[TenTec] SOTA RADIO
Barry N1EU
barry.n1eu at gmail.com
Thu Mar 17 05:37:41 EDT 2016
Carrying that much battery weight up a mountain on your back is foolish
IMHO. For a KX3, 5oz of LiPO per two hours of activation is more than
sufficient. For a KX1 or MTR, less than half that much battery weight is
all you need.
73, Barry N1EU
On Thu, Mar 17, 2016 at 7:38 AM, rick at dj0ip.de <Rick at dj0ip.de> wrote:
> Bob,
>
> I have a 12 Ah Li-Fe-Po battery that weighs only 4 lbs. It runs at about
> 13v.
> In comparison, my 9 Ah Gel battery for my motor scooter weighs about twice
> as much.
>
> So I can run my Scout all day long at 25w using this Li-Fe-Po.
>
> The problem is not the scout, nor the battery, it's me.
>
> "I" was that soldier carrying the manpack back in the early 1970s and
> believe me, it was 10x easier than carrying the scout and Li-Fe-Po today!
>
> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bwana Bob
> Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2016 3:13 AM
> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] SOTA RADIO
>
> Rick:
>
> Is there still that much SW broadcasting in Europe? I know that the BBC,
> Swiss Radio International, Radio Netherlands, and the Voice of Russia
> (Radio
> Moscow, when I was a kid) have all gone dark. Who is left? Deutsche
> Welle,
> maybe?
>
> Well... You might have to just lug the Scout up the mountain. The Scout
> with a gel cell battery still weighs less than the MIL surplus HF packsets
> that the soldiers used to carry. I have run my Scout on a 7 Ah SLA
> battery,
> by reducing the power to 5W, though one can go higher. I usually run the
> Scout at 30 W, which is plenty for SSB. If low battery voltage is a
> concern,
> you can make up a pack with a 4 V and a 6 V SLA in series to make 14 V.
> Just a few ideas..
>
> 73,
>
> Bob WB2VUF
>
> On 3/16/2016 8:20 AM, rick at dj0ip.de wrote:
> > The Arogonau V's receiver was a disaster here in Europe.
> > The local QRP club gave it such a bad review that you couldn't sell it
> > in Europe.
> >
> > As I have said many times, you guys in the states have no idea what we
> > are facing over here.
> > Besides the smaller, more congested bands, we have all of these
> > hundred thousand watt shortwave broadcast stations.
> >
> > 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> > (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Dave
> > Edwards
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2016 11:47 AM
> > To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> > Subject: Re: [TenTec] SOTA RADIO
> >
> > The Argo V seems like it came and went quickly.
> > A QRP rig, that was actually adjustable up to 20 or 25 watts.
> > Did (obviously) CW very nice...and SSB was fine also.
> > ...Dave
> >
> > On 3/16/16 6:36 AM, rick at dj0ip.de wrote:
> >> OK, tnx Barry.
> >>
> >> It seems to be that All of the low cost radios that work SSB are not
> >> very good at CW.
> >> And the radios that are good at CW do not work SSB. :-((
> >>
> >> I know QRP has an official limit of 5w, but in my 25 years where I
> >> was really active all the time in portable work, I found that 10w CW
> >> was much more reliable for communicating than 5w, even though it is
> >> just 3dB difference. I also found I could work reliably with 20 to
> >> 25w of SSB and that 5w SSB was tough a lot of time. So I would love
> >> to see a 20w
> > radio.
> >> I believe the SGC 2020 has 20w but I've heard it is not good on CW
> >> and that the receiver tends to overload and the radio also hangs a
> >> lot, requiring a master-reset.
> >>
> >> We need to design a dual band radio with:
> >>
> >> > Analog VFO from 10 to 11 MHz
> >> > A crystal local oscillator on 3.5 MHz
> >> > Mixer products give us "13.5 to 14.5" MHz AND "6.5 to 7.5" MHz
> >> > 6-Pole Jones filter on 3.5 MHz
> >> > 20w SSB & CW
> >> > Audio-derived AGC
> >> > Analog Audio filter
> >> > Use transistors rated 50 or even 100w, but run at 20w. That way
> >> it can work into 5:1 SWR without a tuner!
