PDA

View Full Version : Paragon on 20-40-75 - anyone up for it?



N8YX
05-21-2012, 07:59 PM
Was testing the P-II into my IC-2KL this evening and noticed something smelled very hot...turned out to be the PA heat sink. :shock:

Long story short, the rig was drawing 10-15A idle current through the amplifier devices; someone had majorly mis-adjusted the PA Bias settings. I caught it just in time. All should be good now - someone want to critique the audio on the air?

Pick a frequency.

I can QRO on 20 through 75 with the antenna and tuner combo I'm using. Might be a good test.

PA5COR
05-22-2012, 02:17 AM
That as 03.00 here, sorry i was off to bed then...

WØTKX
05-22-2012, 10:24 AM
Wow. Somebody did a "Golden Screwdriver" to a Ten Tec? :hand:

W3WN
05-22-2012, 01:17 PM
Wow. Somebody did a "Golden Screwdriver" to a Ten Tec? :hand:There's always someone who thinks they can improve on the factory original.

Granted, sometimes, in some rigs, they're right... if they know exactly what they're doing. But most of the time... nah.

Fred? If you want to try a sked tonight, let me know. Although weather permitting, I'll be in the garden after work until sundown.

And let me know if you want to hear the Corsair or the Omni.

N8YX
05-22-2012, 03:51 PM
Fred? If you want to try a sked tonight, let me know. Although weather permitting, I'll be in the garden after work until sundown.

We can do that. 'DSG might want to go on a bicycle ride so we may be indisposed until after dark as well.


And let me know if you want to hear the Corsair or the Omni.
Which model Corsair, and which model Omni?

K7SGJ
05-22-2012, 04:54 PM
Wow. Somebody did a "Golden Screwdriver" to a Ten Tec? :hand:


Way better than a golden shower.

kf0rt
05-22-2012, 05:55 PM
Way better than a golden shower.

Well, now that might depend on a few things.

KA9MOT
05-22-2012, 06:04 PM
Hmmmm... if it's 40M or 75M count me in!

W3WN
05-22-2012, 06:53 PM
We can do that. 'DSG might want to go on a bicycle ride so we may be indisposed until after dark as well.


Which model Corsair, and which model Omni?Just got done in the garden, about to eat dinner, but afterwards... it's a sked!

Corsair II and Omni VI+. The Corsair is on the wire, the Omni is on the Butternut.

WØTKX
05-22-2012, 06:59 PM
I could make a case for 20. If I stay awake...

K7SGJ
05-22-2012, 08:50 PM
Well, now that might depend on a few things.

Whether or not it's plugged in?

kf0rt
05-22-2012, 08:53 PM
Whether or not it's plugged in?

Well, that... and who you might be pissin' on. ;)

Oh, wait. We were talking radio!

K7SGJ
05-22-2012, 08:54 PM
Well, that... and who you might be pissin' on. ;)

Or off?

KG4CGC
05-22-2012, 09:26 PM
Is there a freekinsee?

KA9MOT
05-22-2012, 11:25 PM
Is there a freekinsee?

I wuz hopin'.........

N8YX
05-23-2012, 05:30 AM
Let's try this again tonight...40 or 75M, say at o-dark-thirty.

W3WN
05-23-2012, 07:45 AM
Let's try this again tonight...40 or 75M, say at o-dark-thirty.
Sounds like a plan. Fred, let's do this... around 0000 Z, pick a frequency & backup frequency post them here. We can start gathering around 0030. Naturally, this will be + / - QRM.

N8YX
05-23-2012, 08:06 AM
Sounds like a plan. Fred, let's do this... around 0000 Z, pick a frequency & backup frequency post them here. We can start gathering around 0030. Naturally, this will be + / - QRM.
I may be out of the shack and on the bike at that time but will update this thread when I return. Note to self: TS-2000X + TH-F6A (or VX-7R, if it supports Kenwood's Sky Command protocol) and a nice, tall tower for the control link antennas are definitely in order. Makes more sense than converting the bicycle into a WhackerMobile with a loaded whip for the lower HF bands.

koØm
05-23-2012, 10:45 AM
7.180Mhz ?

