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My HF ham radio set up: Icom IC-756 transceiver, MFJ-949E and wideband vertical antenna
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- čas přidán 14. 08. 2018
- Hi there my HF ham radio career was aborted when I discovered that using my Elad FDM Duo as a transeiver was more fiddly than writing a book wearing boxing gloves. Having finally got to grips with it, I found that no one could hear me using my MP1 Super Antenna mounted on a tripod up the garden lol. Saying that, with the induction coil tuning arrangement, the SWR was superb on any band. Basically it was a case of not enough power (less than 5 Watts) and not enough height. So, now I've decided to do things properly. I bought the Icom from a radio-friend of mine so-to-speak. I won't say who, but if he wishes to reveal himself, he can do so! The MFJ was bought at the same time as the Super Antenna, which I'm now eyeing up for a DXpedition.
Thanks for watching.
Great to see you all set up and having QSO’s all over the globe. No issues in letting people know you got it from me. It’s a great radio and I had many years of fun with it. Keep us updated on your exploits. 73 Graham
Thanks Graham. So far so good. I've managed a QSO with a guy south east of Moscow and many other European countries. Chatting with a chap in the Orkney Islands last night! Thanks again and 73! Clint
Thanks awesome on 10W Clint. Russia can be tricky to work at times. 73 Graham
Thanks Graham. I also made contact with a guy in Kaliningrad. It's a brilliant way to spend a few hours away from the TV lol. 73! Clint
Nice start up rig and antenna. I know you are excited as you have embarked on a new adventure with Ham radio. Enjoyed the video and thanks for sharing it. Brian
Thank you very much Brian. 73! Clint
Congratulations Clint really nice purchase, Graham certainly looks after his gear well, DX'ing is quite the thrill and definitely an achievement on low power 👍
Thank you very much Sir! Indeed, the 756 is in as-new condition I would say and it's been a thrill making around 30 QSOs already using it at 10W with the broadband vertical. 73! Clint
Many congrats on your HAM setup & hope you make many contacts. 73s!
Thanks! I've made 40 so far - before I went to Dublin. I'm starting up again this weekend. 73! Clint
Great video! The combination of a QRP radio, a compromise antenna and the bottom of the solar cycle make for frustrating HF operation. I know because I'm in the same boat with my KX3 right now. Your new kit should serve you well, and as the sunspots increase you will have even more fun. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much Scott! Yes it's exciting to get into ham radio. In the past 4 or 5 days I've made about 30 QSOs, the farthest with a guy south east of Moscow. Not bad on 10W. The ERP on the Elad with a compromise antenna was probably 1 or 2 Watts. No one could hear me lol. 73! Clint
Interesting video, glad you don"t stop dx'ing!
Thank you René! No I'll never stop DXing! 73! Clint
Very cool setup, I just recently got my technician's class license. It is nice to be on both sides of the hobby.
Thank you very much and yes, it's really nice to be involved in both sides. 73! Clint
late congratulations from Klaus and Anni for your ham license and the linked call-sign, we found it now in the web. Best 73"!!!!!
Thank you very much my friend! I got my license nearly a year ago actually, but I have been so busy with work and travelling with work, it has taken me some time to set up my HF equipment. Now of course I am also using FT8. I like to experiment lol. I hope you and Anni are well. 73! Clint
Thanks for the interesting video. Would not have thought ELAD has such issues.
My pleasure. The Elad is a bit tricky to use on TX. Takes a lot of getting used to and of course it's QRP 5W. But the ERP is going to be less than that. 73! Clint
Nice setup!
Thanks! I'm happy with it. 73! Clint
Congratulations. I'm involved in both hobbies since 1984 when I've got my first callsign in Argentina. I was a SWL DX-er since I was probably 12 years old (1978-79) but then HAM radio called. On HAM I'm 100% involved in DX and contest since the beginning. 1984 to 98 LU8EWD. 1998 till now LW5DX. From 2009 EA5EWD and M0LDW since 2012. Nice setup Clint, I have the same PSU but the 40A version. You don't need any extra transceiver for HF, the 756 is fantastic. My only suggestion is about the HF antenna. If is possible add a 12m Spiderpole or even better, a DX-Wire 12.5m heavy duty GRP mast. This way, you'll gain a lot of flexibility on any band. Plenty of options like a vertical Moxon or a delta loop, etc.
Hi there George, thank you very much for your interesting comments. The 756 is really doing a great job and I've been complimented on my audio by quite a few contacts. Also for many of my QSOs I've been reported as 59 which is great on 10W TX power. I'll have a look at antenna options - thank you again for your excellent suggestions. 73! Clint
Congratulations she is magnificent, and I totally agree with you on the power supply, and that response you got is not good enough 👍 Tam.