> >>
> >> That's your 40m/20m dual band radio, simple and easy!
> >> The VFO tunes in opposite directions on the two bands but that
> >> doesn't matter.
> >> KISS!
> >>
> >>
> >> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> >> (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
> >> Barry N1EU
> >> Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2016 10:28 AM
> >> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> >> Subject: Re: [TenTec] SOTA RADIO
> >>
> >> You don't want the roofing filter option for the KX-3 because it has
> >> to be defeated if there are reasonably strong in/out-of-band signals.
> >>
> >> You would be fine with just 40 & 20M from the mountain top. 30M is
> >> nice to have and occasionally 17M. When condx are good, 15M is also
> >> nice
> > to have.
> >> And of course, when the solar flux is higher, 10M is an amazing QRP
> band.
> >> But just 40 & 20M would serve you very well.
> >>
> >> The LNR rig might not be so great on CW - you should research that.
> >>
> >> I suggest you post questions about SOTA and SOTA radios in these two
> > places:
> >> http://reflector.sota.org.uk/
> >> https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/nasota/info
> >>
> >> 73, Barry N1EU
> >>
> >> On Wed, Mar 16, 2016 at 2:33 AM, rick at dj0ip.de <Rick at dj0ip.de> wrote:
> >>
> >>> (changed the subject: was Service, overhead and the future A/K...)
> >>>
> >>> Barry,
> >>>
> >>> I did a lot of reading in the past day and I believe you are right.
> >>> The KX3 is exactly the radio I described. PERFECT.
> >>>
> >>> Unfortunately it's beyond my budget.
> >>>
> >>> The basic KX3 costs $1500 here in DL.
> >>> Add in a tuner and roofing filter and paddle and it's over $2K for a
> >>> 10w radio that I might use 5 or 6 times per year on a mountain top.
> >>> The ROI just isn't worth it.
> >>>
> >>> For home use, say as my 2nd radio, I would need an amplifier.
> >>>
> >>> Bottom Line: It's a champagne dream on a Budweiser budget.
> >>> For that money -(at this point in my life)- I would get more bangs
> >>> for my buck out of playing with something else, such as a 7300 or an
> >> Annan, etc.
> >>> I need a Plan B for SOTA. Maybe it's just "bite the bullet and
> >>> carry my Scout up the mountain."
> >>>
> >>> I don't mind spending $500 or so but I would sure like to know how
> >>> the radio is going to perform BEFORE I buy it.
> >>>
> >>> My primary bands for portable have always been 40 and 20. 15 will
> >>> be dying soon. Do I really need 17m for SOTA?
> >>>
> >>> QUESTION FOR YOU ACTIVE SOTA Ops: What bands do you mainly operate
> >>> when you are on a mountain top?
> >>>
> >>> I've only been on one SOTA outing together with a buddy and we
> >>> operated
> >>> 40/20/17/15 making a lot of QSOs on each band. Perhaps not quite as
> >>> many on 17.
> >>>
> >>> I think I will take a second look at the LNR offering.
> >>> It is indeed an SDR with DDC - so not an NE-605 type of radio.
> >>> Unfortunately they don't show much detail; just a block diagram.
> >>> There is a box called SDR-RF BPF.
> >>> This is a make or break component.
> >>> Some SDR radios have ham band BPFs (good), others have an LPF, with
> >>> 0-12MHz (useless).
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> >>> (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
> >>> Barry N1EU
> >>> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 5:48 PM
> >>> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> >>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Service, overhead, and the future. A/K/A/ I've
> >>> got my
> >>> 2 cents!
> >>>
> >>> Rick, I'm not sure if you would be satisfied by the KX1 or the MTR
> > radios.
