August update ! Amplifiers, Tuners and plans for /P and /M

Posted on August 12, 2025 by webmaster@hamradio.knipmeyer.co.uk

So without seems a blink, June and July passed so quickly I only realized that I’ve not really posted an update on the ham radio blog ! Still it gives me plenty to update about.

Beyond QRP with the IC-705

I’ve been using the IC-705 at home since last December, I’ve not been out with it since last October due to work and study commitments, but I’m sure that will change soon. With more operating from QTH I decided to go beyond the 10W the 705 puts out. Having seen as many favourable reviews of the MicroPA+ and as many unfavourable ones, I decided that it had progressed to a point that the favourable reviews and recent software updates had stabilized the issues seen in earlier versions.

Having also used a ‘tripod’ stand that I used in the field, this can be slightly ‘wobbly’ on the desk. A simple, but elegant looking mount mand the 705 ‘firm’ to the touch and looking tidy.

I received the Micro PA50 – and it rather than a + it was (3) – i found this was the latest version, and not to worry about it, it was a good thing ! I ran the MicroPA for several hours, but then sadly it completely stopped working – not even a power on – having been so excited for this tiny amp, I really gutted that it failed in such a short time. I packed it up and sent it back, and got a full refund credited to my account, and I got another. I had to spend £1 extra, but wanted to give the amp another chance. I was impressed with the engagement from the vendor and the refund was done so quickly tho.

Having had time to rejig the shack, i took the feed from the UHF/VHF vertical into a switch, so I can easily go between HF, 2m and 70cms – getting full utility from the 705 – the vertical also works really well with airband ! In no time at all my replacement amp had arrived and i was testing with FT8 quickly and was impressed that it worked great – no issues at all. I kept the drive power down to 2W on 20M and was able to get 25W from the amp – and really good SNR readings from PSK reporter.

Whilst I’ve not been able to get out for PoTA, I have had a great time being a ‘hunter’ – band conditions are not the best at the moment, so i’ve been really impressed with the activtations that have been done. Since having the amp I’ve really taken to SSB Telephony but for PoTA hunting and on the bands at night when conditions have been better. With such low power its been amazing to make such good contacts.

My ambition is to get out and get on the air, at home i have an excellent UK Antenna EFHW 80m multiband wire, which is brilliant, where as in the field I have less options and much less resonant antennas, making a tuner essential. I already have the MAT tuner specifically for the IC-705, but that is only capable of tuning 10W max, so an upgrade was required. I search and the AT-100MPro looked a very capable ATU – I hooked up the amp first, then the ATU connects to the EFHW (with a nice 1:1 Balun). I had no trouble tuning the antenna to any band i wanted to get on, even top band !

The plan is to get the amplifier and the tuner into the IC-705 LC-192 Backpack which has my vertical ‘toybox’ antenna on it. Getting this setup and on the air is my ‘target’ objective, as the antenna will take the power no problem and i’ll be really interested to see how it performs.

I will make more updates as I test this at home first then hopefully get out POTA soon !

Here a video of me on 80m via HackGreen

No More NOAA 🙁

So more and more NOAA sats are going off line, see the excellent video from save it parts here.

There is still METEOR stats, but I’m slowly finding that even the noaa-pi setup being very ilght touch, it does take mantainence/keeping it online. As Rasperberry Pi’s are always needed by me, I may well permentatly turn off my NOAA-PI setup. I’ve had it off for a week now, and found i’ve not really been that bothered by it. I’ll be far more interesed to get my wellbrook antenna back on line and some form of WebSDR that doesn’t have a compromised back-door into it…

Considering the full licence and getting back to ‘clubs’

So I spend alot of my time on research – I dont really have much time for ‘social’ aspect of amateur radio when it comes to clubs and training. I am certianly not in favour of remote learning, I quite like having a tutor/mentor here with me that can explain stuff. It was good during covid to provide remote/teams, but thankfully thats now hopefully all over with.

I do enjoy socialising with fellow amateurs and it will be good to bounce questions of people as I run into them. I’m kind of keen to get my full licence so I can operator overseas, its not about the power, i’ve always enjoyed low-power/QRP over running 1KW and blasting the bands, even when i had 100W, i tended to use lower powers (<10W).

So I’m going to get in touch with some fellow hams and seeing if I can be a bit more socialble, it will probalby help me with having some breaks from always consuming my spare time with research.

A shack tidy (work in progress)

Posted on November 20, 2023 by webmaster@hamradio.knipmeyer.co.uk

With my shack getting some actual usage of late, as well as the G4PRS 2M call on Monday nights, it felt like a good time to tidy things up. I’d not been particualy happy with the layout of the radios in the window, in particular it was susceptiable to any rain/water ingress. With that I orderd a budget 3 tier book shelf, having measured the dimensions, it was a nice foot print and my radios should all fit…

Having move the radios from the shelving, I then set about putting them in-situ to see how it worked out – i wasnt 100% sure where I was going to put the book-case radio shack, but the corner seemed a good idea, and put the Apple iPad that was there back into the Alex Loop pack ready for my next /P or /M use. The position worked well, but there was a clear issue of routing power and coax to the radios, so Ihad to do some ‘DIY’ on the shelves. Here goes my warranty…

The cheapness of the bookcase meant the back-walls of the compatments didnt present much work for the dremel, if it was earlier in the day, I would of done this outside tho, it generate a fair amount of dust and smoke, but I kept the windows wide open and also took my time with each section. I didnt need ‘perfectly square’ holes, just enough so that I can route the coax and other cables thru, and as can be seen in the last photo, this worked out pretty well !

