CQWW SSB update from X-Team at SK3W

Here is a short update of CQWW SSB. X-Team members Vincent F4BKV, Björn SM0MDG, Patrik SM0MLZ and Jón TF3ZA joined forces with SK3W members Gunnar SM3SGP, Bertie SM5CBM and PeO SM5EPO to challenge the SM record in the Multi Operator Two Transmitter category in CQWW SSB 2013. With propagation being great and with all the

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CQWW-CW: Close but no cigar

Here is the quick summary of the single operator marathon of the year, CQWW CW. Propagation was nice with some good DX on Ten meter and also a few surprises on low bands. I recently replaced my 40 meter array and have a new 160 meter vertical in the air, both working great in the contest. Being

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Topband Vertical 2013/2014 season

The top band vertical at SE0X was put in place just in time for CQWW CW. This year the antenna is a little stronger (and longer). The bottom section is now made of a 60 millimeter aluminium tube with 3 millimeter wall thickness and I added a more robust delrin isolator. The total heigh of the

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40 meter array upgrade

This year I decided it was time to upgrade the 40 meter phased array. The fibre glass poles have been in the air for a few years, and winter time really wears them down. The plan was to replace them with aluminium which would also provide more rigid antennas to minimise swaying in the wind

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Adding a mic jack to the FT-857

Are you also annoyed with modular 8P8C/RJ type of connectors in HF Radios? Why don’t manufacturers realize their stock mike sucks and we want to connect something else. Make it easy! I use a Yaesu FT-857 for my travel, the minimalistic size makes it the perfect travel partner. But I want to use my headset,

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Feeding 20 Volt to a K3, not good!

Here is a short update on my fried K3. The drama happened in the last hour before CQ WPX SSB when we where about to kick off a Multi Operator Single station effort from SE0X. Patrik SM0MLZ was practice running on 40 meter when I noticed the the shack lights flickering. When Patrik keyed, the

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CQ WPX CW Update

In preparation for the WPX CW contest decided to adopt last year’s strategy of going non-stop for the first 24 hours. Using the same plan I would try to improve my 2012 result in Single Operator, High Power, Assisted. I also was curious to see how the new 15 meter 5 element mono would help me

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Hardware upgrade in time for WPX CW

Right in time for WPX CW SE0X got a small hardware upgrade when the second microHAM Station Master was installed. This little magic box is a band decoder on steroids that, in addition to decoding the band and selecting the proper antenna, serves as a control center for all vital equipment. The purpose of the

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