![Nathan W](/img/default-banner.jpg)
- Видео 26
- Просмотров 11 525
Nathan W
Добавлен 3 окт 2016
Isle of Man DX Expedition
Short weekend in November 2022 trying some contacts as 2D0 on various antennas/bands. Over 150 QSO's made.
Просмотров: 201
Видео
CW Keyer - rough demo
Просмотров 82Год назад
Quick, poor, look at an idea I had to use an ESP32 MCU with its onboard wifi to behave as a remote morse key with a web interface. Very much work in progress, but it's basically working so I'd thought I'd show it.
Automatic RX antenna switch demo
Просмотров 322Год назад
A quick demonstration of the automatic receive only antenna switch on the FTdx10.
Automatic switch for a receive only antenna
Просмотров 201Год назад
Run a loop on the ground or any RX only antenna on ANY radio, even if it doesn't have a dedicated antenna port. Big thanks to 9A6KX for his help with this.
Does VHF work in an abandoned mine?
Просмотров 119Год назад
Not a serious experiment, but I was curious and it made a good excuse to go exploring. I thought it may be of interest to some of you to see inside a long since closed lead mine.
Tape Measure Radials; an experiment
Просмотров 4142 года назад
On the back of a suggestion to use tape measures as radials, I thought I may be able to make the Expedition antenna quicker to erect. The results were mixed. Feedback would be appreciated.
The strangely tame gull
Просмотров 3402 года назад
Nothing of much interest here, I just noticed that whilst every other young gull will scarper as soon as I approach them, this one just stayed put. I don't normally feed the gulls, but I made a one off exception for this little fellow. I do feed the swan, a lot. Usually seeded bread, but I'd ran out. It has taken two years, but it gently takes food from me now. It started off snatching it.
Brevity and DX Commander Expedition
Просмотров 2872 года назад
At 1233 I got a notification that Callum, the DX Commander, was running his Friday live stream at 1300. 27 minutes to chuck the radio gear in the car, go get fuel (and coffee), and head to the local beach. Band conditions were awful, but it goes to show how quick you can get on the air if needed, or wanted.
First go on the DX Commander Expedition MK2. With some waffle.
Просмотров 3422 года назад
Did all the radials and elements one evening, then took the antenna out to finish the build. I vote the DX Commander Expedition as the worlds best antenna for portable operators. It's just brilliant!
Portable ham adventures in Scotland on a motorcycle.
Просмотров 1092 года назад
Finally getting a live stream, though not the one intended. #adventure-radio.
DIY599 PA500 unboxing
Просмотров 7852 года назад
A very brief look at the PA500 amplifier. These things are like hens teeth, so expect to join a waiting list if you order one. I'll fire it up in another video, but wow! Lovely build quality.
I'm going portable - an idea for a radio adventure and notes on the power supply.
Просмотров 792 года назад
I've been thinking about going on a portable expedition for a while, and the idea keeps evolving, but having picked up the vehicle for the job recently, the plan seems to be coming together. Tom M0RMY's Arran adventure: ruclips.net/video/BZ7n-Vls474/видео.html
Ham radio camping in the Lake District
Просмотров 9112 года назад
IC705, DX Commander Expedition, English Lake District, weather. Finding the bugs in the whole setup before committing to a full on adventure. Location was Buttermere.
How to erect a DX Commander Expedition pole
Просмотров 9072 года назад
Made to help a fellow ham out, but perhaps it's useful for others. These antennas are the dogs nuts for portable work, especially on hills and beaches. No tuner required, so a perfect combination for the likes of an IC-705 or FT817.
