A Picture of my shack!
I still use a paper log in the shack, but I do transfer all contacts to Turbolog. It's a great way of keeping track of my DXCC!
I now also use LoTW, and upload all contacts on a regular basis.
I am now also using the DXLAB software by AA6YQ for packet cluster, rig control, and log keeping.
This is an amazing suite of software, and well worth looking at.
Check out the DX Lab website.
The shack PC is now a 2.4GHz machine, with 512MB RAM, a twin-head video card, with one 15" and one 17" LCD monitors, and two HDD's,
one of 80GB, and another of 20GB which is used for backing up data, plus 4 COM ports.
This is a far cry from the old 386 that I used to run in the shack!
For general RTTY work, I use MMTTY v1.65, by Mako JE3HHT. This really is the best RTTY program around. You can find a link to this software on my links page.
For contesting, I use Writelog with MMTTY, and now won't go back to using hardware TU's.
| This is me in my shack. On the wall behind, you will some of the many certificates I have won in RTTY contests. |
 |
I am also QRV on most of the datamodes, but RTTY is my favourite mode, and is what I use mostly.
I do occasionally use some of the other digital modes, but RTTY is my favourite mode.
PSK31 is very good for low power, but since the popularity of the soundcard modes,
many people now seem to run far too much power, and simply don't know how to set up their soundcards!
Because of that, I tend to stay away from PSK, unless I am chasing rare DX.
| Here is a summary of my shack equipment: | |
| Radios: | Main: Icom IC756Pro. Spare: Icom IC756 |
| ATU: | MFJ 948 ATU |
| Antennas: | MQ26 mini-beam, 40/80 Inverted L, Half-size G5RV |
| Modems: | Soundcard only now!  |
| Software: | MMTTY, Writelog, and a wide variety of software for the other digital modes. |
| PC: | Pentium IV 2.4GHz, 80GB HDD, 512MB RAM, SoundBlaster 16 soundcard, and 4 COM ports |
My Inverted L antenna:
The trap is made from RG58 coax, and comprises 11 turns on around some 40mm plastic waste pipe.
I used some 1.5mm enammelled copper wire for the antenna itself, which I obtained from a motor-rewinder.
For the ground rod, I used about 6 foot of 20mm copper water pipe, hammered into the ground.
My main reason for trying this antenna was originally just to be able to work some extra EU mults in the contests,
The trap dips at about 6.9MHz, so check this with a dip-meter. See the diagram:
The layout is best seen in this diagram:
To connect the braid to the ground rod, I soldered a tag on to the braid, and then screwed this to the pipe.
Connect both lengths of wire to the trap, making sure you get a good mechanical join, as well as a good electrical join.
When setting up the antenna, first tune the 40m section, trimming back at the ground rod end, until the best SWR possible is obtained.
I was able to get 1.1:1 across the whole lower half of 40m, which is fine, as I do not use SSB!
Next is the 80m section, and you obviously trim back at the far end this time.
I was able to get a good SWR around the RTTY segment, and it isn't too bad down at the CW end either.
There are numerous websites explaining the theory behind Inverted L's and also on coax traps, so this is just to give you an idea
on how to start. I did get very concerned about the theory to start with, but just give it a go, and you will see just
how easy it really is.
The vertical part of my L only goes up about 5m, and the rest then drops down to about 4m at the far end.
Despite this, I have managed VK/ZL, plus W/VE and even HC8N on 80m. I have also worked KH6 on 40m.
but it has proven to be a very useful antenna, and even tunes nicely on other bands with the aid of an ATU.
This page last updated November 2007
Page designed by Phil Cooper - GUØSUP