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Thursday, October 17, 2013

It was a good week

of lunchtime QRP sessions.  I did not get skunked all week, unless you count yesterday, when I had to work through lunch and didn't get a chance to get outside. The bands seemed decent and this is the week's tally:

MJØASP - Jersey - 15 Meters
IK3VUT - Italy - 15 Meters
EA6FG - Balearic Islands - 15 Meters
H7H - Nicaragua - 17 Meters
DM5MU - Germany - 17 Meters
HB9CVQ - Switzerland - 15 Meters
N4KGL - Greg in Florida - 20 Meters
W0RW/PM - Paul in Colorado, hiking one of the parks - 20 Meters
GI4DOH - Northern Ireland - 17 Meters

All this with the Buddistick plopped on top of the Jeep.  Wonder what I could work if I had a tower and a beam!

I was glad to see that Jim W1PID posted another story on his Website and AmateurRadio.com.  I have become intrigued by his use of that 9:1 unun as described on the earchi.org Website.  So I downloaded the assembly instructions and ordered myself a couple of T106-2 powdered iron core toroids.  The balun looks easy enough to make, and from Jim's posts this summer, it had provided him with much success.  I like the idea of having one wire giving ALL bands, 40 through 6 Meters. And according to the earchi.org site, if you play around with the wire length, it's possible to be able to use one wire for 80 - 6 Meters.  But not to be overly greedy, I'd be thrilled with one wire for use on 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 Meters.

I'll put it together and I have a box in the basement that will be a perfect container for it. Don't know if I'll get a chance to do much park operating before the weather changes for good; but I'd like to give it a shot.  If it works well, it will bode well for outdoor operating season next year.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
at

5 comments:

  1. K2WO10:13 AM

    Larry, I think you will like the EARCHI style UNUN. I find it VERY convenient for use on picnic-table portable OPs. I have used one for a while and find that it mates perfectly with my Jackite mast for such adventures. I merely tie off the top of a 30 Ft. wire to the top of the mast, connect the other end to the UNUN tape the UNUN to the bottom, connect my coax and I am off to the races. I have not used it on 80 Meters, but on 40, 20, 17 and 12 it works quite well. The KX3 ATU matches it easily and for a compromise antenna, it works quite great.

    I look forward to your evaluation and photos.

    72,

    George
    K2WO

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dan Wiley4:56 PM

    Larry, I have used all kinds of antennas with my KX3, AlexLoop, Buddipole, BuddiStick, chameleon... I use the AlexLoop allot. I really like the earchi matchBox with 58' wire. I have one permanent mounted at QTH. and one I carry for Portable. Makes going out portable very easy, no bulky antennas to carry. you can put the earchi in your pocket. A little Dacron cord and a tennis ball and you good to go.

    73,

    Dan
    N9BAV

    ReplyDelete
  3. Burke Jones - N0HYD11:54 AM

    Larry,

    I use the ERCHI UNUN on my Portable QRP antenna - you can see my write-up here:

    http://www.n0hyd.com/p/portable-qrp-antenna.html

    This is what I use for my lunchtime portable activities (something that has been severely affected lately by work activities!)

    ReplyDelete
  4. QRP - When you care to send the very least!9:17 AM

    Thanks guys! I am psyched. The toroids came yesterday and if I get the chance, I will put this together before the weekend. With any luck, I can test it out on Sunday afternoon.

    Burke, thanks for the photos, they make it all so very clear.

    72 de Larry W2LJ

    ReplyDelete
  5. QRP - When you care to send the very least!9:18 AM

    Of course, I just read where a CME that occurred yesterday maybe heading our way. Hope the bands aren't fritzed for the weekend.

    LJ

    ReplyDelete