CAT with FT-891 on Windows 10

Windows 10 does not like Yaesu's COM driver. I believe this is because it only works on USB 1/USB 2 ports and this machine only has USB 3.0.

FT-818ND no power indication bars while transmitting on 6 meter, but these bars are there when transmitting on 2 meter or 70 cm - - is there something wrong with this radio?

I tried calling CQ several times on the calling frequency and noticed something interesting: the screen lights up with "PO" but shows zero bars alongside it like it does in 2 meters or 70cm. If you watch the first 5-10 seconds of this video, you will see that he is speaking in a normal voice and this causes the bars to move on 6 meters. Apparently this question has been posted before by other users of the FT-817/818 [1]. On 6 meters USB, speaking into the microphone does not display any SWR or ALC bars.

My settings for the 818ND are as follows:

• Operating from a fully charged 6Ah battery.
• Band is set to 6 meters, USB mode.
• Power is set to 6 watts.
• Speaking in a very normal voice directly into the microphone, PO is displayed on the screen but zero bars alongside it. (On 2 meters, several bars appear).
• SSB Mic gain is at 80.
  
• Menu 7 the antenna is set to FRONT and I'm transmitting through the YHA-63 (50/144/420 MHz antenna).

Of course, the band is dead here so nobody can respond to me to let me know whether my signal is even getting out. At the moment, I'm waiting for my mast to arrive to get my EFHW antenna up to see if this same problem appears on 20m or 40m. Has anyone encountered this issue on either the FT-817 or 818? Is there something wrong with my new radio? I've posted this in a couple of different places but no solution has been found. 

[1] Sources: Other people reporting the same problem

Need help/tipp for my FT-817ND - only very faint SSB signal

 

FT-817 zero power - ideas before I repair? 

 

[2] Updates

 

I posted this at several locations with no solution. An e-mail was sent to Yaesu. I also called and left a message with them. Not long after, I received a call back from tech support. They said it was normal for no PO bars to be displayed while operating USB on 6 meters. They could not explain why the video I sent them, showing someone with the same settings I have set, shows PO bars on TX. 

Tropospheric ducting forecast

This is a great website that forecasts tropospheric ducting which is hugely beneficial to VHF/UHF propagation. 

 https://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html

 

Anderson Powerpole installation

With four different radios requiring a power supply, it became unwieldy to unwind and rewind binding posts on my 30 amp Yaesu FP-1030A when I needed to switch from one radio to another. I decided to get a DC power distribution panel and wire all my radios to use Anderson Powerpole connections.

This model can deliver up to 40A (aggregate) through 6 different fused outlets + two USB connections. The USB connections have a maximum charge current of 4A. One thing to note on the FP-1030A is that the binding post does not fully remove, therefore you will need to cut 1/3 of a spade connector in order to deliver power to the panel. 

 

Getting the 30A contacts into the housing was easy with the West Mountain PWRcrimp tool. The tool to make the proper crimp is worth the $40. 

Polarity of DC cable for FT-818

 I'm not sure what the polarity is of this cable. Asking the wise folks @ QRZ and Yaesu FT-818 group! Edit: A continuity test was required. Place the probe on the outside of the barrel and another probe on one wire at a time. The wire the beeps is the negative wire. In this case, the wire on the left in the photo below is positive. 

 

 

FCC Proposes to Reinstate Amateur Radio Service Fees

 From the ARRL:

Amateur radio licensees would pay a $50 fee for each amateur radio license application if the FCC adopts rules it proposed this week. Included in the FCC’s fee proposal are applications for new licenses, renewal and upgrades to existing licenses, and vanity call sign requests. Excluded are applications for administrative updates, such as changes of address, and annual regulatory fees. [...] Deadlines for comments and reply comments will be determined once the NPRM appears in the Federal Register. Interested parties may file comments by using the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), posting to MD Docket No. 20-270. This docket is already open to accept comments, even though deadlines have not yet been set. 

I entered a public comment:

The FCC should not raise the amateur radio application fee from $15 to $50. On page 9 of FCC it states that “personal licenses are mostly automated and do not have individualized staff costs for data input or review (pg. 9)”. Since the ULS is mostly automated, what reason is there to justify a 233% price increase for ham radio applications? The budget of the FCC has grown consistently since 1993 which only adds to the confusion as to why this price increase is required. I personally feel this is nothing more than a money grab by the FCC.

Amateur radio provides a valuable service to the public. Radio plays a key role in disaster recovery efforts for every major disaster in the United States and around the world. This service is provided by volunteer radio operators who have spent years studying and training for such events. The increase from $15 to $50 will make it more expensive for new people to enter an already expensive hobby. We need more radio operators, not fewer. I strongly encourage the FCC to reconsider this fee proposal. Thank you for taking the time to read my public comment.

