N7YA
12-26-2013, 12:00 AM
Finally! Thanks to our own Bob, NA4BH, lending me his IC706MKIIIG...i am back on the air. :)
I had to order, then cannibalize, a power cable, but its a perfect fit. Then i had to run the ground, PS, tuner and low pass filter down the line. Then bring out my Vibroplex and cans...even brought out the heavy Chinese hand key as a backup...log books, scratch pad, pens, coffee, double check the connections and follow the chain of command to make sure i have everything run correctly...ready at the desk...but first, have to put the Vee back in the sky. Its been down for nearly a year just leaning against my back balcony.
11293
I went to grab the Balun and both ties holding it on crumbled in my hands, so did the tape i had on there to stabilize it. So i went with wire to hold it. Once the Vee was back up and anchored, i head back to the desk. I hit the power supply and the switch lights up...good sign. Then i power up the 706...it springs to life right in the middle of the 20m phone band. The big step is out of the way.
11294
Being after dark, the band is quiet, i knock it down to 30m and the first signal i hear is the always reliable ZP6CW. The rig is in rx mode still so i didnt call him (i need him on 30 too), i want to make sure i am set up to transmit. I key quickly and nothing happens, so i bring up the manual pdf and scroll down to the programming part, find the part about switching to a bug and make the proper adjustments on the menu, hit the paddles and i have output! I move on down the list of steps...power adjustment, tuning, split, full-break keying, etc...then jump down to 40 cw.
I can hear a few loud W's, and a few weak EU stations...it sure is nice to hear DX again! This is the part of the night where EU fades, W comes up, then later JA/PAC starts in. Since we are night owls, i am going to attempt some reports from JA later.
For now, i shut it down as i am ever cautious...the fan came on and i got nervous. When the internal fan on the old 757 came on, the SWR was getting high. I know the Vee was running 1:1 on 40 nicely earlier, but the rig was getting warm. I just like to take my time and examine each step. Especially since its not my gear. I still have to really study the entire menu system to get the most out of this rig. Menus are kind of a new thing for me. All my previous rigs have been old lunkers. The FT757 was the most up to date rig i've ever owned...it was built in 1985.....yeah. I mean, i still use paper logs, wire antennas and hand keys! But it works for me...230 countries with that set up. I should be able to figure out a damn menu. :lol:
We are going to see 47 Ronin with the incredible and amazing Keanu Reeves...:roll:, then i will come back and check 40 to see whats happening. Ill run the rig a little longer and see how it goes. The last log entry here was Jan 15. Only 14 qso's in the log for the entire year of 2013...that sucks! One new band country and thats all i have to show for it. I need to have a working rig in my possession at all times from now on! Ill update how it goes. Im excited.
Once again...Thank You, Bob. Most Humbly. :bowdown:
I had to order, then cannibalize, a power cable, but its a perfect fit. Then i had to run the ground, PS, tuner and low pass filter down the line. Then bring out my Vibroplex and cans...even brought out the heavy Chinese hand key as a backup...log books, scratch pad, pens, coffee, double check the connections and follow the chain of command to make sure i have everything run correctly...ready at the desk...but first, have to put the Vee back in the sky. Its been down for nearly a year just leaning against my back balcony.
11293
I went to grab the Balun and both ties holding it on crumbled in my hands, so did the tape i had on there to stabilize it. So i went with wire to hold it. Once the Vee was back up and anchored, i head back to the desk. I hit the power supply and the switch lights up...good sign. Then i power up the 706...it springs to life right in the middle of the 20m phone band. The big step is out of the way.
11294
Being after dark, the band is quiet, i knock it down to 30m and the first signal i hear is the always reliable ZP6CW. The rig is in rx mode still so i didnt call him (i need him on 30 too), i want to make sure i am set up to transmit. I key quickly and nothing happens, so i bring up the manual pdf and scroll down to the programming part, find the part about switching to a bug and make the proper adjustments on the menu, hit the paddles and i have output! I move on down the list of steps...power adjustment, tuning, split, full-break keying, etc...then jump down to 40 cw.
I can hear a few loud W's, and a few weak EU stations...it sure is nice to hear DX again! This is the part of the night where EU fades, W comes up, then later JA/PAC starts in. Since we are night owls, i am going to attempt some reports from JA later.
For now, i shut it down as i am ever cautious...the fan came on and i got nervous. When the internal fan on the old 757 came on, the SWR was getting high. I know the Vee was running 1:1 on 40 nicely earlier, but the rig was getting warm. I just like to take my time and examine each step. Especially since its not my gear. I still have to really study the entire menu system to get the most out of this rig. Menus are kind of a new thing for me. All my previous rigs have been old lunkers. The FT757 was the most up to date rig i've ever owned...it was built in 1985.....yeah. I mean, i still use paper logs, wire antennas and hand keys! But it works for me...230 countries with that set up. I should be able to figure out a damn menu. :lol:
We are going to see 47 Ronin with the incredible and amazing Keanu Reeves...:roll:, then i will come back and check 40 to see whats happening. Ill run the rig a little longer and see how it goes. The last log entry here was Jan 15. Only 14 qso's in the log for the entire year of 2013...that sucks! One new band country and thats all i have to show for it. I need to have a working rig in my possession at all times from now on! Ill update how it goes. Im excited.
Once again...Thank You, Bob. Most Humbly. :bowdown: