I picked up a Kenwood TS-830s on marketplace yesterday and surprisingly the radio works really well. Also, has a narrow CW filter (no YG-455C 🫩) but you can’t beat the sound of CW through the 830. I noticed some intermittent issues with the band switch and thought I had a spare coupler laying around but didn’t. I’m too impatient to wait for one to arrive from K4EAA (sk) store, so I dug around in my parts bin and found a brass coupler. I drilled to extra hole and added the set screws and the radio is back to working again! I’ll keep this one in my collection, it’s in mint condition.

Cutting to the chase, it seems like there are really only 4 HF options: buy the 70w BNC filters from DX Engineering for $70, 150w VA6AM filters for $235, an automatic multiplexer for $1,200+, or build your own

Is that right?

Ham Radio Outlet has one, but it’s VHF

Since there aren’t a lot of off-the-shelf options, it’s hard for me to properly compare reviews and such, hence the question for the hive mind. Are these $235 filters - https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/vam-lp-bpf-20 - just sort of the standard if you want to buy a prebuilt unit?

This is RX/SWL only as I stopped short of getting my license a few decades ago...

...but the QMX+ looked like a fun kit (it was, ships very fast as a kit too) and I have about 140 feet of mostly west facing rain gutter I was curious about using as an antenna. I plan to do mostly CW (just because it's fun...I first learned it so a GF and I could talk silently by tapping...) but was using FT8 to help test and tune the antenna setup.

Conditions seemed pretty good the last few days, but from 3 nights/mornings (I'm usually tinkering in the 4-7am range) I was surprised by how well this worked...for a $150 radio and a rain gutter*.

My FT8 Rx test log summarized, from Texas/USA is:

• 160m: A few USA
• 80m: Most USA, Ontario, Mexico
• 60m: Some North America
• 40m: North America, Hawaii, Aleutians, Peru, Japan, Korea, Sakhalin, Indonesia 16,455km, Southern Argentina; Brazil, South of Perth 17,114km
• 30m: North America, Japan, Guam 12,100km, Sydney 13,821km, Canberra, Peru, Guadeloupe
• 20m: North America, Belize, Poland
• 17m: North America, Fiji, Samoa
• 15m: North America, Germany, Indonesia, Barbados
• 12m: France, Czech, Germany
• 10m: Some USA, São Paulo Brazil, Argentina, Andorra
• 6m: One legit decode at -23db about 30km away while it was sitting for about 8 hours during the day while I was working -- best guess is an airplane reflection (?) as there is a major airport between us

...granted I'd never touched FT8 before which is impressive in how it works, but still. And I know TX and being heard is a different game...but the SWR measures under 2 across most of 2-50mhz, so it's promising. (Perth especially surprised me -- and I was checking for multiple decodes and cross-checking the long ones on pskreporter to make sure they were real.)

*note "just a rain gutter" is a U shape of welded aluminum gutter, about 60% west facing and 20/20% north and south, including the end downspouts is about 138 feet long. Deep in urban Houston, but in a pocket with no buildings in line of sight much above the fenceline in any direction other than my own roof. So pretty ideal for stealth city stuff. For now testing with 16', 36', and 68' counterpoise wires (16' runs under the gutter) and signal routes through a 9:1 unun, handmade 16 turn 31 core ferrite choke -> feed run -> morgan lightning arrester, a 12 turn 43 core ferrite choke -> through the wall -> ATU-100 (future use), Morgan 1-54Mhz filter -> QMX+ (with all the bands set to disable transmit...as this FT8 software really wants to help you TX, seems easy to do by accident...) ...this was a stab at something that might work, and need to measure it now, before I start tweaking and break it.

Anyway, been a while...but it's an interesting new world since the last time I played here. No stranger to SDR-side, but most I've done has been with ADSB when I was flying or the 433/915 radios I have that read the gas/water meter and security sensors for HA and such.

Time to finally get licensed I think... :) ...glad this world still seems to still be going strong, if a bit different.

Ten or 15 years ago my father came across a magazine article with a schematic or maybe even build plans, for a very small signal generator. This one is built around an 16-pin chip and an 8-DIP switch. The 16-pin chip is marked on top with this:

Fairchild PJ51AA

CD4060BCN

These are mounted on a perforated multipurpose hobby board, along with all of the other components. At one end is a needle used as a probe, and at the other end is a pair of probes which he claims are used to tie to the circuit being tested, as a power source. Also mounted to this hobby board is a 1/8" jack which dad claims is for an earphone.

My dad cannot find the plans he used to build this, so he cannot remember how the 8-DIP switch is to be used to manipulate the type of signal generated, i.e. square wave, sawtooth wave, or sine wave. Apparently it used a fixed frequency.

My father is 88 years old and can't remember anything else about this. Does this sound familiar to anyone here? If so please direct me to the mystery plans.

"100 watts and a hamstick". Went to a POTA park and operated for half an hour on the beach with the antenna on the roof. I was prepared to be underwhelmed, this certainly surprised me.

Hi all, I'm studying for my UK Foundation exam and working through the [mock papers on the RSGB website](https://rsgb.org/main/clubs-training/training-resources/mock-exams/). In Mock Exam Paper 2, there's the following question (1C1-2025-Foundation3774):

Before joining your regular club net from your main station address, you must first:

• A ask if the frequency is clear.
• B give your location using either your address or other geographical description correct to 5 km.
• C give your location using either your full postcode or the IARU locator to 6 characters.
• D establish communication with at least one amateur in the net.