Jade Shain / KG7WBW

Correction:

KU4X correctly pointed out that the base price is not $15 but actually $0! Some VECs charge $15 (mine did) and that is where the confusion came from. 

FT-8900R beep on/off

The beep is annoying on this radio because it is significantly louder than L/R VOL. Disable the beep by pressing [SET][ITEM5] Rotate until it reads OFF.

Vertical HF Antennas

MFJ-2286
Loading coil that covers 7-55 MHz.
Link

DIAMOND CP-725H
7 / 21/ /28 / 50 MHz Trap Vertical
Link

Ham Radio News

South Pasadena Amateur Radio Club Demonstrates Emergency Response Through Radios

North Huntingdon ham radio operator settles case with FCC

Brother, sister will use ham radio expertise during Peachtree Road Race

FCC Continues Search for Pirate Operations

Recent software upgrades

JTAlert: 2.10.13 to 2.12.0. The upgrade remembered all of the previous settings. Reading the release notes, it looks like Windows XP is officially dead...

WSJT-X: 1.8 to 1.9. The upgrade remembered all of the previous settings.

Kansas State Convention

Kansas State Convention

HAMFEST/CONVENTION

08/19/2018 Start Date: 08/19/2018
End Date: 08/19/2018
Location: Camp Webster Conference Center
2601 North Ohio Street
Salina, KS 67401
Website: http://www.w0cy.org/
Sponsor: Central Kansas Amateur Radio Club
Type: ARRL Convention
Talk-In: 147.030+ (PL 118.8)
Public Contact: John Burchill , KCØJNK
724 Highland Avenue Salina, KS 67401
Phone: 785-819-0789
Email: john@kwu.edu

http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/kansas-state-convention-7
 

Teen Radio Operators Relay Heartfelt Messages To Puerto Rico

Excellent work!

ARRL Letter for January 25, 2018

From the ARRL Letter for January 25, 2018 [SOURCE: ARRL]

Puerto Rico, US Virgin Island Amateurs are International Humanitarian Award Winners

The ARRL Board of Directors has conferred the 2018 International Humanitarian Award jointly on the Amateur Radio population of Puerto Rico -- served by ARRL Section Manager Oscar Resto, KP4RF -- and the radio amateurs of the US Virgin Islands, served by ARRL Section Manager Fred Kleber, K9VV. Radio amateurs in Puerto Rico and in the US Virgin Islands aided in the relief and recovery after a punishing hurricane season in the Caribbean.

The Board noted that radio amateurs in Puerto Rico and on the US Virgin Islands were "pressed into immediate service before and during the devastating storms" during the 2017 hurricane season. "The efforts of the local amateur communities continue to support the relief and recovery efforts even now," the Board said, "and the ARRL leadership in each section continues to do extraordinary service to their communities." ARRL established the International Humanitarian Award to recognize "truly outstanding Amateur Radio operators in areas of international humanitarianism and the furtherance of peace."

In a separate motion, the Board recognized the outstanding work and service and commended all involved with the various hurricane relief communication efforts during 2017. The Board cited the Amateur Radio communities of Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, the Caribbean islands, and in south Florida and Texas for "outstanding service during the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season," calling their efforts "a demonstrable exhibition of Amateur Radio public service."

Central Kansas Amateur Radio Club

Radio club in Salina, Kansas. Visit their website here.

Article: Do Shortwave ‘Numbers Stations’ Really Instruct Spies?

Unidentified radio broadcasts have been transmitting coded messages, using numbers for years
(Source: Radio World)

10,555 miles

My FT8 signal was heard in Australia -- 10,555 miles away! 

Logbook of the World

After a few weeks of effort, LoTW is working for me. This is the #1 way I'm going to confirm QSOs. I also use eQSL but not as often. My dream is WAS for all of these digital modes:

• AMTOR
• CLOVER
• CONTESTI
• DOMINO
• FSK31
• FSK441
• GTOR
• HELL
• HFSK
• ISCAT
• JT4
• JT65
• JT6M
• JT9
• MFSK16
• MFSK8
• MINIRTTY
• MT63
• OLIVIA
• OPERA
• PACKET
• PACTOR
• PAX
• PSK10
• PSK125
• PSK2K
• PSK31
• PSK63
• PSK63F
• PSKAM
• PSKFEC31
• Q15
• RTTY
• RTTYM
• SSTV
• THOR
• THROB
• VOI
• WINMOR
• WSPR

Mobile

Winlink Express with the Yaesu FT-891

Winlink Express with the Yaesu FT-891

I think I figured out the high ALC issue

Adjusted RF PWR to 50 watts. Turned SignaLink TX knob to slightly below the 9 o clock position. Checking the PO meter shows an output of 10 watts. FT-891 is set in Data mode (which used to be in SSB per page 65 in the advanced manual from Yaesu) and this does better. Width is set to 3000Hz. The ALC is no longer visible in the meter!