N8YX
05-23-2012, 10:49 AM
7.180Mhz ?
That works. Start without me and I'll catch up.

KG4CGC
05-23-2012, 11:22 AM
Or we could PM all interested parties the freekinsee.

W3WN
05-23-2012, 12:41 PM
That works. Start without me and I'll catch up.Isn't that what the actress said to the bishop?

Sounds like a plan. If there's any changes, PM me.

N8YX
05-23-2012, 07:26 PM
Someone pick one. I'm in for the evening and finally free of chores.

KK4AMI
05-23-2012, 07:38 PM
Someone pick one. I'm in for the evening and finally free of chores.

Every net in town seems to be up around 7.180. The Ol' Miss. net?

W3WN
05-23-2012, 07:38 PM
Someone pick one. I'm in for the evening and finally free of chores.7180 is clear right now.

W3WN
05-23-2012, 07:45 PM
Nutz. Some net just popped up on 7178, and there's a QSO on 7182. 40 meter OMISS is on 7185. QSO on 7188 & 7191. 7194?

KK4AMI
05-23-2012, 07:51 PM
7180 is clear right now.

I have a Thunderstorm, a guy from Puerto Rico and some guy asking if the freq was clear.

N8YX
05-23-2012, 08:24 PM
Let me check around there.

N8YX
05-23-2012, 08:27 PM
7173 might be clear.

KK4AMI
05-23-2012, 08:40 PM
7173 might be clear.

Lots of chatter on 7.174

KA9MOT
05-23-2012, 08:43 PM
40M is a great choice....... Should allow everyone to have a chance. Somebody post the frequency when it gets decided.

KA9MOT
05-23-2012, 08:53 PM
7173 might be clear.


We need to keep it above 7.175 + 3khz for us Generals.

W3WN
05-23-2012, 09:05 PM
7198?

N8YX
05-23-2012, 09:10 PM
7198?

There.

KA9MOT
05-23-2012, 09:12 PM
There!

NQ6U
05-23-2012, 09:17 PM
There, but I got an S-6 noise level here tonight. Damn.

W3WN
05-23-2012, 09:17 PM
We're talking! Anyone want to join in, please do so!

NQ6U
05-23-2012, 09:21 PM
I can hear you but with all the noise I can't copy anything.

KA9MOT
05-23-2012, 09:38 PM
Carl,
The conditions are pretty poor for everybody. We just tied a knot in it.

KK4AMI
05-23-2012, 09:42 PM
Carl,
The conditions are pretty poor for everybody. We just tied a knot in it.

It was still fun to see my little 20 Watts punch through something. I could hear you Steve, but couldn't quite reach you.

N8YX
05-23-2012, 09:43 PM
Was good talking to you folks. Ron/Steve/Mike, how was my audio? Non-EQ'd PA mic (Telex 752) and it should have a fairly wide, flat output to at least 4KHz.

KG4CGC
05-23-2012, 09:46 PM
No noise here but where are y'all now. There's a bunch of strappin' locals on 98.

KA9MOT
05-23-2012, 09:54 PM
It was still fun to see my little 20 Watts punch through something. I could hear you Steve, but couldn't quite reach you.

That's too bad. I have always been amazed with how much you could do with little power. I once checked into a net on 75M @ 5W after some bird announced that you couldn't do 75M with-out and amp and several agreed with him. I asked how my 5W was working and they were all good natured about it so I went QRO and cranked her up to 20W. We had a good time. :D

What kind of a rig are you running at 20W? And why only 20?

KA9MOT
05-23-2012, 09:56 PM
Was good talking to you folks. Ron/Steve/Mike, how was my audio? Non-EQ'd PA mic (Telex 752) and it should have a fairly wide, flat output to at least 4KHz.

You sounded good to me and your signal was fairly strong. I heard Ron very well at times as well but then there were times that you could tell he was there but he wasn't.

KG4CGC
05-23-2012, 10:00 PM
So WTF? Everyone give up?

KG4CGC
05-23-2012, 10:10 PM
OK, fine. Don't tell me.