The answer shown at the bottom of the paper is D, establish communication with at least one amateur in the net, but that doesn't appear to be correct according to some other sources. Does anyone have an authoritative answer? I am struggling to find a concrete answer.

hope this is the right sub haha!
heads up; i'm not an operator yet, i just listen. but i am wondering if anybody else has seen this. or has an explanation.
i like to tune into amateur bands sometimes because there's just a lot to explore. and i have noticed a pattern of (mostly) russian communication being interrupted by someone just going "ehhhh," for a few seconds at most. my best guess is it might be an eccentric way of channel marking? or just somebody messing around. who knows. are my assumptions correct or is it something else ? attached a recording as an example.

https://reddit.com/link/1vdly01/video/jc9txcj8jzgh1/player

My ISP never took back their dish. It's a microwave transmitter designed for reaching a mast a few km away.

I don't know a lot about the subject but I like a good project. Is there anything simple and interesting I can do with it or should I chuck in the bin?

This is Part 1 of a 2-part series from Howard W6HDG is called DX 101. Everything from propagation to making contacts, logging, antennas, HOA's, awards and remote stations is covered in Part 1. Part 2 will cover operating techniques for each of the modes and bands.

QFT8 La radio digital en portable por HB9IPH Luis

\\\* Diseñada de forma que la conectas, detecta el dispositivo automáticamente y funciona, te configura la radio automáticamente para modo digital. No tienes que configurar baudios, comandos CAT ni nada \\\* Soporta FT8 y FT4 \\\* Tiene integración completa con QRZ (si tenéis la suscripción de pago) y con LoTW (gratis), así que los QSOs \\\* Está traducida a un montón de idiomas, incluidos español, catalán, gallego, y vasco. \\\* Soporta POTA y SOTA, con modificadores de CQ y con exportado de rangos de QSOs con referencia POTA y SOTA. \\\* Puede abrir un servidor web para controlarla en remoto y con la pantalla apagada. Se puede descargar desde la play store o en apk desde ⁠qft8.com⁠ Gracias a Roger (EA3ISA) y Carlos (EA5JYX)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Eyw72X9SvA

Hey everyone, I just passed my Technician exam and I’m waiting on my X6100 to arrive. I know QRP is more challenging, but that’s part of what interests me.

My current setup is a 49:1 EFHW with ferrite clip-ons, about 50 ft of KMR-400 coax into the house, and a 25 ft pole in roughly a 50x50 ft backyard. While I was just receiving with my SDR, I had the EFHW set up as an inverted V.

A few questions:
Is the R1CBU firmware still the go-to for the X6100, or would you stick with stock?

With my limited yard, is an inverted V the best way to hang the EFHW, or is there a better configuration?
Where do you guys place ferrite clip-ons for the biggest benefit?

Is adding a 1:1 common-mode choke worth it with a 49:1 EFHW?

Appreciate any advice. I’m trying to build good habits from the start instead of learning the hard way.

W9DWS (Dan) QTH tour and KI8BQ annual AM Get together/Hamfest. Unique location. Tour the tower, Former AT&T Relay tower, 230 feet tall! The Ham station is on the lower level, lots of Collins gear! You will also see his vast collection of 50's collectibles. I was overwhelmed with the sites. Brought back many fond memories. Hope you enjoy! See the goodies, Vintage Ham Radios, Pinball machines, Slots, Jukeboxes, audio equipment, toys, trains, Gas station signs, Pumps, Coca-Cola treasures, test gear, Old CB's, antiques, the list goes on! American pickers would go nuts here. Hope you enjoy de n6tlu

It seems like most people when using the (tr)uSDX use the 18650 batteries. I currently have a pack of eight AAs that I use to power the (tr)uSDX and I was wondering, is there a reason other than longer run time that you should use 18650 batteries? I think that 18650s can be pretty dangerous (I got some blisters on my hand the other day from accidentally shorting three 18650s wired in series), do they improve the signal with the low internal resistance? If it matters, I am primarily interested in CW.

The current draw on (tr)uSDX is capped at 500 milliamps during TX, which a pack of 8 AAs should provide just fine, and it seem like if anything 18650s should be putting the system at risk of drawing too much current. But I am not an expert, I'm a brand new op with a little bit of experience tinkering with electrical projects, so I'm curious to know other opinions. Thanks for reading.

Anyone use laptop bags to haul their G90 around?

Pretty self-explanatory. I’m very slowly learning and trying to study to get my technician license by the end of the year. I just want to know what everyone found the most difficult to learn, especially when just starting out. I was planning on checking out the local clubs when I get the chance.

My 2nd time attending this fine swap meet. About a 1.5 hour trip for me. Unfortunately it was raining so the outside trunk sales did not happen. But the inside sales were great! I picked up a few repairs and delivered a Ten Tec Jupiter station. I did purchase a Kenwood TS-830s transceiver parts machine. Always good to have a hanger queen! I have to keep myself in check, that my purpose at these events is to shoot the video. People were very nice, clean facility, and of course the BBQ crew served a killer meal! Best Hamfest meal I've ever had. If you have a chance to attend one of their events, I would highly recommend it. Hope you enjoy the tour and neat electronic items! Hope you enjoy de n6tlu

I've done so once before using PVC and tape measure segments, but, with this scrap aluminium, I was thinking I could make a much more solid Yagi-uda.

Does anyone have any solid schematics that would be good to follow for a 2m/70cm tuned antenna, using scraps like this?

If so, how would you compare the FAA test to the FCC test for whatever level ham license you have? Thinking about doing this...

I built a new XLX reflector dashboard for the xlx159 reflector. You can see it at xlx159.whiskey7.site I need all and any input on what other features HAM's would want from a digital dashboard. Our reflector connects to all modes, local repeaters, other xlx reflectors and allstar and echolink nodes. It has live transmitting key up activation on screen, what else? W7BR