The main transformer now had a nice clearance for its rather noisey fan (my only complain of this transformer, its otherwise done an excellent job) then can start placing the radios in place. I started with my 11m CB+manual antenna matcher, this went in easily enough, and then I placed the Kenwood TH-V71E on top of that. I put all the necessary data/audio cables in place in case I choose to use them, but I’m going to be using this as my main 2m/70cms rig. At the moment its using the Diamond X-9000 which has excellent gain on the 2m and 70cm bands. I am looking forward to trying it out on the G4PRS net on Monday night.

I fed in the very chunky cables for the IC9700. Currently I am running a very simple setup, with no mast head amplifier and direct to the satellite egg-beater antennas. This should become a single feed with a splitter both ends once I put the mast-head amp in place.

With the radios all connected and the basic setup up and running, I then set about using the IC9700 for what it was really designed, operating satellites. Luck would have it that the ISS would be passing over, not a particularly high elevantion at 22 degrees, but worth a try. I waited for an hour and was pleased to hear QSO’s from all over europe going into and out of the ISS repeater. I manually controlled the doppler, but there was no need to rotate the yagis liked what I used to have to do. First impressions of the non-amplified eggbeaters is very encouraging and I look forward to continue to setup the annteas and systems in the coming weeks.

Enjoying 80 meters

Posted on October 25, 2021 by webmaster@hamradio.knipmeyer.co.uk

With a busy work and study schedule as well as being slightly under the weather due to a rather nasty cold, which thankfully seems to be in remission, I’ve not had a whole lot of time for doing anything external to the shack.

In the shack I’ve been working on improving the antenna switching and coax routing. I’ve come up with this novel switching mechanism to go between the 6btv and UK Antenna 80M multiband end fed.

early days – but this will switch between 6btv / end fed and the TS690S and IC-7300

The IC7300 has a pretty decent internal ATU and the TS690 will be routed via the MFJ-993B intellituner. This will allow me to switch easily between antennas and see the difference in operation between them. I’ve not been able to resume my work on the 6BTV lately due to other commitments, but I am aiming to resume my work on increasing the performance of it. It will be good to do direct comparisons between the end-fed and 6btv on two very interesting radios (Superhet Vs SDR).

Operation on 80m has been fantastic lately. I do admit to enjoying listening to the QSOs on 80m as they tend to be very good length exchanges, sometimes comical, but mostly interesting and relevant to the hobby. With 80m being quite ‘local’ I can clearly hear both ends of the QSO across operators in the UK, Ireland, Netherlands and Germany (but my Dutch and German fails me in being able to listen for any more than 5 minutes !)

80m is proving to be an excellent listed and operation in the evening

I will continue to tidy the shack and hoping to stay in good health for more external work over the weekend. I am looking forward to contrasting the 6btv with the Endfed.

Hope you are all keeping well – take care and stay safe !

Alan / 2E0FWE

Getting back on 80m !

Posted on August 18, 2021 by webmaster@hamradio.knipmeyer.co.uk

Having got some much needed help in the evening after work, my friend and I erected the 40ft mast. This went pretty well between the two of us, and resulted in a nice vertical mast.

As this was done after work on a Friday evening, we headed in for a lovely meal prepared by XYL Monica.

The next day the weather was unusually good and a day of productive antenna erection could commence ! Having guyed the mast the previous evening, my intention was to get the 80/40m dipole attached to the top with the feedline going up the mast. However, after several attempts I was getting this result.

The tilt base from Barenco really came into its own, doing this any other way would of been difficult, not to say incredibly frustrating boarding on insanity.

After several breaks to contemplate a solution I figured on using the hardware I had but changing the antenna. Thankfully I have a UK Antenna 80m end fed in storage, so I lowered the bent mast to a more sturdy but decent height and used another of the fibreglass poles I had. Feeding the end fed thru this I was able to get it a good height and not as intrusive as when i had two fibre glass poles going into the front garden. I ended up with a ‘sloping L’ configuration rotated 90 degrees from the feed point.

back on 80m

The above video makes this much clearer and you can see the height of the initial mast and fibreglass pole which support the 80m wire.

The SWR results across 80m are impressive and I attached to my IC-705 to test, the reception was fantastic.

The multi band was resonant on every frequency stated, so I will be really looking forward to trying this antenna out on a more frequent basis

40m gave impressive S.W.R. readings as well, I am only planning to use QRP levels, with the occasionally 50W from the TS620S. I am very excited to get this antenna into the Kenwood Ts690S as its a super-het receiver with many filters in it. Thats not to say the IC-7300 wont be the main transceiver any more, but will be fun to see the difference between the two.

Until next time.