KA9MOT
05-23-2012, 10:23 PM
OK, fine. Don't tell me.

Ummmmmm, the emails aren't coming like they should be..... I just got the one for your previous post.

Yes, we gave up do to poor conditions some time ago. If you'd like, I'd be happy to go back to 7.198 and say hello. Maybe some others would join. who knows.

NQ6U
05-23-2012, 10:24 PM
Yeah, they gave up. You want to try one? I'm still in the shack. Name a freq.

KG4CGC
05-23-2012, 10:45 PM
There are some AMers on 7.200 but I'm good with any frequency.
Um yes. I'm a bit irritated at a few things but nothing that a few hours of sleep can't cure ... for a while.

How are you with 7.190? Quiet here.

KA9MOT
05-23-2012, 10:50 PM
7.190 is quiet here... well not quiet but I hear no active QSO. S-7 noise level. I can turn Kid Rock down and listen for ya'

NQ6U
05-23-2012, 10:53 PM
Listening on 7.190...

Noise down to a mere S-4 now.

KA9MOT
05-23-2012, 10:54 PM
WOW! Condition are just plain shitty tonight!

KG4CGC
05-23-2012, 10:54 PM
I heard you fine but I suppose I need more antenna.

KA9MOT
05-23-2012, 10:56 PM
Listening on 7.190...

Noise down to a mere S-4 now.

Did you hear either one of us Carl?

KA9MOT
05-23-2012, 10:56 PM
I heard you fine but I suppose I need more antenna.

What are you running for an antenna?

KG4CGC
05-23-2012, 10:58 PM
Doublet cut for 20m.

KA9MOT
05-23-2012, 10:59 PM
Yes, you could improve on that.......

Are you feeding it with ladder line? I guess you'd have to be, if you were feeding it with coax we'd call it a Dipole.........

How much space do you have?

NQ6U
05-23-2012, 11:02 PM
I can hear you, Steve, picked out your call sign once, but I can't copy much over the noise. 40 is pretty sucky tonight.

KG4CGC
05-23-2012, 11:07 PM
Yes, you could improve on that.......

Are you feeding it with ladder line? I guess you'd have to be, if you were feeding it with coax we'd call it a Dipole.........

How much space do you have?

Doublet made with ladder line.

NQ6U
05-23-2012, 11:11 PM
I'm giving up, 40m is hopeless tonight. I'm gonna see if I have any more luck on 20m digital. I worked New Caledonia a little while ago.

Y'all have a good evening, I'll type at you in the morning.

KA9MOT
05-23-2012, 11:18 PM
Doublet made with ladder line.

Yeah, I'm a little slow sometimes. So how much space do you have?

KA9MOT
05-23-2012, 11:19 PM
I'm giving up, 40m is hopeless tonight. I'm gonna see if I have any more luck on 20m digital. I worked New Caledonia a little while ago.

Y'all have a good evening, I'll type at you in the morning.

Good luck, and sooner or later, it will all come together.

KG4CGC
05-23-2012, 11:28 PM
Yeah, I'm a little slow sometimes. So how much space do you have?

about 200x170

KG4CGC
05-24-2012, 12:40 AM
I really wanted to talk to my friends on the Island but as per usual, I got pulled into an hour long QSO with a station in Connecticut. Still interesting. I guess I should go outside more and talk to strange people I meet. You know, like back in the 60s. Work on my people skills. Maybe run for local office. I'd have to run as a Republican of course, being in SC and all.

KA9MOT
05-24-2012, 12:47 AM
about 200x170

OH Hell! You could have an amazing antenna. All you need to do is add some wire.

KA9MOT
05-24-2012, 12:47 AM
I really wanted to talk to my friends on the Island but as per usual, I got pulled into an hour long QSO with a station in Connecticut. Still interesting. I guess I should go outside more and talk to strange people I meet. You know, like back in the 60s. Work on my people skills. Maybe run for local office. I'd have to run as a Republican of course, being in SC and all.

Hour long QSO with a station in CT? Very cool!

KG4CGC
05-24-2012, 12:53 AM
Hour long QSO with a station in CT? Very cool!