Thank you Sir. Yes I know, what a shower lol. They still haven't answered me. Nevermind. 73! Clint
I find this strange Clint as I have used them as my main ham supplier for well over 10 years and have nothing but praise for them. They would probably respond better to a phone call as I have never tried emailing them. 73 Graham
Well maybe I'll give them a call then. It's not a huge issue, just cr@p customer service really. By the way, I've just sent you an email about the 756. 73s, Clint
Just got that Clint thanks and replied. Corporate email can easily dump you in a spam folder. I would definitely call them and explain the issue and they will be more than happy to help I'm sure. 73 Graham
Thanks Graham. I'll do that. 73! Clint
How do you find the noise level on 80 and 40m with the X80 ?
The SNR across 80 40 and 20 was very good and I've been reported 59 from Maderia to Moscow! 73! Clint
Great video, thanks. Could you do a run through of your MFJ Tuner please?
Hi there,
I've already done a video of the MFJ Tuner - here's a link:
czcams.com/video/Tf_vAZQV4x0/video.html
73!
Clint
Its in really nice condition the 756
Yes, Graham looked after it! 73! Clint
I share your pain with the power supply dent, even if it doesn't affect the functionality. Casing dents, scuffs, marks, etc. (even poor tolerances) for electronics out of the box is a pet peeve of mine too.
Thanks Bryan. It really peeves me that they couldn't even be bothered to answer my email on the subject. I would probably have agreed to accept £10 off the asking price to save them spending £40 shipping this one back and a new one out to me! Waters and Stanton = terrible customer service I'm sorry to say. It's as if once they've got your monehy, they literally don't car. 73, Clint
Can you say more about your vertical, radials or no radials? I'm fascinated as I have yet to make a transatlantic QSO with my inverted V doublet. So some details on your vertical setup would be great. 73 Adrian EI9HAB
Hi there Adrian, it's a Sigma Euro-Comm SE HF X-80 - here is the blurb: end fed aluminium vertical antenna, capable of allowing the user to work 80 metres through 6 metres bands using an ATU, also not requiring any counterpoise and can be fed using coax cable. The antenna can be pole mounted at ground level or elevated depending on the user’s personal requirements. The antenna is rated at 400 watts PEP. The antenna comes complete with all fixings and fixtures and full installation guide.
How it works: The antenna is fed using 50 Ohm coax via a SO-239 socket at the base of the unit. A 6:1 UNUN transformer is located in an IP65 weather sealed box at the bottom of the 6 meter telescopic aluminium element. The transformer reduces the impedance at the feed point to a more acceptable level making the antenna much more efficient and allowing proper and easy tuning via an external ATU and automatic ATU’s found in most modern radios.
The antenna can be grounded if the user experiences excessive local static noise, but as the UNUN is DC grounded: grounding will not affect the tuning ratios.
The antenna tunes up from 80 to 6 m no problem with my MFJ-949E, just as their info. states. I don't bother using the auto-tune on the 756. I've got it mounted on an aluminium pole, so the bottom of the antenna (i.e. the position of the UNUN) is about 6 to 8 metres above the ground, something like that. So far I've made about 30 QSOs in the last few days. Farthest I think is just east of Moscow, but I've been reported 59 all over Europe. Last night was chatting to a chap in the Orkneys, so really interesting. A bit more power would certainly help, although the difference between 10W and 400W is only 2 and a half S points. It's a shame I'll lose my callsign when I go for the intermediate license, I quite like M6YCG lol. Hope that helps! 73! Oh PS 89 quid on eBay my friend!
Great info there Clint. Is your UNUN homebrew? I'll have to get a vertical in order to get some low angle take-off, but I can't do radials and a counterpoise would be messy given the layout of things. I'm really interested to see how this works out. 73 Adrian
My pleasure Adrian. No, the UNUN is part of the antenna. Sits underneath the bottom bracket thingy in a weatherproof box. I have a Super Antenna MP1 and with the radials it's messy, This antenna works a treat without them. 73! Clint
Great new set up and well worth the money.....Have you got a ling for the new antenna please...
Thank you very much Robert! Here's the link: sigmaeurocomm.co.uk/product/sigma-ham-radio-antenna-se-hf-x80-vertical-radial-free-antenna-80-to-6-metres/
73! Clint
Many Thanks......
