tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9750516058992872382024-03-16T08:08:25.136+01:00EC1CW's Ham Radio BlogAmateur radio on the moveUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger397125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-23574426695722605442015-12-19T14:49:00.001+01:002015-12-19T15:12:19.725+01:00Beaches On The Air: France, US, Russia and Italy from Riazor<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I5ECi6ZDQpg" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-32563177252418756102015-12-12T22:37:00.001+01:002015-12-12T22:41:09.623+01:00FT 817nd QRPp QSO with DK65DARC<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Th0gsJAtDFQ" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-67563118105411877522015-12-12T22:35:00.003+01:002015-12-12T22:42:11.542+01:00FT-817nd QRP 1W with DJ5VB<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sDfTAj8UqxI" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-49243032518278719932015-12-12T22:35:00.001+01:002015-12-12T22:43:17.315+01:00FT-817nd QRP 1W: QSO with ON4YOTA<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pQHBD_FDKms" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-48180543145142618862015-12-12T22:34:00.001+01:002015-12-12T22:44:04.673+01:00FT-857D: DK65DARC<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9wqePZe9lKE" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-48568344487629320692015-12-12T22:33:00.001+01:002015-12-12T22:44:37.161+01:00FT-817nd QRP 1W: QSO with EA8JK<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DTK_kJKPgjs" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-20617039905771995192014-12-20T16:02:00.002+01:002014-12-20T17:18:20.151+01:00Yaesu FT-991 vs FT-897 with internal LDG YT-100 antenna tuner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-avvkS-oIA3s/VJWPDI8ra3I/AAAAAAAABGM/ICaVVkPf96s/s1600/yaesu-ft-991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-avvkS-oIA3s/VJWPDI8ra3I/AAAAAAAABGM/ICaVVkPf96s/s1600/yaesu-ft-991.jpg" height="138" width="320" /></a></div>
My colleague Ernesto (EA1LQ) pointed out to me that Yaesu had just brought to the market a new compact radio, the FT-991, that featured a built-in antenna tuner and therefore was the natural substitute of my FT-897D in which I fitted an LDG YT-100 antenna tuner in the battery compartment. I must recognise that I was very excited and looking forward to find out more about the new radio.<br />
<br />
When I looked it up on yaesu, the first difference was the big colour display and the impression it was bigger than the FT-897D. But I was more interested to see the specifications, and here they are:<br />
<br />
<table><tbody>
<tr><td>Feature</td><td>FT-991</td><td>FT-897D with internal tuner and battery</td></tr>
<tr><td>Weight</td><td>9.5 lb (4.3 kg)</td><td>10.3 lb (4.7 kg)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Battery capacity</td><td>---</td><td>2200 mAh</td></tr>
<tr><td>Power consumption RX</td><td>1800-2200mA</td><td>600-1000mA</td></tr>
<tr><td>Impedance</td><td>16.7-150 ohms</td><td>4-800 ohms</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R1WUGUT8fnQ/UvF3JO6uRLI/AAAAAAAAA5g/ehM9nd4sWJg/s1600/yt-100-internal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R1WUGUT8fnQ/UvF3JO6uRLI/AAAAAAAAA5g/ehM9nd4sWJg/s1600/yt-100-internal.jpg" height="320" width="257" /></a></div>
So it seems that the FT-991 is 10 percent lighter than its competitor, which can be partly due to the fact that it does not feature an internal battery. The consumption on receive is also between two and three times higher than on the FT-897D, which is also a handicap when operating portable on battery power. Finally, the range of the tuner is much narrower, which can be a minus when operating portable.<br />
<br />
All in all, the conclusion is that the FT-991 seems to be a very nice radio, with a colour display, an USB port and new features, and is a welcome addition to the Yaesu line, but is designed with a different style in mind and is therefore not a direct replacement for my Yaesu FT-897D with internal tuner and battery.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-74301189466358320622014-12-07T16:18:00.001+01:002015-12-12T22:45:17.160+01:00Versatile backpack frame on eBay<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wLnGkdJE5Vg/VIRvXJq51GI/AAAAAAAABF0/uXG8VXBA-VQ/s1600/T2CY_XXj0aXXXXXXXX_42082231_zpsaeb340a1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wLnGkdJE5Vg/VIRvXJq51GI/AAAAAAAABF0/uXG8VXBA-VQ/s320/T2CY_XXj0aXXXXXXXX_42082231_zpsaeb340a1.JPG" width="150" /></a>I just found this interestng backpack idea on eBay. It looks very versatile.<br />
It is made of stainless steel and weighs 1360 grams.<br />
Here is the link:<br />
<a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ham-Radio-station-Antenna-Tuner-backpack-frame-for-YAESU-FT-817-LDG-Z11-LDG-Z100-/331198564376?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d1cf90818">http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ham-Radio-station-Antenna-Tuner-backpack-frame-for-YAESU-FT-817-LDG-Z11-LDG-Z100-/331198564376?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d1cf90818</a><br />
What do you think about it?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-90681880061729181202014-09-15T00:36:00.000+02:002014-09-15T00:42:36.822+02:00Greece on 12m (SV3AQR) <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/XYPzDF1zxvo" width="480"></iframe><br />
