Amateur Radio FAQ

[fightinbluhen51]

In hindsight, I would have bought a 100w radio like the Yaesu FT-450D instead for the first radio. Working QRP is a challenge for seasoned people much less a newbie.

http://www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index.php?topic=92479.0

After a little more thought; what are the differences between the FT-450D and the FT-450AT?

 

[Hyper-W]

After a little more thought; what are the differences between the FT-450D and the FT-450AT?

450D is newer. Per wikipedia:

The current FT-450D supersedes the original FT-450 and FT-450AT models that have been discontinued, and changes the following:

Internal tuner standard
Illuminated key buttons
Display color no longer selectable
300 Hz / 500 Hz / 2.4 kHz CW IF filters
Front feet stands
"Classically-designed" main dial and knobs (IF Shift, DSP/Select, Tuning, SQL/RF Gain & AF Gain)
The MH-67A8J hand microphone is replaced with the MH-31A8J hand microphone

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaesu_FT-450

I have a 450-AT that I'm looking to sell if you're interested.

 

[Baccusboy]

Longshot, but calling from Korea to Eastern and Central USA right now, at 6:15am Eastern Time.

If you have a Yagi, and at least a KW, maybe you'll reach me.

 

[K31]

Longshot, but calling from Korea to Eastern and Central USA right now, at 6:15am Eastern Time.

If you have a Yagi, and at least a KW, maybe you'll reach me.

Freq?

 

[Baccusboy]

Now 7.143. Sorry!

 

[K31]

I'm not hearing anything there. Some weak signals that sound like Aussies or NZs at 7141

 

[Baccusboy]

Sorry, had hoped this was an optimum time. I do have some Chinese guy that can't get a clue that I don't want to talk to anyone but the USA.

 

[Baccusboy]

I have heard people have to go up over the pole to reach me from the Eastern USA. I appreciate you trying.

 

[K31]

Did you just call a W9 station?

 

[Baccusboy]

No, this Chinese guy won't go away. He's being a pain.

 

[Baccusboy]

Thanks for the chance. I'm just going to hang out here on 7.143 and keep trying for the West coast.

 

[K31]

Well, another day when the gods of propagation are smiling.

Now someone is doing CW there.

73

 

[md123]

Okay, so I'm trying to finally get backup power set up on my rig. Wondering if you guys can help me out a little on this as I have enough info to be dangerous! This is meant to be somewhat mobile, so I'll fit everything into a go box when it works. I wanted the function to drive the box and not vice versa.

Existing setup is Samlex 1223 feeding a Kenwood TM-v71A to a J-pole. Ideally, the Samlex remains option 1, charging a batter that switches automatically when I unplug or power goes by by...

So I guess I need:

1) A backup module to regulate and "float charge" the battery, right?

I'm looking at these two options at different price points:

Astron BB-30M
http://www.dxengineering.com/parts/asr-bb-30m

Or this 40 amp beast:
http://www.powerwerx.com/batteries-chargers/super-powergate-backup-power-switching.html#desc

Low Loss PWRgate- homebrew product with great reviews.
http://ki0bk.no-ip.com/~pwrgate/LLPG/Site/LLPG.html

Can anyone recommend between the two? I'm really not 100% sure what the differences are or if I need something completely different.

2) A Battery- 12 Volt AGM for safe indoor use, right? What brands do I avoid or look for? I just need to match with ah rating of the backup module, right? What's the basic consideration for capacity vs cost & weight?

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-35-amp-hour-universal-battery-68680-8746.html

3) Cables and connections- need help here. 10 gauge red/black. How much?

If there are kits off the shelf, I'd love to hear about them. This seems to be popular, but does it accept AC and float charge my battery? Maybe this kit plus the PWRgate above covers the bases.

http://www.powerwerx.com/powerpole-power-distribution/rigrunner-4008-starter-kit.html

That's a lot to ask mid-thread. If you can point me toward a good write up on the topic, I'll do my own homework


.

 

[Pinecone]

I power my 12 volt rigs with an Astron 50.

I put a sealed battery in parallel to the Astron. So power goes out, the battery picks up the load.

 

[Hyper-W]

Okay, so I'm trying to finally get backup power set up on my rig. Wondering if you guys can help me out a little on this as I have enough info to be dangerous! This is meant to be somewhat mobile, so I'll fit everything into a go box when it works. I wanted the function to drive the box and not vice versa.