The X80 is not considered too great an antenna for 'getting out' reading the reviews on eham, a horizontal wire antenna will give better results for getting the dx imo
THere's two things that spring to mind: 1. I've been reported 5-9 as far as Moscow to the East and Madeira to the West using 10 Watts so the X80 is working pretty well, even without radials. 2. I've read a lot of reviews on eham panning various radios that I myself have demonstrated to be excellent, so those guys word is certainly not gospel. 73, Clint
@@OxfordShortwaveLog hmm yes ok...after feedback on the cb and amateur Facebook group quite a few are very happy with the x80 also...think I will get one of these soon...rgds
Hi there, I don't think you'll be disappointed with the X80. I know very little about TX antennas - well the basics you know and although it felt slightly non-intuitive to go for a vertical with radials, it seems to be working out very well. Thanks for your messages as always! 73! Clint
Hi Clint. Found your video searching for reviews on the 756 pro as im planning to get one. Turns out you are about 5 miles down the road from me! Haha. I like your antenna (and need to get one) do you still have the link for the one you have? Cheers. M7KJO
Hi there Kevin, thanks for your message! Where are you? Witney? 73! Clint
@@OxfordShortwaveLog Chesterton, Just before Bicester. Would be great to meet up sometime and have a chat!
@@kevinoakes1870 Hi Kevin, my parents live in Bicester, so I know the area well! Sure, let's meet up for a cup of tea and talk radio sometime! 73! Clint
@@OxfordShortwaveLog Great. Ive sent you an email and look forward to it. 😀 73. Kevin.
good vid i got a minni budipole i put in a v /l 5w on the ft817 i think i got 203 qso . 73 nige m6ltv
Thank you Nigel! I've got a similar antenna that I used with the Elad FDM DUO on 5W...like you I made 100s of QSOs! FT8 is brilliant. 73! Clint
Yes emails are a waste of time, I would have just rung them up
Thanks - I still need to do that. 73!
Ciao Clint,
it's always a pleasure to read you ...
I suggest you use a very special antenna that was made by Jerry KG6HQD called "spiker wire antenna" ... very light and very efficient ...
I built one using it in my right place in Formia Caposele getting good results in qrp.
Its cost is ridiculous, you just have to get a double speaker cable ...
Watch Jerry's video on:
czcams.com/video/cqh0Ntus5G0/video.html
These commercial antennas are very good but they cost a lot ...
better make the antennas yourself with little money and make it more.
Ciao from Giuseppe. '73 my friend.
Hello Giuseppe my friend, thank you for your comments. I hope you are well. Thank you for the link - what a great video! I really like that speaker wire antenna supported by the fishing pole. I already have one of those so it would be easy to set that up! Do you recommend a good portable HF transceiver? I suppose the obvious one is the Yaesu FT818? As you know, I prefer to be on a DXpedition sometimes thank listening at home and I would like to do the same for ham radio. Thanks again my friend. I wish you best DX. 73! Clint
Thanks Clint,
certainly the Yaesu ft 818 or 817 is the best 4 band portable on the market ... I bought it in 2001 and it's really fantastic both for the qrp, which I do exclusively, and to listen to the short waves up to the ranges V/ UHF.
A complete ricetrans of everything, especially very light to always carry in the backpack.
You can also choose the Elecraft KX2 also very compact with an excellent receiver but does not have the V / Uhf bands ...
With my speaker wire antenna I connected in qrp half the world with a fantastic fun ...
Best wishes from Ponza Island my friend.
'73 de Giuseppe.
Hello my friend, I've just looked on eBay and there are three FT-817s for sale around £350. I am very tempted lol because as you know, I prefer to use a radio on a DXpedition! I really like the idea that you can run it off 8x AA batteries? Is that correct? Also, I am very much in favour of using as little TX power as possible rather than half a kW or something. You know what I mean! I am very tempted my friend! Best regards from Oxford. 73! Clint
I've always used it with a portable 2A battery ... with its 8 batteries you have little autonomy in transmission unless you use very good batteries ... with my 2A battery I can get at least 5 hours of battery life ... then I have a small solar panel that allows me to increase the autonomy for the whole day.
The 817 is really great if you think you have 4 bands in a small space.
If you find a good opportunity, be careful, do not think about it anymore, buy it.
Thanks for the information my friend. Very good. I think I have to buy one! I'm looking now lol. Thanks again and 73! Clint
Good..mr....?
Thank you! 73!
my call is G1CLT .. arrgghh swar is a no no ... S .W .R
Thanks Ray! I've not had any SWR issues so far, this vertical tunes just as it should. 73! Clint