Author Archives: robert

Mounting a VHF/UHF Gain Antenna on a Chevy Avalanche

Posted on March 4, 2013 by robert

My WB4SON-mobile is a Chevrolet Avalanche.  Despite the fact that I’ve owned that truck for over a decade, I’ve never had a permanently mounted rig or antenna, relying instead on my handheld with a mag-mount antenna.  After about the sixth … Continue reading →

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TX5K 18 MHz P3 Capture

Posted on March 4, 2013 by robert

The KX5K DXpedition is creating a rather wide pileup on the 18 MHz band as you can see from the screen-capture below.  The Green and Red cursors are about 7.3 KHz apart.  The Green cursor is on TX5K signal, which … Continue reading →

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Clipperton, TX5K, has fantastic real-time world view

Posted on March 4, 2013 by robert

After begin “slimmed” by a pirate on 3/1, followed by a busy family weekend, I finally had an opportunity to work TX5K on Clipperton Island (for real) using 30m CW.  Despite the relative calm of the 30 meter band, the … Continue reading →

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Zippy LiFe 4200 Battery Self-discharge Test: 4% perMonth

Posted on February 28, 2013 by robert

A month ago I published some test results indicating a Zippy LiFe 4200 battery did have a capacity near its manufacturer’s claims (in fact slightly better than the claim at a C/2 discharge rate (2.1 Amps).  That original curve is … Continue reading →

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Thinking of the peak of Solar cycle 24

Posted on February 20, 2013 by robert

Its a glass half-empty vs. glass half-full thing. According to NASA, we are close to the peak of Solar Cycle 24; they are predicting summer of 2013.  However the smoothed numbers have actually been running below the mean prediction level … Continue reading →

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DXCC in a weekend (and other random musings concerning the ARRL CW DX Contest)

Posted on February 17, 2013 by robert

I’ve been told that timing is everything in life.  If that is true then I’m in trouble, because timing ISN’T my forte.  Take for example the New England Blizzard of 2013 that descended upon RI like a ton of bricks … Continue reading →

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Closing in on 5BWAS (sort of)

Posted on February 2, 2013 by robert

Using LotW, a couple of weeks ago I completed WAS on 20 meters.  Today I completed it on 40 meters.  Still a long way to go, 80/15/10, but I’m getting closer.  I need: 6 more on 80 meters (Missing: Alaska, … Continue reading →

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Initial Test Results on Zippy LiFePO4 4200mA 4S battery pack

Posted on January 27, 2013 by robert

There has been substantial discussion, but not much in the way of published test, on the “Zippy LiFe” batteries offered by Hobby King.  Hobby King has been supplying RC hobbyist LiPo batteries for years and recently started offering a LiFe … Continue reading →

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If I could only have one band it would be…

Posted on January 25, 2013 by robert

Many years ago my father and I would debate this endlessly.  His choice was 40 meters.  Mine was 20 meters.  After restarting my ham radio hobby 2 years ago, I’ve had a chance to track things carefully this time around, … Continue reading →

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A Complete “On-the-go” Ham Station Under Six Pounds!

Posted on January 24, 2013 by robert

Would you believe 5.75 pounds (or less)?  What’s in the “On-the-go” bag? Elecraft KX3 with Internal Tuner Elecraft Paddle and Hand Mic Headphones Two sets of Sanyo XX 2.4AH batteries (16 hours of operating) DC Power Cord w/Powerpoles & Cigarette … Continue reading →

Posted in From the OM, Gear, QRP | 11 Comments