LB5JJ

19/11/2024

36 hours! 2160 Minutes! That's how long it took from I hit the checkout button until this thing was delivered to my door. 36 hours from ordering it from a website in Slovenia to taking delivery at home in Norway! I don't think I've ever order anything, even from within Norway, that was delivered this quickly! But I'm waffling! Let me start at the beginning:

On this Sundays episode of The European Ham Radio Show Juergen (‪OE4JHW‬) shared his experiences with, and a very nice offer from, the Slovenian PCS Electronics:

https://www.pcs-electronics.com/

The RigExpert Stick 500 at €299.- (compared to the 429€.- from WiMo). I'd say that even at the price WiMo charges this is a great buy, but at more then 30% off it's basically a steal! It works from 100kHz to 500MHz doing single port analysis. Why would I want such a device you may ask? Well, I already have a NanoVNA which I think is a very cool product. But it's not made for throwing in your backpack when operating portable! I also have the RigExpert AA-650 ZOOM which I can't say enough good things about. But that thing is bigger then a lot of the radios I normally bring. What I wanted was something the size and weight of the NanoVNA, but with the ease of use and capabilities of the '650. Looking very much forward to testing this thing out; if you want to tag along for the ride, please subscribe!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm0Eg6MmY6w

36 hours! 2160 Minutes! That's how long it took from I hit the checkout button until this thing was delivered to my door. 36 hours from ordering it from a we...

12/11/2024

Continuing my journey into LoRa APRS it was about time for my iGate / Digipeater to get it's own antenna. So far it's been connected to the X50 I normally use for 2m/70cm FM. After evaluating many potential designs, from a regular vertical dipole to a j-pole, I settled on the venerable ¼λ (quarter wavelength) ground plane antenna. For my use case, this has the perfect combination of a high gain and a high enough WAF (wife acceptance factor). The traditional design usually calls for 4 radials, pointing downward at a 45° (more strictly 42°) angle for the best match to a 50Ω coaxial cable. The dimensions given during the build turned out to be to long, and I ended up cutting 27mm of the radials and 5mm of the vertical element. Thus the finished project, that showed an SWR of less then 1:1.2 at 433.775MHz, was as follows:

Radiator: 159mm
Radials: 157mm

Details, bill of materials, STL-files for the 3D-printed parts and more on GitHub:

https://github.com/LB5JJ/433MHz-GP-Antenna

https://youtu.be/t25hWZlW5tE

Details, bill of materials, STL-files for the 3D-printed parts and more on GutHub: https://github.com/LB5JJ/433MHz-GP-AntennaContinuing my journey into LoRa ...

03/11/2024

As Norwegian ham radio operators just recently got permission to use up to 200kHz of bandwidth in a small part of the 70cm band, it's time to finally set up a LoRa APRS iGate and Digipeater. It's a really simple process thanks to the most excellent web-installer offered by the creator of the firmware. You'll find the firmware and web-installers here:

https://github.com/richonguzman/LoRa_...

https://richonguzman.github.io/lora-i...

The board I'm using is this one (but the same board is available form all the usual places):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/405019752606

Remember to get a unit for the right band for your part of the world. For Europe, that should be 433MHz.

Looking forward to hearing your beacons on my next road trip!

Until next time; 73!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TZV3sjkJAc

As Norwegian ham radio operators just recently got permission to use up to 200kHz of bandwidth in a small part of the 70cm band, it's time to finally set up ...

19/10/2024

Ham radio via Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites has been a fascination ever since I got licensed. Working LEO satellites is must certainly a challenge, but it can be done with relatively low-cost equipment. As I'm hoping bot to work birds with FM repeaters as well as digital modes, I've long wanted to get either an QFH or an "egg be**er" antenna up. The QFH can potentially be challenging for an amateur to build on his garage, and now that Mark N6MTS has finally finished his EggNOG kits, I jumped on the chance and ordered two (one for VHF, one for UHF). The video is a bit long, and at points almost, but not entirely unlike, watching paint dry. But it does show the process of building the Halibut Electronics EggNOG matching and phasing kit. Now that you've been duly warned, join be for the build!

Ham radio via Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites has been a fascination ever since I got licensed. Working LEO satellites is must certainly a challenge, but it...

