| VK3NX Australian Amateur Radio Station |
| (HF, VHF and Above) |
| HF Operations: |
HF and 50 MHz Beams
Antennae:
TET-57 (Emtron)
5 element 7 band antenna that operates all bands from 40m
-10m.
It is essentially a rotatable dipole on 40m
3 elements active on 20-15-10
2 elements active on 30-18-12
Hustler 5-BTV Vertical
This is a multiband trap vertical from 80-10m on the
"traditional" bands. It sits on top of a shed roof that provides
~ 200sq.m of ground plane. The shed roof provides an
elevated ground plane. As the current is highest in the
immediate vicinity to the feed point, over 200 "Tek" screws
are used to "bond" the sheets of corrugated iron together.
This provides for very low resistance losses and increases
the efficiency. This antenna has worked very well for me on
all bands especially for 40m DX.
TET-57 (Emtron)
5 element 7 band antenna that operates all bands from 40m
-10m.
It is essentially a rotatable dipole on 40m
3 elements active on 20-15-10
2 elements active on 30-18-12
Hustler 5-BTV Vertical
This is a multiband trap vertical from 80-10m on the
"traditional" bands. It sits on top of a shed roof that provides
~ 200sq.m of ground plane. The shed roof provides an
elevated ground plane. As the current is highest in the
immediate vicinity to the feed point, over 200 "Tek" screws
are used to "bond" the sheets of corrugated iron together.
This provides for very low resistance losses and increases
the efficiency. This antenna has worked very well for me on
all bands especially for 40m DX.
| Wire Antennae Various wire antenna are also used at different stages for experimentation purposes. I have had very good success at my previous QTH with Off Centre Fed Dipoles. Over the years many types of wire antennae have been tried and I guess that is a result of having spent most of my ham radio time in a big city on an averge suburban block. Plans are to soon put a multi-band dipole with open-wire feed line for use mainly on 160-40 m. |
| Antennae switch A remote 4-Port antenna switch is used to select between the different antennae from within the comfort of the "shack". The switch is controlled with a Pic-Axe 08M controller to both select the appropriate antenna and to display information on an LCD. As different Antennae are changed / replaced, the Pic-Axe is reprogrammed with appropriate information. A band switch data input available on most modern transceivers was considered but in practical application it is much easier to change between antennae based on propogation, not band. |
| Equipment on HF Various transceivers are used at my shack, and most don't last long due to my penchant for trying most rigs on offer. Over the years I have tried just about all transceivers and will enjoy continuing to do so! In September 2009 I put the final covers on my completed Pic-A-STaR Transceiver. This is now my transceiver of choice on the HF bands! The amplifer I use is an old FL-2100b amplifier that I have restored and delivers the VK legal limit of 400W very comfortably. I've thought about constructing a linear for HF using a GS35b or other "beefy" tube, but there is nothing to be gained as the legal limit is comfortably served with 2 @ 572B tubes and the amplifier is very quiet. As such I have fulfilled the desire for "metal bashing" with some reasonable high power tube amplifiers on the higher bands. |
| Operation on VHF and Above |
| My main interest in Amateur Radio is weak signal work on the bands above 30 MHz. Operating from home or "Hill-topping" on the Microwave bands provides a wonderful incentive for building gear. As my experiences with weak signal work and the methods in construction and operating have grown, I have been able to turn my attention to EME....considered by many as the "ultimate" weak signal challenge! In Summer the VHF and above bands "come alive" with "tropospheric" propogation. But they also come alive at other times such as during "Auroral" openings and during "Meteor Showers". There are many different modes of propogation above 30 MHz and they each provide a challenge and a rewarding experience in this wonderful hobby of ours. EQUIPMENT ON THE HIGHER BANDS: Presently I operate from home on all bands from 50MHz - 1296 MHz for terrestrial work and on EME I am QRV from 144MHz through to 10 GHz. During the "troppo season" I can go portable with all bands to 24 GHz. |
50 MHz 5 element DK7ZB antenna BFR981 Preamp 144 MHz 8 element DJ9BV optimised yagi BFR981 Preamp Modified AM17 Amp 400W PEP Transverter (28 MHz IF) 432 MHz 4 @ 26 element BVOs MGF1302 Preamp GS35b Amp 400 W PEP MRF646 Amp 250 W PEP Transverter (28 MHz IF) 1296 MHz 74 element DL6WU MGF1302 Preamp 2C39 Amp (Watercooled) 140 W PEP Transverter (144 MHz IF) 2400 MHz 1.2m or 60cm dish Cavity Dipole feed ( VK2AES) LNA 60 W amp Transverter 144 MHz IF |
3400 MHz 1.2m or 60cm dish Tri-Band Dish feed LNA 50 W or 100 W Amp Transverter (144 MHz IF) 5760 MHz 1.2m or 60cm dish VE4MA Feed LNA 25 W Amp Transverter (144MHz IF) 10368 MHz 1.2m or 60cm dish VE4MA Feed LNA 8 W Amp Transverter (144MHz IF) 24048 MHz 30cm dish Penny Feed LNA W/G system 600mW Transverter (144 MHz IF) |
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| Portable operations are the norm for summer DX on the Microwave Bands! |
| Oct 2009 23cm 74 ele DL6WU 70cm 4 @ 26ele BVOs 2m 8 ele |