Existing setup is Samlex 1223 feeding a Kenwood TM-v71A to a J-pole. Ideally, the Samlex remains option 1, charging a batter that switches automatically when I unplug or power goes by by...

So I guess I need:

1) A backup module to regulate and "float charge" the battery, right?

I'm looking at these two options at different price points:

Astron BB-30M
http://www.dxengineering.com/parts/asr-bb-30m

Or this 40 amp beast:
http://www.powerwerx.com/batteries-chargers/super-powergate-backup-power-switching.html#desc

Low Loss PWRgate- homebrew product with great reviews.
http://ki0bk.no-ip.com/~pwrgate/LLPG/Site/LLPG.html

Can anyone recommend between the two? I'm really not 100% sure what the differences are or if I need something completely different.

2) A Battery- 12 Volt AGM for safe indoor use, right? What brands do I avoid or look for? I just need to match with ah rating of the backup module, right? What's the basic consideration for capacity vs cost & weight?

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-35-amp-hour-universal-battery-68680-8746.html

3) Cables and connections- need help here. 10 gauge red/black. How much?

If there are kits off the shelf, I'd love to hear about them. This seems to be popular, but does it accept AC and float charge my battery? Maybe this kit plus the PWRgate above covers the bases.

http://www.powerwerx.com/powerpole-power-distribution/rigrunner-4008-starter-kit.html

That's a lot to ask mid-thread. If you can point me toward a good write up on the topic, I'll do my own homework


.

You can make it simpler if you want. I was going to do something similar to what you're targeting for my go-kit but wanted to save a little cash.

I have a double pole double throw three-way switch. It's basically a toggle switch between two power sources. I have the battery as one input and the power supply as the other input. Then I just have a cheap charger that I plug it into with a 35 amp-hour battery.

If you want to get fancy with an automatic transfer and charger, check out a Duracomm 20A backup power switching charger. See this guy's work for inspiration: http://emergencyradiogokit.com/

 

[K31]

I have a backup generator so I use a regular UPS to power the station until it kicks in.

I've been considering adding an auxillary battery to my vehicle though with a solar panel to charge it when the vehicle is not running.

I've found that sites that deal with solar power for ham radio are a wealth of information about batteries and charging in general. Particularly in calculating the battery capacity in terms of milliamp/hrs.

Here's a couple, there are many more out there.

http://www.w4hh.org/solar power/solar page 1.htm
http://solarpoweredhamradio.com/

 

[Pinecone]

A fixed output power supply IS a float charger.

My setup, cheap, no transfer switch or any switch of any kind.

 

[md123]

Thanks for your input guys. I went with the "Low Loss PWRgate" because it was a third the cost of a commercial unit and it's made by a ham. Love my KB9VBR J-Pole, so I'll roll the dice again.

Pulled a 35 AH battery off Amazon and the Anderson Connector cables I need off the Powerwerx website. Probably overpaid for those cables but we're only talking about a few bucks. Also grabbed one of those cheapo LEO volt meters off amazon to make sure I stay within spec.

Will post up results / pics if I can get this thing running.

Thanks again, guys.

73 MD123!

 

[fightinbluhen51]

450D is newer. Per wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaesu_FT-450

I have a 450-AT that I'm looking to sell if you're interested.

Herm....

Shooting you a PM.

 

[K31]

A 10-year-old home-schooled amateur gets her extra class license this year and "is a big fan" of CW:

Only one person could possibly be prouder than a 10-year-old ham herself after successfully competing her first QSO in CW. And that, of course, would be the young ham’s dad. Faith Hannah Lea, AE4FH, did just that recently from her Florida home, with her father, Jim Lea, WX4TV, alongside her. He recently told Amateur Radio Newsline’s Cheryl Lasek that it was one of the many proud moments given him by his homeschooled daughter, who earned her Extra class this year. Said her father, QUOTE: “When she decides that she wants to do something, she simply does it.” That also includes speaking this past May at the Dayton Hamfest with her brother Zechariah, WX4TVJ.

Faith Hannah is also big fan of CW because, she noted, it is one of the last communications options available when the Internet and the grid have failed. And she credits her dad – her Elmer - with helping her practice, practice, practice – especially, she said, sending “weird messages” back and forth to amuse themselves while she learns.

- from Radio Amateur Newsline