KQ8RP Blog

TVI with AT&T Uverse

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:11:10 +0000

I have had AT&T Uverse for well over a year and a half. I operate mostly on 40 meters through 160 meters. On occasion I operate the other bands. I have all wire antennas or verticals.

I do operate a Ameritron AL80B and run a 800 watts with no issues on 40m to 160m.

Lately I have gotten a couple of yell’s from above that your messing up the tv. This is when I was on 17 meters with 100 watts. I turned the tv on and hit the tune button to tune my remote auto tuner and sure enough I was freezing the TV.

I have 7 tv’s connected on Uverse. I pulled back the ceiling panel where all the coax connectors was located to all my runs.

I first lifted the ground to the splitter to see if anything changed. It made no change.
Checked all cable connections for tight fit.
The splitter had 5 coax connections.
I began removing one at a time and transmitted my tune signal
When I disconnected the coax running to our 2nd floor my TVI disappeared.
I then went upstairs and where three are 3 Tv’s connected on this coax run.
I disconnected one at a time and checked for TVI. It was still there.
I then got up in the attic where there is another splitter and I disconnected one TV from that splitter and checked for TVI. When I disco the spare bedroom all TVI disappeared.
I replaced coax connectors on that drop and so far I have not heard any more complaints.

So if you have TVI issues see if you can narrow it down by eliminating coax drops to see if you see any changes.

Hope this helps someone get there TVI issue under control.

73’s

Scott
KQ8RP

40 Meter Phased Vertical Test with J69KZ

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:35:48 +0000

Here is another test of my 40 meter phased verticals in QSO with Lionel J69KZ.

One vertical has 67 radials the newest vertical has 38. The phasing is homebrew using a SPDT relay. It’s been a fun little project and best of it seems to work very well.

KQ8RP

40 Meter Phased Vertical Broadside and Endfire Test

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:03:23 +0000

Here is a video listening to M1WDK talking with Jack AA3GZ. I called Steve right after there QSO and tested broadside and endfire 40 meter verticals.

They are Working!

73’s

KQ8RP

40 Meter Phased Verticals

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 22:49:37 +0000

I had a 43 foot homebrew vertical up for sometime now that we used on 60 meters. I also raised it up to 55 feet and used it for sometime on 75 meters. But the more and more I visit 40 meters I hear more and more DX that I wanted to get into my log book. I decided to lower my 43 footer down and get it resonate on 40 meters.

Here is a video that will show you my original vertical as well as my second one I added to provide me a pair of phased verticals for 40 meters.

So how do the 40 Meter Verticals play? Here is a short video of my logbook.

I have my verticals 1/2 wave apart here on 40 Meters. I did that for the reason in the future I may want raise the height and put them on 75 meters.

Several articles that I used in building these phased verticals.

Hygain 40 Meters 7200 KHz Design Frequency page 30 (This design is what I used)

VA7ST 80M Vertical Array by Bud Mortenson

Verticals – Got Two? by N4JTE Bob Raynor

I will do a video and switch between Broadside and Endfire to let you see and hear the results.

Best 73’s

KQ8RP

QSL Cards Got You Down?

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:55:52 +0000

Chasing DX is most fun but I hear from many people that it’s expensive and many think it’s a hassle. I have simplified my DX QSL cards by using Global QSL as well as Log Book of the World (LOTW).

Forget about spending expensive time and big money for QSL cards printing, filling out, sorting and sending!

No need no more to write yourself QSL cards or print labels! Don’t sort your out-going cards, no more trips to the out-going and in-coming QSL bureau.

You only pay for the amount of cards you use, no loss of cards.
Don’t waste time, enjoy ham radio and the fun of getting QSL cards without the burden of writing them.

I have been using Global QSL now for nearly 2 years and it’s simple, quick and easy. The cards just keep flowing in.

Delaware Amateur Radio Association

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:16:33 +0000

Listening on 10 meters awhile back I heard K8MP call CQ so I quickly responded to say hello. K8MP was a call I recognized from some of the contest I have been in and he had a loud signal on 10 meters. He introduced himself as Joe and then I recalled chatting with him before on 10 meters and found out he was just a few miles from me up the road.

Joe asked me if I belonged to any local ham club and invited me to Delaware Amateur Radio club next meeting since it too was right up the road from me. I took Joe up on the invite and made it to the first meeting this month and turned in my membership application to join the group.

Since I joined I have pulled out the old ringo 2 meter vertical and put it out on the chimney to access 145.17 repeater. I haven’t been on 2 meters in years but got the vx-5 Yaesu HT hooked up and monitoring now.

Look forward in meeting more of the members in upcoming meetings and events.

73’s

Scott

MFJ-998 Remote Tuner Setback

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:02:04 +0000

All has been really playing well with my MFJ-998 tuner setup remotely to my 165′ Inverted L antenna. I have put up three different other antenna’s as reference antennas a Windom, Dipole and Loop all for 80 meters and nothing can beat this Inverted L.

Until now… Last night a thunderstorm rolled through. I had the knife switch thrown on the antenna to the tuner and the DC supply is on battery backup with protection.

After storm passed the tuner would no longer tune. Passed self test and all but on both antenna ports MFJ-998 would not tune.

On Friday I had just ordered polyphasers to put on all antenna connections.

Day late and a dollar short. Word to the wise, make your investment now to protect your gear.

On t’s way back to MFJ for repair.

Flex 5000 Noise Blanker

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:36:55 +0000

This new noise just showed up this week on 10 though 20 meter band. I have switched off each breaker in my electrical panel to see if it was something in my home but it sounds like it is coming from somewhere in the neigborhood.

If you have heard this type of noise before let me know. The video shows how well the Flex Radio noise blanker can get rid of many unwanted noises.

73’s
Scott
KQ8RP

MFJ-998 IntelliTuner Remote Setup to 165′ End Fed Inverted L

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:06:47 +0000

After returning home from vacation and working K4JJW from my mobile down in New Symrna Beach he shared with me his setup on how he had his MFJ-998 in a remote set up to his 165′ inverted L. He had his enclosed in a nema electrical box at the base of his L.

I decided I could place mine out in the shed which is about 140′ from the ham shack and set it up as a remote tuner. I first had about 14′ of coax to a Inverted L setup but now have changed over to a end fed wire setup. It tunes all bands 6m to 160m with excellent results.

Hope you enjoy the video and if you have any questions please let me know.

73’s

Scott

KQ8RP

Mansfield Mid-Winter Hamfest

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 02:04:41 +0000

Mansfield Mid-Winter Hamfest always gives a whole lot of hams an excuse to brave the cold weather and get out of the house. Cabin fever that we all encounter until the Mansfield hamfest.

I met up with my ham friends KE8OD and WD8MKC who always has a few tables up there so we can rid our closets of all the computer and ham radio collections or some say treasures.

Just a few quick videos that I took from the main building. They always seem to get there early and leave early as you will see in the three videos.

Hope you enjoy,

Scott
KQ8RP

6:32 am Setup

8:15 am

11:41 am Where did everyone go?