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Re: New Hilltopper20/40
Leland L. Bahr
I might add, there are a number of Novice Boat Anchor transmitter collectors that operate on 7100-7125. Many of these guys are primarily restorers of older tube transmitters and receivers. Many restore and operate old tube type Novice transmitters. They are for the most part older hams reliving their youth using old gear. CW is not their primary interest. So these guys, for the most part, are not "CW speed demons" and they feel more relaxed operating between 7100-7125. It's more like operating on an old Novice Band without all the clutter. Any new ham interested in CW would most likely enjoy this part of 40 meters when first getting started with CW.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Lee, w0vt
On 8/21/2020 6:51 PM, Leland L. Bahr wrote:
I received my two new Hilltopper kits today from the new batch just released! Thanks 4SQRP for your efforts. (I plan to convert the new 40 meter kit to 30 meters as I already own a 40 and 20 meter Hilltopper. If possible, I'd like to turn the 20 meter kit into a 17 or 15 meter transceiver.) This is a nice kit. If you missed out on prior Hilltopper offerings, you might consider purchasing one now while they are again available.
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New Hilltopper20/40
Leland L. Bahr
I received my two new Hilltopper kits today from the new batch just released! Thanks 4SQRP for your efforts. (I plan to convert the new 40 meter kit to 30 meters as I already own a 40 and 20 meter Hilltopper. If possible, I'd like to turn the 20 meter kit into a 17 or 15 meter transceiver.) This is a nice kit. If you missed out on prior Hilltopper offerings, you might consider purchasing one now while they are again available.
(True 5 watts without insane voltage applied to the radio, keyer, single conversion receiver, covers the entire band so for 40 meters you not only have the lower cw frequencies but the often used 7100-7125 khz portion of the band not available on some kits. (I like the 7100-7125 portion of the band.) On receive it draws only 70 ma and the rig has reverse voltage protection. The two SMT parts are preinstalled on the board. The three BS-170 transistors, in the final, are inexpensive to replace if ever needed. You also get a case for the radio. The parts are well laid out with individual packages as you build up the transceiver. Each bag is marked for each of the build steps. The parts count is not excessive either in this kit. I also noticed, unlike in the earlier offering, the case for this offering no longer states the case is for 40 meters or 20 meters. It just says "Hilltopper". (Great news for me as I plan to use the radios on other bands then 20 and 40 meters.) Although this kit is not considered a beginners project, I suspect more first time builders will have success building this kit then many other I have seen. The manual is superb. My only wish is I would have liked the keyer to be a memory keyer. That means I'll be using an outboard keyer with this transceiver. Lee, w0vt, w5drc
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Re: Little Pistols vs Big Guns
W6BOW
Jim,
Wonderful report. Inspiring all the way around. Thanks!
Don
W6BOW
-----Original Message-----
From: Everett Catlin via groups.io <everettcatlin@...> To: main@4SQRP.groups.io <main@4SQRP.groups.io> Sent: Tue, Aug 18, 2020 6:08 pm Subject: Re: [4SQRP] Little Pistols vs Big Guns Hi Jim
Sounds like you had a wonderful time in a great setting. It is nice to have a trip like that. she looks like a natural at he key. Take care and stay safe.
73
Vi Minore Plus Gaudium
Everett
N5mzx
On Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 9:28:49 PM UTC, n5ib_2 <n5ib@...> wrote:
Hi Gang,
About two weeks ago Gloria (WD5CMA) and I had a chance to spend a week at our son (W5WWX) and daughter-in-law's cabin the the north Georgia mountains (Blue Ridge GA) inside the Chatahoochee National Forest. Great spot for "luxury" POTA, with mains power, A/C, comfy furnishings, kitchen, cable TV, WiFi, hot tub, etc. Rough duty, but somebody's got to get those Parks On The Air :^))
Antennas were held up by a Jackite pole strapped to the deck railing. The deck at that spot is 17' above ground level, so for 20m it was a full size dipole suspended vertically, on 40m it was a slight sloper. Rig, for most of the time, was the K2-QRP running off a 7 aH AGM battery that was topped up periodically with a 600 mA solar panel. Had short-lived mini-pileups most days on both CW and SSB after spotting on the POTA site.
But for a brief 90 minute spell, I threw caution to winds and broke out the 20m Spy Radio, based on Dave Benson's Green Mountain 20, but packaged to look like the Bayou Jumper. A photo is attached. Output is about 1.5 to 2.0 W depending on battery health. Here the battery was three 18650 Li-ion cells in series.
I dived right into the roiling fray of the NA Sprint on 20m, and in that 90 minute span, with a couple of snack breaks thrown in, made 25 Qs, working all but three or four of the stations I called. It was a barrel of fun. So nice to be in an RF quiet environment. So quiet I could hear some slight noise from my Samlex switching 20A supply when I broke it out for a few minutes the next day. Never heard any amid the RF soup at the home QTH in Baton Rouge.
