User:W0DBW

visit the... KE0ETZ Home Page www.ke0etz.com

Working Inventory

Transceivers I have collected and used over the years are listed here. I am trying to locate the ones I stored away. Since I have renewed my interest in radio communication after many years (late 80s early 90s) I have started buying here and there again. My radio hobby has to be on a budget so don't expect any super-mega-digital-all-crazy $$$ rigs in this collection.

Working Inventory: HF

• Alinco DX-70T HF/6m Tranceiver - Working. This transceiver will cover 160 meters - 10 meters and 6 meters. SSB, CW, FM 1.8MHz-30MHz 100 Watts; 50MHz-54MHz: 10 Watts (AM) 1.8 MHz - 30 MHz 40 Watts; 5OMHz - 54 MHz: 4 Watts.

• Clear Channel Ranger AR-3500 - In storage. Hand-me-down from a family member. I like my President HR2510 better although this AR3500 is the 100 watt model so it is more powerful. It does have power! This radio is in unknown condition. I haven't powered it up in over 20 years.

Some of these radios have been stored for many years at my parents. This one is still boxed away.

• Kenwood TS-940SAT - A Solid State Competition Grade HF Transceiver. Solid state HF transceiver, radio bands from 160 to 10 meters, general coverage receiver from 150 kHz to 30 MHz, CW, SSB, AM, FSK, and narrow-band FM. 100 Watt out. The S model has no auto tuner, while my SAT has the auto tuner.

 

The nice thing about this radio is "no menus." Everything is controlled by manual controls on the face. It is a powerful rig with extended coverage. There is a simple "TS-940SAT Complete TX Coverage Modification."

There's more room to work inside these old rigs than some of the newer models.

AK4AA tells me that a more suitable model to learn to service is the Kenwood TS-530S which is a hybrid radio. He advises that hybrid models such as the 530S and 830S are good choices for practice on service, repair, and modification. I plan to keep an eye open for a 530S in need of repair and alignment. My long term goal is to become competent enough to align and repair these transceivers. I asked him about the availability of vacuum tubes as there is so much talk about tube scarcity and high replacement cost. Dave said that a web site - rfparts.com - has inexpensive tubes available, original "old stock" as well. A tube such as the 6146B sells for only $75 in pairs.

• Uniden President HR2510 - Working however since it hasn't been used much in a couple decades I think it is a bit out of tune. The SWR meter on it never seemed to work well. I used to thump the signal display to get it to register. I have worked this radio a lot and made many contacts. In 1990 I was able to make regular contacts in the UK. Used with the Hy Gain Penetrator antenna, which has to be shorted a bit for 10-meter operation, and during the right solar activity, this radio is great for making long distant contacts on HF band. Here is what it looks like:

When I get this back on a good antenna I plan to make some contacts before this sunspot cycle dries up. I will eventually put a log here. This is my only working HF radio right now.

I also have some old amps and equipment not worth mentioning. Though, the tube AMP I have will do 800 watts.

• Yaesu Sommerkamp FT-7B - This was also a hand-me-down from a family member. It once worked, but now doesn't seem to put out any power, low output problem. I plan to take it apart and start with a good cleaning, then go from there.

Working Inventory: VHF & UHF

• TYT TH-9800 Quad Band Transceiver. This radio does cover 10-meter but not with SSB so I didn't list it up there. It is strictly AM-FM mode. It is a Chinese knockoff of Yaseau. I got it for under $200 new. looks like:

The above is a stock image. I will snap a pic of it as it is hooked up in my van as soon as I clean up the way I mounted it. Right now it is held to the dash by zip ties.

• Kenwood TR-7400A - My old VHF mobile rig. I dug this out of storage but can't find where I put the microphone.

Actual pic: I hooked this up to a VHF HT antenna and a 12v PSU to see if it still worked. Even if I had the mic I wouldn't key down on this type of antenna. I was picking up conversation from a couple local repeaters. Sounded good. When I find the mic I will hook it up in my van and see if it still transmits well enough.

• Kenwood TR-8300 - tested and dead.

It was stored at my parents farm. I found it in a moldy box in an out building, rusted and wet. Total loss.

• Kenwood TK 880H - This is a Part 90 radio which retails with the following feature list: 32 systems / 250 groups (trunked mode), Max 600 channels (trunked mode), Max 250 channels capacity (conventional mode), 12 character dot matririx LCD, 10 character alphanumeric alias. This radio can be programmed for use on Ham bands. Programming is done with KPG-49D software. It is supposed to be 50 watts and programmable for use between 400 to 430 mhz. With a dummy load I tested it at about 30 watts. Requires a serial cable to program, serial on one end, RJ45 on the other.

Miscellaneous HTs

• Baofeng BF-F8HP
• Kenwood TK-380K
• Tokmate UHF

Actually I have a box full of HTs mostly China made and a few old Radio Shack "Realistic" models.

==other thoughts===

HF is where it is at. You might as well upgrade from a Technician to General Class if you want to talk to someone. The VHF and UHF repeaters are plentiful and if you enjoy tuning in to hear the 10 minute CW identifier then VHF and UHF is for you, because that's all you'll hear. Ham radio operators are moving up to higher UHF digital, which is of no interest to me. The equipment is proprietary and expensive. I prefer to go down low, to HF where there is skip, and good DX. There's always activity on HF. However, if you are a technician class then you are restricted to a very narrow slice of 10-meter and nothing lower. 10-meter is great during the sun spot peek, but can be pretty quiet otherwise. I was able to make a 10-meter contact with my Uniden President HR2510 during the last Ham Radio Field Day.

