Component tester

 Not that I'm a great electronics builder. But if I build something from used components I really like to know if they are still in good shape. Besides that it is handy to know what is ECB connection from a unknown transistor. I bought a very handy component tester for that at the radio fleamarket but had to build it first. Actually that went so fast I almost forget to make photos for this blogpost. Building of the device went smoothly and no faults at all. I really think this tool can't be missed in a radioshack. It measures ressitors, capacitors including ESR (series resistance), coils (induction), diodes, LED, transisitors, fet, triac etc. Wish I knew this before buying my cheap almost worthless chinese LC meter. This tool is so much better...

A small video below from another homemade component tester, looks different but does the same. Seems to be the same print layout. Actually I think this one looks really nice. I like the blue LCD...

UKEICC 80m SSB 2 March 2016 results

Event: UKEICC 80m SSB contest
Section: QRP
Logger: N1MM+ 
Station: Yaesu FT-817ND (5W)
Antenna: 84m horizontal loop at 7m AGL.

Difficult start, although I was CQing before the contest to keep a frequency clear and was even spotted on the DXcluster. Unfortenately the frequency was immidiatly hijacked. Don't blame anyone. It's just a hobby. Continued with S&P and had a small run after I found another clear frequency. Best DX was UT2II, although he didn't get my call correct. I had a good QSO with fellow blogger EI9KC Ark. Anyway, this middle of the week 1 hour contest is a lot of fun. And certainly a good excersise for QRP operating techniques.

QRP Entries results:

Call          Pwr Grid  Raw   Dupe  Bust NIL  Good  Total   --- Best DX  ---  
                        QSOs                  QSOs  Pts     Call        Km    

M9A             Q   IO80  55    0     4    0    51    94      SE4E          1583  
G4FNL         Q   IO90  41    0     2    0    39    78      UT2II         2872  
GW0GEI      Q   IO72  41    0     1    0    40    71      HF1D         1344  
PE4BAS       Q   JO33  27    0     3    1    23    42      UT2II         2294  
G3ZBU        Q   IO91  25    0     2    0    23    31      GM3WOJ     716    
GM4UBJ      Q   IO75  12    0     0    0    12    22      2E0KVJ        573    
M6VPW       Q   IO91  12    0     1    0    11    18      GM4ZUK     681    

Complete log showing me the errors, very interesting. I made a typo with PC4H, so unfortunate and stupid. UT2II indeed didn't have my call correct, I actually had the idea he was not really listening as I repeated my call at least 5 times.

Contest: UKEICC 80m
Date:  02/03/2016
Mode: SSB
Assisted: NON-ASSISTED
Power: QRP

Callsign: PE4BAS
Operator: PE4BAS
Locator: JO33

Total QSOs: 27

Potential Points: 96
Actual points: 41.89
Points per QSO: 3.56
Longest scoring QSO: 2293.90 km with UT2II
Highest points QSO: 8.00 points with M9A

DUPES
_____
No Dupes!

NIL
____
GI0AZB

Busted reports
______________
G6MC
G4FNL

Busted Calls
____________
PC4C


Call        Date       Time     Rcvd  Dist   Dist  Mult  Pos'ble Actual  Comment                        
                       UTC      Loc   Km     Pts         Pts     Pts                                    