But probably the neatest part was introducing our grand daughter, Tessa, to ham radio. Not quite 3 years old yet, she was fascinated with the straight key and keyer, and we even managed a few words of chat back to grandma on 2m when we were out walking the trails on our "bear hunts". Couple of photos attached as well. All-in-all a wonderful getaway.
Blatant advertisement - they do list the cabin on airbnb - There's no permanent antenna installed, but a fishing pole, some wire and string is all that's needed. I shan't post a link here - that would be too blatant - but contact me privately if you wish.
73,
Jim, N5IB
n5ib (at) juno (dot) com
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Re: Ozark Patrol Audio Transformer and Jack
Curt
You could easily unsolder Q3 and test it with your DVM on diode test. I bought 5 minimodule LM386 amps for $10 delivered. No constuction just hook them up.
GL n 73, Curt KB5JO
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Delta Mike Romeo Net
Robert
Tonight's Check In's AC0BQ JOHNNY KU5M JOE N4ELM DAVE N0MII JEFF WG5F ED KC0PP KEITH NK8O CHARLES N0TGR DICK WA9BNZ BILL KX9RT SCOTT THE LINK WILL PROVIDE MORE INFO ON TONIGHTS TOPIC
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Re: Ozark Patrol Audio Transformer and Jack
I'm working on adding that $2 amp. Darn single sided board with too-small pads is a pain to build. However, I don't think the amp will solve this rig's problem. I suspect Q3 is kaput.
Maybe not relevant: Dale Hardin Elberta, AL --
Dale Hardin, KS4NS Elberta, AL
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40 and 80 Meter Net Report
Ge Group: Band conditions not too bad tonite. Some qrn on 80, but not as bad as it usually is. Check in's were: 40 meters N4MJ GLEN WI5H MIKE W2SH cHAS WB0CFF CARL Double N4ELM DAVE DOUBLE W5ESE SCOTT DOUBLE 80 METERS NOYJ BERT WB0CFF CARL DOUBLE N4ELM DAVE DOUBLE KL7IXI MIKE W5ESE SCOTT DOUBLE K5TD REOBERT K5TSK Hank First Time Welcome to the net! Thanks guys, Take Care. 72 Johnny AC0BQ
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Wednesday Evening 40 and 80 meter Nets - Wed, 08/19/2020
#cal-notice
main@4SQRP.groups.io Calendar <noreply@...>
Wednesday Evening 40 and 80 meter Nets When: Where: Organizer: Description:
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Re: Ozark Patrol Audio Transformer and Jack
Curt
Maybe not relevant:
The stock radio doesn't put out much volume into the speaker. Headphones worked fine, I bought a $2 audio amp and wired it into the speaker circuit, now volume from the speaker is very adequate. I guess the radio was meant to be a retro-style regen and 2 transistors drive headphones fine but a speaker not very well. 72, Curt KB5JO
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Wednesday Evening 40 and 80 meter Nets - Wed, 08/19/2020 20:00-21:00
#cal-reminder
main@4SQRP.groups.io Calendar <main@...>
Reminder: Wednesday Evening 40 and 80 meter Nets When: Wednesday, 19 August 2020, 20:00 to 21:00, (GMT-05:00) America/Chicago Where:40 and 80 Meters Organizer: jomatlock@... Description: The 40 Meter Net will be at 8:00 pm central time on 7.122 +-. QRM
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Re: Little Pistols vs Big Guns
Stephen Myers
The years have been kind to you Jim. It is nice seeing a picture of you. Your walking buddy from Grand Isl. 73's, Steve de HP9SAM (AKA KJ4SLK)
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Re: Ozark Patrol Audio Transformer and Jack
Thanks. I'll turn it back around again. I assume the measurement of Can on Q3 in the Assembly Manual is incorrect. That's what threw me off.
On Wed, Aug 19, 2020 at 10:28 AM nm0s_qrp <nm0s@...> wrote: Hi Dale. The transformer was marked correctly, and you had it installed properly. The 5.7 volt level you measured is pretty typical of what you should expect. Dale Hardin Elberta, AL --
Dale Hardin, KS4NS Elberta, AL
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Re: Ozark Patrol Audio Transformer and Jack
nm0s_qrp
Hi Dale. The transformer was marked correctly, and you had it installed properly. The 5.7 volt level you measured is pretty typical of what you should expect.
