VK Logger Ham Radio Forum Archive

Spectrum prices vary, one sees prices from $0.10 per/MHz/pop to around $1.50 per/MHz/pop to around... depending on the use, and spectrum for mobile networks carries the highest prices. Some years ago then Minister Conroy tried to set a reserve price well over $1 for some mobile spectrum... but he di...

VK3YT wrote:...
APRS on 145.175Mhz, callsign: VK3YT-12

Andy, have changes been made to APRS since the last mission?

Owen

Owen, the numbers from the ACMA in your graph, is this overall license numbers (including repeaters, beacons, club calls etc), or unique license holders? ie discounting repeaters, beacons, club calls, multiple calls held by one licensee, etc. That being the true number. A quick search of the VKL be...

An interesting report has been published on amateur licence examination results in the UK, see http://www.commsfoundation.org/rce/pdf/Examination_Committee_Report_2013.pdf . The report is interesting as it shows slightly different trends than can be derived from the ACMA's published data. The last A...

Another of these cases that would be exposed if hams took the trouble to perform or have performed tests similar to those prescribed for Test 'n Tag... Screenshot - 04_07_2014 , 07_24_27.png Above, the power supply schematic for the Yaesu FL1000. Note that there is no connection to a power cord eart...

... It should be possible to design and build a BPF these days with decent quality spec fixed value components and not have to resort to supplying variable trimmer caps! It is specified for a half power bandwidth of 1.2% at 7MHz (Q=80), I can see why it needs trimmers... it is a bit different to a ...

They are installed now. I had another go at the legs after that photo. They seemed to have a pretty good cover. I spent some time with the side cutters scrapping. The wire is 3 layers of epoxy. A pain to get rid of. But thanks again for the pointers. Learning. For next time... Enamels fall into two...

... You'll find that on some frequencies, the VCO comes on very rapidly and clicks badly - been there, done that, hence the addition of the external MOSFET switching for the MMICs. Thanks David, I will keep that in mind. The project is awaiting some bits from China to finish boxing it up, and when ...

Just checked the FL-2100B I've got here; earth pin on the plug is connected to the chassis. Not just connected, it should have a resistance from earth pin on the plug top to any exposed metal of not more than 1 ohm. If testing insulation resistance, for a Class 1 appliance (except for MIMS elements...

... What would be interesting would be to get some precision loads, or even just use the same antenna for reference purposes, and compare the results of one of these, an FG-01, and a SARK110 in the same video SARC110.jpg A correspondent sent me a pic of a SARC110 in action measuring the common mode...

Screenshot - 02_07_2014 , 17_24_41.png Above is an extract from the circuit of the very popular FL2100Z. Note that it uses a two wire connection to the mains plug, the chassis is not grounded via the mains plug. This is not a Class II (or Double Insulated) appliance, so this connection is a dangero...

Recent discussion suggests that some hams might benefit from a presentation at their radio clubs on the above topic. The content is covered in VET competency UEENEEP026A, the knowledge and skills section is quoted below. KS01-EP026A Testing and Tagging Portable and Cord Connected Electrical Apparatu...

... On a related matter, I have a Swan-120 transceiver from a deceased estate which I tested today prior to it being offered for sale. I plugged it in (just a two wire 'figure eight' mains lead) and everything came to life. Connected my signal generator to the antenna to do some receiver sensitivit...

Somewhere in Western Victoria stands this Nally tower. The concreter was contracted to pour the concrete after the tower was installed. Yes, it's a government job......... Much as the final result is pretty obvious, the concreter probably doesn't know the critical clearances and he may have instruc...

... Note, this is not the original controller chip. 50MHzTfr.png Above is the burst of clock pulses during 4 x 3 byte transfers to the Si4133 for ordering up the carrier. The OFF set is shorter (just one register). At just over 100µs, it sustains keying at beacon speeds just fine. The PLL itself in...

A little test of VK3XDK's Agile PLL V2 in A1 CW using a keyer to key one address line to select between normal programming of the IF VCO and VCO OFF. Note, this is not the MOSFET keyer of the MMICs on board... in fact this board doesn't (yet) have MMICs on it. 7zhkoeSlMYw Negligible clicks, this wou...

... He wants to see where it is definitively stated in the amateur radio regulations that it is legal for hams to work on mains-powered equipment. ... I did mean to respond to this. Where it is defininitively stated in ANY laws or regulations that you are permitted to breath? It is a sad day when w...

I have been told by a workplace health and safety electrical inspector that only a licensed electrician or a person with an equivalent trade certification such as a communication technician can service, repair or modify mains powered appliances including radios, and that if equipment that has been ...

If one was to construct a 4:1 current balun, what is the minimum spacing between the cores from a capacitive coupling standpoint. Nev, the first thing I would do is to prompt you to question whether you really need or should prefer a 4:1 balun. (Remember that 4:1 voltage baluns were the popular cho...

The VK3XDK Agile PLL pumping out 50.41MHz. Though it is outside of specified range, the inductor supplied for the IF oscillator sets the osillator at 360-490MHz and so division to 6m is a possibility.

Owen