio-op.net/

HA8CE - Confirmed

Thank you Pista ( HA8CE ) returned the nice QSL card.



# 155 Country on Six Meter confirmed. !!!