Icom 706

In the last weeks, I've bought an old ICOM 706 (Mark 1) for use in /P as an alternative to Yaesu FT-817. Ok, really I was in search of a 703 but....not found!

Thus radio is not very expensive (most hams prefer Mark II) but seems interesting.

The seller have no mic, and I soon arrange a cable for use the HM-36.

The cable is OK, and I've tryied the radio with LDG Z-100 and 9/1 longwire antenna at 10W of power, QSO with many EU and Azores.

Clansman PRC-351 Military manpack

In order to experiment operations on low VHF FM (in particular 4 meters), I've bought another military radio: a Clansman PRC 351.

Frequency coverage: 30-76 MHz in 25 kHz steps, covering 6 and 4 meters ham band
RF Power output: 4 W
Power supply: 24 VDC

I've got the radio without accessories, and I'm going to use a Clansman Single Transducer Headset   (see info and photos on Armyradio web site) which I bought some times ago. Is simple to use, like a speaker-microphone.

I've no battery. To get the 24 VDC needed from a 12 V battery  I use a variable voltage notebook power supply similar to this:

The highest voltage is 24 VDC and Imax = 2 A, enough to supply the radio without any problem.

Using the radio is very simple: rotate the 4 frequency knobs (x10 MHz, x1 MHz, x100 kHz and 0-25-50-75 kHz). The ON-OFF knob have 4 positions:

• O: OFF
• W: Whisper (radio on, squelch on, low volume on headphone, high microphone sensitivity)
• L: Loud  (radio on, squelch on, high volume on headphone, low microphone sensitivity)
• *: squelch off, Loud mode

A real volume control is not present, but the audio in Loud mode is enough to understand voice also keeping the headphone in hand (in a quiet envoronment). No problem in any mode wearing headphone.

Mayor update to the shack!

In the last three months some new radios comes to the shack! Let me present the new entries:

• ICOM IC-7200

This is really a G-R-E-A-T Radio!!

- HF and 6m SSB-CW-RTTY-AM (no FM at all, no chat in 10 and 6m, too serious radio for this)
- 100 W power out (no problem for QRP: power may go don to 2 Watts)
- Rugged style, heavy weight, splashproof, looks similar to military manpacks
- Digital IF DSP, 3 different user selectable settings
- Manual and auto Notch filter
- Direct connection to PC USB port!!! (no need for CI-V, modems, cables and other junk)
- Simple to use, no bells-and-whistles
- Simple settings

Fantastic, for me is Nr. 1!

• Polmar Wild

In my neighbor 2 meters FM activity seems to awake again  after a while. I spend many hours of the day in my car because my job is far from home (sigh....), and I've bought a vehicular VHF radio.
This radio is identical to TYT TH-9000, Polmar is an Italian brand who sells this radio with two-years warranty and local servicing, at a price almost identical to the "original" chinese sellers (if you don't believe, look at ebay and see!)

Pros:
- Small and light, big heater sink
- Cheap and simple to use
- 60 W power out in 136-174 coverage
- Usable as ham operator and LMR (CTCSS, DCS, 2 tones, 5 tones, password to protexct settings, etc.)
- Compander! (really, this radio have a compander, I'don't believe it)
- Fully PC programmable with an optional USB cable
- DTMF and multi-function microphone (looks very smart)

Cons:
- Compander: sure, the compander is great in TX and for weak signals, but in regular traffic with your neighbors running 50 watts and 0,5 km of QRB....Is not possible via menu and prog to activate the compander in TX only, I'll search a mod....
- Manual: NO COMMENT!, very few functions are documented....I agree that the radio is simple and may be used without manual, but .....anyway, you MUST download the TYT manual and software for programming this rig, see the this page on the 'net: http://tinymicros.com/wiki/TYT_TH-9000 for donloading.


Despite to the manual, this is a very good radio for the buck!

•  Autophon Radiovox SE-155 (Ascom SE-155)

OK, after a dream radio, let's go to some different job: I've found on the Bay a very cheap surplus. I've bought for fun mods on 2 meters band. Stay tuned for following chapters

SEM 52-S military handheld

Months ago, I've bought a german military handheld: a SEM 52-S. Specifications: see http://www.kpjung.de/e_sem52s.htm
Is an FM handheld with frequency coverage that includes 6 meters, 1 watt circa power out, very big and weighty, but so cool! 6 fixed channels programmable with internal contraves.




The radio is a SEM 52-S/FZ/46 and is not born as an handheld: is user on tanks with a mount, see http://www.greenradio.de/e_sem52sfz.htm, but is useable as handheld using a SEM 52-S battery pack (delivered with the transceiver).
I've also the antenna, a long (93 cm!!!) SEM 52A antenna, with fits perfectly in SEM 52S

• First Job: rebuid battery pack

The battery pack comes with a broken, unusable NiCd battery pack. The box is also very dirty and in bad conditions. I build a new battery pack using two docks for 4 AAA battery, and fit in 8x900 mAh NiMH AAA. The result is shown below:

• Second Job: arrange an alternative antenna

I have an original antenna, but is very long (93cm) and I want a smaller one for short-range contacts. I choose to modify a commercial item. I buoght an old 43 MHz whip antenna: 43 MHz is almost a dead band, and dealers are happy to sell one for a very discounted price. The antenna is a CTE model HP-FLEX/B.


The antenna is 54 cm long. Using the FT-817 as a tunig tool, I cut the antenna until a dip in SWR happens (I stop at 1.5:1). The antenna is now 36cm tall (from bottom of BNC connector to top of the whip. See the shorted antenna mounted on SEM 52-S


Next job: building a speaker-microphone (to do)

Yaesu SSB Filter XF-119SN for FT-817

I've bought an SSB filter for my FT-817. The filter is NO cheap at all, but I've found an used item for half price. Installing the filter is simple: open upper cover of FT-817, locate the two connectors on the low right side of the board and mount the filter.


The filter is enabled/disabled via main menu.
The results are very good: great improvement in RX, the selectivity is really much better. Suggestion for FT-817 owners that use mainly SSB: buy one, also on full price!

12V 6800 mAh LiPo Battery

I've bought on e-bay a LIPO battery, 6800 mAh, from a Hong-Kong seller for few euros (a bit less than 35). After about three weeks, the battery arrives. Specifications:

• Weight 230g
• Measures: 56x106x18 mm
• Input (for charge) 12.6VDC
• Output: 12V 6800 mAh

The battery comes with a charger and have a little on-off switch and red led.


I've used often with FT-817 in /P, and also as a emergency supply source for handhelds. Great item!

European 10m QSO with a CB Blade antenna

I've found on old CB blade antenna in a ham radio shop, and I've bought it.

The antenna is an Intek KA-27, see details on radiomuseum http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/intek_flexible_mobile_cb_anten.html

I's small (80cm) and cheap (14 euros). The blade is cut for 11m CB band, but had an acceptable SWR on 10m when fed against a short counterpoise (1,5m) and mounted on the front BNC connector of my FT-817. Trying the antenna indoors (near my window pointing to east) I've made several 10m QSO in Italy and east europe (LZ, YO). Nice for a cheap blade!

Fotos and further infos in the next days.