I'm glad my wife already knows that I stay up late at night, sit in the dark ... and talk to strange men.

KA9MOT
05-24-2012, 01:01 AM
I'm glad my wife already knows that I stay up late at night, sit in the dark ... and talk to strange men.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Mine doesn't care anymore......... :D

KG4CGC
05-24-2012, 01:10 AM
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Mine doesn't care anymore......... :D

Try it in your underwear. Try new underwear. You know, like Carl has. ☺

KG4CGC
05-24-2012, 01:12 AM
http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?184333-When-do-you-tell-a-woman-you-re-a-ham&highlight=w6ire
Classic!

N8YX
05-24-2012, 04:49 AM
I went to bed right after the last post I made, or I would have stayed on for Round 2. Would have been nice to converse with you again, Charles...and Carlo, I think the best bet for us will be 20M.

KK4AMI
05-24-2012, 05:30 AM
Was good talking to you folks. Ron/Steve/Mike, how was my audio? Non-EQ'd PA mic (Telex 752) and it should have a fairly wide, flat output to at least 4KHz.

Your neutral midwestern "aaahio" accent came through as clear as a bell. I think it fits your mic, I don't believe your voice needs much equalizing :) The noise was hitting me at S-9 and your signal was S +20, hope I said that right. My TT Argonaut V needs an AMP for Thunderstorm nights, hmm how do I break that to my wife?

PS- I pooped out at 10 PM and went to bed. I never last past 10 anymore :sleep:

N8YX
05-24-2012, 06:40 AM
Good deal. As far as an amp goes...the old saw about 'forgiveness vs. permission' ring a bell? :snicker:

W3WN
05-24-2012, 07:50 AM
Was good talking to you folks. Ron/Steve/Mike, how was my audio? Non-EQ'd PA mic (Telex 752) and it should have a fairly wide, flat output to at least 4KHz.Your audio was just fine. Clear, crisp, just what you'd expect from a Ten-Tec.

I'm curious as to how mine sounded between the two rigs, but we can try that again another day when the band isn't going long on us.

W3WN
05-24-2012, 07:53 AM
You sounded good to me and your signal was fairly strong. I heard Ron very well at times as well but then there were times that you could tell he was there but he wasn't.The HF6 is tuned for CW, so I have a small SWR issue on phone. The wire is pointed roughly NNE, so any directivity is away from you guys.

I really need to break down and get that AL-84 hooked up to one of the rigs.

N8YX
05-24-2012, 07:59 AM
I liked you better on the Omni, Ron. But we need to try this when the band is more cooperative.

W3WN
05-24-2012, 08:00 AM
CQ WPX CW is this weekend. Phone bands shouldn't be too bad.

We have a ballgame tomorrow night. Saturday night, the boss & little miss field day are going to The Gene Kelly Awards (for high school plays) downtown (or as the natives say, dahntahn).

I'm not into that contest anymore, so I should be available after 2300 Z or so. Assuming I don't get too sunburned working on the garden on the yard during the day, of course.

N8YX
05-24-2012, 08:14 AM
BTW - if you ever want to lose that speech board, I'm interested in it.

NQ6U
05-24-2012, 09:12 AM
I went to bed right after the last post I made, or I would have stayed on for Round 2. Would have been nice to converse with you again, Charles...and Carlo, I think the best bet for us will be 20M.

Yeah, that band has been pretty hot the last few nights. After I gave up on 40m, I worked the Western Pacific and could clearly copy European stations on PSK31.

W3WN
05-24-2012, 02:56 PM
BTW - if you ever want to lose that speech board, I'm interested in it.It's not quite a simple drop-in. There's a diode that has to be either clipped or put back, depending on which way the board goes.

I just hate to take anything out of the rig... fear of mucking something up...

KK4AMI
05-24-2012, 03:52 PM
It's not quite a simple drop-in. There's a diode that has to be either clipped or put back, depending on which way the board goes.

I just hate to take anything out of the rig... fear of mucking something up...

Make him a deal to take the whole rig :)

N8YX
05-26-2012, 08:28 PM
I got the KAM interfaced to the Paragon today. If anyone wants to play with keyboard-keyboard packet, RTTY and most other non-soundcard-specific digital modes let's pick a time and frequency then go.

