Introduction: QRV since
2005 on two meter multi-mode with this home-built
rig. (Was off since selling my IC-271A in 1991.)
Motto: "Every Chip, Every
Bit"
Status: Operational at
47.7 dBm and 70K receive system temperature. In characterization and hardware
phases. Trying to get the software
phase kick started, 10/29/08.
Principles
- It's the journey, not the destination. Build rather than buy
unless there's a good reason otherwise. "Build" can mean anything
from Heathkit (we all wish!) to designing it myself, etching, and
scrounging.
- Antenna maintenance is not fun (as opposed to design and
implementation, which is). Put up stuff that's robust and use it.
- Computer maintenance is not fun. Minimize the path
through infrastructure then just use whatever works.
- Narroband rocks!
- Have some pride - no wires hanging off boxes!
Ideas (that don't fit
somewhere else.)
RUT, a
proposal for an extension to the RST signal reporting system for
ultra-weak signal work such as this.
Recent
Results
2008 October 29 The Sabin noise source, linear amplifier,
and preamplifier are working, characterized, and posted (phases two and four and test equipment).
2009 July When I don't
feel like I'm making progress, I do planning. This is the V4 master plan.
It includes about everything in an unrealistic, yet finite
schedule. Activities are logically ordered. Deadlines are
avoided wherever possible.
2009 October 6 Here is a sub-plan for the immediate
future based on my feelings after finishing getting 1296RSU (see next)
into operation. There are some upshots from this, strategy
changes:
- I'll cut off at 1296 for BWT work. Microwave engineering would
be fun, but other priorities are more primary.
- 6 meters will be important (meteors, etc.).
- HF - band at a time for narrowband. Order: 40, 10, ...
(maybe that will be it)
Near term priorities:
A - (Done) Prepare for and do SS CW 09 to check out the new HF
antenna arrangement. This will be "permanent" for HF.
B - (Done) Build a medium gain 23 cm beam (as recommended by
W7PUA), repair the 9913. Resume listening tests.
C - Get past the next set of software
roadblocks.
D - Az El mount towards 1 @ 2 m., 2 @ .7 m., 1.2 m. dish @ .23
cm. 6 meter beam on old rotator at current discone location
(meteors).
E - Architecture, of remote pallette, if any. Too future.
Operating results or other attitude changes will still effect this.
F - 70 cm. :-( Too far off. 2009 November 25
Upon completion of a WA5JVB 1296 "cheap
yagi," page 21.69 of the 2010 ARRL Handbook, switched
DSP-10 to being IF for a W1GHZ 1296RSU, 15 dBm and 20 dB NF after about
2 dB of 9913.
The yagi is about 25 feet up and
aimed about 145 (San Diego) in hopes of hearing
And local activity on 1296.100. The beacon is 195 km from here,
but on band openings has opened the squelch on a scanning FM HT.
Nothing heard yet, but I may have seen the beacon trace overnight and
isolated it in LTI mode 11/27. No audio recovery.
Nothing heard for a month prior on an indoor antenna (SRH-999 sticking
straight out of box on bench) except my own local HT
transmissions. These verify basic operation, if not sensitivity.