11/10/2024

The next part of my journey to discover USB power nirvana. I tried to take the IC-705 out with the USB trigger cable and a power bank, but discovered to my dismay that the 5.5 mm barrel connector didn't fit. Turns out that 5.5mm barrel connectors come in two variants. One with an inner diameter of 2.1mm and the other with an inner diameter of 2.5mm. Luckily I also have a few "USB trigger PCBs". So today you get to join me as I create my own USB trigger cable with a 5.5 x 2.5mm barrel jack. And with properly sized cable as well.

Video link in comments!

10/10/2024

I've been collecting parts for a truly lightweight portable radio kit for a while now. For masts my two contenders this far is the SOTABeams Carbon 6 and the HRD Industries Lil Dude 6. Join me for four and a half minutes of measurements, opinions and general waffling. Spoiler alert; only one of the two will get the LB5JJ seal of approval!

I've been collecting parts for a truly lightweight portable radio kit for a while now. For masts my two contenders this far is the SOTABeams Carbon 6 and the...

06/10/2024

After my previous video on using a USB-C "trigger cable" for powering a QRP ham radio, my friend and fellow presenter at The European Ham Radio Show LB4FH Kjetil made the good point that the usability of such a solution would be very much dependent on the noise from the USB power bank. So I decided this was a good excuse to bring out the oscilloscope and try to characterise the ripple from the two power banks that were able to deliver 2A and 12V.

I have two more USB power banks on the way, both of which should be capable of more the 2A at 12V. But if you have suggestions for specific USB power banks you think would be good for powering a QRP rig over USB-C, please leave a comment!

After my previous video on using a USB-C "trigger cable" for powering a QRP ham radio, my friend and fellow presenter at made the good poi...

01/10/2024

In yet another attempt to lighten my load for ham radio POTA and SOTA outings, I got the idea that a normal USB power bank and a so called "trigger" cable may be useful. I ordered a small selection from everyone's favourite ubiquitous action site and set about testing both the cable and my power banks ability to deliver current through it. Conclusion so far is pretty positive, with the power banks being the limiting factors thus far. But I should easily be able to power the FT-817 or even the IC-705 using my regular inexpensive generic power banks.

In yet another attempt to lighten my load for ham radio POTA and SOTA outings, I got the idea that a normal USP poster bank and a so called "trigger" cable m...

28/09/2024

A quick video on using Winlink to check in to the European Ham Radio Show using the Kenwood TH-D75, an iPhone and the B.B. Link adapter:

Join me as I try to check in to the European Ham Radio Show on Winlink with the Kenwood TH-D75, iPhone and B.B. Link Adapter!The B.B. Link adapter is availab...

15/06/2024

Ever wanted to build a magnetic loop antenna? Let me show you how I built my 6m magnetic loop in just 60 minutes with parts available from your local hardware store or found around the average ham shack.

Ever wanted to build a magnetic loop antenna? Let me show you how I built my 6m magnetic loop in just 60 minutes with parts available from your local hardwar...

03/06/2024

I've been told that opinions are like arseholes; everyone has them! And that's definitely the case when it comes to antennas for ham radio. So, to try and separate facts from opinions, I ordered two WSPR transmitters from ZachTec. The plan is to use these for side-by-side comparisons of a range of HF antennas, and to be able to make decisions based on empirical evidence instead of unsubstantiated opinions. Wish me luck!

I've been told that opinions are like arseholes; everyone has them! And that's definitely the case when it comes to antennas for ham radio. So, to try and se...

30/05/2024

I recently took delivery of the 6m carbon fibre mast from Sotabeams. Planning on getting together a extremely lightweight and compact kit for portable radio. Starting with a simple choke balun for QRP dipoles and verticals. Parts used in this build are:

- T68-43 toroid
- About 50cm of RG-174
- 2 x 2.5mm banana sockets
- One BNC female chassis plug
- Small enclosure

The RG-174 fit through the toroid 9 times which should provide adequate isolation and common mode current attenuation.

(Excuse the mumbling in the last half of the video, I think I forgot I was talking to someone other then myself)I recently took delivery of the 6m carbon fib...