73 Dave NM0S
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Re: Little Pistols vs Big Guns
Everett Catlin
Hi Jim Sounds like you had a wonderful time in a great setting. It is nice to have a trip like that. she looks like a natural at he key. Take care and stay safe. 73 Vi Minore Plus Gaudium Everett N5mzx
On Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 9:28:49 PM UTC, n5ib_2 <n5ib@...> wrote:
Hi Gang, About two weeks ago Gloria (WD5CMA) and I had a chance to spend a week at our son (W5WWX) and daughter-in-law's cabin the the north Georgia mountains (Blue Ridge GA) inside the Chatahoochee National Forest. Great spot for "luxury" POTA, with mains power, A/C, comfy furnishings, kitchen, cable TV, WiFi, hot tub, etc. Rough duty, but somebody's got to get those Parks On The Air :^)) Antennas were held up by a Jackite pole strapped to the deck railing. The deck at that spot is 17' above ground level, so for 20m it was a full size dipole suspended vertically, on 40m it was a slight sloper. Rig, for most of the time, was the K2-QRP running off a 7 aH AGM battery that was topped up periodically with a 600 mA solar panel. Had short-lived mini-pileups most days on both CW and SSB after spotting on the POTA site. But for a brief 90 minute spell, I threw caution to winds and broke out the 20m Spy Radio, based on Dave Benson's Green Mountain 20, but packaged to look like the Bayou Jumper. A photo is attached. Output is about 1.5 to 2.0 W depending on battery health. Here the battery was three 18650 Li-ion cells in series. I dived right into the roiling fray of the NA Sprint on 20m, and in that 90 minute span, with a couple of snack breaks thrown in, made 25 Qs, working all but three or four of the stations I called. It was a barrel of fun. So nice to be in an RF quiet environment. So quiet I could hear some slight noise from my Samlex switching 20A supply when I broke it out for a few minutes the next day. Never heard any amid the RF soup at the home QTH in Baton Rouge. But probably the neatest part was introducing our grand daughter, Tessa, to ham radio. Not quite 3 years old yet, she was fascinated with the straight key and keyer, and we even managed a few words of chat back to grandma on 2m when we were out walking the trails on our "bear hunts". Couple of photos attached as well. All-in-all a wonderful getaway. Blatant advertisement - they do list the cabin on airbnb - There's no permanent antenna installed, but a fishing pole, some wire and string is all that's needed. I shan't post a link here - that would be too blatant - but contact me privately if you wish. 73, Jim, N5IB n5ib (at) juno (dot) com
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Ozark Patrol Audio Transformer and Jack
I am working on a troubled Ozark Patrol. I checked the voltages per the manual and found that the Collector (can) Q3 was 5.72v. I ohmed out the audio transformer and the marked Primary side was 278.5 ohms and the secondary side was 1.8 ohms. I reversed the transformer and got 9.25v (battery voltage nearly) at the can of Q3. Could it be that the "P" was on the wrong side of the transformer? The rig is still nearly deaf after the change. I think there may be an issue with the wiring between the transformer-jack- and speaker. Anyone had a problem with the jack wiring? I plan to add an amplifier to increase the volume. The rig has other issues, but I want to resolve this one first.
Dale Hardin, KS4NS Elberta, AL
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Wednesday Evening 40 and 80 meter Nets - Wed, 08/19/2020 20:00-21:00
#cal-reminder
main@4SQRP.groups.io Calendar <main@...>
Reminder: Wednesday Evening 40 and 80 meter Nets When: Wednesday, 19 August 2020, 20:00 to 21:00, (GMT-05:00) America/Chicago Where:40 and 80 Meters Organizer: jomatlock@... Description: The 40 Meter Net will be at 8:00 pm central time on 7.122 +-. QRM
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Re: Little Pistols vs Big Guns
Jerry Brown
Jim, Love the story and your location.... Another place in the same area that offers lodging to military active duty and retired is located on Camp Merrill, near Dolanaga, GA where the Army conducts the mountain phase of Army Ranger school. It's northwest of Dolanaga and about half the distance to where you were situated. My wife and I spent a couple of days there with friends from Eisenhower Army Med Center in Augusta a few years ago. At that time there were two family-sized units open for military (active duty and retired). 73, Jerry N4EO, ex-YI9EO, ex-HL9EO
On Tue, Aug 18, 2020 at 4:28 PM n5ib_2 <n5ib@...> wrote: Hi Gang,
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Re: Little Pistols vs Big Guns
Nick WA5BDU <kennnick@...>
That sounds and looks great! I feel like I haven’t been anywhere in forever. Because I haven’t. Way to activate! 73- Nick, WA5BDU
On Tue, Aug 18, 2020 at 4:28 PM n5ib_2 <n5ib@...> wrote: Hi Gang,
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Re: Little Pistols vs Big Guns
Awesome Jim, I don’t get to see my 17 grand babies much...... she’s a cutie.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
It’s always great to go to a “quiet” place to play....... but you have to check your radios to be sure that they are on !! Thanks for the uplifting email. John
On Aug 18, 2020, at 17:43, Bobby Drummond <alphak4ja@...> wrote:
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Re: Little Pistols vs Big Guns
Bobby Drummond
On Tue, Aug 18, 2020 at 5:28 PM n5ib_2 <n5ib@...> wrote:n 2m when we were out walking the trails on our "bear hunts". Couple of photos attached as well. All-in-all a wonderful getaway. Now there's a man that knows how to live! You lucky dog! Happy fer you, Jim. 73 de AK4JA
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