Slowing getting the radio shack setup. Used racks, which makes some parts easy, but the down side is space. Where a table allows radios side by side, I lose a lot of space in between. But, adding or changing location is easy.

Equipment is IC-756ProIII, (2) Ic-706MkIIG, Kenwood TS-430S with Collins 30L1, Alpha 76A and Alpha 87A amps. VHF is Yaesu FT-847. Additional receive with Harris R-2368/URR receiver.

Antennas: M2 HF Log with Yaesu G-2800DXA rotor at 60 feet, 75 meter dipole, 3.2/5.2 mHz dipoel, 4/8 mHz dipole.

Computers are for Ham Radio Deluxe station control, digital console (all modes, Winlink), monitoring HF GMDSS DSC frequencies and laptop.

Seen at the side is a Motorola MSF-5000 UHF repeater being tuned up to allow mobile operation of the station.

There is a 3″ PVC going out the wall behind the racks to the 45G tower. In addition, there are two 3″ PVC conduits that run into the floor and come out on the other side of the house for additional antennas.

I have been playing with the reception of SSTV.  Using MixW I can receive the images and automaticly store them.  You can see more images here.  The images are received on amateur radio shortwave frequency of 14.230 mHz.  Anyone with a computer, sound card and software can receive these pictures.

I can transmit SSTV, but do not very often due to my lack of good transmitting antennas.  But, it is fun to receive them.

I have added a 17/20m dipole to the arsenal here.  You can see the 17mtr part as the heavy wire coming from the center insulator.  I used wire that was already on there from KH6 operation.  The 20m is the usually THIN non-insulated wire I get from Radio Shack.  You can barely see one side extending from the center horizontally to the left.

This photo shows the original antennas.  The vertical is a 40-10m R8.  The center insulator at the corner of the roof is a dipole with elements cut for 5mHz (US Coast Guard) and is fed with parallel 75-ohm coax. I can tune it 3.2 – 30mHz with a Johnson matchbox. 

While in a restricted sub-division, there are a few ham antennas around.  If not for the R8, no one would see the other antennas.

 

Here’s the latest version of monitoring.  The Mac sees the remote in Oxnard.  The right screen is remote in Conway, audio monitoring of Channel Islands, audio monitoring of IC-756-ProIII, Ventrilo in Conway and SSTV window with 756 monitoring 14.230 mHz.

Working on the Dentrol MLA-1200.  Nice day….

Two amateur repeaters in the Ventura area are now the responsibility of WD5B. The 146.655 mHz (Popeye) open repeater and a private UHF system. Both are coordinated in Ventura under TASMA and SRRBA respectfully.

The UHF system covers approximately the same area and is used in the internet linking system. Equipment is a Motorola MSR 2000 with RC-100 controller.

The 146.655 mHz system covers the valley of Oxnard and Ventura with a good view of the ocean. It also has a UHF remote link which allow me to access the UHF system when not in direct range of that system. The system is Motorola Radius units with ICS repeater controller.

So, I was getting ready for a drive from California to Arkansas.  As I was getting packed and things together I thought about my remote base.   The remote is a VHF/UHF system that links into the internet and to a radio in Arkansas allowing me to talk to friends there even while driving around the harbor.

 

Won’t need the remote while out of town, but wait!  Everything pretty much runs off 12vdc.  Why not put it in the car so as I drive I can still have the link up?  So, I setup my old laptop to do the voice ip and wireless.  A broadband USB stick would provide the internet coverage.  You will notice an AC inverter.  That is for the laptop.  I have a universal DC cable, but could not find the adapter plug that would fit and ran out of time.

The system worked and stayed connected 90% of the time only losing connection in the middle of the Majove desert.  I did run into one problem when trying to check into the Razoback net on 75 meters.  The network delay was huge taking 15 – 20 seconds to get the voice through which cause me to disrupt the net as my transmissions were way delayed.  Note to self, check network latency before getting on a net.

More on this later, but time to finish up a few things and get some sleep.