From between 1988 - 1991 I worked 10-meter a lot, under a different call sign. I made contacts all over North America and as far as the United Kingdom. I also did Alaska. 10-meter was good during that period. Lots of solar activity. Lots of skip. 12-watts is all that was needed. I made the U.K. contact barefoot on only 12-watts with a good directional antenna.

Vintage

I collect vintage tube radios, shortwave radios, and various related. I will throw some pics up here when I get time.

For Sale

 ITEM DESCRIPTION                                           PRICE
 -----------------------------------------------------      --------

 Kenwood TS-430S - (used) ................................. $ Dead 

 Cobra 124 GTL - (used) expanded 365 channels ............. $ 350.00 --- tested, fully functional.

 Tokmate TU30 (new) Handheld UHF 400-480MHz ............... $  35.00 --- NIB, will program for you 
                                                                         at no additional cost.  
 Hy Gain Omni Directional 10 meter antenna (used) ......... sold

The Hy Gain antenna was damaged by a storm. What remains has been sold. I had a second one in storage. If I can locate it I might post it here for sale.

Cobra 142 GTL expanded for 365 channels operate 10-meter USB and LSB.

WANTED: Dead or Alive

Actually I prefer alive.

• Yaesu HF, 6M, VHF, UHF All Mode Transceiver
• Hybrid HF Transceiver
• New Truck Chaser digital scanner

transceivers

The Yaesu FT-897 is an all band, all mode transceiver. HF/VHF/UHF all mode portable transceiver 100 watts on HF.

• Yaesu FT-1000(D) - 200w allmode transceiver 100 kHz to 30 MHz.
• Yaesu FT-1000MP - 160m-10m transceiver
• Yaesu FT-1000MP Mk V Field
• Yaesu FT-102 - 160 to 10 meters in SSB, CW, AM and FSK modes. Hybrid. Analog dial. Digital display.
• Yaesu FT-650
• Yaesu FT-900CAT
• Yaesu FT-902DM
• Yaesu FT-990

Sun Spots

Sunspot numbers wax and wane in an approximately 11-year cycle. Solar Cycle 1 spanned the years 1755 to 1766. The last, Cycle 23, peaked in April 2000 with an average of 120 sunspots per day around the time of maximum. The last minimum part of the cycle bottomed out in December 2008, was the longest and quietest in over a century. Cycle 24 is occurring now in 1014 - 1015. Cycle 24 is a disappointing cycle. 10-meter DX depends largely on solar activity. Skip on 10-meter is active now and predicted to remain active until 2018 or shortly thereafter. It is a weak sunspot cycle, however, it is enough to provide for skip.

Cycle 24 actually peaked in 2014.

We need more sunspots! Join my campaign to lobby Washington to pass a bill that creates sunspots. Click HERE to send us your donation.

Hy Gain Penetrator

The Hy Gain Penetrator antenna designer Howell Pabian is now retired in the Lincoln, Nebraska! That's where I ordered my antennas from. A little 2-way radio shop that once existed on O Street.

Hy Gain Penetrator Facts:

• 5/8 wave ground plane antenna.
• shorten the vertical radiator for 10-meter use.

MFJ now owns the rights to Hy Gain in name.

• Penetrator P500 article from October 2009

A new version of the antenna is back in production.

• Hy-gain SPT-500 (fall in love again!)

Investigating

Equipment: Connect Systems CS750 DMR Digital/Analog Radio

Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) - The new CS750 is the first DMR-compatible radio to be designed specifically for the Ham market.

• $210

Equipment: Yaesu VX-3R VHF/UHF DualBand Handheld -vs- ZASTONE ZT-2R+

The Yaesu Receives 0.5-999Mhz AM/FMN/FMW, Transmits 144-148 & 430-450Mhz VHF/UHF FM Output is 1.5W Vhf, 1W UHF

The ZASTONE ZT-2R+ TX Frequency Ranges: 144-146 MHz 430-440 MHz (but no info on AM/FM)

Icom ICR6 Broadband Receiver

0.100 ~ 1309.995MHz in AM / FM / WFM.

Scanning the HF dial

Day Night kHz use location language comments X 0.330 CW X 3.215 AM SW english news, political X 3.330 AM SW english automated beacon X 3.618 LSB ham english X 3.625 LSB ham english X 3.700 LSB ham english X 3.908 LSB ham english X 3.908 LSB ham english X 3.916 LSB ham english X 3.936 LSB ham english X 7.138 LSB ham english X 7.217 LSB ham X 7.385 AM SW english religious X 7.455 AM SW english religious X 7.489 AM SW english X 7.569 AM SW english X 9.395 AM SW english X 9.474 AM SW english religious X 9.790 AM SW english X 9.800 AM SW english news X 9.955 AM SW english religious X 9.975 AM SW english X 9.980 AM SW english religious X 11.550 AM SW spanish X 11.670 AM SW foreign X 11.780 AM SW foreign X 11.825 AM SW english religious X 11.840 AM SW foreign same as 13.743 X 11.950 AM SW spanish strong signal X 12.160 AM SW USA english midwest USA, call in talkshow X 13.743 AM SW foreign X 14.670 AM SW Canada english radio beacon X 15.120 AM SW foreign X 15.230 AM SW spanish X 15.370 AM SW spanish same as 15.230 X 15.700 AM SW China english China radio propiganda, news, strong signal X 18.155 USB ham english

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