What HF set do you have? No 3 in an occasional series.

Not the 7000 David, but the 480 at, yes.. not bad, but not good, the internal at is at the wrong point, as are all internal matchers. the nest place is at the antenna feed.
A lot of the modern sets try to do too much in a small box, jack of all trades master of none etc. I used to run an FT1000 as a base in the days of bricks n mortar, the ts50 was only marginally worse on rx, indeed, uses the same front end layout. As you know, dynamic range and selectivity is the key for hf reception, along, of course, with a darn good antenna and ground.
I have dsp (external speaker unit) fitted to the ts50, and the kosher icom unit fitted to the pcr1500, very good on voice.
I can thoroughly recommend the ts50 as a great hf transciever that leaves the 706 / yaesu sets in the dust on dynamic range and selectivity. often available on ebay in the states, sometimes uk.

The probelm with sets like the 7000 is the if filters, they use the digital - variable bandwidth - types, not overly good again, as far as DR is concerned. the skirt properties are poor usually.
Still hard to beat quality crystal filters in the sub 3 grand price bracket.
Mind you, if I had room, I would still have me 101ZD with G3LLL (Harry Leeming) mods lol..
Joe.
 
Valve rigs are very good.The Yeasu 101s a collection rig.

The TS50 has a rotten front end.Though today i wondered if theres any point in haveing HF the propergations been bad for about three years?

The only stations that come booming through are the ones from the very north!

I had a lowe which i put overboard when it gave up the second time,Target are also overpriced I can never understand why we dont buy a JRC 545 or 525 or very good and very inexpensive a Drake SW8 and perhaps a TR7? the sw8 a good RX and found for about£100 or less sometimes much less

I bought the 895D simply becouse it looked good is compact and i paid less than the 875D as ithad been a disply rig.I also have an alinco ald 24 which ive no idea how to use even after reading the instructions,its due to go overboard

Beyond 14 megs im lost and beacons and sat a mystery!One day i hope to discover ham radio beyond HF!

If i had a bit of spare money(or any at all)i would buy a JRC 525 though theres not much worth listening to these days not even AM if i had money i dident know what to do with id buy a secondhand NRD 545 with all knobs working to remove carriers!

Povety dictated my choice and as you say i wish it was a simple HF rig with good RX
 
I would humbly suggest that thou knowest not what you are talking about Sir...

Please explain WHY the ts50 has a bad front end, it hasn't, it is exceptionally good.

As for a JRC 545 (NRD), I had the dsp model, horrrible set.. not recommended.
The most spectacular rx about in a sensible price range is the AOR 7030 plus. again I had that one to comare with the NRD, the 897, the 817 and the ts50, along with the FT 1000...

Again you refer to propogation, propogation is related to the sunspot cycle.

Often the problem with pirate operators is that they havent a clue about even the basics.

I dont mean to come over heavy handed Trou.. and am sorry if it appears that way. But radio performance is measurable objectively. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I understand there's now evidence that the new solar cycle has started and we can expect improving propagation gradually. However I do sympathise with Trouville on the dearth of nets in the Med. At home I often start the day listening to John EA7BA on 14156 to judge prop from Almeria. Then when sailing I try and catch the mednet on 8122 and possibly 14303 although frankly they could do with some new blood.
Any further suggestions Joe?
 
Personally David I have no interest in nets.. I just keep in touch with various hams / pals around the world from time to time. Obviously you can run propo predictions for the area you want to communicate with and select the appropriate band.


Yes, the 11 year bike has started to travel lol... another 4 or 5 years and we will work the world on a bedspring on 10 mtrs (again)....

As for a rig David ?, probably as well to stick to the 706.. it can only get better as the sunspots increase.. which dsp do you have ?.. is it the BHI unit, if so it is probably the best of the best.

after the rig, it still boils down to the antenna and ground.. anything you can do to improve that the better..

Joe
 
I doindeed know very well what im talking about and mentioned the bad propergation as it was said that it would improve fromlast summer,and now we have begun a new cycle.I do have the firefox extention that shows the sunspot and propergation.

The reason i dident buy a ts50 was simply becouse of all the bad comments from amatuers useing them regarding its sensitivity

I have a valid call.When i began joining in maratime QSOs in the 70s no one else had a valid call or had let it expire.I was treatened with haveing my call taken away for contact with "pirats"At the end of the 80s i bought a "new" rig a TS140 very good rig!I made a point of useing an "invented" call

Later i listened to 14303 on many days there were only "pirats" but the then net controllers inclueding to a lesser extent Bill only ignored the fact that their "friends" calls were fabricated.Others that were cruising including on route to the Azores were told to send a copy of their licence before they could ask and get WX

I use my call for data for pactor i had to send a letter asking to use the internet service!

For all voice i use a call i paid for but weather its still valid or the money goes in someones pocket i cant say

In the distent past while i was based in Malta i bought a swan 500 valve but very good which i found in a junk shop!

As for the JRC 525 etc i havent used one either being economicaly challenged but have heard others praising them

I can say that the Kenwood TS140s is a very good rig with a good receiver that the LOWE 125 was ok better than a Yaesu7700 but not as good as the 140s the lowe was not suitable for marine use or perhaps any use that involved movement?

I asked for advice before choosing a replacement for my 140s which passed away i was on air useing a yaesu 747GX which i dident like.The advice was NOT to buy a Yaesu 857D or 897D i looked at many rigs but couldent aford any untill i was offered this 897D for 420€ which was all the money i had.

The reason i got it at that price was that it had been a demo and the person that bought it dident like it,he bought an ICOM i bought the Yaesu

What is your call?Do you have one?
 
Yes, certainly do, G4XRZ.