Testing my Yaesu FT-897D with an internal LDG YT-100 antenna tuner and an internal LiPO battery, using 20W into a random wire on 12m SSB.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-78251280189189388152014-02-05T00:27:00.001+01:002014-02-09T19:23:47.734+01:00FT-897D with internal LDG YT-100 antenna tunerTjis is a picture of my FT-897D with an internal YT-100 antenna tuner and a small LiPO battery.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R1WUGUT8fnQ/UvF3JO6uRLI/AAAAAAAAA3A/dUcJ4EpMDtc/s1600/yt-100-internal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R1WUGUT8fnQ/UvF3JO6uRLI/AAAAAAAAA3A/dUcJ4EpMDtc/s1600/yt-100-internal.jpg" width="420" /></a></div>I put this picture on the blog because I had posted a video of the radio with the internal tuner in action on Youtube, and there was a person who disputed the title of the video. He said that the tuner was not internal. So this picture is for him.<br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/f_RLQhgUNqk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
I also replaced the battery switch with a push-button with a led to activate and monitor the operation of the tuner.<br />
On the picture you can also see some DC terminals coming out from the battery compartment. These are to charge the small 2200mAh battery that I also fit in the space left after adding the automatic antenna tuner.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-11437280829969300722014-01-14T06:00:00.004+01:002014-09-15T00:45:01.878+02:00HA7LW (Hungary)This is a nice eQSL from a QSO in CW back in 2007:<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tLGHf0l6kG8/UtTEC1aB3GI/AAAAAAAAA2s/GJrwcNFNfes/s1600/_cfimg-1222971685880466781.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tLGHf0l6kG8/UtTEC1aB3GI/AAAAAAAAA2s/GJrwcNFNfes/s400/_cfimg-1222971685880466781.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
Thanks.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-25574249724159810512013-12-21T22:17:00.000+01:002014-09-15T00:45:16.052+02:00EQSL from 5T0SP (Mauritania)I have received this beautiful eQSL card from Mauritania. It is a new confirmed country for me. Now I have 85 for my eDX100 award.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jLnwCOKPrK0/UrYEmw42PLI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/kj0gOf9jP4c/s1600/5t0sp.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jLnwCOKPrK0/UrYEmw42PLI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/kj0gOf9jP4c/s320/5t0sp.JPG" /></a><br />
The government of Mauritania was overthrown on 6 August 2008, in a military coup d'état led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. On 16 April 2009, General Aziz resigned from the military to run for president in the 19 July elections, which he won.<br />
In Mauritania about 20% of the population live on less than US$1.25 per day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-52915987422330192272013-05-02T00:48:00.001+02:002013-05-02T00:48:29.882+02:00International Police Association from Martinique (TO4IPA)<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--sBCaGYs4gI/UYGbMkZSXhI/AAAAAAAAAxk/1e3akHYVM8g/s1600/to4ipa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--sBCaGYs4gI/UYGbMkZSXhI/AAAAAAAAAxk/1e3akHYVM8g/s200/to4ipa.jpg" width="200" /></a>I just made a QSO with TO4IPA (op. Henri) from Martinique on 20m SSB thanks to Enesto who sent me the spot.<br />
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TO4IPA - FM5AM Paul, FM5GI Jean Baptiste, FM5CW Valere, FM5CY Claude. - F6FLO Henri IPA team will work 18/04/2013 - 02/05/2013 of the city of St Pierre MARTINIQUE on SSB-CW-RTTY - PSK.<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-4293645089191580182013-05-01T17:54:00.000+02:002014-02-09T19:25:34.498+01:00Expedition to YO-land: Which radio to take?I am preparing an expedition to YO-la and am in doubt about which radio to carry with me. The three candidates are a Yaesu FT-897D, a Yaesu FT-857D and a Yaesu FT-817ND. Each one of them has its own advantages. The FT-897 is the most powerful, because it can give its full output of 100W with the YT-100 antenna tuner, and the FT-817ND is the lightest. The FT-857D is in between, being able to work at 60W with the SG-211 tuner. What do you think?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-41813574540107475222013-04-30T23:30:00.000+02:002013-04-30T23:54:51.314+02:00United States (KT4TN) from a public parkThis is a video of a QSO I made about a year ago when I was in Monte de San Pedro, a public park in A Coruña.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6LAs7uLR3Os" width="480"></iframe><br />
I went there with my elder son Adi.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-73539974725664160952013-04-17T23:41:00.000+02:002013-04-30T23:42:34.496+02:00Belarus (EW7EW) on 20mThis is a video of a QSO with Belarus station EW7EW using my mobile whip tide to my car's front wing.<br />
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<iframe width="480" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Mc7n343J-8o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
I was testing this setup for a trip to Astorga.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-38692656169832332312013-03-27T23:23:00.000+01:002013-04-30T23:29:21.312+02:0050 years in amateur radio (S503EO)This is a video of a QSO on 15m with Slovenian special event station S503EO. I was using my FT-897D trolley.<br />