Stormy weather projects - WSPR transmitter
Просмотров 3 тыс.2 года назад
Stormy weather projects - WSPR transmitter
Short test of the DX Commander Expedition on a hill
Просмотров 983 года назад
Short test of the DX Commander Expedition on a hill
I pulled it gently and it came out. Every section came out. Turn and twist did not work. UPDATE: This is August 2024 which is 2 years after this video was made. I was wrong. I think the new version of the DX Commander Expedition Travel Pole that I got from DX Engineering does not work like described in this video. So, I have a different pole then the person who made this video. The version I have does not use the "pull up and twist" to hold each section. If you bought the "replacement" pole all by itself, you will need to buy the clamp kit for it too. According to support at DX Engineering, this pole was never designed to be used as a standalone pole - it was meant to be used as a replacement part for the DX Commander Expedition Antenna. If you got the DX Commander Vertical Antenna Replacement Telescoping Masts EXPEDITION POLE Part Number: DXC-EXPEDTN-POLE You will need: DX Commander EzyClamp Replacement Mast Clamp Kits EXPPOL-CK Part Number: DXC-EXPPOL-CK I got them from DX Engineering in the USA. Your area of the world may have a different reseller.
Great video. For me, using tape measure radials isn't an experiment, it's been a way of life for the last couple of years. High visibility, easy to adjust the length, easy to store, quick to deploy, never get tangled, and, they work. I've made contacts all over the world with a 9 foot manpack collapsible antenna, band-specific loading coils and four tape measure radials.
Great video. Just wish you lived near me to help me with my electronics.
Brilliant video mate.
nice video, me too use tape measure for radial in my qrp usdr+. Great! how long are your tape radials?
I was sitting here screaming, "Don't power up a transmitter without a LOAD!" The power has to go somewhere. You might get away with it with very low power, or an output with protection circuitry, but you must always remember that the power has to go somewhere. BTW, I like to do exactly what you are doing here. I have very little interest in exchanging "5-9's" with people off in the distance. I'm a builder, a learner, and an experimenter. We aren't in the majority of ham radio, but there are still many of us involved. In the USA we are the reason the FCC licenses hams to design, build, and operate just about any RF gear we want, just as long as we stay in the ham bands and don't exceed 1500 Watts output. Our government knows it has little use for those who chat on the air, but it has a great use for a group of people who understand electronics and can make communications systems work. We are a garden of technical expertise, and the government wants to see us grow.
Genius idea. I hate winding up wire radials as I know every time I do it they are going to be tangled when I come back to them for the next deployment. I had thought of using a winder as with a kite string but that gets bulky. I had thought of using a chalk line reel with the string replaced by wire (that works for me for an EFHW on location) but this could be very neat and compact. Definitely going to try this
I lived on a boat a long time. Maybe hop on land when you solder. Fire on a boat is no fun
I never found the Oner to be chirpy. Maybe it depends on the crystal and/or its matching t the rest of the circuit. It's probably one of the least appreciated and most versatile simple 500mW transmitter.
Foam pool swim noodles
Wrap the ground wire around one of those long round poll toys and let float on the water make the wire about 30 ft long, number 10 bare ground wire
G6AD, he was my first UK contact on 20m
Be sure to put a common-mode choke at the antenna feed point to keep the coax from becoming part of the radiating system. That’s what’s causing the stray RF that’s kicking out your USB.
Hey man.. you OK? tried calling you etc
when are going to demonstrate TX also :)
No reason it won't work as long as you get a good electrical connection.
I know this is an old video but at the start I noticed you still have USB charging enabled. So it will be draining more juice from the tablet and won't make things very happy either. Best thing I did was get the Icom remote software and connect to it over WiFi. I think there is a free version nowadays called wfview, although I've not tried it.
Don't forget your dummy load! :D
As my Elmer used to say, "Don't forget the load, dummy!"
If you use a USB cable to the 705, you get two com ports, one can be used for GPS, the other is the cat control. Using one of the many gps clock apps you can sync the windows clock (or whatever device) to the gps clock on the 705. You can always then unplug the cable and go back to using the brilliant 705 wifi data connection with the icom remote app.
I found this out after the event. Yes, good tip. The /p laptop has a GPS time sync program on it now.