What do you mean a call you paid for ??? and wether its still valid ?.. that adds up to all round pirate operator really... you mentioned in another post about "having to use a modulator so people dont recognise you"

Again, consider your statements, sensitivity ??.. hardly a problem on HF.. selectivety and DR are the issues.
 
Im only sorry you wernt about in 1994? when i was offered a TS50,

The call i use is from an african one i send my renewal payment to someone who goes along to renew the call i was never asked for anything other than payment.

Modulator dosent work as when i called in for a report without giveing a call they said i might have a problem with my modulation

Im sure your an expert professional perhaps. Im just someone that likes to keeping touch, when my rig needs attention/repair i send it to a company that dose it for me.My enthusiaum has been dented i now simply use the HF to contact people i know.

A few nights ago i almost gave a call on 80m as the UK group had rotten propergation within the UK while they were a good 5&7 with me but a general disencharntment with amature radio in the UK today and a rotten SWR on 80 put me off

How can i make an effective antena for 80m. I did make a whip that worked well when i was given the number of turns but ive forgoten what it was?
 
Hi Mr Pirate /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif .. definitely lol... I would just do it and not talk about it really....

For 80m simply haul a wire to the masthead on a spare halyard and end feed it.
Use the atu to match it. as good as it gets on a boat really.
Providing the swr is less than about 3 to one I wouldnt worry about it. The lower the better, but you dont need infinity.
 
God your fast,i was just about to edit my post,indeed it dosent do to talk about it.Fact is my call is legal but its an interesting one and attracts attention so i havent put out a CQ CQ

I am in the process of getting a new call,there are a number of carabean islands that will gladly provide a call.

Call me a pirat?Well yes and no.If when asked for my certificate i produce a valid legal one,it has to be a call that when im reported for being often in QSO with pirates nothing happens its hard for me to talk openly somewhere like hear about my situation for fear of being rejected the next time i call in

Its a long wire that i use! but in an inverted "v" yes the SWR is under 3 to 1 but i certainly dont make long overs on 80m as its Stella im in QSO with i dont have to.When were in QSO we dont give calls at all if someone breaks we normaly just go QRT at sea i use a base loaded whip which is over 3to1 a bit

I should add im an enthusiastic QRP er and love very long wires.

One drawbact to being economicaly chalenged is that i had to decide between paying my port charges or Diesel for the heater,so it rather chilly aboard,im going to look for something in the yard to make a wood burner theres plenty of drift wood about

If i hear you i wont give you a call even though where you are should be well placed for a good signal on 20 or 80 in the evening

The differance two liveaboards one well off full of enthusiasum the other cold a bit hungry & unable to anchor for the moment perhaps haveing said to much.
 
Na, I'll talk to you dood.. no worries /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I would not describe myself as 'well off' far from it.. I used to be,then I bought a boat lol...
Its all relative as I said to my sister in bed the other night..

Re the inverted v, this can be fairly directional from the side lobes. Try a single end fed wire for a test.. fairly easy to haul up n down.
Joe.
 
Thanks!

The "v" works to France the base loaded wire dosent yet! Im currently winding a new anntena i have to call in to a group to ask the length of the windings i just hope only they are listening

I do hope there wont be comments if you hear me on air?I do try to be discreat i also take my rig up the hills and put out as much wire as i can & as high as i can the best was when i used some old powerlines i made very sure they were disconected

The worst when i tapped into the support cable for a phone line and rang very phone in several villages that night after midnight, the conversation in the cafe next morning was interesting
 
I would never comment on air. If your opperating practice is sound then no worries.
I would really try the end fed, any coil is loading in an antenna and will reduce performance.

What grounding system do you have ?.. a simple isolated bronze through hull connection can work very well.

Have fun Mr T.. keep it discrete... lol
 
I have two very large ground plates the ones they advertise as haveing a huge wetted surface they look like rough gold bars and have copper foil as well

My operating practice is polite and discreet i never ask for calls and join in when asked,otherwise im forgotten for hours call wise.If im too quite someone will ask if XX3KX is still there!
 
I couldent find your call in the RSGB yearbook?That was at the turn of the centuary did you apply for a G4?

I built many small sets from rev Dobbs

This afternoon ive been tidying up & thinking,there is a need for a med net perhaps data & voice (i cant remember is its JE3 or thats jet fule? so illjust say voice)

This morning i listened to 14303 14156 & 8122 the best was 14313 which is the German net!The Italian net wasent there.

Its time there was a net for English cruisers thats geared towards real people rather than the consept of "go boating get up late" thats just not the way its been for years but the way 14303 think.One controler from your area used it to scrounge visits aboard,he even 'i recorded the qso told one person which call to use!!Thats not the way at all!

Better run from liveabords or those with shore facilities.

In he 90s i met many that had "got" a licence in the UK 'MO" and said "Oh hell im not staying below all morning for a net" I used to sit in my cockpit aboard my Hillyard 40 drinking a cool white wine and listening sometimes relaying or providing real info even for me the net was to late in summer

Most want to be off or out in the cool of the morning.What would you advise as the best set up for a "med net"?Data and voice but when? I thought two frequencys?One for early day and a second for evening?

I got a PM from you?You were looking for a "Dood" i cant help there,Name dosent ring a bell.

What do you advise?
 
My suggestion would be a ham frequency immediately after the 8122 net stops reading the wx which they do from 5.30 to 6.00GMT. So at 8.0am local summer time in Spain/France/Italy but 9.00am local in Greece. How about 14300 USB???? Would enable a quick brkfst chat, more convenient than the 14303 net at 8.00GMT when most uf us are motoring/sailing/ashore.
Although a lower frequency might better for a smaller area. However 40mtrs is so crowded and an antennna for 80mtrs is not easy on a boat.
Many websites list a morning Med net on 7085 but I've never heard it.
 
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