G3RXQ       02-03-2016 2001     IO84  665    2     2     4       4.00                                  
GW0IRW    02-03-2016 2003     IO72  813    2     1     2       2.00                                  
EI6JK          02-03-2016 2004     IO53  1060   3     1     3       3.00                                  
G6MC         02-03-2016 2007     IO94  531    2     1     2       -10.67  Busted locator should be IO93  
G0DVJ        02-03-2016 2007     JO02  418    1     1     1       1.00                                  
G4FNL        02-03-2016 2008     IO96  643    2     4     8       -10.67  Busted locator should be IO90  
G4DDX       02-03-2016 2009     IO91  587    2     2     4       4.00                                  
HF1D           02-03-2016 2013     JO73  531    2     2     4       4.00                                  
GM4ZUK    02-03-2016 2014     IO87  772    2     1     2       2.00                                  
GW4J           02-03-2016 2015     IO73  796    2     1     2       2.00                                  
G3SWC       02-03-2016 2023     IO91  587    2     2     4       4.00                                  
EI8IQ           02-03-2016 2024     IO62  945    2     1     2       2.00                                  
EI2KA         02-03-2016 2027     IO51  1107   3     2     6       6.00                                  
2E0KVJ       02-03-2016 2028     IO80  763    2     2     4       4.00                                  
M9A             02-03-2016 2030     IO80  763    2     4     8       8.00    Busted locator by worked station
G3XYF        02-03-2016 2032     IO94  536    2     2     4       4.00                                  
G4FZN         02-03-2016 2033     IO94  536    2     1     2       2.00                                  
G4EBK        02-03-2016 2034     IO93  531    2     2     4       4.00                                  
PC4C           02-03-2016 2038     JO22  174    1     1     1       -10.67  QSO was with PC4H              
GI0AZB       02-03-2016 2042     IO64  924    2     2     4       -7.11   Not in GI0AZB log              
GM3WOJ     02-03-2016 2044     IO77  878    2     1     2       2.00                                  
UT2II           02-03-2016 2046     KN98  2294   5     1     5       5.00    Busted call by worked station  
GW4BLE     02-03-2016 2047     IO81  714    2     1     2       2.00                                  
G8FCQ        02-03-2016 2050     IO92  548    2     1     2       2.00    Busted locator by worked station
EI9KC          02-03-2016 2051     IO63  928    2     1     2       2.00                                  
GW0GEI      02-03-2016 2054     IO72  813    2     4     8       8.00                                  
GM0WED    02-03-2016 2059     IO88  835    2     2     4       4.00

Only made 2 errors with wrong locators. I know this should have been 0 errors. QRP DXing is difficult but isn't a excuse for a typo and bad listening. I now know I have to work on the first rule of the DX code of Conduct. I will  listen, listen and listen again....

I'm propabely not able to participate next time. Besides that I haven't got a good 80m antenna next time as well. So participation and improving the score will be next year.

Repair MFJ948 deluxe versatuner II

I actually bought this tuner new around the year 2000. It costs a small fortune at that time. I sold it to PD0FF when I bought the Palstar AT1KM. Now, years later I sold PD0FF's equipment for him. Only this tuner had a burned switch, I could not sell it and bought it back from him. Buying a new switch from MFJ is too expensive.

Original MFJ switch

And I don't like this "new" MFJ switch at all as it isn't a ceramic one as the original one is. At Classic International I found one that has to cost 46,75 euro (inc.shipping and VAT). That's more then half the complete tuner is worth. I did consider a variable inductor, but that is too expensive as well. So the only option was to get one on a radio flea market.






In a pile of components I finally found a very nice 12-pole switch with 2 decks. It isn't ceramic but you can divide any high currents over the 2 switches. So, thats what I did. Soldered in the new switch, which wasn't easy. But it seems to work fine. Tested out with 100W and it didn't blew up ;-). I expect it can hold 300W max. again. I'm lucky to still have the manual by the way. Have been searching on the internet but the manual for this old 948 model is hard to find. The new model manuals hasn't got any electrical diagram in it anymore

PD0FF's PL259antenna connectors seems to be not too tidy and you could call the PL female chassis a bit dirty. Luckely my wife sells some great cleaning stuff. And I can use it for free ;-). It's environmentally friendly and one of these is blue multipaste. Together with a special cloth you can clean everything from chrome, glass, tiles, stainless steel and many more. The nice thing with this is you don't have to use any force to clean it. Just rub it with the paste on the cloth and everything shines as new. Oh, by the way, in case you wonder, of course this is some advertisement for my wifes business ;-)

Shining

Comparisation COAX 1 and 2

Repairs, repairs....our 2 year old Samsung washing machine went crazy. A close inspection reveals that the dampening rubbers from the motor are completely gone. Click on the photo to see details. Only some black dirt was left at the bottom of the machine. The red arrows show were the rubbers should be. I think this shouldn't happen after just 2 years? A quick survey on the internet gave us the info that many Samsung users have this problem and repair is costing almost half a new machine. Being in the repair business I learned to think out of the box sometimes. I made a quick solution from PVC tube wrapped with selfamalgating rubber tape. It fitted just fine and the washing machine is turning the laundry nice and easy agian.