> >>> Unfortunately I don't know the answer to something better but not
> >>> too expensive.
> >>>
> >>> I suggest you try to borrow an MTR-5B. That's the only lesser
> >>> expensive radio that will do 40-15M inclusively. And you'd have to
> >>> search around to find one for sale currently although LNR should be
> >> bringing it out soon.
> >>> Or, just stick with the FT-817. I like the radio, although it
> >>> really needs an external speech processor to work well on SSB.
> >>>
> >>> 73, Barry N1EU
> >>>
> >>> On Tue, Mar 15, 2016 at 11:50 AM, rick at dj0ip.de <Rick at dj0ip.de> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> Hi Barry,
> >>>>
> >>>> I'd love to have a KX3 but it is much too heavy.
> >>>> It's weight would place too big of a dent in my wallet!
> >>>>
> >>>> For SOTA I really only need 40/20/17/15m.
> >>>> 10 is dying and by the time it comes back, I doubt that I will
> >>>> still be running up any mountains.
> >>>>
> >>>> My next scheduled SOTA operation is 1-April. "Fool on a hill" -
> >>>> that's
> >>> me!
> >>>> I don't know yet if I'll try carrying my Scout up the mountain or not.
> >>>> I can borrow an FT-817.
> >>>>
> >>>> How good is the KX1?
> >>>> We have some heavy challenges on our receivers here in EU.
> >>>> A weak DR3 destroys 40m, especially at night, and a weak DR2 makes
> >>>> working 20m difficult - especially at night. You guys in the
> >>>> states can't appreciate that. You have to see/hear it to believe it.
> >>>>
> >>>> I once built a 20m QRP rig based on a design by Rick Littlefield.
> >>>> Had some kind of IC mixer.
> >>>> It was marginal.
> >>>> I ran a QRP CW contest using a home-brew magnetic loop antenna.
> >>>> Sitting in my living room with radio, mag loop, and battery, I
> >>>> worked
> >>> dozens of QSOs.
> >>>> Thought it was great. Then I put it on a big antenna and all hell
> >>>> broke loose at night.
> >>>>
> >>>> So I bought the MFJ 20m QRP CW rig.
> >>>> It was no better than the one I built.
> >>>> I sold both.
> >>>>
> >>>> I want something better than that - but not too expensive.
> >>>> But I don't know the QRP radios at all, except for the Argonauts.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> >>>> (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
> >>>> Barry N1EU
> >>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 12:25 AM
> >>>> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> >>>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Service, overhead, and the future. A/K/A/
> >>>> I've got my
> >>>> 2 cents!
> >>>>
> >>>> On Mon, Mar 14, 2016 at 9:40 PM, rick at dj0ip.de <Rick at dj0ip.de> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> My Scout is a bit too heavy and over-powered, but the FT-817 just
> >>>>> isn't enough radio for me.
> >>>>> I'm looking for something in between. I'd like to see a 10w or
> >>>>> 20w radio with a good RX.
> >>>>> I want it to have both SSB and CW.
> >>>>
> >>>> It's called a KX-3
> >>>>
> >>>> I've got one, but I usually carry a much lighter KX-1 or MTR-5B
> >>>> when I actually hike up a mountain. (200 SOTA activations here)
> >>>>
> >>>> 73, Barry N1EU
> >>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>> TenTec mailing list
> >>>> TenTec at contesting.com
> >>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >>>>
> >>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>> TenTec mailing list
> >>>> TenTec at contesting.com
> >>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >>>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> TenTec mailing list
> >>> TenTec at contesting.com
> >>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> TenTec mailing list
> >>> TenTec at contesting.com
> >>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >>>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> TenTec mailing list
> >> TenTec at contesting.com
> >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> TenTec mailing list
> >> TenTec at contesting.com
> >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
> > TenTec mailing list
> > TenTec at contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TenTec mailing list
> > TenTec at contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>
More information about the TenTec
mailing list