QO-100
Since 2022-01-28 I am QRV on QO-100. The following setup is used:
- 75cm dish + Golden Media LNB and Poty
- Adalm Pluto + CN0417 + WLAN-PA
The WLAN-Pa is modified according to M1GEO (link). Pins 4+5 are shorted. The LED is now constant green.
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QO-100 75cm dish with outdoor box attached next to the TV dish on the garage roof.
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The whole setup in the outdoor box with 5V/12V PSU.
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Adalm Pluto with USB to Ethernet adapter
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CN0417 directly connected to the Pluto TX SMA connector
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5V/12V PSU
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Luckely I noticed early enough that the ANT connector of the WLAN PA is
RP-SMA. Unfortunately I did not notice that the SMA cable between the
CN0417 and the WLAN PA had one RP-SMA connector too :-( Took some time
to figure out why there was no TX signal from time to time.
No temperature issues so far. The outdoor temperatures are now between
0 - 10 degrees. Let's see how the setup behaves in spring and summer...
USB-Ethernet Adapter:
Please check
link from the manufacturer for the supported USB to Ethernet chipsets.
Amsat DL offers a wiki page for "
Operation together with Adalm PLUTO".
They recommend to use a "UGREEN LAN Adapter USB 2.0 Network USB to RJ45
Ethernet Adapter 10 / 100Mbps" which has the lowest latency.
Update: 160m add-on to my 80m
antenna
The setup was working fine for almost two years. In the meantime a
squirrel used the coil as deposit for nuts, it was time to renew the
setup. A new coil was made and a new outdoor box is in place. The
outdoor box contains a bias-t, two relais and the RF choke.
On the right of the box is the coil to extend the 80m L-Antenna to
160m. In addition the coil is also used to extent the 40m GP to 60m.
Left of the box is a hairpin match, a small coil between the antenna
and ground.
The wire-GP has one wire for each band: 80m, 40m and 30m. The coil is
used to add 160m (from 80m) and 60m (from 40m). So the wire-GP can be
used from 160m to 30m.
160m add-on to my 80m antenna
During
last winter, I added a loading coil to my 80m L-antenna so that it
could be used on 160m. But it was either 160m or 80m. This winter it
was time to modify the setup so that I could operate on both bands. The
160m loading coil is now connected via two relais and can be switch on
and off by 12V through a bias-T.
After measuring my 80m L-Antenne on 160m, my network analyzer shows an
Xl of -383j. So I need a coil with Xl=j*383.
Xl =j*2*pi*f*L
L=Xl/(j*2*pi*f)
L = 383j/(j*2*pi*1,85)=32,95uH
https://qsl.net/in3otd/indcalc.html
or
http://www.df7sx.de/luftspule/
are great sources to calculate the coil. Just play with values.
Homemade wire GP verticals
Two new simple multiband verticals are now my main antennas:
- 1st wire GP: 20m-10m
- 2nd wire GP: 160m-30m (without 60m)
close look at the 20m to 10m wire GP
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view at both wire GPs, covering 160m to 10m
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SWR for 20m to 10m
SWR for 80m, 40m and 30m
RX Preamp for 160m to 2m
RX Preamplifier for 160m to 2m with up to 11db gain from www.box73.de
(Funkamateur)
The
construction kit does a good job out of the box, after I soldered the
ground correctly and the second transistor. Signals are now 10 db
stronger and my FiFi SDR decodes now a bit more reliable on the week
signals.
4ele HB9CW for 6m
Since some time I own a 2ele HB9CV for
6m. It did some great job in past as a portable setup in JO61hg. Now it
was time to have some more gain. In the internet I found the assembly
instruction for the 2ele. I was surprised to read that there is also a
4ele version available.
The only differences are:
- 2 more elements
- longer boom
- 4db more gain
Model |
A502HB |
A504HB |
Frequency MHz |
50-53 MHz |
50-53 MHz |
Gain |
6.3dbi |
10.8dbi |
Power Rating (P.E.P.) |
400 W |
400 W |
Impedance |
50 Ohm |
50 Ohm |
Connector |
UHF |
UHF |
VSWR |
1.5:1 |
1.5:1 |
Element Phasing |
2 |
4 |
Front to Back Ratio |
15db |
12db |
Boom Length |
750mm |
3250mm |
Longest Element |
3000mm |
3000mm |
So I prepared a new boom and two
additional elemts. The manual had all the numbers in place I needed.
The new 4ele was setup first at 8m above ground at our portable QTH in
JO61hg and was working great.
Mosley mini32 AW
Mosley mini32 AW on a 9m Aluminium Telescopic Masts below a 2ele HB9CV
for 6m in JO61hg (DF1LON/p).
The Mosley mini32 AW is a short beam, reduced size compared to a
trapped beam.
- 2 Elements on 10, 15, 20
- Rotatable Dipole on 12 & 17
- Ultra Light Weight
- Small Foot Print
- Good all-around performance
The setup and assembly was quite easy. All elements are marked with
different color codes. The proposed element length were ok on all
bands, except for 20m, where the SWR is ok for CW but a bit high for
SSB.I did a couple of hundret QSOs in the IARU Contest 2016. All
stations I could hear could be worked. I have no other antenna
available to compare to at the portable QTH in JO61HG.
Frequency, MHz |
28, 24, 21, 18, 14 |
Power Rating, watts CW |
500 |
Power Rating, watts SSB |
1000 |
Power Rating, AM/FM |
250 |
Power Rating, RTTY/AMTOR |
250 |
VSWR at frequency |
1.0/1 to 1.5/1 |
Forward Gain, dBd 10 meters |
5.1 |
Forward Gain, dBd 12 meters |
0 |
Forward Gain, dBd 15 meters |
4.5 |
Forward Gain, dBd 17 meters |
0 |
Forward Gain, dBd 20 meters |
3.3 |
Front-to-Back Ratio, dB 10 meters |
17 (avg.) |
Front-to-Back Ratio, dB 12 meters |
0 |
Front-to-Back Ratio, dB 15 meters |
17 (avg.) |
Front-to-Back Ratio, dB 17 meters |
0 |
Front-to-Back Ratio, dB 20 meters |
17 (avg.) |
Boom Length |
6 ft |
1.83 m |
Maximum Element Length |
19.6875 ft |
6 m |
Turning Radius |
10.29 ft |
3.14 m |
Mast Size hardware (equipped) |
1.5 in |
3.81 cm |
Assembled weight |
12.5 lbs |
5.67 kg |
Wind Surface Area |
3.7 sq ft |
.344 sq m |
Wind Load, EIA Standard 80 MPH |
49 lbs |
22.23 kg |
Warranty |
2 |
Recommended Coax |
Belden RG-8 / RG-213 |
Options (E-mail for details.) |
Cut Down to 48" |