Radio Mountain
Wayne Staats 8 Radio Mountain
NRD-353
Commander 2500
JRC-245
Radio Mountain is equipped with gear from the Japan Radio Corporation (JRC) The main HF transmitter is the JST-245 HF & 6 meter exciter and a legal limit amplifier, Commander 2500 running two Eimac 3CX800A7 high output tubes. Transmit audio for this radio is processed by the W2IHY 2 band EQ and noise gate and a Radio Shack Highball studio microphone. Receive audio is processed by the NIR-12 DSP unit. Digital operations are via the Kantronics KAMPlus for packet, RTTY and CW. The secondary receiver is a NRD-535D also from JRC. The second receiver allows for monitoring of a second frequency or band while the transmitter is in full operation on a selected frequency.
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The second transmitter is the IC-756-- HF & 6M with a built in dual-in-band receive. The bandscope feature has proved to be really useful in finding stations to work under weak band conditions or a 'clear' spot to QSY to during busy conditions. The scope is also an advantage while working a DX station using 'split' you can see where he is listening! The transmit audio on the ICOM is provided by the W2IHY8 band EQ and noise gate (nice unit). Digital operations (CW, SSTV, Packet, RTTY) are via the MFJ-1278B Multi-Mode controller with the DSP option (works but could be better). |
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Also on the bench is Yaesu equipment: The FT-1000MP is one heck of a transceiver! It has plenty of bells and whistles for any button pusher. The dual receive is great for working DX stations using "splits" or looking for a spot to QSY to with a friend. Transmit audio on the Yaesu is processed by the Symetrix 528E professional voice processor connected to the Heil Goldline/5 microphone. Digital operations on this rig are via the RigBlaster - and Corma PIX (SSTV) and WinPSK for PSK31 |
The FT-900 is in the mobile, rig under the seat with the control head on a 'gooseneck' between the driver and passenger seat. It is easy to operate without taking your eyes off the road -- having large knobs and controls. Mobile HF with the Outbacker Perth has been quite successful. With this rig I really recommend the Clear Speach Speaker the built in DSPreally helps copy in high noise areas. I liked the receive on the FT-900 so much, I bought a 2nd unit to listen to shortwave on in the bedroom. In the backup slot is an FT-757 -- neat older mobile rig with transverters for 6m and 2m all mode work. Finally for "base" UHF/VHF is the FT-5100and a Diamond dual band antenna.
Then there is Alinco! -- In the mobile for UHF/VHF work is the DT-600T a great little dual band rig, also with the remote face plate. The controls are mounted on the same gooseneck with the HF gear. The UHF/VHF antenna is a glass mounted cellular look alike. While we're talking Alinco, I just got the Alinco DJ-X2000 all band, all mode handheld receiver. What a neat little unit. I'm able to monitor 20m SSB or listen in to the latest foreign news via short-wave AM broadcasts.
HT's: Alinco:DJ-580, DJ-191,DJ-S41| Yaesu: FT-470,VX-1, FT-203R| Cherokee: AH-50 (6 meters FM) ,AH-100 (10 meter AM, SSB)
Kenwood? - Nope, just a set of HS-5 headphones and an old TR-7730 2m mobile here in the radio room used for VHF packet. Maybe some day when the price is right!
Now that I've moved to Akron, the "antenna farm" has shrunk considerably -- at least for the winter, I have a diamond discone good for 200m on all amateur bands VHF and above and a 135 foot off-center-fed dipole about 30 feet up - good on all HF amateur and MARS bands.
Additional equipment to round out the "shack":
Nye MB-V-A - Antenna impedance matching network.
JPS NIR-12 - Digital Interference filter.
MFJ-6246 - HF Telephone Patch.
Connect Systems Inc - Private Patch IV
Grove SP-200 - Filtered speaker amplifier.
Kantronics KAM Plus- HF TNC for digital modes.
MFJ-1289B- Multimode Data Controller for SSTV and digital.
RigBlaster - SSTV, PSK31 and such!
Ten-Tec - Transmatch Model 238 - matching network.
ITC 1800mHz- Spectrum Analyzer - to keep my transmitted signal clean.
AWS 620c- 50mHz Oscilloscope - shop equipment.
Yaesu YO-101 - Station monitor/scope to monitor my signal.
MFJ-Artificial Ground MFJ-931
MFJ - 989CTransmatch 3kw
P-2000A Digital RF Power /VSWR meter by RF Applications Inc.
WM1 Computing watt/SWR meters by AutekResearch.com - reads both rf peak and average power.
Mega Power Station AC by Vector replacement for the Power Depot below (it works!)
.......................One full year after the initial charge, I used the unit to jump start my daughter's car. It did the job and still shows a full charge on the indicator. Eighteen months after the initial (and only) charge - jumped two dead car batteries and still indicates a full charge. Finally after almost 2 years (Oct 2002), I recharged the battery - but only after running my IC-706 HF rig for an hour and transmitting a few times at 100w (full power) during a simulated emergency test. The indicator light showed about 2/3 charge still present, but it has more than passed my expectations. I am impressed with the performance of this unit.
5.4KW Generator- for those pesky power outages! When we had the new house rewired we added a plug and transfer switch making the change over to generator power fast and easy. Our house and commercial power lines are surrounded by very large trees, so the power is always "at risk." So far powered the house and cooked a few meals, run TV's and transmitted HF. The unit has not been really needed, but one never knows.
And a ton of other RF filtering and line conditioning equipment.
TrippLiteLine LC-1800 Conditioners (2) [read my complaint].
Power Depot 2000 - battery and inverter for emergency power, but it had a power outage of its own!
.......................Arrived dead and stayed that way. I would recommend checking into the Vector units to avoid this mistake. (hi TracyH)
I also have two ZEIT radio controlled wall clocks, accurate to 1 sec in 2 million years! They are set automatically by WWV - NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology).
Selected Links:
Yaesu Page- -Buckmaster- QRZ!- NewsLine
Have you visited the ARRL web site lately? page? Give it a try
When ever I can get away, I try to visit theARRLHeadquarters in Newington CT and operate W1AW, it is full of neat late model equipment. I suggest you schedule that stop when ever you travel in that area. I averaged 70 contacts on each visit and operated some "high dollar" rigs which allowed me to decide if they were right for Radio Mountain.
Now that you've visited Radio Mountain.... visit Wayne's Word for world class trivia and interesting facts.
-Wayne Staats 8 RadioMountain - WS8RM write to me at ws8rm (at) arrl.net