A friend of mine and 'DSG's will be joining us tomorrow evening for an extended BS session and if any of you fine folks are up for it I'd like to put her on the rig for a bit. Say, 40 or 75. That rig sure can hear on the low bands...I can only imagine what the incoming Omni VI can do.

W3WN
05-27-2012, 12:26 AM
Make him a deal to take the whole rig :)Are you kidding? First time in my life I have a decent radio... it's not going anywhere...

W5GA
05-27-2012, 01:40 AM
I can only imagine what the incoming Omni VI can do.
Omni 6 v3 + 45' high inverted vee = 80 new ones on 160m in one season here. Get the 600 Hz. Inrad roofing filter, you'll like it.

N8YX
05-27-2012, 10:18 AM
Get the 600 Hz. Inrad roofing filter, you'll like it.
I was thinking of getting both the 600hz and the 2.4KHz filters then designing a switching circuit which will activate one or the the other depending on mode - or bypass them altogether.

W5GA
05-27-2012, 04:15 PM
I was thinking of getting both the 600hz and the 2.4KHz filters then designing a switching circuit which will activate one or the the other depending on mode - or bypass them altogether.
The instructions have you wire the roofing filter to either N1 or N2 (you'll understand when you see the front of the Omni), and if neither of those is selected it's bypassed. I've been thinking of putting the 2.4KHz in as well. I've got the 600 in both radios, but the wife doesn't do CW, thus providing the impetus for the 2.4, as she does like to contest occasionally.

N8YX
05-27-2012, 08:44 PM
We're all in the shack. Anyone want to get on 40 or 75?

NQ6U
05-27-2012, 09:09 PM
We're all in the shack. Anyone want to get on 40 or 75?

You're all in the sack and you want to do radio??

N8YX
05-27-2012, 09:27 PM
You're all in the sack and you want to do radio??
Absolutely. Never know what rare ones might surface. ;)

NQ6U
05-27-2012, 09:46 PM
Absolutely. Never know what rare ones might surface. ;)

That makes an uncomfortable amount of sense. Heading out to the shack now—name a freq.

N8YX
05-28-2012, 05:25 AM
I missed this - sorry! We ended up working a guy on 40 SSB for about half an hour then I switched to 20M RTTY and spent a little time trying to figure out why my new data cable didn't work. :wall:

KG4CGC
05-28-2012, 02:06 PM
Carlo and I gave it a try until m y rig went deaf. Antenna. Connector or connection somewhere. I'm tracing down the shorts right now and it's either in the cheap molded on connector that is the connecting end of the ugly balun I made or it's in the coax that's double strengthened to prevent this type of thing.
I switched to the commercially made 10m antenna and tried it on 20 but the band was running past 6 land to the West and into the West coast of the British Isles to the East. I heard some very thick accents speaking English and it was difficult to determine their origin because when I honed in on one I'd lose copy when they IDed.

N8YX
05-29-2012, 06:32 AM
I was up later than usual and caught all sorts of interesting RTTY DX - on 15 and 20M, yet!

Charles, are you still using the Corsair?

W3WN
05-29-2012, 07:31 AM
Nutz. I had the computers down for the night about that time.

Oh well, we'll all hook up on the air sooner or later.

ka4dpo
05-30-2012, 09:46 PM
OK so tomorrow, the 31st of June I will be listening between 7.180 and 7.190 starting at about 3 PM for Islanders and will continue to listen till about 11 PM so if your out ther give us a shout. I want to hear from the Islanders tomorrow.

KG4CGC
05-30-2012, 09:50 PM
Damn. I missed this yesterday.
Three working antennas in the air. May take the doublet back down and double check the legs. It should load up easy peasy but it's struggling to get 1.3

KA9MOT
05-30-2012, 10:28 PM
A 1.3:1 SWR is awesome!

KA9MOT
05-30-2012, 10:30 PM
OK so tomorrow, the 31st of June I will be listening between 7.180 and 7.190 starting at about 3 PM for Islanders and will continue to listen till about 11 PM so if your out ther give us a shout. I want to hear from the Islanders tomorrow.