@8:20 Aw man :facepalm:
Don't let people fool you about the unboxing video! It was very helpful! Thanks 73 AH2EJ
Coffee smelled GREAT ! ...N3JLR
Everything is better with a decent coffee. :) I've changed the tooling to a GSI Outdoors javapress now. A bit more rugged and lightweight.
the issue you're going to have is the tuner internal to the radio is still set to the transmit antenna. when you switch it to the loop it's tuning settings ARE going to be different. which can account for some of loss of rf on receive when it's turned on. ideally you would want to turn off the tuner on receive :D
Dammit. Take your science elsewhere. It has no place in this hobby! :) That didn't cross my mind in all honesty. Too much effort to introduce a microcontroller to issue CAT commands to disable the tuner (if that's possible), but it's still viable for a resonant antenna at least.
you're riding on the wrong side of the road :P
Add a common mode choke about 2 meters from the antenna
Was it you I was speaking to about the Messiah?
Firt Video I've seen of yours where did you stay BTW?
Nice power and SWR meter! Great fun Nathan. Looks like a nice place. We still need to do that island trip!!
May at the latest. Those August midges in Skye were testing. Absolutely affirmative for the secret island. One sleep for man; one giant feast for midgekind.
Thnx for the mention and the ATNO 🤝 Is that a pan-adapter or a panadapter 😉
Thanks for the contact! I can never remember what the proper name for the - probably - stove adaptor is on the Jet Boil. Pan adaptor just made sense, so I stuck with it. Glad there were no waterfalls though. :)
Looks like it cannot export to usa 😢
It looks like theqrpstore.com is the distributor in the USA. I know there are definitely US customers as they're on the PA500 mailing list.
@@nathanw851 oh... Well i feel like an idiot now haha
I miss living in the Lakes, really enjoyed the video 73
Cheers, Stu. Dorset ain't too shabby though. Ever been tempted to work from Brownsea Island?
Canny little device Nathan, you could create a QRP propagation beacon with that, little homebrew transmitter based around an SI5351 PLL and a micro.
Great suggestion! It was originally intended for use with testing various CW transmitters I've built from the QCX mini to a schematic I found in a 1983 copy of SPRAT magazine, but the propagation beacon is a great idea. I'll put the code on github when it's a bit more refined.
Great video and very helpful 😎
Thanks very much Nathan. Looks like you have things sorted, just need to get the loop RX better, but still keep the noise away. I have been thining deeply about your comment on the ~manufacture the box~ video where you made reference to the insulating tape to stop the relays contacting the case if they dropped away from the sticky pads. Why didnt you use the lid of the box as a lid and put the printing on the top, instead of using the lid as the base, or are you worried things might move about in normal use?
Good question. If I built it all on the bottom, it would have made putting it together a bit of a nightmare and I'd have had to use flexible cable for the RF instead of solid copper as as to reach the so239's.
@@nathanw851 Good point, well presented. I knew there must be some sensible reason.
Does it work well in the real world?
yes, it works perfectly fine. I'm waiting on some more coax to be delivered so I can run it near the radio itself. I'll do a quick vid when I do that. At the moment it's about a meter behind the radio because of the coax situation so changing between the antenna modes is a pain in the bottom.
@@nathanw851 OK, thanks, be interesting to see it work.
That is a neat solution!
Good video Nathan, some good footage, and nicely narrated!
Ah, my partner in mine. Check out this guy's channel, folks. He restored/modernised an old mining lamp for this venture. A fellow ham and quite a whizz when it comes to fixing electronics.
21:22 reminds me of that cooking recipe "on Kudu" :)
I've progressed past two eggs in a frying pan. I can mix three or four ingredients now.
Never realised they had Nostrils 🙂
Not sure what their primary sense is, but the very instant I showed it food in my fingers, it was off. It must be sight. Glad I wasn't around with the dinosaurs; imagine several tons of muscle with that brain operating it.