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<iframe width="480" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5E6eqv2ZvoA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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Milos (S53EO) celebrates his 50 years in amateur radio. Thanks for the QSO and congratulations!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-49702919090842694362013-03-20T23:12:00.000+01:002013-04-30T23:13:41.933+02:00Azores (CU7AA) on 15mThis is a video of a QSO with Azores on 15m.<br />
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<iframe width="480" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IjVoqJtbMB0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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This is my favourite band...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-12023543291029865822013-03-16T18:29:00.001+01:002013-03-16T18:31:17.163+01:00Ireland on 20m from the parkThis is yet another QSO from the Acea de Ama park using my Yaesu FT-857D with an SG-211 antenna tuner and a military whip antenna.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RstEStN1Qqc" width="480"></iframe><br />
These are very nice tables, but they are seldom used. Maybe because they lie just beneath a high voltage power line.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-6225591455242587312013-03-15T00:45:00.000+01:002013-03-15T00:45:52.516+01:00Austria (OE1AFU) on 15mThis a video of a QSO with OE1AFU (Alex)in Vienna. I was in a public park near my home in Acea de Ama testing a new jumper cable in my light manpack transceiver.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8_cv6_ewXVM" width="480"></iframe><br />
My friend Robi, who has recently passed his test to become a licensed radio amateur, helped me prepare this cable, and was also recording this video.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-16801946950866720922013-02-28T12:41:00.000+01:002013-02-28T12:41:53.473+01:00First tests with my FT-897D trolleyOn this video you can see the first tests with my FT-897D trolley.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uyNxEInNaNU" width="480"></iframe><br />
I was using a vise grip antenna mount on an iron bench with a collapsible military whip antenna.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-5528562689529341252013-02-27T23:34:00.000+01:002013-02-27T23:42:33.769+01:00My new radio trolley<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3sv72uWlRYM/US6I7JGrJAI/AAAAAAAAAuY/zr0iGvQmICw/s1600/20130227_145251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3sv72uWlRYM/US6I7JGrJAI/AAAAAAAAAuY/zr0iGvQmICw/s200/20130227_145251.jpg" width="150" /></a>Here is a picture of my new radio trolley, which I am preparing for the new award programme called Beaches On The Air (more info on <a href="http://www.beachesontheair.com/">www.beachesontheair.com</a>).<br />
My father Juan (EA1AQ) has been helping me in this project.<br />
It consists of a Yaesu FT-897D with an internal LDG YT-100 antenna tuner and a 10Ah LiFePO4 battery.<br />
I am still working on the antenna mounts for HF and VHF-UHF. I am thinking of using a couple of mirror mounts (Nagoya RB-46).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-51614919175487087442013-02-26T18:07:00.002+01:002013-02-26T18:11:02.840+01:00Alto das Valiñas (SOTA EA1/LU-025)This is an old video, unpublished so far, that I recorded on Alto das Valiñas (SOTA EA1/LU-025).<br />
<iframe width="480" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_odZyEjBUZY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
By then, I didn't use the SOTAwatch cluster. The radio is anf FT-897 manpack with internal batteries and an FC-40 antenna tuner.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-3791899777582449182013-01-05T23:32:00.002+01:002013-01-05T23:32:49.440+01:00Yaesu manpack nakedOn this video I test the Yaesu manpack in horizontal postition, outside the protective rucksack. In this configuration you can apreciate better how the manpack is made.<br />
<iframe width="480" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/a8rhzmSCNLY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
This video was made in early September 2012, immediately after I built the manpack in its current form, with a swiveling antenna mount. On the video you can also see my father (EA1AQ) and my younger son David, who was about to become one year old.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975051605899287238.post-43096266282131506862013-01-03T23:28:00.002+01:002013-01-03T23:34:15.675+01:00Lithuania (LY1G) on 17mOn this video I make a QSO with Lithuanian station LY1G (Stasys) on 17m SSB from a bench in a public park in Acea de Ama.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bmJ7CP3KFes" width="480"></iframe><br />
Stasys has a ver impressive station, featuring a 3-element UltraBeam yagi and a 1KW amplifier.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6jlfi9ytLxY/UOYFbiOtkMI/AAAAAAAAAtY/XlRCW32VIy0/s1600/LY1G.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6jlfi9ytLxY/UOYFbiOtkMI/AAAAAAAAAtY/XlRCW32VIy0/s640/LY1G.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>I think he must be an active SOTA chaser, because I recall several QSOs with him when I was activating summits.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0