Category Archives: From the OM

Using a <$30 HT to send true CW on 2m

Posted on October 15, 2026 by robert

I ordered a QuanSheng UV-5R v3 from Amazon, with the intent of uploading NR7Y’s CW firmware.  The reason for that particular firmware is that it supports attaching a paddle to the radio via a USB-C cable, and does NOT require … Continue reading →

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Did a Common Mode Current Choke Help?

Posted on October 10, 2026 by robert

I did before and after testing using the big coax choke from COMTEK, and it did not help.  The noise I was seeing on the 40 and 15-meter bands was still there and at the same level. Unfortunately I was … Continue reading →

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COM-CFC-50A Choke Test

Posted on October 10, 2026 by robert

I have a couple of other Common Mode Current Chokes laying around the shack.  One of them is the COMTEK COM-CFC-50A.  It’s a beefy choke, rated at 5KW – about 6 feet long and covered with 75 ferrite beads over … Continue reading →

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PackTenna CMC Test Results

Posted on October 9, 2026 by robert

Using the Halibut Electronics CMC Test Rig, I hooked up the PackTenna PAK-103 In-Line Common Mode Choke (rated for 100 watts).  The nanoVNA was calibrated using the Open/Short/Load on the Test Fixture. Here are the results with some markers on … Continue reading →

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13 Colonies 250th Event

Posted on August 18, 2026 by robert

I checked the https://www.13colonies.us/ website today and was happy to find out that I had qualified for a “Clean Sweep” for the 2026 event, marking our countries 250th anniversary.

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Opening Season for POTA (and fishing)

Posted on April 13, 2026 by robert

Yesterday I shook off my long-lasting winter blues and headed out for my first activation of 2026.  This was a shakedown trip to make sure I wouldn’t completely mess things up while testing a few new things.  I drove all … Continue reading →

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2026 Hurricane Season Forecast

Posted on April 9, 2026 by robert

Due to the anticipated influence of El Nino (warmer than average water in the equatorial pacific), the anticipated number of Atlantic hurricanes is somewhat lower than average. This is Bob’s broken record – the time to prepare for the hurricane … Continue reading →

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Massive Solar Storm

Posted on November 12, 2025 by robert

Yesterday was Veterans Day, and also a major solar storm event.  The earth was impacted by two CMEs, resulting in one of the largest Ground Level Event in the last 20 years.  Folks flying at high altitudes were subject to … Continue reading →

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First SSB using QRP-Labs QMX

Posted on November 3, 2025 by robert

After building a QMX and QMX+, I decided to order another QMX for 20/17/15/12/10 meters, factory assembled.  Given high demand, it took about 6 months to build, and recently arrived.  I was a bit surprised since it arrived after all … Continue reading →

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Blue Sky Preparations

Posted on September 26, 2025 by robert

The song might say “Nothing but blue skies from now own”, but we can’t depend on that in New England.  Our peak hurricane season still has a few weeks left, and storms like Hurricane Sandy (October 29th) remind us to … Continue reading →

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