Reception Test

Rx at Sat, 30 Dec 2017 17:24:14 GMT

From KG7WBW by EC1AJL Loc IN73
Frequency: 14.075.258 MHz (20m), FT8, -20dB
Distance: 4608 miles bearing 52°
Using: WSJT-X v1.8.0-rc2 r8069

 

 

Visually Impaired Girl Sees World Through Ham Radio

http://www.bentoncountyenterprise.com/content/visually-impaired-girl-sees-world-through-ham-radio

WSJT-X, Yaesu FT-891, SignaLink

Setting the application gain on WSJT-X to 50% (per the instructions of SignaLink) brings it right back to 100% on TX. It looks like this causes a higher ALC on the 891. I'm not sure at this time how this can be reduced, but it looks like the FT8 signal is getting out there. SignaLink set at 50% for both TX and RX knobs:





High ALC? It is unfortunate there isn't any values associated with this meter.

New Books to Read

Grounding and Bonding for the Radio Amateur (H. Ward Silver, N0AX)
https://www.arrl.org/shop/Grounding-and-Bonding-for-the-Radio-Amateur/










ARRL Antenna Book (23rd Ed.)
https://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-Antenna-Book-23rd-Softcover-Edition/

Propagation and Radio Science: Exploring the Magic of Wireless Communication
http://www.arrl.org/shop/Propagation-and-Radio-Science

Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network

Amateur radio mesh network.

SKYWARN Recognition Day is on December 2, 2017

SKYWARN is a National Weather Service program of trained spotters that provide on the ground information regarding severe weather. You can learn more details and get involved by visiting their website. SKYWARN recognition day is on December 2, 2017. Additional details about the event can be found on the ARRL website.

PSK31 contacts

I was able to make a dozen or so contacts with PSK31 from all across the USA this weekend. It was a lot of fun!

Setting up FT-891, SignaLink USB, and FLDIGI

I'm still figuring this out. I can decode the PSK31 signals, but doesn't seem like I am able to TX correctly.

Physical Connections

The radio cable is connected to the RJ-45 at the back of the SignaLink, and the other end of the cable is connected to the FT-891 through the DATA connection. A USB cable is connected to the laptop and the SignaLink. The external speaker is plugged into the rear of the FT-891.

FT-891 Menu Settings

08-01 MODE DAT: DATA MODE PSK

08-02 MODE DAT: PSK TONE 1000Hz

08-09 MODE DAT: DATA IN SELECT REAR

08-12 MODE DAT: DATA BFO USB

16-03 TX GNRL: HF PWR 20

16-10 TX GNRL: DATA MIC GAIN 50

16-14 TX GNRL: DATA DATA GAIN 50

Function 1

WDH 3Khz

Windows 10 Settings

Default: Speakers Realtek High Definition Audio

Default: Microphone Realtek High Definition Audio

Line in setting: 0 dB

Fldigi setting for capture/playback. The SignaLink USB is selected for both (USB Audio Codec).

Can see PSK31.


Responding to a CQ (or sending one myself) has not received any response. I don't think I have the ALC setup correctly or the TX/RX volume setup correctly. 

Central Kansas Amateur Radio Club

Passed my General exam!

Installing the SLMOD6PM module into the SignaLink USB SLUSB6PM

For the Yaesu FT-891. It wasn't terribly difficult after reading the instructions! Just make sure you're wearing an anti-static wrist band.

Today is Dipole Day

I'm going to the 20 meter dipole antenna in the tree this morning. The apex will be 35' and will form an inverted V.

FT-891 and the SignaLink USB

6-pin Mini DIN Data Port Connector

Module






This is the correct model needed.

Tigertronics SignaLink Radio Interface Cables SL-CAB6PM

DX Engineering

Richard shared this with me

Thank you! Great resource.

Yaesu FT-891 has been ordered!

After a long time figuring out what I should order, I finally picked the FT-891 and ordered it. I also ordered two dipoles from Radiowavez, the 40 meter and the 20 meter. Not sure what antenna tuner I'll choose, but I'm thinking about going with the LDG Z-100 Plus. I'm very excited!

Almost everything you need right here!

From my QTH the radio will be powered by a Yaesu FP-1030A power supply. Ordering an antenna tuner and a SignaLink USB soon. 