Well, pick one and I'll be there. 3:00PM Eastern? Hell, I'll even hook up the good mic!

KG4CGC
05-30-2012, 10:36 PM
A 1.3:1 SWR is awesome!
Not when everything you've ever done can tune down to ZERO!
I was seeing 1.1 on the longwire and I was like, ''meh.'' I may have a leg disconnected on the 40. Don't know. Could be that the commercially made balun I installed is the problem. Perhaps it's not kosher with a doublet? I've used coiled coax for a balun 99.9% of the time and I always get great results. This last one didn't hold up past 2 years. It was already old when I made it.

KA9MOT
05-30-2012, 10:54 PM
I discovered some antenna problems of my own today. I went out to the garage and found a hundred feet of my antenna rope laying on the floor. Somehow it must have ended up on the ground because it was obvious that my landlord ran over it with his mower. The tree is still holding it up but I have been planning on some changes, so I guess it is time to pull it down and try again. I think I am going to go back to a Fan Dipole. I never have liked this OCF Dipole but I know the problem with it is my cheap azzed RadioWavez 4:1 Balun. Gonna roll my own.

N8YX
05-31-2012, 09:28 AM
OK so tomorrow, the 31st of June I will be listening between 7.180 and 7.190 starting at about 3 PM for Islanders and will continue to listen till about 11 PM so if your out ther give us a shout. I want to hear from the Islanders tomorrow.I'd say we were all a month early for this.

KG4CGC
05-31-2012, 09:41 AM
Is Field Day the last full weekend of June or just the last weekend even if Sunday is the first?

KA9MOT
05-31-2012, 09:49 AM
The last full weekend. This year it is the 23rd and 24th. My favorite time of year! I'm going to take my TS-570S a out to the lake and throw a crappy antenna in the trees and work off of my truck battery. Aught to be fun!

W3WN
05-31-2012, 10:01 AM
OK so tomorrow, the 31st of June I will be listening between 7.180 and 7.190 starting at about 3 PM for Islanders and will continue to listen till about 11 PM so if your out ther give us a shout. I want to hear from the Islanders tomorrow.The 31st of what month?

W3WN
05-31-2012, 10:03 AM
Is Field Day the last full weekend of June or just the last weekend even if Sunday is the first?Fourth full weekend in June.

Most years that's also the last full weekend, but this is one of those years where there are 5 full weekends...

KA9MOT
05-31-2012, 10:13 AM
I'd say we were all a month early for this.




The 31st of what month?


Hmmm.... I missed that!

ka4dpo
05-31-2012, 04:31 PM
I'd say we were all a month early for this.

Ooopps, I feel so stupid, I feel naked in front of the whole Island. Hmmm, it feels kind of good in a kinky sort of way....

I meant to say 31st of May. That's what happens when you get old and drink beer.

KA9MOT
05-31-2012, 05:40 PM
OK, I have the good mic hooked up....a daunting task I must say. Anybody have a frequency yet?

KG4CGC
05-31-2012, 09:09 PM
What's the frequency, Kenneth?

kb2crk
06-01-2012, 07:41 AM
27.115 mhz

N8YX
06-01-2012, 11:32 AM
Ooopps, I feel so stupid, I feel naked in front of the whole Island. Hmmm, it feels kind of good in a kinky sort of way....I meant to say 31st of May. That's what happens when you get old and drink beer."Drinking beer on line? I hope you brought enough for everybody!"

NQ6U
06-01-2012, 11:36 AM
And I hope it's not any of that Miller or Budweiser crap.

KG4CGC
06-01-2012, 12:02 PM
27.115 mhz

I'd prefer we didn't go there. Not that I even can anyway.

KG4CGC
06-01-2012, 12:05 PM
And I hope it's not any of that Miller or Budweiser crap.

This was a good beer. http://www.budamericanale.com/pub/american-ale.aspx
But naturally, they stopped selling it around here. Instead, we have that Bud Light Platinum crap. Put a turd in a pretty bottle and tell everyone it's even better than gold.