[Skimmertalk] RU9CZD skimmer QS1R died in the recent thunderstorm. Help needed.

Pete Smith N4ZR pete.n4zr at gmail.com
Wed Sep 15 16:08:25 EDT 2021


I was amused by the description of "U1" as an EMI Filter.  I'd betcha it 
is a Mini-circuits 1:1 transformer, in which case the circuit is 
identical to the Array Solutions design except for the two strings of 
diodes.  Either that, or just a box of snake-oil.

73, Pete N4ZR
Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network
web server at <http://beta.reversebeacon.net>.
For spots, please use your favorite
"retail" DX cluster.

On 9/15/2021 3:36 PM, Jeffrey Maass wrote:
>
> At PJ2T, we’ve standardized on the DX Engineering HD-5000HD receiver 
> protection devices.
>
> Here is a link to an article done by Jim W8WTS, comparing the old DEO 
> RG-2000U device sold by Universal Radio and the DXE RG-5000 device 
> (slightly older design than the current HD-5000HD. Both are still 
> available.)
>
> http://www.k8nd.com/Radio/CW_Skimmer/W8WTS_Comparison_RG-2000_RG-5000.pd 
> <http://www.k8nd.com/Radio/CW_Skimmer/W8WTS_Comparison_RG-2000_RG-5000.pdf>
>
> 73,  Jeff  K8ND
>
> *From:*Skimmertalk 
> [mailto:skimmertalk-bounces+jmaass=k8nd.com at contesting.com] *On Behalf 
> Of *Pete Smith N4ZR
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 15, 2021 2:58 PM
> *To:* skimmertalk at contesting.com
> *Subject:* Re: [Skimmertalk] RU9CZD skimmer QS1R died in the recent 
> thunderstorm. Help needed.
>
> Another option would be a receiver protector like the AS-RXFEP from 
> Array Solutions.  It uses a gas tube across the input to ground, a 
> high voltage blocking capacitor on the input, and a 1:1 transformer. 
> The company claims it will limit signals to 0.3 volts PEP and protect 
> against nearby lightning.
>
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network
> web server at<http://beta.reversebeacon.net>  <http://beta.reversebeacon.net>.
> For spots, please use your favorite
> "retail" DX cluster.
>
> On 9/15/2021 1:04 PM, Igor Sokolov wrote:
>
>     Thanks to all who helped us. Indeed only USB chip was damaged. It
>     was replaced and QS1R is working now. We are looking for a new
>     location for RU9CZD skimmer. It will probably be some rural place
>     with less man made noise. In order to protect the receiver from
>     static in the future we plan to put a cathode follower between the
>     antenna and QS1R. Does anybody have experience using this type of
>     protection? Do you think it is a good idea?
>
>     73, Igor UA9CDC
>
>
>     13.08.2021 17:35, Prasad VU2PTT пишет:
>
>         Igor,
>
>         I had lost the USB chip in the QS1R here from a very nearby
>         lightning strike some time back. Replacing it worked - nothing
>         else was affected on the board. Lost many other things too but
>         the QS1R had only this part damaged.
>
>         Good luck!
>
>         73,
>
>         Prasad VU2PTT.
>
>         On Fri, 13 Aug 2021 at 6:58 AM, Igor Sokolov <ua9cdc at gmail.com
>         <mailto:ua9cdc at gmail.com> <mailto:ua9cdc at gmail.com>
>         <mailto:ua9cdc at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>             Thank you guys. Visual inspection did no reveal any
>         damage. The radio
>             does not respond when connected to computer USB. That is
>         why we
>             thought
>             may be only USB was affected. IF the USB chip CY7C6813A
>         does not
>             require
>             firmware we will try to substitute it first.
>
>             13.08.2021 0:01, Pete Smith N4ZR пишет:
>             >
>             > Amen.  I thought mine had a USB transceiver problem, but
>         when I
>             looked
>             > more closely, the ADC chip - still a $105 part - showed
>         severe
>             burning
>             > and bubbling on its top surface.  Since there is very
>         little
>             between
>             > the antenna input and the ADC, it's not hard to imagine
>             lightning damage.
>             >
>             > 73, Pete N4ZR
>             > Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network
>             > web server at<http://beta.reversebeacon.net
>         <http://beta.reversebeacon.net>
>         <http://beta.reversebeacon.net> <http://beta.reversebeacon.net>>.
>             > For spots, please use your favorite
>             > "retail" DX cluster.
>             > On 8/12/2021 2:50 PM, Bob Wilson, N6TV wrote:
>             >> That is the USB transceiver chip, so I imagine it does
>         not need
>             any
>             >> firmware installed.
>             >>
>             >> But if there was lightning nearby while the antenna was
>         connected,
>             >> many more chips could be damaged.
>             >>
>             >> 73,
>             >> Bob, N6TV
>             >>
>             >>
>             >> On Thu, Aug 12, 2021 at 11:20 AM Igor Sokolov
>         <ua9cdc at gmail.com <mailto:ua9cdc at gmail.com>
>         <mailto:ua9cdc at gmail.com> <mailto:ua9cdc at gmail.com>
>             >> <mailto:ua9cdc at gmail.com <mailto:ua9cdc at gmail.com>
>         <mailto:ua9cdc at gmail.com> <mailto:ua9cdc at gmail.com>>> wrote:
>             >>
>             >>     RU9CZD skimmer is off line as our trusted QS1R that
>         have been
>             >>     serving us
>             >>     for many years went out of order during recent
>         thunderstorm. We
>             >>     would
>             >>     like to try and fix it. The suspect is CY7C6813A.
>         This chip is
>             >>     available
>             >>     locally but the question is, does it need some sort
>         of firmware
>             >>     installed prior to soldering it in. Is this firmware
>             available from
>             >>     somewhere? Help would be highly appreciated.
>             >>
>             >>
>             >>     73, Igor UA9CDC
>             >>
>             >>  _______________________________________________
>
>     _______________________________________________
>     Skimmertalk mailing list
>     Skimmertalk at contesting.com <mailto:Skimmertalk at contesting.com>
>     http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/skimmertalk
>     <http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/skimmertalk>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.contesting.com/pipermail/skimmertalk/attachments/20210915/5ddf22de/attachment.html>


More information about the Skimmertalk mailing list