Receiving a Gmail email over HF radio with Winlink system

No ATU required for most bands

This looks like a good option for someone not wanting to spend money on an ATU. ZS6BKW Multi-band Antenna. More information about the antenna here.

Another video of the FX9A QRP HF transceiver

Ham radio operators coming to rescue for Puerto Rico

Radio provides a critical lifeline to tens of thousands of people affected by the hurricane in Puerto Rico. The first video is a news story from WTNH News8 about radio operators helping in the recovery effort. The second video is in Spanish.

 

mcHF QRP transceiver

An affordable QRP radio.

Yaesu FT-450D

Yaesu FT-450 HF and 6 Meter – QST – ARRL Product Review

REVIEW: IF tap adds bandscope to FT-450D

Rpi3

RPi3

• Quad Core 1.2GHz Broadcom BCM2837 64bit CPU
• 1GB RAM
• BCM43438 wireless LAN and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) on board
• 40-pin extended GPIO
• 4 USB 2 ports
• 4 Pole stereo output and composite video port
• Full size HDMI

General notes about grounding

There are four types of grounds in ham radio [1]:

(1)  Safety

• All grounds to be bonded together per the National Electrical Code (website).
• Use the electrical safety ground (green-wire ground) for overcurrent protection.
• “The conductive case of equipment is required to be connected to the bonding system, which is also connected to earth ground at the service entrance, so someone who is connected to “earth” (for example, standing in bare feet on a conductive floor) that touches the case won’t get shocked”.

(2)  Antenna

• Create a common reference point potential.
• Minimizes RF current flowing between equipment.
• Must be bonded to safety ground!

(3)  Chassis

• Difficult to achieve equipment bond to an RF (antenna) ground because the wire will have a higher impedance as its length is increased.
• The chassis of equipment should be connected so that no RF current is carried between them at all.

(4)  Lightning

• Low inductance and resistance are required.
• Must be able to handle 20-30 kA.

It seems to me that the antenna and chassis grounds are very similar in function/design.  Here is a visual representation from of a chassis ground (also called a station ground):

When it comes to lightning protection, I think it is easier to disconnect all radio equipment from AC and also disconnect the antenna feedline when not in use.  The topic of lightning protection is very complex and further research is needed (see ARRL Handbook 2014/2015 sections 28.7 Lightning Dissipation Ground, 28.1.10 Antenna Discharge Units, and 28.1.11 Lightning/Transient Protection; The ARRL General Class License Manual for Ham Radio Chapter 9 Electrical and RF Safety).

Update

The primary purpose in lightening protection is to reduce the risk of fire and damage to radio equipment and “the best protection is to disconnect all cables outside the house and unplug equipment power cords inside the home before a storm [2]”.
That is easy to do.  I’ve seen many products that claim to offer lightening protection but I’m not so sure these work as well compared to disconnecting feedlines and power cables.  An example of such a product:

I’m not convinced that a lightning strike is going to be diverted with this device.  Still, this has me thinking that it isn’t enough to simply disconnect the feedline to the radio.  Where should the feedline go after that?  If it is left in the house it could start a fire if a lightning strike were to hit the antenna system.  All that electricity and energy has nowhere to go except the end of the feedline and into whatever else is in the way.  Clearly the ideal solution is to disconnect the entire feedline from both the antenna and the radio, as the ARRL General License manual mentions.  Would it be possible to simply disconnect the radio feedline, and then plug it into something that goes back outside to ground?  Here is what I’m thinking:  The feedline to the radio is disconnected and then connected to another piece of coax that is sent some distance out of the house, to a ground rod.

Some make the argument that a station ground is not necessary. W8JI doesn’t use an RF ground except in certain circumstances [3].  Club station KF6GDJ writes that RF grounds are needed at the HF frequencies but not VHF/UHF [4].  Something interesting to note on the last link is that there is a hypothetical ham radio operator using the second story of his home to operate from.  From there he has a low resistance braid coming down to earth ground connected to a ground rod.  The problem with this is that the ground connection is “not short and direct as possible”.  At some 33 ft, this grounding wire may actually affect other wiring in and around the house.  So what is the solution?  According to the article the operator should have his station placed on the ground floor.  Yes, that is obvious but what do amateur radio operators do when they live in apartments or condos?

Sources
[1]  Lux, Jim. “Chapter 28 Safety” In The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications: The Comprehensive RF Engineering Reference 2015, edited by H. Ward Silver, 28.6. 92nd ed.
[2]  Silver, W. (2015). The ARRL General Class License Manual for Ham Radio (8th ed.). CT: American Radio Relay League.
[3]  http://www.w8ji.com/rfi_rf_grounding.htm
[4]  http://www.ve3sqb.com/hamaerials/kf6gdj/