Well the de rigging looked pretty fast to me :-) I think setting up is more about how you stow away. For instance, I couldn't believe how efficient Para Packing was for some things. Where you just keep stuffing rope into a bag till it is full (sort of) You need to get used to the overhand underhand way for stashing your radials then you can pretty much just chuck them out and they are almost ready. Ask Tom if it was just antenna set up or to rig on ready. Maybe to be more challenging, to First contact :-) Hope you washed your hands after playing with that boat and eating your tea ?
Overhand, underhand, radials free. Making good use of the things that we see. Got it. I like the first contact challenge. Not as scientific as it adds a variable, but fun all the same.
@@nathanw851 Thought you might like that idea 🙂Presume you understand what I mean by the underhand overhand? Cal has mentioned it a few times in his videos, and plenty of other folks.
@@nathanw851 As with everything like this prior preparation, and practice help a lot :-)
@@chrisbartlett6022 Yes. Well in theory. I get overland under band, tangling me. Something I need to practice. I just wrap it all around my hand which makes take down quick, but erection slow. With the DX10 the elephants aren't a problem, it's the radials that take a little unwinding. Not much, but it adds at least 2-3 minutes to the build to unravel all the buggers.
@@nathanw851 I would agree, the Elephants look after themselves a bit, although there are ways to wind them so the pull out quickly, used to wind all my Tarp Guys up like it. Sort of figure 8 around thumb and little finger with a few wraps round the bundle. You might even be able to leave them attached to the driven plate? I also think Tom added Power Pole connections to the Radial plate on short fly leads then plugged the radial bunch in, instead of undoing the butterfly s all the time, I know you dont like power poles but it would be a bit less fiddly. Maybe those Banana clips or something like that? Then the special wrap with the Radials, all making it that bit quicker? I dont use my Classic /P as I worry about folks tripping on the wires. When I was out the other Day folks had LOADS of room to not walk too close to the VW but seemed to be attracted to it like Magnets 🙂
Hello mate, just seen this video - Epic! You're much braver than me for /P operations, I have converted a Van for this sort of stuff however fair play to you. Hope to catch you on the air one evening when I'm out in the wilds, I do tend to make videos but as of yet not had the confidence to upload them to RUclips. Cheers and 73 Rob M0XXQ (Usually M0XXQ/P)
Hi Rob. Thank you. Get those vids uploaded, I'd love to watch some van portable stuff :) I'll be doing a bit more /p when the tourist season calms down a bit. It would be great to catch you on the air - especially in the cooler months when you can tell me how warm the blown air diesel heating system in the van is while I'm in a tent thinking it'd be nice to be in a van :D
I had forgotten that slipper knot. Thanks for reminding me.
Wonderful Video friend.
Nathan that was Epic, I am so glad you shared it with us. Thank you. At least I dont need to do it now, because you have 🙂
Thanks, Chris. I could do with more camera mount options for on the bike. It'd would have been nice to share some more of the absolutely stunning scenery up there. Perhaps next time :)
@@nathanw851 The brief bouncy bit was OK. Think you did well considering the camera problems. Goes your Go Pro get hot? We have some at work, only turn them on and off to get clips of the Off Road Driving but the batteries on them seem to get hot and we have to take at least 2 out with us for a morning drive.
@@chrisbartlett6022 It gets warm but I don't tend to do long shots. It definitely likes supping amps though as the batteries don't last very long if it's recording for long stretches. I've got a couple of the cold weather endurance batteries on order, which apparently last 40% longer. We shall see. I suppose that means I'll have to do another trip in cold weather. Eek.
Nonsense? russian soldiers are gang-raping women, kidnapping children and murdering civilians. What a disgraceful racist thing to say, Nathan!
Looks cool that!
Just fizzicks. Heat the air, move the arms with a difference in density and modulate a beep. I didn't want a copyright strike or I'd have done it with "you spin me right round baby, right round, like a record baby..." :D